The Family Upstairs Ending Explained With Summary
The Family Upstairs is a psychological suspense thriller about estranged family members. The story is completed in 69 chapters.
Libby, Lucy, and Henry are the three protagonists.
The novel starts with Libby turning 25 years old and inheriting a huge mansion at Cheyne Walk in Chelsea, London, England.
Libby had no idea such a big inheritance was waiting for her on her 25th birthday, turning her whole world upside down.
The author, Lisa Jewell moves back and forth between the present day and flashbacks before Libby was born during the entire book.
The book is mainly narrated by Henry, Libby's uncle and elder brother of her mother Lucy.
Once Libby inherits the huge mansion, she seeks help from investigative journalist Miller to find the truth about her family. She initially learns her parents committed a mass cult suicide which later turns out to be false.
Other characters including Henry and Lucy are also introduced simultaneously living their lives. Lucy is living in France and has become homeless recently while Henry is living in the Cheyne Walk mansion posing as Phil.
Everything started with Lucy and Henry's parents letting Birdie film her music video at their mansion. She was supposed to stay at their place for a few days but the living arrangement turned permanent.
She then invited David to help Lucy and Henry's father with his illness but in turn, David also brought his family into the mansion.
Soon, David and Birdie started dictating rules in the house and David's first wife left after she knew about an affair budding between David and Birdie. David announced he impregnated Lucy and Henry's mother, but Henry got the child miscarried with his specially brewed tea.
David soon announced he impregnated Lucy, who was just 14 years old and Libby was born, but it is later revealed Libby's father is Phil and not David. Henry and Lucy tried to escape the house by drugging the adults but Henry's tea was a little too powerful and killed the adults which he framed as a mass cult suicide.
Lucy took off with Phil, David's son and Henry called the cops posing as a worried neighbor. The police located the child (Libby) and handed her to social services. Lucy and Phil got help from a physician and went to France where they departed after two years, Lucy stayed behind and Phil moved on.
The three main protagonists reunite after Libby turns 25 and inherits the home. Libby falls in love with Miller, an investigative journalist who helped her find her family after inheriting the home, and embarks on a voyage to Africa to find her father Phil. Henry asks to tag along.
