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He Started It cover art

He Started It

Written by: Samantha Downing
Narrated by: Karissa Vacker
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Publisher's Summary

An instant international best seller

"Wholly original. Scarily clever. Completely mesmerizing. You will never look at family road trips the same way again." (Lisa Gardner, number one New York Times best-selling author)

A most anticipated book by Hello Sunshine ∙ CosmoEntertainment Weekly ∙ BetchesHollywood Reporter ∙ Parade ∙ PopSugarOK! Magazine ∙  Hello Giggles ∙ Bustle ∙  Yahoo! ∙ She Reads ∙ Book Page ∙ CrimeReads ∙ New York Post Best Book of the Week ∙ Goodreads

From the twisted mind behind mega hit My Lovely Wife comes the story of a family - not unlike your own - just with a few more violent tendencies thrown in....

Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan haven't all been together in years. And for very good reasons - we'll get to those later. But when their wealthy grandfather dies and leaves a cryptic final message in his wake, the siblings and their respective partners must come together for a cross-country road trip to fulfill his final wish and - more importantly - secure their inheritance.

But time with your family can be tough. It is for everyone.

It's even harder when you're all keeping secrets and trying to forget a memory, a missing person, an act of revenge, the man in the black truck who won't stop following your car - and especially when at least one of you is a killer and there's a body in the trunk. Just to name a few reasons.

But money is a powerful motivator. It is for everyone.

©2020 Samantha Downing (P)2020 Penguin Audio

What the critics say

"A twisty, sneaking tale of greed, lies and betrayal, with each character as conniving as the next and an ending that will make your heart stop. This one needs to be on the top of everyone's to-read list!" (Mary Kubica, New York Times best-selling author of The Good Girl and The Other Mrs.)

"A thrill ride through the darkest parts of the American landscape - funny, scary and twisted until the explosive final page." (Michele Campbell, internationally best-selling author of A Stranger on the Beach)

“A tour de force in voice and structure. The brilliant Samantha Downing takes a glorious risk in this superbly captivating and endlessly surprising road trip from hell. It’s sibling rivalry pushed  to the max - dark and crazy and twisted - and  I could not put it down.” (Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today best-selling author of The First to Lie)

What listeners say about He Started It

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What would you do for 6 million dollars ?

After their grandfather dies, 3 siblings are forced to take the same fucked up road trip they took with the grandfather 20 years ago. As the story continues we find out more and more weird things that happened on the first road trip, while in present day weird things are also happening! You’ll have to read it to find out what!

These sibs share a traumatic history so we shouldn’t be surprised by the lying, scheming and all- around crazy things they do to gain their inheritance.

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Don't bother

The plot started out ok but the ending leaves you in the dark. I kept listening because I wanted to know what happens. Dumb ending.

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only good thing is the narrator.

such a boring story with a dumb incomplete ending. liked the narrator. she was the only thing that kept me listening.

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From the first sentence

You will be hooked. So many twists you never see coming, excellent plot, well thought out, great narration, very relatable characters. But the ending….. was a bit disappointing.
Overall, though, I highly recommend this book.

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Boring book!

Long boring book. I Lost interest quarter way in. Terrible story line. Save your time and money.

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  • Overall
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loved it

it was well written with lots of twists. Very enjoyable and the narrator did a wonderful job.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Felt like amateur night.

The whole plot was thin and the characters were so unlikeable if one could find one that was fleshed out enough to get good a feeling for the character. Sometimes a good story teller can save the show but not for me.

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Loved It!!

Samantha twists her story in unpredictable ways it very refressing. And that ending, kinda madining but loved it!

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    2 out of 5 stars
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meh. doesn't hold your interest.

the ending......sigh......pure boredom, it's basically a blah ending that the author presumably thinks leaves you on the precipice of a breathtaking series. oh so wrong. I used it to put me to sleep each evening...... if not I would have asked for the return id mgt credit. YAWWWNNNNNN

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Don't bother

This story was so not my cup of tea! I was very disappointed when the authors other book was amazing.
Just about a road trip very boring.

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