Helpful Score: 10
I just couldn't like this book. The concept is great and the writing style is really good, but I didn't find any of the characters likable. It felt like a chore being with them. I wanted to root for Eliza but she was just there. I know that is probably the point of her character and why she survived, but I just did not enjoy this book. The one character that showed any realness, Trudy, was just cut out in the end.
Helpful Score: 7
Laura Lippman had an interesting concept, based on a true crime story, about the lone survivor of a serial killer. I had trouble understanding why anyone who survived a kidnapping and rape would ever want to communicate in any way ever with her captor. The premise of trying to find out more about cases in which he may have been involved didn't ring true to me - nor did her husband's acquiesence. I also never understood the motives of the woman who acted as the go-between. The behavior of Iso, the victim's daughter, was strange and remained an unresolved issue. This novel had an interesting premise that simply didn't work for me.
Helpful Score: 7
I was disappointed in this book. It never really got my interest to the point of "can't put it down" status. I found it ordinary and kept waiting for the suspense to build as the reviewers on the cover had reported it would. Never did. Not memorable, didn't learn anything, didn't stimulate thought or imagination.
Helpful Score: 7
Although I was quite excited to read this novel, I was a bit disappointed by the slow pace of the book. The story centers around forty-something Eliza Benedict who was kidnapped for a period of six weeks when she was 15 years old. Now, Walter Bowman, the individual who kidnapped her has managed to send her a letter despite the fact that he is on death row and awaiting execution for the murder of two girls. Told in present day and interspersed with flashbacks, the story details the abduction, Eliza's life with her husband and two kids and her inexplicable pull towards the man who abducted her. I thought the book lacked life to the characters and it was quite dull. The characters were lackluster which is shocking considering the subject matter. I found this book quite dull despite the hype of it being an excellent book.
Helpful Score: 5
This is a good, face paced thriller, with highly unlikeable characters. The woman (who I guess is considered the heroine) is so weak that you want to yell at her throught he book, the rest of the "cast" is not much better. This is one of the few books that I enjoyed that had all weak, spineless characters who really had no backbone of anykind and some how comingled in order to make a pretty decent thriller. Go figure!
Helpful Score: 3
Like most of the reviewers here, I was disappointed. The outline of the story sounded like a good suspenseful thriller. While I was riveted, eagerly anticipating when the story would really take off, and read it in a few hours, in the end it was surprisingly dull. Nothing happens when all is said and done. There are no big secrets revealed, no lies uncovered, no threats to overcome, no surprising turn of events, no meaningful change in the life of the lead character, and, most disappointing of all, the story ends up pretty much where it began.
First Line: "Iso, time for---"
After living in England for six years, 38-year-old married mother of two Eliza Benedict has returned with her family to Bethesda, Maryland. In their affluent neighborhood having lived in England has a great deal of cachet. Her teenage daughter, Isobel, is turning into an angry, snobbish stranger while her young son, Albie, is still a lovable little boy who's eager to please. The last thing Eliza ever expected was a letter from Walter Bowman waiting in the mailbox for her.
Back in 1985 when Eliza was fifteen, she was kidnapped and kept for weeks by Walter Bowman as he made a endless road trip through a tri-state area. She is there when Walter abducts and murders another teenage girl, but fortunately is rescued and returned to her parents and sister shortly thereafter. Naturally this experience has had repercussions on Eliza's life and relationships ever since.
Walter is now on death row and ostensibly wants to make amends before his execution. He uses as go-between an advocate for prisoners, Barbara LaFortuny. Eliza knows he has a different agenda-- as she has her own. Lippman alternates chapters between the present and Eliza's nightmare back in 1985, and what unfolds is a masterful novel about fear, manipulation and survival.
After such a horrendous experience, everyone has had the tendency to close ranks around Eliza to protect her. Who wouldn't? But Eliza learns that one of the consequences of this protection is that she's given up a lot of control over her own life.
I love the way Lippman holds each character up to the light like a prism, and moves that prism a bit at a time, uncovering nuances of behavior and thought that had previously been unseen. It's the major reason why opinions about characters can change the further one progresses into the book. The more one sees the character, the more one thinks, and a more reliable opinion is formed. Lippman even had me wavering over Walter Bowman's character until she'd twisted that prism around a few more times.
If you like reading a novel that worms its way into your mind with brilliant plotting and nuanced characterization, I'd Know You Anywhere is a book for you.
