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All That Is Mine I Carry with Me
A mother vanished. A father presumed guilty. There is no proof. There are no witnesses. For the children, there is only doubt. From the New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob. . . .
One afternoon in November 1975, ten-year-old Miranda Larkin comes home from school to find her house eerily quiet. Her mother is missing. Nothing else is out of place. There is no sign of struggle. Her mom's pocketbook remains in the front hall, in its usual spot.
So begins a mystery that will span a lifetime. What happened to Jane Larkin?
Investigators suspect Jane's husband. A criminal defense attorney, Dan Larkin would surely be an expert in outfoxing the police.
But no evidence is found linking him to a crime, and the case fades from the public's memory, a simmering, unresolved riddle. Jane's three children--Alex, Jeff, and Miranda--are left to be raised by the man who may have murdered their mother.
Two decades later, the remains of Jane Larkin are found. The investigation is awakened. The children, now grown, are forced to choose sides. With their father or against him? Guilty or innocent? And what happens if they are wrong?
A tale about family--family secrets and vengeance, but also family love--All That Is Mine I Carry With Me masterfully grapples with a primal question: When does loyalty reach its limit?
One afternoon in November 1975, ten-year-old Miranda Larkin comes home from school to find her house eerily quiet. Her mother is missing. Nothing else is out of place. There is no sign of struggle. Her mom's pocketbook remains in the front hall, in its usual spot.
So begins a mystery that will span a lifetime. What happened to Jane Larkin?
Investigators suspect Jane's husband. A criminal defense attorney, Dan Larkin would surely be an expert in outfoxing the police.
But no evidence is found linking him to a crime, and the case fades from the public's memory, a simmering, unresolved riddle. Jane's three children--Alex, Jeff, and Miranda--are left to be raised by the man who may have murdered their mother.
Two decades later, the remains of Jane Larkin are found. The investigation is awakened. The children, now grown, are forced to choose sides. With their father or against him? Guilty or innocent? And what happens if they are wrong?
A tale about family--family secrets and vengeance, but also family love--All That Is Mine I Carry With Me masterfully grapples with a primal question: When does loyalty reach its limit?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2023
About the author
William Landay
4 books2,433 followersWilliam Landay is the author of All That Is Mine I Carry With Me and three previous novels: Defending Jacob, which won the Strand Critics Award for best mystery novel; The Strangler, listed as a best crime novel of the year by the L.A. Times, Daily Telegraph and others; and Mission Flats, winner of the Dagger Award for best first crime novel. A former assistant district attorney, he lives in Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,228 reviews
June 29, 2023
I cannot find enough words to tell how much I enjoyed this book! It was absolutely worth to wait for William Landay’s upcoming book even though patience is my not my powerful virtue!
This book is unputdownable, gripping page turner with unique story telling and perfect character development. It contains three different books: moving between different time zones, sharing the perspectives of people who are involved into Jane Larkin’s disappearance.
Philip Solomon is the writer ( the author’s alter voice) who suffers from writer’s block. He cannot choose the next subject of his new novel till he meets with his friend Jeff Larkin after 4 decades later.
Jeff is his childhood friend whose life has been tainted by domestic drama: his mother vanished into thin air on November 11, 1975. The entire family waited her to come back to their home ( at least her children expected to reunite with her) Jeff suggests Philip to meet Miriam: her 2 years younger sister ( Philip had a crush on her when they were young) to talk more about their family and after the meeting we get into the family drama a little more!
On November 11, 1975 little Miriam who is only 10 years old comes back to empty home from school, waiting for her mother return. She keeps waiting alone in the dark till her father arrives and notices the authorities!
Jane is missing. Detective Tom Glover puts his entire energy to find her, connecting with little Miriam, suspecting the husband Dan Larkin who is criminal defense attorney.
Detective Glover is not the only one who suspects Dan’s motives. Jane’s sister Katie never liked him. Dan works with the criminals, knowing a lot how to get away with misdemeanors and brutal crimes. He loves to get his way. He’s detail oriented, ambitious, merciless. And after a short time his wife’s disappearance, he already brought his mistress to the home. But there’s no evidence against him. There’s no corpse. No trace of blood. No foul play. Nothing against him.
Miriam crumbles into the pieces, fighting against depression during her entire life as Jeff hates the guts of his father, denying everything as coping mechanism and their elder brother Alex who was a college student during the incident preferred to support their father’s side from the beginning.
What happened to Jane Larkin? Two decades later, they have some answers but they still have the same question: whodunnit? Were those kids raised by a cold blooded killer?
Especially second part of book with the POV of Jane was the most powerful, breathtaking, emotional part makes your blood cold.
Overall: Just like Defending Jacob, this book’s jaw dropping ending makes you speechless.
I highly absolutely extremely recommend it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine - Bantam for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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This book is unputdownable, gripping page turner with unique story telling and perfect character development. It contains three different books: moving between different time zones, sharing the perspectives of people who are involved into Jane Larkin’s disappearance.
Philip Solomon is the writer ( the author’s alter voice) who suffers from writer’s block. He cannot choose the next subject of his new novel till he meets with his friend Jeff Larkin after 4 decades later.
