He Started It
by Samantha Downing
Summary
Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan haven’t all been together in years. And for very good reasons—we’ll get to those later. But when their wealthy grandfather dies and leaves a cryptic final message in his wake, the siblings and their respective partners must come together for a cross-country road trip to fulfill his final wish and—more importantly—secure their inheritance.
But time with your family can be tough. It is for everyone.
It’s even harder when you’re all keeping secrets and trying to forget a memory—a missing person, an act of revenge, the man in the black truck who won’t stop following your car—and especially when at least one of you is a killer and there’s a body in the trunk. Just to name a few reasons.
But money is a powerful motivator. It is for everyone.
My Review
Wow, what a wild ride this story turned out to be! This author has quickly become one of my new favorites in the mystery and thriller genre. Her writing is sharp, immersive, and full of clever twists. From start to finish, I was completely hooked. The story kept me guessing, and even though there were plenty of clues along the way, I could not piece it all together. Then came that ending—my jaw hit the floor! I was completely caught off guard. That said, I wasn’t a huge fan of the very end. It felt a bit too open-ended for my taste, almost like a subtle cliffhanger. I usually prefer a more definitive conclusion, but it didn’t take away from the overall experience.
This unforgettable cross-country road trip follows three siblings and two of their spouses as they navigate a web of secrets, lies, and betrayal. It’s the definition of a dysfunctional family, so much so that I often questioned whether any of them truly cared for one another. It’s a story about bad people doing bad things, full of tension, dark humor, and plenty of chaos. Add in an unreliable narrator, biting sarcasm, and countless twists, and you’ve got a thriller that keeps you on your toes.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator is one of my all-time favorites. She brought so much energy and nuance to the story, making the entire journey feel vivid and alive. The pacing is quick, the chapters are short, and the whole thing flies by. I finished it in just two days because I simply couldn’t stop listening. It gives off summer thriller vibes, too—perfect for a road trip or vacation listen.
Even though the characters are completely unlikable and no one gets redeemed, I still had such a fun time with this book. It’s easily one of my top thrillers of the year. I highly recommend it, especially the audiobook version. This author knows exactly how to craft a gripping, suspenseful story that keeps readers coming back for more. I’ll definitely be reading everything she writes until I’ve read her to zero.
**This book is part of a thriller real-time reaction episode, which you can listen to here.