After living in England for six years, 38-year-old married mother of two Eliza Benedict has returned with her family to Bethesda, Maryland. In their affluent neighborhood having lived in England has a great deal of cachet. Her teenage daughter, Isobel, is turning into an angry, snobbish stranger while her young son, Albie, is still a lovable little boy who's eager to please. The last thing Eliza ever expected was a letter from Walter Bowman waiting in the mailbox for her.
Back in 1985 when Eliza was fifteen, she was kidnapped and kept for weeks by Walter Bowman as he made a endless road trip through a tri-state area. She is there when Walter abducts and murders another teenage girl, but fortunately is rescued and returned to her parents and sister shortly thereafter. Naturally this experience has had repercussions on Eliza's life and relationships ever since.
Walter is now on death row and ostensibly wants to make amends before his execution. He uses as go-between an advocate for prisoners, Barbara LaFortuny. Eliza knows he has a different agenda-- as she has her own. Lippman alternates chapters between the present and Eliza's nightmare back in 1985, and what unfolds is a masterful novel about fear, manipulation and survival.
After such a horrendous experience, everyone has had the tendency to close ranks around Eliza to protect her. Who wouldn't? But Eliza learns that one of the consequences of this protection is that she's given up a lot of control over her own life.
I love the way Lippman holds each character up to the light like a prism, and moves that prism a bit at a time, uncovering nuances of behavior and thought that had previously been unseen. It's the major reason why opinions about characters can change the further one progresses into the book. The more one sees the character, the more one thinks, and a more reliable opinion is formed. Lippman even had me wavering over Walter Bowman's character until she'd twisted that prism around a few more times.
If you like reading a novel that worms its way into your mind with brilliant plotting and nuanced characterization, I'd Know You Anywhere is a book for you.
Eliza Benedict cherishes her peaceful, ordinary suburban life. She is happily married to her successful husband Peter, and the couple have two precocious children - thirteen-year-old Iso and eight-year-old Albie. Yet Eliza's tranquility is suddenly and inexplicably shattered when she receives a letter from the one person from her past she never thought she would hear from again. He is, in fact, the last person she ever expects - or even wants - to hear from: Walter Bowman.
With his simple statement: "There was your photo, in a magazine. Of course, you are older now. Still, I'd know you anywhere." - Walter Bowman has the disturbing ability to turn strong, self-assured thirty-eight-year-old Eliza Benedict, back into a desperate, frightened teenager named Elizabeth Lerner. In the summer of 1985, when she was fifteen, Eliza was kidnapped by Walter and held hostage for almost six weeks. He had already killed at least one girl by the time he took Eliza, and she always suspected that he had other victims as well.
Now sitting on death row in Virginia for the rape and murder of his final victim - a thirteen-year-old girl - Walter seems to be making a heartfelt act of contrition as his execution nears. Although Eliza wants absolutely nothing to do with him, she has also never forgotten that Walter was always the most unpredictable when he was ignored. Desperate to shield her children from the undisclosed trauma in her past, she cautiously makes contact with Walter. She's actually always wondered why Walter let her live; perhaps now he'll tell her. And finally reveal the truth about his other victims.
Yet, as Walter continues to press Eliza for more frequent contact and a deeper connection, it quickly becomes evident that he has ulterior motives. He wants Eliza to remember what actually happened to her during that long-ago summer. He is after something far greater than forgiveness. He wants her to save his life.
And Eliza, who has worked so hard for her comfortable, cocooned life, will do absolutely anything to protect it...to maintain her hard-won serenity - even if it means finally facing the events of that horrifying summer and the terrible truth she's kept buried deep inside. I'd Know You Anywhere is an edgy, gripping tale of psychological manipulation that will leave readers breathless. This is a tremendous novel about fear, intimidation and survival from the acclaimed, award-winning author Laura Lippman.
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was an incredibly vivid portrayal of the psychological scars that are left behind by a single traumatic experience. Laura Lippman is a new author for me and this is the first of her books that I've ever read, but I will certainly keep her name on top of my wishlist. I give this book a definite A+!
With his simple statement: "There was your photo, in a magazine. Of course, you are older now. Still, I'd know you anywhere." - Walter Bowman has the disturbing ability to turn strong, self-assured thirty-eight-year-old Eliza Benedict, back into a desperate, frightened teenager named Elizabeth Lerner. In the summer of 1985, when she was fifteen, Eliza was kidnapped by Walter and held hostage for almost six weeks. He had already killed at least one girl by the time he took Eliza, and she always suspected that he had other victims as well.
Now sitting on death row in Virginia for the rape and murder of his final victim - a thirteen-year-old girl - Walter seems to be making a heartfelt act of contrition as his execution nears. Although Eliza wants absolutely nothing to do with him, she has also never forgotten that Walter was always the most unpredictable when he was ignored. Desperate to shield her children from the undisclosed trauma in her past, she cautiously makes contact with Walter. She's actually always wondered why Walter let her live; perhaps now he'll tell her. And finally reveal the truth about his other victims.
