Review: What The Dead Know by Laura Lippman
by Jenners • 09/08/2010 • 3.5 Stars, Fiction, L Authors, Mystery/Thriller, W Titles • 24 Comments
This was the first book I read for the RIP V Challenge. Because I don’t want to get too far behind in writing these reviews, I decided to review all my RIP books by answering the the 5Ws―Who, What, When, Where, Why. I’ll also include a Scare-O-Meter.
Scare-O-Meter Rating: 2 screams out of 10 …. or as a scary as the Burger King from the commercials. He is really more creepy and disturbing than scary, I think.
WHAT is this book about?
In 1975, two sisters―15-year-old Sunny Bethany and 11-year-old Heather Bethany―disappear at a local Baltimore shopping mall. Thirty years later, a woman flees the scene of a car accident near Baltimore and, when found, claims to be the youngest Bethany sister. Police aren’t quite sure what to make of her claim due to her reluctance to provide identification or health insurance information. Although she seems to know a lot of details about the case, all of the information she provides results in dead-ends that cannot be verified.
WHO do we meet?
- Miriam and Dave Bethany are Sunny and Heather’s parents. When the girls disappear, their already shaky marriage falls apart as their grief pulls them in two different directions. Dave―who has always dominated the family with his ideas on how things should be―cannot give up the hope that the girls will be found. He stays in the family home―waiting for answers that never come. Miriam, on the other hand, needs to move away in order to escape the tragedy. Her journey eventually takes her to Mexico, where she creates a quiet life for herself―a life where no one knows about her daughters’ disappearance.
- Kevin Infante is a twice-divorced womanizer and the detective assigned to determine if the woman from the car accident really is Heather Bethany. Frustrated by Heather’s stonewalling and leads that don’t answer any of his questions, Infante turns to the original investigator, Chet Willoughby (who now lives in an assisted living center) for assistance. For Willoughby, the Bethany case and its lack of closure haunts him. The opportunity to find out what happened is tantalizing but threatening at the same time―what had he missed during the first investigation?
- Kay is the social worker who tries to help Heather deal with her current legal problems―from helping her to find a lawyer to providing a place to stay. Struggling to stay uninvolved, Kay finds herself questioning her own motives and some of Heather’s actions.
WHEN and WHERE does the book take place?
The book jumps back and forth in time from the present day investigation to the 1975 disappearance and its aftermath. Lippman writes from multiple viewpoints―including Dave, Miriam, Kay, Heather, Infante and Willoughby. This mosaic-like approach is effective in providing the reader with bits and pieces of the mystery as we read along while also providing insights into the minds of the various characters. The bulk of the book takes place in and around Baltimore.
WHY should you read this book?
If you like mysteries that emphasize character development, this would probably be a good choice for you. It isn’t your standard “murder mystery” in that you aren’t really looking to figure out who the killer is. Rather, the mystery is whether the woman claiming to be Heather Bethany is who she says she is and what really happened to the sisters on the day of their disappearance. I thought Lippman did a good job providing bits and pieces of the mystery to keep you interested without giving too much away too soon. I also appreciated that she took the time to develop her characters―although I’m not sure I would want Kevin Infante being assigned to a case I was involved in! Based on this book, I would definitely read another Lippman book.
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I really really dislike that Burger King guy…lol
The book sounds like a good mystery, great review
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That Burger King guy is creepy!
Well, as you know, I had some RIP duds last year (duds as far as the scary or creepy bit). It happens! Glad you still liked the book though.
This one is in my to-read pile!
P.S. I hate the Burger King guy. I used to be terrified of him when I was younger… okay… 16 or so… but still. He's a creep.
This might be up my alley. I like my mysteries light on the scare factor.
I have Lippman's latest waiting on my Nook for me right now… glad to know you like her writing!
Okay, you were really on top of reading this one. I still have the poor thing languishing on my TBR shelf…er shelves to be honest.
I'll only read books with a scare-o-meter of at least an 8. I love scary books and movies! Think I'll pass on this one. But I'll be watching your RIP challenge to see if something GRABS me. Mwwaaaaaa
There definitely is something inherently creepy about the BK man. Euuuuuuwww. I have this book on my to read list for next month. Thanks for highlighting the book. Now I'm looking forward to it.
Sounds a tad complicated. On a different note, I will never think of Burger King in the same way again.
Love the scare-o-meter! You are too clever. The burger king guy totally creeps me out too!
Sounds like an interesting mystery. It's hard to find good mysteries with adequate character development.
This is one of the few audio books that I have had listened to and really enjoyed it BUT..I had to return it to the library before I finished
I hope to finish the book sometime soon, but probably not in time for the challenge.
LOVE the scare-O-meter rating!!
I love your review format for this challenge–and I agree with most of the commenters the Burger King is scary. Especially in light of some of their recent commercials. He's really kind of creepy.
I guess I am a BIG BABY because I find both the Burger King and the premise of this book to be scary enough for me.
Even just the title makes me shiver a little. I could never do that challenge!
This is about how I like my mysteries-light on the scare-o-meter! And yes, that Burger King dude gives me the creeps. Great review, Jenners-I'll have to add it to my list. BTW-I signed up for Paperback Book Swap this weekend after all your great finds!
Aw…disappointing. Her new book sounds good though.
One day I must give Laura Lippman a try… Not sure when that will be, but it will happen!
Though I usually go for murder mysteries, this sounds quite good.
As for the Burger King….I've always found him to be QUITE creepy and disturbing!! It was a bit of a shock to my system to see him on your page. I HATE the way he just appears places!!
The Burger King dude is super creepy! I loved What the Dead Know and I can't wait to read Lippman's new book.
I love your scare o meter. I do love to read about characters, but I also like a bit of mystery solving. Being the wife of a retired Cop, you have no idea how many times he is asked about an old case. I'm really surprised about it. I love your format as well. W 5.
That's the kind of mysteries I like – I don't want to be scared. I'm with Caite, that Burger King will probably give me nightmares.
I happen to find that Burger King very scary and a 10+ on the creepy scale.
as to Lippman, her stand alone books appear to be all about the characters..light on 'real' mysteries.
c'mon!!! you left me hanging here. now i totally want to know if the woman was one of the sisters. argh!
(can you email me a spoiler? lol.)
ps. i LOVE the format of your review. sometimes i just need it broken down like this for diversity sake.