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There are currently 35 member reviews
for He Started It
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Rebecca K. (Grayslake, IL)
Dysfunctional family road trip
Three siblings from a dysfunctional family, along with two of their spouses, gather for a cross-country road trip to echo a trip they took with their grandfather decades earlier and to spread his ashes at the end of the trip. They must do that in order to gain their multi-million dollar inheritance. But nothing is what it seems.
Beth, the narrator, never told her husband that she had an older sister who disappeared during the original road trip. He doesn't even know the truth about her parents. And he's got some secrets of his own.
Portia, the youngest, is now an alcoholic who doesn't remember much of the early trip. Nevertheless it had a profound impact on her life moving forward.
Eddie, who sided with their grandfather in a decades-old feud, takes charge and navigates throughout the adventure. But does he even know where they're going?
This book started a little slowly for me, but as it progressed I was genuinely curious to see what would happen next. The dysfunctional family dynamics were simultaneously entertaining and puzzling. It's clear as the reader that you don't know the full story.
My biggest complaint is the ending. The last 15-20 pages had so many crazy twists I practically had whiplash, but the FINAL ending was frustrating and a bit of a cop-out, I felt. Additionally, I hate the book cover. It makes the story seem like it's a cheap romance when instead it's much more than that (and it's not a story about jilted lovers). I don't think it fits with the plot at all.
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Tiffany V. (Colora, MD)
They Put The "Fun" in Dysfunctional
Do you ever worry that your family might be a bit "off"? Read this and never give it a second thought because the Morgans can make nearly any family look like The Brady Bunch. Embarking on a cross-country excursion with her estranged siblings in order to fulfill her grandfather's dying wishes and to receive a sizable inheritance, our narrator Beth assures us from the get-go that this won't be your traditional family road trip. And things start to go off the rails pretty quickly from there. With unexpected plot twists, a questionable narrator, and an ending that no one could possibly see coming, Samantha Downing crafts a refreshing, entertaining, and unique domestic mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.
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Meara C. (Los Angeles, CA)
A Thrilling Roadtrip With A Killer Ending
An estranged, dysfunctional family has an inheritance up for grabs which is dependent upon repeating a road trip they took together with their now-deceased grandfather twenty years ago. This is witty and well-plotted with an excellent final twist.
This book had my heart racing and my brain whirring. I love a mystery that keeps me guessing and that completely messes with my narrative perceptions. "He Started It" was such a crazy ride with twists that continually kept me blind-sided.
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Elizabeth (Salem, OR)
Enjoyed but didn't love
The unreliable female narrator is a played out genre in my opinion unless the book is really special and this book isn't. That said I thought the book was well written and although the final twist was maddening I prefer that over a tidy bow!
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Amy in NV
Road Trip...Ahhh or Ugghh?
This plot is like the proverbial Onion Story...peeling layer by layer to reveal information and explanation. The premise of a prescribed road trip as a means to inheritance is unique. The characters are self absorbed and less than pleasant; some more than others. The narrator is unreliable (mostly by omission) from the beginning, and the surprise ending is almost unbelievable. A few red herrings throughout the story, though not always brought full circle.
Yet I find the writing style, short chapters, dual time frame, and quick pace keeping me intrigued & amused until way past bedtime, and I had a hard time putting it down.. All in all, a fun read! It will put every family road trip (past or present) into perspective!
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Arlene S. (Granger, IN)
A doozy!
Siblings reunite to recreate an earlier road trip with Grampa. This time, however, Grampa's ashes are in a box and the inheritance is at stake. The character development is great - the family dynamics are spot on. The conflict comes between greed and family. Lots of unexpected twists and turns move this book along, getting darker and darker as the story unfolds. It is a quick read in that it's hard to put down.
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WDH, Florida
Attention Grabber
This book grabbed my attention from the opening through to the closing sentences. The road trip was an interesting way to bring estranged siblings together, forcing them to be cooped up in a small space allowing tensions to build and flaws to be revealed. As the characters start to form, you realize they are all despicable in their own ways. These siblings are clever liars, cheaters, manipulators and rightfully suspicious of each other. The payoff anticipated at their final destination added to the tension and mistrust. I really enjoyed the book until the final showdown, which I thought was just a bit ... disappointing. Just a bit though. Overall a good read.
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