Jeff is his childhood friend whose life has been tainted by domestic drama: his mother vanished into thin air on November 11, 1975. The entire family waited her to come back to their home ( at least her children expected to reunite with her) Jeff suggests Philip to meet Miriam: her 2 years younger sister ( Philip had a crush on her when they were young) to talk more about their family and after the meeting we get into the family drama a little more!
On November 11, 1975 little Miriam who is only 10 years old comes back to empty home from school, waiting for her mother return. She keeps waiting alone in the dark till her father arrives and notices the authorities!
Jane is missing. Detective Tom Glover puts his entire energy to find her, connecting with little Miriam, suspecting the husband Dan Larkin who is criminal defense attorney.
Detective Glover is not the only one who suspects Dan’s motives. Jane’s sister Katie never liked him. Dan works with the criminals, knowing a lot how to get away with misdemeanors and brutal crimes. He loves to get his way. He’s detail oriented, ambitious, merciless. And after a short time his wife’s disappearance, he already brought his mistress to the home. But there’s no evidence against him. There’s no corpse. No trace of blood. No foul play. Nothing against him.
Miriam crumbles into the pieces, fighting against depression during her entire life as Jeff hates the guts of his father, denying everything as coping mechanism and their elder brother Alex who was a college student during the incident preferred to support their father’s side from the beginning.
What happened to Jane Larkin? Two decades later, they have some answers but they still have the same question: whodunnit? Were those kids raised by a cold blooded killer?
Especially second part of book with the POV of Jane was the most powerful, breathtaking, emotional part makes your blood cold.
Overall: Just like Defending Jacob, this book’s jaw dropping ending makes you speechless.
I highly absolutely extremely recommend it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine - Bantam for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium.com
February 22, 2023
Finished…but whew, it was a struggle….
This book languished unfinished on my kindle for weeks until I forced myself to push through. The overwhelmingly positive reviews kept me soldiering on, but this is a perfect example that not every book is for every reader.
Jane Larkin disappears without a trace and her husband Dan is the person of interest, but there is not enough evidence to indict. He lives for decades under the shadow of suspicion, and the devastation for his children, where loyalties are divided, is an appealing premise.
Unfortunately, the repercussions are explored superficially but never in enough depth to make it interesting.
The story is told in very long sections, with one section narrated by the dead woman that felt even longer. I am not a fan of this literary device so this section felt interminable. It's a lazy way for an author to impart information to the reader. Did I mention it was long?
OK, I get it as a stylistic choice, and I could go along with it if it had not been so boring. Much of her narrative is that of an average life, but let’s be honest, most people’s daily lives don’t make for riveting reading. I know my life would put most people to sleep. As did Jane's. Although, unlike Jane, I have an awesome husband. She's still boring, even with a total jerk for a husband.
Also, why did the author make the choice to ditch quotation marks midway though the story. WHY??? ugh
And what was the deal with focusing on the port wine stain on the detective’s face? On, and on, and on….why??? I was like ooh....interesting clue! Nope, wrong. There was no point.
I also didn’t buy the dad’s narration at the end. He has Alzheimer’s but he is very self-aware and cognizant of what is happening. Um. No. That is not how it works. Plus, his POV didn’t give us readers any worthwhile information.
Dan's choice near the end of his life? NOPE! That doesn’t happen at his stage of dementia. I won’t go into details in order to avoid spoilers, but no.
Plus, there was no suspense. There are pages and pages and pages where literally nothing is added to the narrative. There’s no insight into the character’s lives as they deal with their mother’s death and the repercussions of the suspicion on their father. So much unrealized potential.
Take my opinion with a large grain of salt. I'm cranky and definitely on Outlier Island. Many of my friends loved this one but it was a complete miss for me. No book is for everyone.
I loved Defending Jacob so will definitely be in line for the author's next book.
*I received a digital copy of the book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own
This book languished unfinished on my kindle for weeks until I forced myself to push through. The overwhelmingly positive reviews kept me soldiering on, but this is a perfect example that not every book is for every reader.
Jane Larkin disappears without a trace and her husband Dan is the person of interest, but there is not enough evidence to indict. He lives for decades under the shadow of suspicion, and the devastation for his children, where loyalties are divided, is an appealing premise.
Unfortunately, the repercussions are explored superficially but never in enough depth to make it interesting.
The story is told in very long sections, with one section narrated by the dead woman that felt even longer. I am not a fan of this literary device so this section felt interminable. It's a lazy way for an author to impart information to the reader. Did I mention it was long?
OK, I get it as a stylistic choice, and I could go along with it if it had not been so boring. Much of her narrative is that of an average life, but let’s be honest, most people’s daily lives don’t make for riveting reading. I know my life would put most people to sleep. As did Jane's. Although, unlike Jane, I have an awesome husband. She's still boring, even with a total jerk for a husband.
Also, why did the author make the choice to ditch quotation marks midway though the story. WHY??? ugh
And what was the deal with focusing on the port wine stain on the detective’s face? On, and on, and on….why??? I was like ooh....interesting clue! Nope, wrong. There was no point.
