One-Line Summary
A 2003 garden murder is reopened on a slick true-crime TV series, and the investigation unfolds through scripts, emails and transcripts that let the reader play detective—no spoilers, just mounting revelations. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Opening Impression
Murder in the Family lands with a neat formal trick: the entire story is presented as the production files of a streaming docu-series called Infamous. CVs, call sheets, interview transcripts and message threads replace conventional prose, creating a cool, forensic texture that feels startlingly current. Rather than distancing you, the format pulls you in—because you’re seeing exactly what the on-screen “experts” see. It’s a gamble that pays off: the pace is brisk, the wit dry, and the tension builds from the friction between performance (television) and truth (the case). :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Synopsis (No Spoilers)
Twenty years ago, Luke Ryder was found dead in the back garden of his London home. No charges were ever brought. Now Luke’s stepson—grown up and working in film—fronts a limited-series re-examination with a panel of detectives, a forensic specialist, a journalist and a behavioural expert. Episode by episode, the team revisits evidence, interviews family and neighbours, and exposes contradictions in long-held memories. What emerges is less a whodunnit than a how-did-we-miss-this: concealed histories, shifting identities and the way grief and media can both clarify and corrupt what we think we know. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Analysis
Structure: Six “episodes” mirror a real docu-series arc, giving natural cliffhangers and mid-episode reveals. The mixed-media dossier keeps momentum high and invites reader participation without gimmickry. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Voice & Style: Hunter’s newsroom-clean prose suits the transcript form. Side comments, off-mic tensions and producer notes add sly humour and character while nudging the plot forward.
Characterisation: The ensemble—family, experts, producers—feels layered and credible. Egos clash, alliances shift, and you’re left weighing who’s interpreting, who’s performing and who’s hiding.
Themes: Memory’s fragility; public image versus private truth; whether television exposes or exploits; and how families metabolise trauma when the cameras never quite stop rolling.
Verdict
Clever, contemporary and immensely readable, Murder in the Family is a crowd-pleasing experiment that doubles as a proper puzzle. If you enjoy the immersive feel of true-crime TV but want the satisfaction of a tightly engineered novel, this is prime territory. A standout standalone that shows Hunter can innovate beyond the DI Fawley series while keeping the focus on evidence, motive and the messy human theatre around both. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
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