Category Archives: Shari Lapena

July 26, 2020 · 11:57 pm

Review: The End of Her by Shari Lapena

Title: The End of Her by Shari Lapena
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Mystery
Length: 347 pages
Book Rating: C

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

The new domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and Someone We Know

A long-ago accident–and a vistor from out of the blue. . .

Stephanie and Patrick are adjusting to life with their colicky twin girls. The babies are a handful, but even as Stephanie struggles with the disorientation of sleep deprivation, there’s one thing she’s sure of: she has all she ever wanted.

Then Erica, a woman from Patrick’s past, appears and makes a disturbing accusation. Patrick had always said his first wife’s death was an accident, but now Erica claims it was murder.

Patrick insists he’s innocent, that this is nothing but a blackmail attempt. Still, Erica knows things about Patrick–things that make Stephanie begin to question her husband. Stephanie isn’t sure what, or who, to believe. As Stephanie’s trust in Patrick begins to falter, Patrick stands to lose everything. Is Patrick telling the truth–is Erica the persuasive liar Patrick says she is? Or has Stephanie made a terrible mistake?

How will it end?

Review:

The End of Her by Shari Lapena is an intriguing domestic mystery.

Stephanie Kilgour is the sleep deprived mom of colic stricken twin girls. Her husband, Patrick, helps as much as he can during the evenings with their inconsolable babies. Barely coping, Stephanie is stunned when Patrick informs her of the accusations leveled against him by his deceased first wife’s friend Erica Voss.  Reeling from these before unknown details of his previous life,  Stephanie is even more shocked by the next bit of news he tells her. Despite Patrick’s assertions that Erica is a lying, manipulative woman, Stephanie begins harboring doubts about her husband. As Erica ups the ante with her wild claims, will Stephanie unearth the truth about her husband and his past?

Stephanie stays home to care for the babies and she stumbles through her days in a daze of exhaustion.  Patrick’s confessions add to her stress and she is so wound up she finds it impossible to sleep.  When strange things begin occurring, Stephanie starts blaming herself for making careless mistakes.  Is there a logical reason for these missteps? Or is there a more sinister explanation?

Patrick is already struggling to keep up with his end of the business he co-owns with Niall Foote. He too is exhausted with helping Stephanie deal with their colicky babies.  Patrick is horrified when Erica shows up at his office and he is mystified when she pretends not to know him.  He is wary of her sudden presence and he is even more skeptical of some of her claims.  Patrick is fully aware she could destroy the life he has built but is there any truth to what she saying?

Erica thrives on stirring up trouble and she goes after Patrick with a vengeance.  She sets her plan in motion and delights in sitting back and watching her targets suffer. Erica is a little surprised by some of the reactions to her machinations and she always seems to have another plan waiting in the wings.  But is Erica fully prepared for the culmination of her schemes?

The End of Her is an perplexing domestic mystery. The storyline is interesting but slow-paced and several passages are repetitive. The characters lack development and none of them are particularly likable.  With late in the story, unbelievable plot twists, Shari Lapena brings the mystery to an unpredictable conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Mystery, Pamela Dorman Books, Rated C, Review, Shari Lapena, The End of Her

July 24, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

Title: Someone We Know by Shari Lapena
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

The new domestic suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, Shari Lapena

Maybe you don’t know your neighbors as well as you thought you did . . . 

“This is a very difficult letter to write. I hope you will not hate us too much. . . My son broke into your home recently while you were out.”

In a quiet, leafy suburb in upstate New York, a teenager has been sneaking into houses–and into the owners’ computers as well–learning their secrets, and maybe sharing some of them, too.

Who is he, and what might he have uncovered? After two anonymous letters are received, whispers start to circulate, and suspicion mounts. And when a woman down the street is found murdered, the tension reaches the breaking point. Who killed her? Who knows more than they’re telling? And how far will all these very nice people go to protect their own secrets?

In this neighborhood, it’s not just the husbands and wives who play games. Here, everyone in the family has something to hide . . .

You never really know what people are capable of.

Review:

Someone We Know by Shari Lapena is an ingeniously plotted, suspenseful mystery.

When a murder rocks a quiet neighborhood, the residents are quick to place the blame on the husband of the victim. Because, after all, they are newcomers to town and the beautiful wife is quite the flirt. But as the murder investigation progresses, the secrets of the friends and neighbors are slowly, but surely, revealed. But, do any of these revelations point to the murderer’s identity?

