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A review by saareman
What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena
4.0
Don't Try This in a Small Town
Review of the NetGalley Kindle ARC ebook (downloaded July 5, 2024) in advance of the Doubleday Canada hardcover/ebook/audiobook release (July 30, 2024).
This latest suspense thriller from Shari Lapena takes place in a Vermont small town & farming community. The strangled body of a popular 17-year-old daughter of a single parent mother is found in a farmer's field. She had been dating a popular high-school football player and to the best of everyone's knowledge the couple were thought to be close. No one appeared to have a reason to murder her.
But both the school and the town hold secrets and gradually potential suspects come to light as the State Police interview school teachers and students, families and friends. The POV changes constantly as we hear the innermost thoughts of the characters. They all seem innocent of the murder at first, although other crimes of commission or omission are gradually revealed. Someone must be lying though, and author Lapena does the misdirection very well to keep you guessing until the final twist.
There is a paranormal aspect which is introduced quite early, so I would say this is not a spoiler. The spirit / ghost of the murdered girl observes the action periodically and comments on it. The trauma of the actual assault has blocked their memory though, so they are not able to reveal the culprit. I've only read a non-paranormal Shari Lapena [[book:Not a Happy Family|56366617] (2021)] previously, and I don't think it is trick she otherwise has used. Some readers may find it to be not very realistic though. I could see for story purposes that it does allow for an otherwise untold POV, which becomes more significant as the book progresses.
My thanks to author Shari Lapena, publisher Doubleday Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.
Review of the NetGalley Kindle ARC ebook (downloaded July 5, 2024) in advance of the Doubleday Canada hardcover/ebook/audiobook release (July 30, 2024).
This latest suspense thriller from Shari Lapena takes place in a Vermont small town & farming community. The strangled body of a popular 17-year-old daughter of a single parent mother is found in a farmer's field. She had been dating a popular high-school football player and to the best of everyone's knowledge the couple were thought to be close. No one appeared to have a reason to murder her.
But both the school and the town hold secrets and gradually potential suspects come to light as the State Police interview school teachers and students, families and friends. The POV changes constantly as we hear the innermost thoughts of the characters. They all seem innocent of the murder at first, although other crimes of commission or omission are gradually revealed. Someone must be lying though, and author Lapena does the misdirection very well to keep you guessing until the final twist.
There is a paranormal aspect which is introduced quite early, so I would say this is not a spoiler. The spirit / ghost of the murdered girl observes the action periodically and comments on it. The trauma of the actual assault has blocked their memory though, so they are not able to reveal the culprit. I've only read a non-paranormal Shari Lapena [[book:Not a Happy Family|56366617] (2021)] previously, and I don't think it is trick she otherwise has used. Some readers may find it to be not very realistic though. I could see for story purposes that it does allow for an otherwise untold POV, which becomes more significant as the book progresses.
My thanks to author Shari Lapena, publisher Doubleday Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.