I Started Shari Lapena’s Book Series and This Is What I Thought

If you don't like thrillers or mystery fiction, you probably haven't heard of Shari Lapena or are also in the wrong place. Today we are going to talk about a few books we have started reading here at Luna in her collection. 

The Couple Next Door: 

This book centres around a family who are invited to a dinner party next door, no worries yeah? But they don't want their six month old daughter to come over too, as they detest her crying. It is all fine after all they only live next door. They last saw her sleeping, the next she was gone. A story that unravels that there is more going on than you think on the other side of the wall. 

This book was rated on Goodreads as just under four stars and I highly disagree. Maybe because it was my first book from Lapena but I rated it an easy four and a half stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this as it was so twisting and I felt on edge for the most part. I like the characters, especially the neighbours. From the beginning you felt there was something odd about their characters from how they portrayed themselves. Throughout the story hinted that they took her. As the story unravels to the ending, it leads you to believe something that it isn't. Which as I have learnt over time is what Lapena does best. 

Overall I would rate this 4 ½ stars. 

Everyone Here Is Lying: 

Moving into a nice safe neighborhood for all families. On the surface everything is pretty perfect but affairs, secrets and lies loom over. One day a nine year old girl goes missing in her own home. Who took her and who will finally own up to the truth. 

Reading this book brought the twists and turns I needed. I was constantly changing my mind as to who took the missing girl and simply how the story led to that moment. I am a sucker for a suburban setting, it gives all the Stepford Wives and The Real Housewives vibe. I also find this is where the most disturbing secrets come from with their picture perfect lives, it can leave room for the imagination to go wild. 

Overall I would rate this 4 stars. 

Not a Happy Family:  

A different angle for a Lapena story which is all about a family with its secrets. This family is no normal family. They come with money which doesn't mean they are always protected. When a brutal murder arrives at a family dinner for Easter, the spotlight is on them to figure out who the killer is.

This book was a really fun story. With a whole family with multiple different backgrounds stories it was good to get to know each of them individually. Figuring out what stories are true or false from different perspectives. I never expected the killer to be who it was, which sometimes is a rare find in a thriller book these days for myself. It felt like playing Cluedo again but made it read. 

Overall I would rate this 4 stars. 

What Have You Done:

Most recently I had the joy of one sitting reading, What Have You Done. Sat in the airport and seeing it in the window was a must. With lapena there's no second thoughts, I am yet to be disappointed. 

This novel was described as a one set win and oh my it was! When a young girl is found dead in a hayfield everyone in Fairhill becomes a suspect. Where everyone knows everyone fear and paranoia starts to spread. 

When I read this on holiday it ticked all the boxes I couldn't stop. It was all I could think about and I wanted to find out who the killer was. As usual my mind kept changing all the time. I never felt settled. Since then reflecting back I thought the killer who was chosen could have been better but the twist was a good ending. Maybe I was stuck on who I thought it was. 

Overall I would rate this 4 and a ½ stars.