Keep Them Close
Author: David Ellis
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Domestic Thriller
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.75 stars, rounded up)
Release Date: June 30, 2026
Synopsis
When Allison's husband is murdered, her brother Luke is the first person by her side.
The two siblings have always relied on one another, standing together through life's hardships. But as the murder investigation unfolds, long-buried secrets begin to surface, exposing cracks in their seemingly unbreakable bond.
Affairs.
Old accidents.
Family betrayals.
Lies layered upon lies.
As the truth slowly comes to light, it becomes increasingly clear that everyone is hiding something, and that the answers may be much closer to home than anyone expected.
My Thoughts
Before I say anything else, I have to admit that Look Closer is one of my favorite thrillers.
Naturally, I went into Keep Them Close with some very, very high expectations.
Did it quite reach the same level for me?
Not quite.
But it was still a thoroughly entertaining thriller that kept me turning the pages.
The story follows siblings Allison and Luke after Allison's husband is found murdered. What initially appears to be a straightforward investigation quickly spirals into something far more complicated as hidden affairs, old secrets, betrayals and decades of buried resentment begin coming to the surface.
One thing I noticed almost immediately was how difficult it was to trust anyone.
And I mean anyone.
None of the characters are particularly likable in the traditional sense, and almost everyone seems to have their own agenda. Every time I thought I had someone figured out, another secret would surface, making me question everything I thought I knew.
In many ways, that was one of the book's greatest strengths.
The uncertainty kept me constantly second-guessing my own theories.
I also found the relationship between Allison and Luke particularly interesting.
At first, they appear to have an incredibly close sibling bond, always ready to protect one another no matter what. But the deeper the investigation goes, the more complicated that relationship becomes.
By the end, I still wasn't entirely sure how to feel about either of them.
They clearly love each other.
But they're also the kind of siblings who seem perfectly capable of betraying one another if the situation demands it.
That moral ambiguity made their dynamic much more interesting than a straightforward "supportive family" relationship would have been.
As for the mystery itself, I thought the pacing worked really well.
This ended up being one of those books I finished in a single sitting because I always wanted to know what piece of the puzzle would be revealed next.
When it came to the twists, I'd say they landed somewhere around fifty-fifty for me.
I managed to predict a few developments along the way, but David Ellis still surprised me with several reveals, particularly during the final stretch of the novel.
Final Thoughts
While Keep Them Close didn't quite surpass Look Closer for me, it was still a gripping domestic thriller filled with dysfunctional family dynamics, unreliable characters, and enough secrets to keep me guessing until the very end.
If you enjoy thrillers where no one can be trusted, every character has something to hide, and each new chapter raises more questions than it answers, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
⭐️ 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4
ARC Disclaimer
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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