Book Review | Death In The Family by Tessa Wegert

Death In The Family

by Tessa Wegert

Berkley

Publication Date : February 18, 2020

Pages : 336

Synopsis From Publisher :

Thirteen months ago, former NYPD detective Shana Merchant barely survived being abducted by a serial killer. Now hoping to leave grisly murder cases behind, she's taken a job in her fiancé's sleepy hometown in the Thousand Islands region of Upstate New York. 

But as a nor'easter bears down on her new territory, Shana and fellow investigator Tim Wellington receive a call about a man missing on a private island. Shana and Tim travel to the isolated island owned by the wealthy Sinclair family to question the witnesses. They arrive to find blood on the scene and a house full of Sinclair family and friends on edge.

While Tim guesses they're dealing with a runaway case, Shana is convinced that they have a murder on their hands. As the gale intensifies outside, she starts conducting interviews and discovers the Sinclairs and their guests are crawling with dark and dangerous secrets. 

Trapped on the island by the raging storm with only Tim whose reliability is thrown into question, the increasingly restless suspects, and her own trauma-fueled flashbacks for company, Shana will have to trust the one person her abduction destroyed her faith in—herself. But time is ticking down, because if Shana's right, a killer is in their midst and as the pressure mounts, so do the odds that they'll strike again.

An escape to a private island is the ideal vacation for most. For the Sinclair family it has turned into their worst nightmare. In the Thousand Islands of Upstate New York, the Sinclair family has gathered together to meet Jasper Sinclair’s new girlfriend. The family is based out of New York City where they are legendary for their fabric house in New York City’s world famous garment district. When the family wakes up one morning, Jasper has disappeared. His bed soaked in blood while his girlfriend slept beside him. BCI (Bureau Of Criminal Investigation) Investigators Shana Merchant and Tim Wellington are assigned to investigate Jasper’s disappearance. 

Shana and Tim arrive on the island just as a Nor’Easter is bearing down on the Thousand Islands. Within the Sinclair family home, Shana and Tim discover a group of people shrouded in anger, resentment, and jealousy. As the storms rages outside, a storm is also raging inside within the Sinclair family. Due to the storm Shana and Tim are on their own, out numbered, and trapped in a mansion with a killer in their midst. 

The Sinclair family is dysfunctional to say the least. Each member has a reason to harm Jasper as well as each other. There are betrayals and jealousies which run deep and are years old. As a child Jasper was envied by his older siblings. I don’t think it is too much of a spoiler to divulge the financial situation of the Sinclair family. A once prominent fabric house for the world’s most famous fashion designers, Sinclair Fabric’s is now hanging on by a thread. When you add the high levels of resentment and financial desperation to a volatile family dynamic, someone is bound to get hurt. The family dynamic is what makes Death In The Family a stand out amongst other “locked door” mysteries. Rather than strangers piled together in a remote location, in Death In The Family we have a family with a complicated relationship forced together with loads of aggravating factors. 

In addition to dealing with a maladjusted family, a deadly approaching storm, and a murder investigation; Shana Merchant is dealing with a debilitating case of PTSD. After surviving a kidnapping and almost being killed Shana is struggling to function. Jasper SInclair’s disappearance is her first major investigation since her near death experience. During the investigation Shana has difficulty determining real threats versus perceived threats. Her experience has left her doubting her abilities. Shana sees this case as a chance to prove herself, hoping to regain her confidence and be the police officer she once was. Shana is not the first damaged detective I have read, however Shana is different. With other troubled detectives most of their suffering was self inflicted ; Shana’s suffering is not. I don’t think we yet know all of the details surrounding Shana’s kidnapping but from what we learn in Death In The Family, she was not selected at random by her perpetrator, Shana did not place herself in a dangerous situation (Although Shana believes otherwise). She was not taking a risk by confronting a dangerous suspect alone or following a lead without back up. Unlike other damaged detectives, I felt sympathetic towards Shana. 

The resurgence of the “locked door mystery” is in full swing and I am loving it. Authors are taking the sub genre and making it their own by adding a modern twist while staying true to what crime fiction readers love about “locked door” mysteries - an isolated location and a race against a ticking clock to prevent another death. Wegert gives this to readers and much more. 

Murder and Moore Rating: 

5 out of 5 Stars