I also didn’t buy the dad’s narration at the end. He has Alzheimer’s but he is very self-aware and cognizant of what is happening. Um. No. That is not how it works. Plus, his POV didn’t give us readers any worthwhile information.
Dan's choice near the end of his life? NOPE! That doesn’t happen at his stage of dementia. I won’t go into details in order to avoid spoilers, but no.
Plus, there was no suspense. There are pages and pages and pages where literally nothing is added to the narrative. There’s no insight into the character’s lives as they deal with their mother’s death and the repercussions of the suspicion on their father. So much unrealized potential.
Take my opinion with a large grain of salt. I'm cranky and definitely on Outlier Island. Many of my friends loved this one but it was a complete miss for me. No book is for everyone.
I loved Defending Jacob so will definitely be in line for the author's next book.
*I received a digital copy of the book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own
February 28, 2023
Jane Larkin disappeared on November 12 1975. Her daughter Miranda came home from school and her mother was not there. There is no trace of her, she just vanished. Her pocketbook was found in the front hallway in its usual place.
There is only one suspect and that is Dan Larkin. He is Jane Larkin's husband. He is a criminal defense attorney. He is such a jerk.
Miranda also has two brothers, Jeff and Alex. The three of them are
left to be raised by the man who may have killed their mother.
What happened to Jane Larkin? Did Dan Larkin murder her?
I loved William Landay's book, Defending Jacob!. So I was so excited to get a copy of this book.
This has a slow burn but then the second half is on fire! It is so good.
I felt so sorry for Miranda losing her mom at a young age. She was only ten years old. Dan Larkin was such a jerk. He was a scary liar. All of the characters were done very well.
This is a coming of age story. Its also a family drama, a thriller and a mystery. After you get passed the slow burn its a gripping read. I loved the ending. My jaw dropped to the floor. It was such a great twist. This book Rocked!
I want to thank Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group, Bantam for the copy of this ebook in exchange for a honest review.
There is only one suspect and that is Dan Larkin. He is Jane Larkin's husband. He is a criminal defense attorney. He is such a jerk.
Miranda also has two brothers, Jeff and Alex. The three of them are
left to be raised by the man who may have killed their mother.
What happened to Jane Larkin? Did Dan Larkin murder her?
I loved William Landay's book, Defending Jacob!. So I was so excited to get a copy of this book.
This has a slow burn but then the second half is on fire! It is so good.
I felt so sorry for Miranda losing her mom at a young age. She was only ten years old. Dan Larkin was such a jerk. He was a scary liar. All of the characters were done very well.
This is a coming of age story. Its also a family drama, a thriller and a mystery. After you get passed the slow burn its a gripping read. I loved the ending. My jaw dropped to the floor. It was such a great twist. This book Rocked!
I want to thank Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group, Bantam for the copy of this ebook in exchange for a honest review.
March 7, 2023
Happy Publication Day! (March 7, 2023)
4.5⭐
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for granting my wish! All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is due to be released on March 7. 2023.
On November 12, 1975, ten-year-old Miranda Larkin returned home from school to find her mother gone. Thirty-nine-year-old Jane Larkin was declared missing and her husband criminal defense attorney Dan Larkin, would remain the prime suspect in the eyes of lead investigator Detective Tom Glover but with no evidence or witnesses, Dan was never charged. His children remain divided on their opinions about their father’s role in their mother’s disappearance and needless to say this would complicate their relationships with their father and between themselves in the years to come.
In 2015 author Philip “Phil” Solomon is contacted by his school friend Jeff Larkin after a long gap of forty years and is encouraged by Jeff and his sister Miranda to base his next book on the Jane Larkin case. In the course of his research, Phil talks to different people who knew about the case, revisiting the events that followed the disappearance and the subsequent friction between the family members that has left its shadow even in the present day.
Will Jane’s children ever find out what happened to their mother? Was Dan truly responsible for his wife’s disappearance or was there more to the case than what everyone assumed? How will finally finding out what happened to Jane impact the already fractured Larkin family? Closure.. but at what cost?
Shared through multiple PoVs, All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay follows the members of Jane Larkin’s family through 1975 to the present day. The author captures the tension, heartbreak and conflict that follows in the aftermath of the events of 1975 perfectly – the emotions are real and the characters are distinctive in their voices and reactions. Among her children, the eldest, Alex, leaves for college soon after and we don’t get to know much about his inner thoughts barring the fact that he stands by his father while the younger children, Jeff and Miranda, are conflicted about how they feel about their father and his (presumed) role in their mother’s disappearance. Alex is given a relatively minor role but the remaining characters are very well-written. We witness how the children navigate their way through Jane’s absence, their complicated relationship with their father and how they cope with Jane’s disappearance both as children and how the trauma follows them into their adult years. In contrast, we see Dan, Jane’s cunning, smug and self-assured husband who vehemently denies any involvement in Jane’s disappearance and remains seemingly unaffected by the accusations being thrown his way- from the investigators, Jane’s family and his children. I really liked how the plot is developed at a (relatively) slow yet steady pace, presenting us with different pieces to the puzzle while also allowing us to fill in the blanks as we see fit. Not all our questions are answered but that is all right because the author prepares us for that. As the narrative progresses we are compelled to presume (just like the characters in the story) and predict, but the author waits for you to turn the very last page to give us a finale that will stay with you.
