Review: I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
by Jenners • 11/06/2010 • 4 Stars, Fiction, I Titles, L Authors, Mystery/Thriller • 41 Comments
1 book I read listened to―I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
2 words that describe the book―Psychological gamesmanship
3 settings or characters I met
- In and around Maryland and Virginia, modern day and 1985
- Eliza Benedict has gone to great lengths to distance herself from her past identity as Elizabeth Lerner. Only a few people in the world know what happened to Eliza during the summer she was 15, and Eliza has done everything she can to keep it that way. So when a letter arrives one day from the man who abducted her that summer saying that he saw her photo in a magazine and that he’d know her anywhere, Eliza is rocked to her core. Desperate to keep this man in her past and prevent her children from knowing what happened to her, Eliza tries to “play nice” to keep the past in the past. However, the letter writer has an agenda of his own.
- Walter Bowman has been on death row longer than any other man in Virginia. As his execution day looms, he reaches out to Eliza in an attempt to convince her that he is not the same man as the one who abducted her and murdered another girl—he says he’s changed and remorseful. Using a woman who advocates for the rights of death row inmates as his go-between with Eliza, Walter begins a carefully choreographed dance to bring Eliza back into his world and back to the days that they spent together back in 1985.
4 things I liked or disliked about the book:
- I liked how Lippman developed the relationship between Eliza and Walter. The book alternates between the modern day and the events of 1985, and we slowly get a glimpse of the complicated relationship that develops between Eliza and Walter. It is a relationship that few understand, including Eliza herself. I doubt that either Walter or Eliza understand exactly how they feel about each other. I thought Lippman did a good job of making Walter sympathetic enough that you can understand how their relationship evolved the way it did.
- I like how Lippman used the secondary characters in the book. Although the story is primarily told from Walter and Eliza’s point of view, Lippman also includes two other characters: Barbara LaFortuny (a prisoner’s advocate convinced that Walter is a changed man and doesn’t deserve to die) and Trudy Tackett (the mother of Holly Tackett, the girl Walter was convicted of murdering). Both Barbara and Trudy are angry at Eliza for different reasons, and their anger acts as a catalyst that forces Eliza to go back and revisit those days she swore to leave behind. Both Barbara and Trudy have their own distinct voices, and you can see how their strong personalities are a contrast to Eliza’s most passive approach to life.
- I liked how Lippman developed the characters of Eliza’s children, Albie and Iso. They rang true to me (especially Iso’s moody descent into being a teenager), and I appreciated that Lippman took the time to write about Eliza’s challenges as a mother throughout the book. It helped make the book feel more “lived in.”
- This was the first time I listened to a “professional” audiobook production. (Previously, I’d listened to amateur readers from LibriVox. Don’t get me wrong … I think it is great what LibriVox is doing, but the results can be a little uneven.) It made a huge difference, and I now see why so many of you are audiobook fans. The book was read by Linda Edmond, and I thought she did a terrific job. For a female narrator, I thought she did a good job creating a voice for Walter, and her Iso voice was pitch-perfect. I found her reading “easy on the ears,” and she did a good job of making the nuances of various phrases come alive. In fact, I would say that listening to this book may have actually elevated it in my eyes more so than if I had read it in “real” book form. I’m now curious to try more audiobooks and am considering a membership in Audible. Any “can’t miss” recommendations for me to listen to? (Sandy: Please limit yourself to just five.)
5 stars or less for my rating
I’m giving the book 4 stars. This was the second Lippman book I read this year, and I think I preferred this to What The Dead Know. The relationship between Walter and Eliza was compelling, and it made me want to know what happened between them then and now. If you enjoy psychological suspense, I think this would be a good read. Lippman raises some interesting ideas during the course of the book, and it always kept my attention (which audiobooks in the past have not been able to do).
The Whys and Wheres: I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from Audible.com to give a “professional” audiobook a try and because Amazon gave me two free downloads to try out the Audible service.
Picked this book up at the library the other day. I thought I recognized the author from your blog. It was a good read. I couldn’t put it down. Which is a good thing since this new baby is waking me up in the middle of the night and not letting me sleep. I like these kind of books. I think because of you I also read Room, which I really enjoyed, too.
Four stars! Another great recommendation!
I have never tried audio books, but I think this one sounds like it would keep my interest based on your thoughts here. I’m wondering about jumping into the audio book section too. There is something about the right voice making a story truly jump off the page that makes me very intrigued.
It was an enlightening experience for me to listen to a book. The right narrator can make it come alive in a way I hadn’t realized. The one I am listening to now is really well done too … and read by the author.
I know the free audiobook services are great for those in need but I don’t listen to them. I’ve listened to hundreds and hundreds of audiobooks and nothing beats a professional production. Do you know about audiobook jukebox? YOu can find almost 1500 reviews of audiobooks and narrators. You can link up your own reviews. Anyway, give me a genre or two and I’ll give you audiobook suggestions. BTW: I’ve been a member of auidble for years and have had no complaints.
http://audiobookjukebox.blogspot.com/
You are wonderful! Thanks for the tips. And I suppose I’m partial to a good mystery or thriller … they are fun to listen to in audio form I think. If you have suggestions in this category, I’d love to hear them.
my blogging friend sent me this book just this week. thanks for the review.
