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The Family Upstairs: The #1 bestseller and gripping Richard & Judy Book Club pick (The family upstairs, 1)

3.9(561)
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About the book

'I swear I didn’t breathe the whole time I was reading it. Gripping, pacy, brilliantly twisty.’ CLARE MACKINTOSH

‘Creepy, intricate and utterly immersive: an excellent holiday read.' GUARDIAN

‘A twisty and engrossing story of betrayal and redemption.’ IAN RANKIN
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FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THEN SHE WAS GONE

In a large house in London’s fashionable Chelsea, a baby is awake in her cot. Well-fed and cared for, she is happily waiting for someone to pick her up.

In the kitchen lie three decomposing corpses. Close to them is a hastily scrawled note.

They’ve been dead for several days.

Who has been looking after the baby?

And where did they go?

Two entangled families.
A house with the darkest of secrets.
A compulsive new thriller from Lisa Jewell.
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'Rich, dark and intricately twisted, this enthralling whodunnit mixes family saga with domestic noir to brilliantly chilling effect.' RUTH WARE

‘You don't read a Lisa Jewell book, you fall into it. It takes huge talent to establish a whole world in the turn of two pages.' ERIN KELLY

'I had an unrelentingly pleasurable and thrilling for-God’s-sake-tell-me-what-happened sensation in my stomach for the entire read ... Stupendous!' RUTH JONES

'Absolutely brilliant. Great characterisation, a fascinating and dark set up and a great conclusion. She’s always great but this is next level stuff.' SARAH PINBOROUGH

'Few writers of psychological suspense devise such swift, slippery plots; fewer still people their stories with characters so human and complex. Lisa’s Jewell’s The Family Upstairs glitters like a blade and cuts even deeper.' AJ FINN

'Whenever I pick up a Lisa Jewell novel I know I'm in for a compelling, immersive and unputdownable read and The Family Upstairs is one of her very best' CL TAYLOR

‘I had hoped to save The Family Upstairs for my holiday, but failed miserably ... I was hooked from the first page. I think it's her best yet and hands down my favourite book so far this year.’ ALICE FEENEY

‘Utterly compelling. Deliciously dark and twisty with characters who live on in your head. Lisa Jewell just keeps getting better and better.’ JANE CORRY

‘This is my pick of the crop of thrillers out this month … Lisa Jewell is brilliant at creating a menacing atmosphere and this is almost unbelievably tense at times.’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

'It’s absolutely bloody brilliant and I can’t tell you much I wish I’d written it.' TAMMY COHEN

‘It’s SO GOOD!’ INDIA KNIGHT
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Readers are obsessed with The Family Upstairs:

‘I read so many books in the crime/mystery genre that it becomes harder to find a book that stands out. This one succeeded!! Hooked from page one’
‘I totally adored this book. All of Lisa Jewell’s books are fabulous, but something about this one is extra special.’
'Absolutely absorbing ... thoroughly enjoyed it'
'Kept me captivated from the very beginning ... Definitely worth reading – as long you like reading into the night!'
'Everything you could wish for in a book. I devoured it.'
‘Wow!!’
‘What a book. Clever would be an understatement. And those last pages left me with chills. The concept had me intrigued and the execution had me captivated. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!’

Editions (8)

ISBN9781780899206
PublisherCentury
Publication Date08/08/19
Pages464

Reviews & Ratings

561 ratings

116 reviews

3.9

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  • elbleserin
    elbleserin

    670 Followers

    5.0

    Tragische Familiengeschichte , sehr spannend verpackt. Großartig. Lese gleich den 2. Teil hinterher.

    Apr 20, 2026

  • daze2478
    daze2478

    462 Followers

    5.0

    Das Buch hatte eine große Sogwirkung. Es war spannend und fesselnd von Anfang bis Ende. Ein toller Roman erzählt aus 3 Perspektiven und 2 Zeitebenen. Von Kapitel zu Kapitel kommt man der Frage näher ,,was damals geschah“. Das Ende lässt mich wie nach einem erfolgreich beendeten Puzzle befriedigt zurück. Für mich ein Spannungsroman ganz nach meinem Geschmack und eine klare Leseempfehlung!

    Jan 24, 2026

  • philomenalovesbooks
    philomenalovesbooks

    555 Followers

    4.0

    Ich bin ja großer Fan von Büchern die in der Gegenwart sowie in der Vergangenheit spielen. Dieser Aspekt wurde hier sehr gut umgesetzt. Das Buch lässt sich schnell und flüssig lesen, ich mochte es. Das Ende fand ich nicht so überzeugend hier hätte ich mir etwas anderes erwartet.

    Oct 19, 2025

3 of 116 reviews

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therryooo
therryoooFeb 19, 2026

Ich frage mich ob Libbys Arbeitskollegin noch eine andere Rolle spielen wird. Also ob sie was weiß/kennt von damals...

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