With its crisp writing and fluid narrative, this is a novel that you will not want to put down. Overall, All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay is a compelling read that I would not hesitate to recommend.
February 20, 2024
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House-Ballantine, and William Landay for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 3.7!!**
"We are all sealed up alone. We all carry the center of the universe inside our own heads. It is, for each of us, a point a few inches behind our eyes where the binocular lines of vision converge. Only a narcissist or child is fool enough to believe it."
Jane Larkin: a simple name...but a far from simple woman. One day in 1975, Jane's only daughter Miranda arrives home from school...but something's different. The house has a sense of quiet foreboding, and there's good reason: Jane is nowhere to be found...and doesn't return. Along with her two brothers, Alex and Jeff, the family feels adrift without the anchor of their household...and Jane's husband Dan, a criminal defense attorney in his own right, is the police's first suspect. With tension bubbling beneath the surface and a home filled with secret pain, lies, and familial discord, did Dan use his insider knowledge and his arrogant charm to outwit the police? Or is yet another secret player in the wings responsible for Jane's demise...or will she surface one day, with revenge on her mind?
I have to admit, this cover did not catch my eye, and I probably would have blown right by this title if not for some of the FANTASTIC early reviews for this title from some trusted book friends...and THANK GOODNESS I read them! Landay is such a gifted writer, so thoughtful and clearly devoted to the craft. With this book, he managed to do what so many authors attempt to do but often fall short: he has penned a character driven, slow burn crime fiction tale that ALSO has ALL of the hallmarks of a stunning and emotional work of literary fiction....and it's COMPELLING from page one until its shocking end!
From the scintillating introduction (written by an author character, but it APPEARS to have been written by Landay himself...just brilliant!) onward, Landay quickly builds a cast of characters with clear and distinct voices, all so real you could find them in any quiet suburban neighborhood....but this is the beauty of this story. We hear from Jane herself, as well as the Larkin children and even Dan...but Landay knows how to leave the doors cracked JUST enough to keep you guessing and feeling like each character, despite their relationship to or with Jane, might know SOMETHING they aren't telling everyone else. And this fine veil of sadness and secrecy keeps the family separate...but also strangely unites them.
This book utilizes two devices I normally HATE: long chapters (it's basically divided into 4 long books instead of having chapters) and passages of dialogue with no quotation marks. Well. When I tell you these elements were not only tolerable, but were hardly noticeable, it points yet again to Landay's brilliance and ability to turn a phrase, and keep the reader HOOKED. I can't remember the last crime fiction (rather than psychological thriller) that hooked me in this way, but every time I put this book down for a while, I was still thinking about it...not to mention that the ending of this one is SO visceral and shocking, it played out like I was watching the film version in my mind: just haunting!
I had the good fortune to catch an excerpt of an interview with Landay after completing this book, and one quote of his jumped out at me and summed up the essence of this text perfectly: "I tried in every page and in every creative decision to keep the narrative as close to real life as possible--as close to the uncanny valley where realism overlaps reality, where fiction begins to feel uncomfortably true....Because the best crime stories are not about criminals; they are about us."
Jane Larkin could be any of us...and perhaps there is a little piece of her in ALL of us.
Brilliant and evocative, consider this one a must-read!
4.5 stunning stars, rounded up!
Now available in paperback!!
"We are all sealed up alone. We all carry the center of the universe inside our own heads. It is, for each of us, a point a few inches behind our eyes where the binocular lines of vision converge. Only a narcissist or child is fool enough to believe it."
Jane Larkin: a simple name...but a far from simple woman. One day in 1975, Jane's only daughter Miranda arrives home from school...but something's different. The house has a sense of quiet foreboding, and there's good reason: Jane is nowhere to be found...and doesn't return. Along with her two brothers, Alex and Jeff, the family feels adrift without the anchor of their household...and Jane's husband Dan, a criminal defense attorney in his own right, is the police's first suspect. With tension bubbling beneath the surface and a home filled with secret pain, lies, and familial discord, did Dan use his insider knowledge and his arrogant charm to outwit the police? Or is yet another secret player in the wings responsible for Jane's demise...or will she surface one day, with revenge on her mind?
I have to admit, this cover did not catch my eye, and I probably would have blown right by this title if not for some of the FANTASTIC early reviews for this title from some trusted book friends...and THANK GOODNESS I read them! Landay is such a gifted writer, so thoughtful and clearly devoted to the craft. With this book, he managed to do what so many authors attempt to do but often fall short: he has penned a character driven, slow burn crime fiction tale that ALSO has ALL of the hallmarks of a stunning and emotional work of literary fiction....and it's COMPELLING from page one until its shocking end!
