He Started It

In order to collect their share of a sizable inheritance their grandfather left, estranged siblings Eddie, Beth, and Portia must embark on THE exact same cross-country road trip they went on when they were children and scatter his ashes at the end of their journey. Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong. While two people are not along for the ride, their grandfather and sister Nikki who mysteriously disappeared years ago but whose presence is felt, two additional characters join the Morgans on this trip from hell: Eddie’s new wife Krista and Beth’s even-tempered, albeit boring husband Felix. Not only do they find themselves being followed by a mysterious truck, but with each mile they travel, secrets, past resentments, and hostility emerge.

Samantha Downing follows up My Lovely Wife with He Started It, a slow-burn family drama told from Beth’s point of view. None of the characters are likeable, relatable or reliable, but that is what makes this read so much fun. While the reader knows they are being kept in the dark, Beth, with a no-nonsense, blunt, and at times witty point of view, is upfront about not being the heroine and tells her story in the order that best suits her purpose, leaving one to wonder about her real motives. An added bonus is the wacky places the siblings stop along the way to their destination. The short chapters and pace of the story will keep readers turning the pages as they wonder how this family trip from hell will conclude.