I have absolutely no idea what just happened, but I liked it.

(I kid a little) This book did not even remotely go in the direction I anticipated. Don't come into this looking for a standard "who-dunnit" mystery about family secrets. This ain't that. This... this is a surreal kettle of fish and it worked for me.

This could easily be adapted to a low-budget horror/science fiction movie. You know the type: isolated setting, no more than 8 characters, people dying, an implausible ending. I'm surprised it isn't already a movie. I'm not really into science fiction and there was no character development, so I didn't find this very compelling.

per is truly brilliant at creating the moody psychological thriller and this one does not disappoint. Ok I am not going to lie I felt the ending was rushed and a wee bit too ambiguous for me (but lots of people love those types of endings). Other than that, The Homecomings is extremely fast paced and hooks you in right away. The characters are flawed but that is what makes them so very interesting. Love the premise and all the twists and turns and man Pyper has that gift for creating that creepy feeling which makes the hair on your arms stand up. Highly original for sure Favourite Quotes "Family binds us. It's the download for our politics and faith software. The way to see yourself more truly than any mirror.": “A family is a group of people who have different versions of the same experience.” "I preferred the quieter, solitary activities over the stories told around bonfires that ended with collective screams when the guy with the hook for a hand showed up."

Was it good and entertaining? Yes.
Was it very good? No.
I found The Homecoming very easy to get into, well written and able to sustain some suspense till the end. However, there was many details that didn't quite make sense. It didn't feel completely thought-throught. To be honest, when the truth is revealed, it's a little bit disappointing, as something just a little bit to far-fetched for you to accept.
All in all, it felt a bit like those average friday night horror flicks you watch to relax. It's entertaining but doesn't blow your mind.

I don't get why the ratings for this book are so low.
It's a nice fiction, a fun read, main character is nice...
I also like the dance between good and evil. Nothing is black and white, nothing is simple.
It's expectations, isn't it? People start it hoping for the next Frankenstein... Well, It's not. But it's dark, sexy and fun.

Well, well, well, that was not the book I thought it was going to be!

I was expecting a family drama of a totally different kind. I have not read this author before so I was not familiar with this work and style/genre if he has one..

Some words/phrases that came to mind when I read this book:
OMG, What the Heck?, something isn't right here, whoa! holy crap! Intense, breath-holding, creepy, interesting premise!
I am not sure if I am correct but it seems this book is set in Post-Trump era. I thought I caught a reference to him in it. A subtle comment on where US is and will be in the future.

A thoroughly, fast, entertaining read. I could not find anything negative to say about this book and I read it in 2 chunks, held my breath for pages and pages at a time!

Just read it!

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Homecoming by Andrew Pyper via NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada in order to read and give an honest review.

"… this book is clever, complex and thrilling...taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride fraught with psychological twists and turns…"

Already a fan of Andrew Pyper’s work I was thrilled to be afforded the opportunity to read and review his latest book The Homecoming. Like most of his novels, this book is clever, complex and thrilling taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride fraught with psychological twists and turns.

When Ray Quinlan dies his family is summoned to the Pacific west coast to attend Belfountain, a secluded rainforest estate to discuss his last will and testament. Ray’s widow, son Aaron and two daughters, Franny and Bridge. Delivered by limos they are dropped off and forced to surrender their cellphones. It is explained to them their eccentric father left them an extortionate sum of money, but there is a catch. They must spend thirty days at Belfountain without phones, television, the internet, food delivery drop off and absolutely no contact from the outside world.

As always, Pyper excels at crafting brilliant psychological and incredibly creative plotlines but also does an outstanding job creating unique and cleverly multifaceted characters. Each character is so well written he manages to create an incredibly realistic and dysfunctional Quinlan family, each battling their own demons and coping with painful, traumatic pasts.

When another set of limos deposits four more mysterious individuals Belfountain is thrown into chaos unleashing family secrets, challenging family loyalty and causing the estate to become deadly prison.

This book is so unique, unlike any other book I have read, which, being an avid reader is a rarity for me! Another great read from Andrew Pyper that definitely won’t disappoint!

WOW!

It was like we were acting at being a family instead of living as one.
This was my first book by Andrew Pyper, a fellow Canadian. Vivid characters and descriptive visuals combined with gripping psychological thrills pulled me along scene after scene. I have not read a novel this engrossing in a long time. Brilliantly written with memorable imagery, this story will surprise you. The story concept is very intriguing and it kept me absorbed. The main characters are extremely likable and are well developed. The pacing is so amazing for such a tightly constrained setting.

A family is a group of people who have different versions of the same experience.
I love the way that Andrew Pyper writes. I connected to his characters and felt like I was immersed in what was happening inside, and around, that lodge. I felt engaged the whole time and I was invested in the outcome of every character. I’m not quite sure how he did this but there were scenes where I had to pause and marvel at the beauty of the descriptive sentences. The story is very well crafted and the prose is very fluid.

But they did nothing wrong. They did nothing.
The premise had me captivated, the mystery kept me riveted. I literally did not put this down until it was finished. It takes masterful skills to communicate action through fiction, especially with little change in scenery, yet that is exactly what the author accomplishes, along with deep connection with the characters. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Andrew Pyper for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.