William, Brian, and Luke are brothers born to an actress her doting husband. They all became successful, at least for a time. But their competition and resentments grew through the years, until the inevitable straw broke the camel’s back, and two of the brothers found themselves at the funeral for the third.

Will, the oldest, had the easiest time growing up. His mother adored him and thought he could do no wrong. He didn’t have the hand-me-downs that his brothers had to share. Instead, he learned to take whatever he wanted and not worry about others. That’s how he became a top Irish film and television producer. That’s how he came to marry Susan and have a beautiful daughter. That’s how he almost lost it all.

Brian, the middle son, knew he could never be what Will was. Although their father tried to even the scales for the brothers, somehow Will always ended up with more. And Brian was bitter about that. But he still did well in school, studied hard, and when he had the chance to go to Paris to teach English to French teenagers, he grabbed that opportunity. But when family needed his help back home in Ireland, he was the first one they called to help.

Luke, the youngest, always felt a little out of step with his brothers. He did find his place in church as a child, and he wore his spirituality as a martyr. But as a teenager, he became discouraged with religion, and in college he found himself fronting a band that became pretty popular. The life of a pop star is filled with sex, alcohol, and drugs, and Luke’s overindulgence brought out the mental illness that had been circling him for a while. It’s with Brian’s help that Luke finds a therapist and medications that help him, and Brian discovers a new career in artist management.

But as the years go by, as relationships grow and break apart, the three brothers never quite get past their upbringing, the competition and resentments that have been there since they were kids. After the secrets and lies come to light, all those toxic emotions bubble over until the three men find themselves at a funeral. Of course, there may still be secrets in the family after all.

Liz Nugent is back with Little Cruelties, a story of a family torn apart by bitterness. Nugent is a master of stories about the darker aspects of human nature, and this is definitely in that wheelhouse. Seeing how these brothers come apart because of the “little cruelties” of their mother is a fascinating look at how narcissists tear other people down to make more room for themselves.

Little Cruelties is not an easy book to read. Watching these brothers and what they suffered through the years is painful and sad. I kept wanting to yell at them to just walk away, move to the other side of the world and start over. But I also understood the ties that bound them all to each other and to Ireland. And I found it really hard to put down. I wanted to find out what happened to these men, no matter how difficult it became to read about them.

This book may be a little harsh for some readers, but for those who can take a heart-wrenching story about a dysfunctional family, Little Cruelties may be the thriller you’ve been looking for.

Egalleys for Little Cruelties were provided by Gallery Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.