Robert Pierce grows concerned about his wife Amanda when she fails to return home from a girls’ weekend.  He reports her disappearance to the police who do not put much effort into searching for the missing woman. Has Amanda gone missing by her own choice or is there a more nefarious reason for her disappearance?

Olivia Sharpe is happily married with a teenage age son.  But her life is about to become extremely complicated after she inadvertently reads a text on her son Raleigh’s phone. His explanation is shocking but she and her husband Paul quickly contact a lawyer for advice.  However, unbeknownst to Paul or Raleigh, Olivia has made a fateful decision that leads their neighbor to begin some amateur sleuthing of her own.

After a shocking discovery, Detectives Moen and Webb begin their murder investigation by questioning the victim’s husband and their neighbors. Secrets are slowly unearthed and people’s lives are turned upside down as these hidden truths come to light. With each new lead, Moen and Webb question potential suspects in hopes of finding the killer. But will any of the people they question prove to be guilty of anything except poor judgment and questionable morals?

Someone We Know is a brilliantly plotted mystery with imaginative twists and sly turns. Just as Webb and Moen think they have solved the crime, new information casts doubt on their theories. With the suspect pool growing then shrinking as each new lead is investigated,  Shari Lapena cleverly keeps the perpetrator’s identity and motive for the crime under wraps until the novel’s shocking dénouement.  I absolutely loved and highly recommend this clever domestic mystery to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Contemporary, Mystery, Pamela Dorman Books, Rated B+, Review, Shari Lapena, Someone We Know, Suspense

August 12, 2018 · 11:56 pm

Review: An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

Title: An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

The twisty new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and A Stranger in the House

A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting away

It’s winter in the Catskills and Mitchell’s Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing–maybe even romantic–weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery.

So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity–and all contact with the outside world–the guests settle in for the long haul.

Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead–it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic.

Within the snowed-in paradise, something–or someone–is picking off the guests one by one. And there’s nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm.

Review:

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena is an atmospheric murder mystery set at a secluded inn in the Catskills.

Ten guests arrive for a weekend at Mitchell’s Inn in the midst of a winter storm which leaves them cut off from the outside world. Inn owner James Harwood and his son Bradley are short-staffed due to the storm but they creatively provide for their weekend guests. The first evening is off to a festive beginning as each of the visitors enjoy one another’s company. But there is a layer of unease that runs beneath their interactions with some of the attendees taking an instant dislike to some of their fellow guests. Others notice that things appear to be a little off with some their companions.  At the evening’s end, everyone adjourns to the rooms for the night, but morning brings a shocking surprise. One of the guests is found dead at the base of the stairs and it quickly becomes apparent that the death might not be an accident. With the wind howling, no electricity and no way of contacting the authorities, tensions mount when the killer strikes again. With no apparent motive for murders or connection between the guests, everyone is soon casting a suspicious eye toward the remaining members of the group.

Gwen Delaney is hoping the getaway is just what her college friend Riley Shuter needs to recover from her years of reporting from combat zones. Although both women were journalism majors in college, Gwen works for PR firm. Their friendship has survived through the intervening years and while Riley knows Gwen’s darkest (and most shameful) secret, she is not as forthcoming about the troubles she is experiencing from her career.

Lauren Day and her companion Ian Beeton are looking forward to spending the weekend together. Lauren is sharp-eyed and observant while Ian is more friendly and outgoing. Although Lauren is a bit restless as she ponders her future with Ian, the couple are enjoying their weekend getaway. However, as the weekend progresses, they are dismayed to learn they do not know one another as well as they would like.

Dana Hart and her fiancé Matthew Hutchinson are in the midst of planning their upcoming wedding. Matthew is hoping the break will provide Dana the opportunity to relax and recharge since she is wound a little tight as they enter the homestretch of wedding planning.

Beverly Sullivan is convinced the weekend away will put the spark back in her twenty year marriage to Henry. They have grown apart over the years and with their kids almost ready to leave the nest, she knows it is time to rebuild their connection. However, she is dismayed to discover that Henry is not too keen to spend time with her but she is undeterred as she continues with her plans.

Candice White is an author who is taking advantage of her time away from her caretaker duties to work on her current novel. She does not interact much with the other guests but she is extremely observant as she joins them for meals. Candice continues to keep to herself even after the discovery of the first victim.

David Paley is a defense attorney who has a lot to mull over during his stay at Mitchell’s Inn. He is immediately drawn to Gwen but Riley is not exactly his biggest fan. After the discovery of the first dead body, he becomes the de facto leader  due to his experience with the criminal justice system.