Oh neat! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Oh I’m so glad you’ve tried ‘professional’ now and liked it!!! I’ve been with audible for a few months now and am such a huge fan! The downloads are great when I can’t sleep or I’m cooking or I’m walking the dog or, or, or…..
some of my favorites so far have actually been non-fiction:
59 seconds by Richard Wiseman, The Watchman’s Rattle by Rebecca Costa and Mindsight by Daniel Siegel
fiction? Book of Souls by Glen Cooper and In the Woods by Tana French
enjoy your audiobooks!
Thanks for the recommendations. And I’m very happy with Audible so far.
I also listened to this one from audible.com and enjoyed it. It was my first Lippman and now I am listening to two more of hers (one in the kitchen and one in the car….. yes… I have a problem
You do have a problem … but a good one!
Eliza sounds like a character in a Gerritson book. Sounds like one I’d read. I have read one Lippman and liked it.
I know Lippman has a whole series of Tess Monaghan books but I’ve never read them … yet.
On the History Cahnnel, when the actors like Rob Lowe read letters written by soldiers in WWII it gives me chills. I can imagine a novel read by a professional might have the same effect.
Exactly. It makes a difference when a trained actor reads something rather than us regular folks.
Sandy recently turned me on to audio books too, and I always pay close attention to the ones that she raves about. I read this a few months ago and thought it was very good. It was my second Lippman, and I find her books to have a more literary feel than most thrillers out there. I would say to go for it in respect to the audible membership. We just got one ourselves, and are listening to Davis Sedaris right now. They have a huge selection and that’s exactly what I am looking for when it comes to audio books. Our next is probably going to be Packing For Mars from Mary Roach.
Hmmm…you’ve got some good suggestions there. I’ve heard David Sedaris is even funnier when you listen to him. And I think Sandy turns more people onto audiobooks than anyone else … she is just so enthusiastic about them.
I haven’t read a Lippman book yet, but your review of What the Dead Know intrigued me so I checked that one out from the library. I haven’t gotten to it yet, but if I like it, I’ll definitely be picking this one up.
I haven’t attempted an audio book yet. I don’t know why, but maybe I’ll have to try one. It would be nice to get through more books.
I resisted audiobooks for so long but reading about them on various blogs wore me down and I tried them again. They are a great way to make mundane chores go by faster.
Professional productions of audiobooks rock. I love the Harry Potter audios – they are my absolute favorites. I also enjoyed Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen, Life of Pi by Yann Martel (the Indian accent of the reader is enjoyable), and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (the BBC dramatic productions are my favorite for this entire series, but the regular narrated versions are good too).
Thanks for all the good recommendations. I’ve heard such good things about the Harry Potter series.
Hmm, perhaps its about time I gave audiobooks another try.
I was surprised how much difference a good reader can make … but I guess that should be obvious.
I agree with your take on the book and would rate it just about where you did..
We’re simpatico! (I love that word and don’t get to use it enough.)
I’ve read many good reviews for this novel. it’s on the TBR list I keep – you know that list? The one that never gets shorter?
I’m a recent convert to audiobooks. Results have been mostly favorable (I think they’re all professional productions). I’ll put this title on the TBR audiobook list
Another recent convert! It does make mundane tasks more bearable I think.
And if your TBR list ever gets short, I would be worried!
I used to listen to ‘Radio Reader’ while I was at work. It was/is a 30 minute reading program on public radio. That show convinced me that I could be a fan of audiobooks.
I think my first audiobook at home was The Accidental Tourist. I listened to it while washing windows and wiping down baseboards…audiobooks are great for Spring cleaning a room!
I’ve never listened to one by a non-professional reader – I’ll have to give it a try.
I did find that it is a great way to make boring tasks (exercise, driving, cleaning) go by much quicker. I’d be curious what you think of the “free” audiobooks out there. The LibriVox books are read by volunteer readers and alternate each chapter and I found it offputting.
I like the way you did yours review! Mine will be up early next week. You described Eliza & Walter’s relationship perfectly. I was surprised that I felt sympathetic for Walter, too. He really annoyed me at times, too, but he was pretty sad and pathetic.
I’m sorry that I cannot recommend any audibooks for you, but I know Sandy will be able to give you some great ideas…even more than 5 if you want!
I have an audibook of Case Histories by Kate Atkinson that I’m looking forward to listening too You are more than welcome to it when I’m finished with it!
~ Amy
Oh I loved Case Histories!!! (I read it earlier this year.) I think you’ll love it!! Can’t wait to read your review of this book.
This does sound good, but I think I would have to go the print route. I’ve listened to audio books some in the past, but overall I prefer print. My mind tends to wander when listening and I sometimes have to rewind to pick up something I’ve missed.
I’ve had that problem in the past too. I do admit I can focus only when I’m doing something that requires no thought like “walking” as “exercise.”
This book is right up my reading alley!
I LOVED this book. Like you said, Eliza and Walter’s relationship was compelling. I love Lippman.
I was surprised how much I kind of got sympathetic with Walter considering everything he did.
I think I need to read this. I have never *listened* to fiction though, don’t know if I could do that without stopping by the side of the road every 5 minutes. So I probably should get the book.
It was a new experience for me, and I was amazed how much I could actually concentrate on it.
I’m a fan of Lippman’s work, so I’m looking forward to reading this one.
It was quite involving. It makes me want to read more of her books.