From Years Past: What The Dead Know

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What The Dead Know by Laura Lippman




Laura Lippman is an author that you know is going to deliver, whose story is going to be interesting and best of all she is going to have an amazing twist at the end. What The Dead Know is the second novel by Laura Lippman that I have had the pleasure of reading. It is about the appearance of one of the Bethany girls, sisters who disappeared almost 30 years previously and were never seen again. Now one of them has returned and she has a story to tell but is reluctant to tell it, afraid of losing her current identity and being exposed to the media. But not everyone understands her logic. She claims her sister is dead, so why doesn’t she want justice? She was released by her captor decades ago, so why is she choosing now to come forward? Why did she wait so long to return home, if not to tell her story? What is the truth and is she even really a Bethany girl?

          A lot of questions were asked and more things were considered as the pages turned in this novel. You got to view all sides of the story, considering the Bethany family, the mystery woman’s past and the detectives then and now who are investigating the case. Doubt around the woman clouds the story but proof in her memories leads the audience to their own conclusions. You wrestle with the possibility of the woman lying throughout the story but you want to believe her and the past she speaks of. A resolution is what you’re seeking. The knowledge of what truly happened so long ago. You see how the lives of those in the story have been affected and changed and it many ways the changes are heartbreaking. You want to see the end.

          Laura Lippman took you to a time and place in these characters lives that could not be predicted. She wrote an interesting novel that keeps you turning the pages. Delving in the past after living in the future did become tiring at some points. As much as you wanted to know what happened in the past, you want the mystery woman to tell her story in the present. Her lapses in the past were a great device to keep the audience interested but I personally wanted everything to happen in the now, so all the characters would have a level of understanding about what happened. I would definitely recommend this book if you are in the mood for a fascinating look at how life unfolds after a tragedy. I was not left wanting and I don’t believe any one else will be either.


Comments

  1. The Teacup CottageApril 27, 2013 at 8:56 AM

    Totally adding this one to my list. That sounds like an awesome page turner!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stacie CApril 27, 2013 at 10:57 AM

    You would really like this book! She comes up with some amazing story ideas. Keeps you on your toes.

    ReplyDelete

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