From the scintillating introduction (written by an author character, but it APPEARS to have been written by Landay himself...just brilliant!) onward, Landay quickly builds a cast of characters with clear and distinct voices, all so real you could find them in any quiet suburban neighborhood....but this is the beauty of this story. We hear from Jane herself, as well as the Larkin children and even Dan...but Landay knows how to leave the doors cracked JUST enough to keep you guessing and feeling like each character, despite their relationship to or with Jane, might know SOMETHING they aren't telling everyone else. And this fine veil of sadness and secrecy keeps the family separate...but also strangely unites them.
This book utilizes two devices I normally HATE: long chapters (it's basically divided into 4 long books instead of having chapters) and passages of dialogue with no quotation marks. Well. When I tell you these elements were not only tolerable, but were hardly noticeable, it points yet again to Landay's brilliance and ability to turn a phrase, and keep the reader HOOKED. I can't remember the last crime fiction (rather than psychological thriller) that hooked me in this way, but every time I put this book down for a while, I was still thinking about it...not to mention that the ending of this one is SO visceral and shocking, it played out like I was watching the film version in my mind: just haunting!
I had the good fortune to catch an excerpt of an interview with Landay after completing this book, and one quote of his jumped out at me and summed up the essence of this text perfectly: "I tried in every page and in every creative decision to keep the narrative as close to real life as possible--as close to the uncanny valley where realism overlaps reality, where fiction begins to feel uncomfortably true....Because the best crime stories are not about criminals; they are about us."
Jane Larkin could be any of us...and perhaps there is a little piece of her in ALL of us.
Brilliant and evocative, consider this one a must-read!
4.5 stunning stars, rounded up!
Now available in paperback!!
March 27, 2023
Was I hooked?
YES
Was it problematic?
YES,( for me)
A mystery, a family drama, and a truly emotional journey!
I changed my opinion about what happened to the missing mother, Jane Larkin, many times. Of course, the husband is always a suspect! In this case, he is a criminal defense attorney named Dan Larkin. The three children have their own opinions about whether their father killed their mom. The question in my mind that was always swirling was "Did he do it?" Also, I kept thinking of the real life trial of Alex Murdaugh who was also accused of murdering his wife (he was found guilty).
There is a very meta feel to the way the story unfolds from the pov of a writer who tells parts of this story and I really enjoyed that aspect. Miranda was my favorite character and she surprised me all the way to the end.
A slow burn, character driven family drama. There were parts that seemed to wander into mundane conversations, this had me wanting to skim. I didn't need all the meaningless banter, get to the point please! I wanted more suspense and a more even pace, with no meandering.
The biggest shock for me came around the halfway point and it was RIVETING!
I had to know how it would end! Would the truth be revealed? Well, you'll have to read it to see.,but for me it was problematic. I was somewhat shocked and very frustrated. I'm still thinking about it, I still have questions, but there won't be any answers.
This was a library loan and came out March 7, 2023
YES
Was it problematic?
YES,( for me)
A mystery, a family drama, and a truly emotional journey!
I changed my opinion about what happened to the missing mother, Jane Larkin, many times. Of course, the husband is always a suspect! In this case, he is a criminal defense attorney named Dan Larkin. The three children have their own opinions about whether their father killed their mom. The question in my mind that was always swirling was "Did he do it?" Also, I kept thinking of the real life trial of Alex Murdaugh who was also accused of murdering his wife (he was found guilty).
There is a very meta feel to the way the story unfolds from the pov of a writer who tells parts of this story and I really enjoyed that aspect. Miranda was my favorite character and she surprised me all the way to the end.
A slow burn, character driven family drama. There were parts that seemed to wander into mundane conversations, this had me wanting to skim. I didn't need all the meaningless banter, get to the point please! I wanted more suspense and a more even pace, with no meandering.
The biggest shock for me came around the halfway point and it was RIVETING!
I had to know how it would end! Would the truth be revealed? Well, you'll have to read it to see.,but for me it was problematic. I was somewhat shocked and very frustrated. I'm still thinking about it, I still have questions, but there won't be any answers.
This was a library loan and came out March 7, 2023
October 4, 2022
Jeff, Miranda and Alex didn’t have the best childhood. Growing up without their mother wasn’t easy. One day she was there...next she vanished with no explanation. What made it down-right horrific was that their father, Dan Larkin, is under the spotlight as prime suspect for murdering her.
Beautifully written from multiple POV, you witness the effects of the tremendous weight on the children and how it shapes them moving forward.
Will the killer come to justice? And what will that justice look like?
A slow-burn of a novel, but I was completely enthralled from beginning to end. I loved a previous book by this author Defending Jacob and immediately wished for this book as soon as I saw it. And yes, this book was equally captivating!
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for granting my wish!🧞♀️
Beautifully written from multiple POV, you witness the effects of the tremendous weight on the children and how it shapes them moving forward.
Will the killer come to justice? And what will that justice look like?
A slow-burn of a novel, but I was completely enthralled from beginning to end. I loved a previous book by this author Defending Jacob and immediately wished for this book as soon as I saw it. And yes, this book was equally captivating!
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for granting my wish!🧞♀️
March 7, 2023
3 5 ⭐️ rounded UP!
“WITNESSES MAKE MISTAKES…..even when they’re not lying. They misperceive, misremember, misstate..”
“All That Is Mine I Carry With Me” is definitely more of a FAMILY SAGA than it is a tale of suspense.
