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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Merrimon Book Reviews
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I'd Know You Anywhere
by Laura Lippman
Exquisite!
Even
today, 38 year old Eliza Benedict struggles to feel safe in her life as
a suburban housewife. When she was 15 years old, Eliza was
kidnapped and held hostage by Walter Bowman, a man now on death
row. Out of the blue, Eliza receives a letter from Bowman.
What does he want? More importantly, what does she
want? Does she have any responsibility to allow him the
opportunity to make amends before his scheduled execution? Part
of Eliza wants to know why she was spared, the only victim that Bowman
did not kill. Another part of her wants to put the past behind
her and try the best she can to live a normal life. Bowman's
statement "I'd Know You Anywhere" resonates in eerie tones in a woman
who struggles to remain unnoticeable in many ways to protect herself,
and yet, his words also draw her. As the execution clock ticks
down, Eliza struggles within herself to find answers while not falling
prey to the dynamics which kept her his hostage so many yeas ago.
Laura Lippman's stand alone novel I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE is an
outstanding work of psychological suspense. Laura Lippman
keeps a reader on the edge from beginning to end. Can Walter be
believed? Even more, can one trust Eliza's motives and
responses? Does Eliza know herself enough to even know her own
motives? The central questions become more complex as advocate
Barbara LaFortuny enters the scene. Who is manipulating
whom? Laura Lippman's characters are rich, the plot and emotional
twists exciting, and the suspense gripping. I'D KNOW
YOU ANYWHERE does an excellent job in its portrayal of victim and
perpetrator while creating multi-faceted, not stereotypical,
characters. As discussed in the author note at the book's end,
Laura Lippman approaches the issue of the death penalty by presenting
characters on all sides rather than telling a reader what s/he should
believe. Personally, I most appreciated the author's ability to
let her readers to think for themselves. Leaving polemics aside
makes the story richer as story. I suppose if a reader has an
absolute view one way or another, one might prefer a book aligned to
one's own views. Laura Lippman fans who enjoy the author's
writing style and vision as much as the Tess Monaghan characters will
love this book. If, however, your chief interest is in the Tess
Monaghan characters and scenarios, I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE
might not appeal as much. Rather than mystery, I'D
KNOW YOU ANYWHERE is a work of psychological suspense. The twists
and turns are as more psychological within the characters than clues to
be unraveled.
I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE is one of the best
books I have read this year. From a true crime story which she
has changed significantly enough to be unrecognizable, the author
creates a stunning work of fiction that looks into crime in a way a
true crime story cannot. Laura Lippman excels in characterization
and suspenseful plotting, in peering inside her characters and
revealing each detail at the perfect pace to keep a reader glued
to the pages. What a magnificently surprising ending!
Outstanding!
Publisher: William Morrow
(May 3, 2011)
Hardcover: August 17, 2010
Author
website
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
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