Official Review: Related by Katerina McGinley

MeganDJ · Post by **MeganDJ** » 31 Jul 2020, 05:50

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Related" by Katerina McGinley.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Have you ever wondered if a house with a tragic and grisly past could have a life of its own? Could draw people in to uncover the truth of what had taken place so many years ago? Would piecing together this fractured truth not only heal old wounds of the past and set the house free but unite and knit together the missing fragments from the 5 souls that now dwell within? These are the questions I asked myself after reading the blurb of Related by Katerina McGinley, and I can honestly say that I was not disappointed.

A lonely, beautiful house in the corner of a middle-class suburban neighbourhood in sunny South Africa sets the scene. New tenants come and go in a season and rarely leave as they came. Families are shattered, lives ruined and torn apart. Mrs Cazzola knows all too well the tragedy that befell the house all those years ago but hoped that new, loving families would heal the tragic memories from the past.

After realizing that this would not be the case, she decides to rent the house to single people who would naturally be drawn to the house. Her plan comes to fruition, as five individuals that have coincidentally found themselves in need of a home after curious circumstances find their way to the house through its call. How are they all connected? Continue reading this fantastically captivating tale to find out.

Having been born and raised in South Africa, I have to admit that I was instantly drawn to the novel. The author did a fantastic job of cultivating the scene and dynamics of South Africa, what it is like to live here and the accurate descriptions of the tragic past of the Apartheid era. Katerina intricately weaved this story into an easy-to-read and follow masterpiece that will have you hooked until the bitter end. The writing style was captivating, and I often caught myself thinking about the novel way after I had put it down.

The book is split into chapters, where your attention is divided between the 5 main protagonists and Mrs Cazzola, allowing you an accurate and detailed glimpse of their thoughts and personalities. The characters are diverse and well-balanced, all having flaws and are innately human in their thoughts and actions. All I can say is that you will never become confused jumping between perspectives, as they are all different from one another in unique and interesting ways.

The mystery was gripping and elusive, as I often thought I had it all figured out from the clues that were sprinkled throughout, but at the end, I realized that I only knew half the story. This makes a great mystery and I whole-heartedly recommend this novel to anyone that wants to play detective and try to piece it all together. However, there are instances of profanity, violence, depression, rape and murder, so I would not recommend this to a younger or sensitive audience.

During my read-through, I did not encounter a single error and I believe it was exceptionally well-edited. I disliked nothing about this book, and in my opinion, it was nearly flawless. With all that being said, I award this phenomenal piece of writing 4 out of 4 stars.

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Priyanka2304 · Post by **Priyanka2304** » 02 Aug 2020, 01:07

I really enjoyed reading your review. It has intrigued me in reading this book someday.

MeganDJ · Post by **MeganDJ** » 02 Aug 2020, 01:44

Priyanka2304 wrote: ↑02 Aug 2020, 01:07 I really enjoyed reading your review. It has intrigued me in reading this book someday.

Yay! I am so glad to hear it

Thank you so much for your kind words! Happy reading

Elvis Best · Post by **Elvis Best** » 02 Aug 2020, 05:13

Wow, the plot of this book sounds really unique and mysterious. Thanks for the detailed review. Good job!

Adanna Inya · Post by **Adanna Inya** » 02 Aug 2020, 09:03

I'm scared already from reading the review alone. We have allegations like this in my country too, where people believe that some houses are haunted. This is a detailed and insightful review. I enjoyed reading it.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 02 Aug 2020, 10:30

An intriguing and well-developed mystery with an interesting setting. That's certainly a novel to keep into consideration. Thank you for your terrific review!

Ellylion · Post by **Ellylion** » 02 Aug 2020, 12:30

Sounds like a fascinating read

I would love to learn more about South Africa and its tragic past. Thank you very much for a great review!

MeganDJ · Post by **MeganDJ** » 02 Aug 2020, 23:27

Elvis Best wrote: ↑02 Aug 2020, 05:13 Wow, the plot of this book sounds really unique and mysterious. Thanks for the detailed review. Good job!

It really is! I can highly recommend this if you like the mystery genre. Kept me on the edge of my seat!

Thank you for your kind words and for stopping by. Happy reading

MeganDJ · Post by **MeganDJ** » 02 Aug 2020, 23:31

Adanna Inya wrote: ↑02 Aug 2020, 09:03 I'm scared already from reading the review alone. We have allegations like this in my country too, where people believe that some houses are haunted. This is a detailed and insightful review. I enjoyed reading it.

Yeeah, the author did an incredible job with the narrative, and I get a shiver up my spine just thinking about it!

Thankfully, this is a work of fiction, hopefully... Thank you for your kind words and for stopping by! Happy reading

MeganDJ · Post by **MeganDJ** » 02 Aug 2020, 23:33

NetMassimo wrote: ↑02 Aug 2020, 10:30 An intriguing and well-developed mystery with an interesting setting. That's certainly a novel to keep into consideration. Thank you for your terrific review!

It really is! Kept me wondering and guessing up until the end

Thank you for your kind words and for stopping by! Happy reading

MeganDJ · Post by **MeganDJ** » 02 Aug 2020, 23:38

Ellylion wrote: ↑02 Aug 2020, 12:30 Sounds like a fascinating read I would love to learn more about South Africa and its tragic past. Thank you very much for a great review!

I appreciated that the author was authentic about the facts and events of the past, as well as the current situation and lifestyle that we find ourselves in. Thank you so much for your kind words and for stopping by! Happy reading

riyosha · Post by **riyosha** » 04 Aug 2020, 00:44

Might read the book someday. Nice review!

MeganDJ · Post by **MeganDJ** » 04 Aug 2020, 23:43

riyosha wrote: ↑04 Aug 2020, 00:44 Might read the book someday. Nice review!

Thank you! It really is worth the read

Thank you for stopping by! Happy reading

Dominik_G · Post by **Dominik_G** » 05 Aug 2020, 01:56

I have to be honest; I don't think I would normally pick up a book like Related but your review really piqued my interest. Excellent work! Thank you!