In fact, for the first 50%, I was a bit BORED by the extremely SLOW pace. Thankfully, the second half is more engaging.
You should pick it up expecting a story which examines the LOVE/HATE relationship that two children have with their father-suspected of having a part in their Mom’s disappearance-over the course of their lives.
Made even more difficult because with no answers, comes no closure.
The book unfolds in four parts, called BOOKS, each about 25% of the novel, and each FOCUSING mainly on one character’s perspective.
BOOK ONE (Phil Solomon) is an author who was feeling very uninspired to write his next book until his childhood friend, Jeff Larkin, looked him up. Jeff’s mom, Jane disappeared one day, when the boys were twelve.
Jeff suggests that Phil write a book about the case which remained unsolved. Although Detective Tom Glover believes that Jane’s husband, Dan Larkin killed her-he could never build a case with strong enough evidence for the state to charge him. He is definitely not a GOOD man-but did he kill his wife? This section reads like a TRUE CRIME novel.
Did a murderer remain free to raise his children?
BOOK TWO (Jane) OR IS IT? READ BOOK THREE CAREFULLY, or you may MISS a big reveal. I noticed that a few reviewers did.
BOOK THREE (Jeff) With still no answers, Jeff and his younger sister, Miranda (Mimi) now grown, agree to bring a Civil lawsuit against their father, at the urging of Jane’s sister, their Aunt Kate. Their older brother Alex is opposed.
In a Civil case they won’t have to eliminate ALL doubt for a jury- they just have to eliminate MOST of it-FIFTY PERCENT AND A FEATHER. Would they? This part takes you inside the courtroom.
BOOK FOUR (Dan) as he suffers from dementia, later in life. The story, which has felt a bit disjointed, now comes full circle. Phil is able to speak with Dan, as he nears the end of his life, and he hopes to hear a confession from the man who has maintained his innocence throughout the years.
Will he get one?
Miranda (Mimi) just ten years old, when her Mom disappeared, had the strongest and most sympathetic voice for me, throughout the narrative, despite not having her own “book”. I felt her push/pull toward her father and her pain, more clearly than that of her two brothers.
Something happens between books THREE and FOUR (no spoilers here) which left a few questions unanswered, and I would have liked to see more character development for Alex, the oldest sibling, who left for college shortly after Jane disappeared. I thought about rounding down because of these details and the fact that this was just a three star read for the first 55% -but, I decided to sleep on my rating.
Strangely, I woke up THINKING about the book-it is the kind that you will ponder after the final page is turned, so I have rounded up.
This would be a great selection for BOOK CLUBS, as it is thought provoking, and offers much for discussion.
*Just don’t expect a THRILLER, if you pick it up.
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Bantam for granting my WISH for an early copy, provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
“WITNESSES MAKE MISTAKES…..even when they’re not lying. They misperceive, misremember, misstate..”
“All That Is Mine I Carry With Me” is definitely more of a FAMILY SAGA than it is a tale of suspense.
In fact, for the first 50%, I was a bit BORED by the extremely SLOW pace. Thankfully, the second half is more engaging.
You should pick it up expecting a story which examines the LOVE/HATE relationship that two children have with their father-suspected of having a part in their Mom’s disappearance-over the course of their lives.
Made even more difficult because with no answers, comes no closure.
The book unfolds in four parts, called BOOKS, each about 25% of the novel, and each FOCUSING mainly on one character’s perspective.
BOOK ONE (Phil Solomon) is an author who was feeling very uninspired to write his next book until his childhood friend, Jeff Larkin, looked him up. Jeff’s mom, Jane disappeared one day, when the boys were twelve.
Jeff suggests that Phil write a book about the case which remained unsolved. Although Detective Tom Glover believes that Jane’s husband, Dan Larkin killed her-he could never build a case with strong enough evidence for the state to charge him. He is definitely not a GOOD man-but did he kill his wife? This section reads like a TRUE CRIME novel.
Did a murderer remain free to raise his children?
BOOK TWO (Jane) OR IS IT? READ BOOK THREE CAREFULLY, or you may MISS a big reveal. I noticed that a few reviewers did.
BOOK THREE (Jeff) With still no answers, Jeff and his younger sister, Miranda (Mimi) now grown, agree to bring a Civil lawsuit against their father, at the urging of Jane’s sister, their Aunt Kate. Their older brother Alex is opposed.
In a Civil case they won’t have to eliminate ALL doubt for a jury- they just have to eliminate MOST of it-FIFTY PERCENT AND A FEATHER. Would they? This part takes you inside the courtroom.
BOOK FOUR (Dan) as he suffers from dementia, later in life. The story, which has felt a bit disjointed, now comes full circle. Phil is able to speak with Dan, as he nears the end of his life, and he hopes to hear a confession from the man who has maintained his innocence throughout the years.
Will he get one?
Miranda (Mimi) just ten years old, when her Mom disappeared, had the strongest and most sympathetic voice for me, throughout the narrative, despite not having her own “book”. I felt her push/pull toward her father and her pain, more clearly than that of her two brothers.
