Friday Plot Twists: Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

 

Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,

     Someone We Know is Shari Lapena's fourth thriller. It is published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House. In this tale of family strife and murder, we are invited into the sleepy city of Aylesford, New York. This is a place where the leaves are turning gorgeous colors to welcome Autumn. And the residents are not who they appear to be. When Amanda Pierce is reported missing by her husband, Robert, the suspicions fly. She was to spend time in Manhattan shopping with her friend, who reveals later that she never had plans with Amanda. 

  Down the street from Robert, Olivia Sharpe finds out that her teenage son, Raleigh, has been sneaking into homes and hacking their neighbor's computers. He has done this many times, a fact he keeps from Olivia. Showing her only two of the dozen-plus homes he's invaded, he apologizes. His parents feel nothing should be said, fearing jail time for Raleigh. However, Olivia takes it upon herself to write and send anonymous apology letters to the homeowners. One of the recipients of Olivia's letters is angry and suspicious of all the teenage boys in their neighborhood. She begins to investigate, telling everyone that her home was broken into. The other neighbor, Robert Pierce, cares for another reason: he has secrets and he wonders just how much this phantom teen boy discovered while in his home. Then Amanda Pierces' body is found submerged in the trunk of her car.

  Someone We Know is Lapena's best thriller to date. It is suspenseful, and gory, and has an intricate mystery that twists and turns. Beginning with Amanda Pierce's demise, this novel takes us into the mind of the murderer, giving us a fleeting glimpse into the killer's motive. As the story unfolds, it plays like an episode of Desperate Housewives meets Criminal Minds. The juicy family drama is filled with betrayal and secrets. While the criminal aspect of the story delves into forensics and police procedures. Lapena's writing has vastly matured over the years. And I saw her literary growth on display with the narrative's structure. I loved the characters and felt invested in their lives. The intricate details slyly handed to the reader moved the mystery along at a fast pace.  In the end, when the killer was revealed, Lapena hit us with a few shocking moments that left me stunned. 

  I read Someone We Know in part with the amazing narration of actress, Kirsten Potter. I love her work and was delighted to find out she would be bringing Lapena's latest thriller to life. Potter's style of narration is an immersive experience that is filled with various voices and accents. She reads with a sense of urgency that pulls you into whatever she is reading. She could read the directions to build a bookcase and it would be entertaining. Fantastic!

  Someone We Know was a five-star read that gave me everything I needed in a thriller. Lapena's three-dimensional characters lead a great ensemble cast that had me wanting more. And the ending was one surprise after another. This is a great book to add to your Summer reading lists.   

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