ONE OF THE FAMILY by Mark Edwards

4 stars

This crime thriller takes place on a remote Scottish island where an uber-wealthy family has gathered for the New Year’s Eve, staying at a mansion owned by the dad Charles Grant. Charles has made his fortune in computer software development, bought the house as it was beloved by his wife who died tragically of cancer. He has two daughters, Miranda who deeply still mourns her mother and her husband Zack who serves as Charles’ right hand man at the company, and one single who’s brought her boyfriend Patrick along to meet the family. There’s also a son, Lewis, who Charles has kicked out of the family business and constantly derides. Charles has brought along his young new girlfriend who is a complete doppelganger of the deceased mom. The kids are aghast at how much Jasmine resembles their mom, and bereft that all pictures of their mom have been removed from the mansion.

There’s also four local women thrown into the mix: Brenda, the grandmother who owns the local pub, her daughter Morag who works as a housekeeper for Charles but has some unknown deeper entanglement with the family, and Morag’s willful daughter. Susan Williams is the only law enforcement officer who lives in the town, and is a savvy investigator.

Into this toxic family dynamite, dark mysteries of the past swirl as well as two unsolved deaths: one of a local friend of the kids who died drowned in a cave after they had been with him, and the death of a young software engineer found frozen outside near the caves. New dangers swirl, and just about everyone except for Patrick is holding close secrets that could do the family in.

The plot twists and turns, while other dead bodies pile up, often completely unexpectedly, right up the end. A definitely engaging psychological thriller, with many of the characters profoundly amoral.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for an advance reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.