Something happens between books THREE and FOUR (no spoilers here) which left a few questions unanswered, and I would have liked to see more character development for Alex, the oldest sibling, who left for college shortly after Jane disappeared. I thought about rounding down because of these details and the fact that this was just a three star read for the first 55% -but, I decided to sleep on my rating.
Strangely, I woke up THINKING about the book-it is the kind that you will ponder after the final page is turned, so I have rounded up.
This would be a great selection for BOOK CLUBS, as it is thought provoking, and offers much for discussion.
*Just don’t expect a THRILLER, if you pick it up.
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Bantam for granting my WISH for an early copy, provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
January 14, 2023
All That Is Mine I Carry With Me is an intense, gripping family drama. The book starts from the standpoint of an author writing a novel about a true story concerning the mother of his friend. In November 1975, a mother disappeared. Her 11 year old daughter, Miranda, returned home to an empty house. Days later her abandoned car is found at the train station. The father is viewed as a suspect by the detective investigating the case, but there’s no evidence.
Now years later, the daughter and her one older brother have told their story to the novelist. The eldest brother is not in favor of the book being released. The book changes POVs with each section. Parts of the book are just heart wrenching. We see how each child reacts differently to the loss of their mother and the suspicion that falls on their father. Miranda suffers from depression. Jeff hates his father and spends his life angry. Alex just pretends it never happened. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, Landay threw a wrench into the works. The father is definitely arrogant, but is he guilty?
The story covers family, how to deal with a situation where one parent might have killed another. Landay is spot on when he describes the hurt, doubt and anger. Where does one’s loyalty lie? At some point, is the right decision just to move on? I found myself highlighting multiple phrases. The ending is just perfect.
A heads up, the book does not include quotation marks around speech. If that bothers you, beware. It’s not my favorite style, but I can handle it.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House - Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.
Now years later, the daughter and her one older brother have told their story to the novelist. The eldest brother is not in favor of the book being released. The book changes POVs with each section. Parts of the book are just heart wrenching. We see how each child reacts differently to the loss of their mother and the suspicion that falls on their father. Miranda suffers from depression. Jeff hates his father and spends his life angry. Alex just pretends it never happened. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, Landay threw a wrench into the works. The father is definitely arrogant, but is he guilty?
The story covers family, how to deal with a situation where one parent might have killed another. Landay is spot on when he describes the hurt, doubt and anger. Where does one’s loyalty lie? At some point, is the right decision just to move on? I found myself highlighting multiple phrases. The ending is just perfect.
A heads up, the book does not include quotation marks around speech. If that bothers you, beware. It’s not my favorite style, but I can handle it.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House - Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.
March 15, 2023
All the stars and love for this one!!! If you loved Defending Jacob, this one will hit you just as hard! Just Wow!! This author makes his stories so heart-wrenching it is hard to feel anything but pain after reading it or maybe it is because I just finished Netflix and the actual trial on the Murdaugh case.
Jane Larkin, mother and wife, starts her morning with three kids heading to school and her husband, Dan, to work, but the evening isn't the same when her 10 year old daughter, Miranda, comes home to an empty house.
The book spans from 1975 until now. Dan is accused of killing her, but as a criminal defense attorney he knows how to lie well or is innocent. No witnesses or evidence. There is so much tension between the 3 children and their dad. How do you move on with your dad being accused of her disappearance and later her murder? There is friction and devotion tugging at their heart for answers.
An outstanding character is Det. Dan Glover, who builds a friendship with little Miranda and believes Dan did it with Miranda's testimony, but no proof. The courtroom scene is phenomenal and one of the best written procedures.
Jeff and Miranda approach one of their friends, Phil, to write a book on the case. When the research begins, the gloves come off and several people are interviewed to shed light on a display of lies.
That ending is one of the hardest and most emotional endings that throws an unforgettable twist I can't seem to leave behind. Unbelievable and so well written...you may experience a slow burn, but keep on until you get to the scorch because it hurts.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Jane Larkin, mother and wife, starts her morning with three kids heading to school and her husband, Dan, to work, but the evening isn't the same when her 10 year old daughter, Miranda, comes home to an empty house.
The book spans from 1975 until now. Dan is accused of killing her, but as a criminal defense attorney he knows how to lie well or is innocent. No witnesses or evidence. There is so much tension between the 3 children and their dad. How do you move on with your dad being accused of her disappearance and later her murder? There is friction and devotion tugging at their heart for answers.
An outstanding character is Det. Dan Glover, who builds a friendship with little Miranda and believes Dan did it with Miranda's testimony, but no proof. The courtroom scene is phenomenal and one of the best written procedures.
Jeff and Miranda approach one of their friends, Phil, to write a book on the case. When the research begins, the gloves come off and several people are interviewed to shed light on a display of lies.
That ending is one of the hardest and most emotional endings that throws an unforgettable twist I can't seem to leave behind. Unbelievable and so well written...you may experience a slow burn, but keep on until you get to the scorch because it hurts.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
March 9, 2023
Sooo good!
It begins with an author who needs an idea for a story. I was confused thinking it was the real author's (Landay) intro, but it's a character in the novel, Phil. I like this book already!
