I know I have said that I am not into true crime podcasts or docuseries about serial killers, but novels written in either format do not count. As a voracious reader, I like to switch things up and read different types of novels, such as epistolary novels, novels written as diary entries or recordings, or mixed media novels such as Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter. Murder in the Family is a mystery novel that invites the reader to solve a (fictional) murder. It is a fun read, but unfortunately, I found it way too easy to figure out who was responsible for the murder at the heart of the story.

Murder in the Family is about a true crime series called “Infamous”, the latest season of which is focused on solving the 2003 murder of the director’s stepfather, when the director was just ten years old. A group of experts from various legal and law professional backgrounds are assembled to review the existing evidence and see if they can come up with any new leads. The novel is told mainly through the teleplays of each of the show’s eight episodes, but there are also email messages, text messages and newspaper clippings interspersed throughout.

The teleplay format does not detract from establishing the setting of the story or developing the characters, or from the suspense created when secrets are revealed, and the experts begin to turn on each other. It is a wild ride that would play out very well on the small screen, even if it is obvious the direction the story is headed in.

Murder in the Family also takes time to criticize the genre that it is emulating and questions at what point does the true crime genre cross the line. But you should not feel bad for reading Murder in the Family as it is clearly meant to be entertainment.