Title:  A Nearly Normal Family
Author: M.T. Edvardsson
Translated by:  Rachel Willson-Broyles
Published:  June 25, 2019
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Page count: 400 pages
My rating: 4 out of 5

Quote: "If chaos was what he was expecting, then chaos he would get."

In his debut novel, A Nearly Normal Family, M.T. Edvardsson takes us into the lives of the Sandell family. Stella, daughter of Adam and Ulrika Sandell, is in jail for the murder of Christopher Olsen. Is Stella a murderer, or is all of this just a misunderstanding? Edvardsson does a great job showing multiple points of view.

The book starts off with Adam's point of view. Adam Sandell is a pastor and has a reputation to uphold. However, what lengths will he go to, when his gut tells him there is more to Stella's arrest than what he's being told? Will he lie to try to save his daughter, or will his oath be nothing but the truth?

Next, we take a look at Stella's point of view. Stella's point of view comes from a small jail cell. Stella and her best friend, Amina spend all of their spare time together. Stella does not have the best relationship with her dad. She thinks he is overprotective and always in her business. One night, Stella and Amina go to a bar, where they meet the charming Christopher Olsen. Both girls find him attractive, but it is Stella who ends up going home with him and starts spending time with him. Stella gets a surprise visit from one of Chris' ex-girlfriends. Chris has told Stella about Linda, and has classified her as obsessed with him. Is Linda really obsessed or is their truth in what Linda tells Stella?

Finally, we see the point of view from Ulrika, Stella's mom. Ulrika's point of view mainly takes place from inside the courtroom. Ulrika is a lawyer, and so she knows the ins and outs of the legal system. She knows Stella's lawyer very well, and she is trusting him to make sure her daughter does not spend the rest of her life in jail. How will Ulrika help make sure there is not enough evidence to convict her daughter?

Truth. What is truth? Lie. What is a lie? In A Nearly Normal Family, Edvardsson makes us question both. What would you do to keep your loved one safe? Would you chance having your reputation ruined? Would you chance losing your job?

If you like drama, this book is for you. If you like trying to figure out who done it, this book is for you. Packed into this 400 page book, you have murder, lies, friendship, betrayal, and parents who will protect their child, no matter what it costs them.

Trigger warning:  rape