Yet, as Walter continues to press Eliza for more frequent contact and a deeper connection, it quickly becomes evident that he has ulterior motives. He wants Eliza to remember what actually happened to her during that long-ago summer. He is after something far greater than forgiveness. He wants her to save his life.
And Eliza, who has worked so hard for her comfortable, cocooned life, will do absolutely anything to protect it...to maintain her hard-won serenity - even if it means finally facing the events of that horrifying summer and the terrible truth she's kept buried deep inside. I'd Know You Anywhere is an edgy, gripping tale of psychological manipulation that will leave readers breathless. This is a tremendous novel about fear, intimidation and survival from the acclaimed, award-winning author Laura Lippman.
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was an incredibly vivid portrayal of the psychological scars that are left behind by a single traumatic experience. Laura Lippman is a new author for me and this is the first of her books that I've ever read, but I will certainly keep her name on top of my wishlist. I give this book a definite A+!
I'm a big Laura Lippman fan so was a little disappointed that this novel wasn't the page turner I encountered in reading "And When She Was Good" or "The Most Dangerous Thing". While the story was interesting, and very well written, I just didn't feel a strong connection to the victim Eliza, or even to her tormentor Walter. I'd call this theme more of a psychological tease not a thriller, nor as exciting as the above mentioned books. I'll continue reading Lippman as her style is skillful.
Sometimes the writing in a book is so detailed that I feel like I have to absorb every word. This book fits that description well. Unfortunately, that made this book a bit of a chore to finish. I definitely liked the story line, but it dragged out at times, and I found myself getting bored quickly. I could only read a few pages at a time so it took me weeks to finally finish this one.
I wanted to know how it would end though, especially knowing it was based off of a true story. It intrigues me to hear what happened in real life that inspired this book, but I felt a bit cheated that the author wouldn't give away the details of the actual crime. I felt like that was a bit strange. Why was that information so secretive?
One of my biggest issues with this book was that I felt like it included random information that wasn't actually important. For instance, there were references to the main character's daughter having issues in school, but I felt like that added nothing to the overall plot. It left me questioning why it was mentioned at all.
Overall, I would give this 2.5 stars. I liked the idea of the book and felt it was fairly well written, but it was very dry and slow moving so I almost lost interest along the way.
I wanted to know how it would end though, especially knowing it was based off of a true story. It intrigues me to hear what happened in real life that inspired this book, but I felt a bit cheated that the author wouldn't give away the details of the actual crime. I felt like that was a bit strange. Why was that information so secretive?
One of my biggest issues with this book was that I felt like it included random information that wasn't actually important. For instance, there were references to the main character's daughter having issues in school, but I felt like that added nothing to the overall plot. It left me questioning why it was mentioned at all.
Overall, I would give this 2.5 stars. I liked the idea of the book and felt it was fairly well written, but it was very dry and slow moving so I almost lost interest along the way.
I really enjoyed this book. I think the only thing that keeps it from being spectacular is that it does drag. It's sad, emotional and very disturbing. I found it hard to put down.
From Booklist *Starred Review* Award-winning Lippman continues to send depth charges into the sea of crime fiction, taking measure of psychic pain in the wake of violence, and the mysteries of memory. After living in England, Eliza has returned to the Washington, D.C., area where she grew up with her successful husband and their sneaky 13-year-old daughter and sweet young son. Some might consider full-time housewife Eliza a throwback and oddly passive, yet as Lippman slowly reveals, she is actually a woman of considerable, if covert, wisdom and strength. Elizas story unfolds in two time frames. One exposes the profound complexity of her horrifying ordeal in 1985 when, at age 15, she was kidnapped and held hostage by Walter, a brooding, diabolically enthralling mechanic on a bloody spree, raping and murdering young women. The other tracks Elizas response when Walter, on Death Row just weeks away from his execution, manages to once again exert his sinister, manipulative powers. Stoked by stinging dialogue and arresting evocations of the fog of fear, doubt, and guilt versus the laser-lock pursuit of survival, Lippmans taut, mesmerizing, and exceptionally smart drama of predator and prey is at once unusually sensitive and utterly compelling. --Donna Seaman --
I found this book to be a good read. It held my interest throughout the characters were likeable...Overall a well written book.
Why in the world would anyone ever agree to talk with the person who kidnapped and raped you? Just say no. To the person and this book. Couldn't believe it enough to get into it.