Rounding out the cast of characters are Bradley and James. Bradley is in his early twenties and he yearns for a life away from the isolated inn. James is a widower whose concern for Bradley intensifies over the course of the weekend. He notices little things about his son’s behavior that make him a little uneasy since Bradley was involved in a spot of trouble in the past.

An Unwanted Guest is a very clever and well-written mystery with a wonderful old-fashioned storyline. The cast of characters is diverse but some of them downright impossible to like. The setting is absolutely outstanding and the isolation leads to some very stressful situations as suspicions mount among the survivors.  Shari Lapena brilliantly keeps the perpetrator’s identity and motive the murders under wraps until the novel’s twist-filled and jaw-dropping conclusions. This spellbinding whodunit is sure to be a hit with readers of the genre.

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Filed under An Unwanted Guest, Contemporary, Mystery, Pamela Dorman Books, Rated B, Review, Shari Lapena, Suspense

August 22, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Title: The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 313 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Penguin’s First to Read Program

Summary:

How well do you know the couple next door? Or your husband? Or even—yourself?  

People are capable of almost anything. . . 

A domestic suspense debut about a young couple and their apparently friendly neighbors—a twisty, rollercoaster ride of lies, betrayal, and the secrets between husbands and wives. . . 

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.

Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco  soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they’ve kept for years.

What follows is the nerve-racking unraveling of a family—a chilling tale of  deception, duplicity, and unfaithfulness that will keep you breathless until the final shocking twist.

Review:

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena is a suspense-laden mystery about a parents’ worst fear: a kidnapped child.  In this case, the missing child is a six month old baby and the police uncover few leads which gives the novel an overwhelming sense of urgency as the search continues.

Anne and Marco Conti are, by all appearances, happily married and devoted to their baby Cora.  They live in a rather affluent neighborhood and their home is beautifully and tastefully decorated.  Marco is a self-made man who owns his own business and Anne is a stay at home mom to their daughter.  With plans to go their next door neighbors Cynthia and Graham Stillwell’s home for a birthday party, they are dismayed by their sitter’s last minute cancellation.   Anne offers to stay home to care for Cora, but Marco convinces her to attend the celebration.  Armed with the baby monitor and taking turns checking in on Cora every thirty minutes, Anne and Marco are stunned when they return home to discover the front standing open and their baby is missing.  What possible motive would anyone have to kidnap their daughter?  Detective Rashbach is called in to investigate and he has quite a few theories about what happened but will any of them pan out?

Scratch below the surface and it is quickly obvious all is not perfect with Anne and Marco.  Both are quite distraught about their daughter’s disappearance and while at first they present a united front, doubts soon begin to creep in.  Following the birth of their daughter, their marriage has become strained and Anne is having trouble coping with a fussy baby and a lack of adult interaction.  Marco’s business has fallen on very tough times and he feels helpless when trying to help Anne through her difficulties.  Both are keeping secrets from the other and Anne becomes increasingly convinced her husband’s relationship with next door neighbor Cynthia might go beyond friendship.  With the couple’s complicated family dynamics with Anne’s wealthy parents, Anne’s complex history and Marco’s growing desperation his business will fail, Anne and Marco grow suspicious of one another as days pass with no news about their missing baby.

Detective Rashbach senses Anne and Marco are holding something back and he is immediately convinced one or both of them might be involved in the kidnapping.  His suspicions grow when they turn up little evidence in the house and he takes a much closer look at the baby’s parents.  He uncovers possibly incriminating evidence but with nothing to support his theories, he is unable to leverage either of them into confessing.  While it appears Rashbach is just going through the motions, there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes that might just blow the case wide open.

By the midpoint of The Couple Next Door, the first major plot twist occurs and it becomes quite intriguing anticipating  what is going to happen next.  However this is just the first of many unexpected twists and turns and after a puzzling murder occurs, it is clear that things have spun out of control.  The next major revelation is jaw-dropping but hold to your hat, because the wild ride is not quite over.  Another shocking  discovery is on the way and boy is it is humdinger.  The denouement is convoluted yet easy to follow and Shari Lapena  brings the novel to an absolutely stunning conclusion.  All in all, a solid debut that mystery lovers will enjoy.

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Filed under Contemporary, Mystery, Pamela Dorman Books, Rated B, Review, Shari Lapena, Suspense, The Couple Next Door