Review Detail

What worked: Knives Out meets the paranormal with twists and turns in solving a murder that leaves everyone guessing. This novel also gives off The Umbrella Academy vibes with a dysfunctional, toxic family whose matriarch will go to any lengths to protect the Winters' name.

Nineteen-year-old Cicely is the black sheep of the wealthy Winters family. Though the rest of her family tolerates her presence, Allegra, her mother, shows her disdain daily. Allegra also has a book of spells, one that has been passed down, that she uses to keep their gifts. Seems making a deal with the devil has long-reaching consequences in the Winters family. Then Allegra's brother is found dead in a cruel twist to his hobby of adding trophies of animals he's hunted in their home. Cicely uses her gift of going to the Ruins-a paranormal in-between world to find out who is behind the killing before it kills more of her family.

At first, Cicely is mousey and tries so hard to make Allegra show a little of the same love she directs toward her older brother Felix. Felix is set to be next to run the Winters' dynasty. He's charming, funny, and drop-dead model gorgeous. He also has a secret that might be the clue behind the mystery happening in the family.

Add to all this Soren, the former best friend of Felix, who the family murdered, pops up, warning Cicely that he will make sure the Winters are destroyed. At first, Cicely is curious about this ghostly presence, and little by little things turn. More secrets pop up among a trail of dead.

I have to say this family isn't that likable. They're wealthy, privileged, and have paranormal gifts that they use to benefit themselves. But their antics are unbelievable and even hilarious more than a few times.

Through all of this, Cicely has to choose who to be loyal to. Her family with their deadly secrets or herself. Cicely's gift of finding the truth behind secrets leads her to question everything she thought she knew about not only her family but herself.

The Ruins has a twisted Gothic vibe with paintings of her dead ancestors speaking to her. Plus, a supernatural, bubbling forbidden romance kept me glued to this intriguing and dark fantasy.

Great pacing and hilarious at times dialogue set in a dark, twisted Gothic estate.