I’m a sucker for a road trip novel, so I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of He Started It by Samantha Downing. And the promise of dark family secrets was the cherry on top!
A quick synopsis: Siblings Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan have been estranged for years. But the death of their grandfather brings them back together: in his will, he added a requirement that they re-live a road trip they took with him when they were kids, or they won’t get their (substantial) inheritance.
So they set off, spouses in tow, for a cross-country drive. But there’s something off about the trip, and buried secrets won’t stay hidden forever.
*I received a free e-ARC of this book from Netgalley & the publisher (Berkley) in exchange for an honest review.
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He Started It by Samantha Downing: My Thoughts
This was an entertaining thriller, filled with deliciously unlikeable characters, cheap motels, and strange roadside attractions. The twists were abundant (and I did not see most of them coming)!
I loved how different each of the siblings were, and the family dynamic between them versus the drama they had with each others’ spouses. Between that, numerous secrets coming to light, and the mysterious truck that was following them, there was never a dull moment.
You might have to suspend your disbelief a bit with this one, but it’s worth it.
One thing I didn’t love as much: at times, it was a little hard to keep track of where they were with the timelines switching between past and present. But after a bit, it became easier to follow and I was so along for the ride!
Overall, He Started It is a twisty thriller centered around family ties, secrets, and regret, with a backdrop of some of America’s strangest roadside attractions. Highly recommended!
RATING: 4.25 out of 5 stars
(Publication date: July 21st, 2020. Thank you to Berkley for the digital review copy!)
Looking for more awesome books to read? Check out my list of the best thrillers of 2020 (so far)!