This was such a strange execution for a mystery but also clever. Phil is our first narrator providing the story of the disappearance of Jane Larkin from the family home in Newton, MA in November 1975. The second narrator is Jane herself, and the third is her husband Dan, a criminal defense lawyer. A thirty-year-old detective Glover is assigned to the missing person case but after a year of no evidence or lead, the investigation went cold.
I enjoyed this story which has a bit of everything. A missing mother, family drama, police detective, and courtroom scene. The writing is good, especially the dialog flows very well. My favorite is the banter between two siblings Jeff and Miranda. I have to say I was confused often about who is telling the story.
Dividing the book into three parts is a big change for a reader like me who likes short chapters. BUT to the author's credit, I didn't notice it until 40% when I thought to myself, why am I still on chapter 2? I did, however, completely forgot about Phil, the writer until the end when he shows up again. That was strange.
This is my first novel by William Landay and I can't wait to read his other novels.
Thank you Random House - Ballantine, Bantam, and NetGalley for my DRC.
It begins with an author who needs an idea for a story. I was confused thinking it was the real author's (Landay) intro, but it's a character in the novel, Phil. I like this book already!
This was such a strange execution for a mystery but also clever. Phil is our first narrator providing the story of the disappearance of Jane Larkin from the family home in Newton, MA in November 1975. The second narrator is Jane herself, and the third is her husband Dan, a criminal defense lawyer. A thirty-year-old detective Glover is assigned to the missing person case but after a year of no evidence or lead, the investigation went cold.
I enjoyed this story which has a bit of everything. A missing mother, family drama, police detective, and courtroom scene. The writing is good, especially the dialog flows very well. My favorite is the banter between two siblings Jeff and Miranda. I have to say I was confused often about who is telling the story.
Dividing the book into three parts is a big change for a reader like me who likes short chapters. BUT to the author's credit, I didn't notice it until 40% when I thought to myself, why am I still on chapter 2? I did, however, completely forgot about Phil, the writer until the end when he shows up again. That was strange.
This is my first novel by William Landay and I can't wait to read his other novels.
Thank you Random House - Ballantine, Bantam, and NetGalley for my DRC.
March 13, 2023
In a Nutshell: Better if read as a family drama with elements of mystery, than as a crime thriller. Not fast-paced but still gripping. Recommended to literary fiction readers who would like a well-developed, slowburn story.
Story Synopsis:
Note: Don’t read the GR blurb. Go in blind.
Where the book worked for me:
✔ I loved the structuring of the book. It starts with an arc about a popular author writing a book about his friend’s missing mom, but soon, it is clear that the plot is more intricate than it appears. There’s some really clever storytelling in his novel.
✔ The ending, especially the climactic scene. Brief, yet brilliant! It’s the kind that will stay in your head long after you close the final page.
✔ Though the book is quite languid in pace, the story and the characters kept me hooked. Of course, it helped that I wasn’t reading this as a mystery-thriller. Otherwise, the slow unfurling of key events would have disappointed me. The second half is much faster.
✔ Despite this primarily being a family drama, the author still manages to throw in a few twists that caught me unawares.
✔ With four sections coming from four distinct characters, the first person writing could have been easy to muddle up. But each got a distinct voice, and I never lost track of who was narrating that section of the story. What also helped was how the four characters were not necessarily ones you would expect as narrators.
✔ A character-oriented story is nothing without well-developed characters. This one aces on that front. All the main characters are layered rather than unidimensional, thereby adding to the depth of the plot. Their emotions are explored well, and the repercussions of a shocking event on a family are detailed out realistically.
✔ The courtroom scenes were mesmerising. After a long time have I seen a book tackle the legal aspects of a plot so well.
✔ This wasn’t the kind of book that spoonfed its readers everything. There are clues here and there to help your mind stay active while you try to solve the mystery alongside the cast. Know that not all ends are neatly tied, but this adds to the impact of the book.
✔ One of the characters suffers from dementia later in life, and through that perspective, we get to see how hardhitting and unbiased dementia can be. I found this portrayal emotional but well-handled. If you are a caregiver to someone with dementia, it might be triggering.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
❌ The blurb stresses on the mystery angle more than it is used in the plot itself. While Jane Larkin’s disappearance is the lynchpin of the entire plot, the focus is more on the aftermath than on the mystery itself.
❌ The author doesn’t go overboard in giving us in-depth emotional perspectives of the entire family, but sticks to a few select ones. However, this leaves a couple of characters almost like strangers till the end, though they are a part of the immediate Larkin family. Alex Larkin gets an especially raw deal.
❌ No quotation marks around the dialogues in Books 3 & 4. I can tolerate this writing style, but I am not a fan, especially when the conversations are lengthy and all we have is line after line of back-and-forth dialogue with no quotation marks and no indicator of the speaker’s name.
❌ The cover is quite boring. I wouldn’t have given this a second glance had it not been for the glowing reviews it received from my Goodreads friends.
Overall, this is an unusual kind of family drama with shades of literary fiction and suspense mystery. Definitely recommended when you want a slowburn but captivating read. This book will thrill you, but not in the adrenaline rush kind of way.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley for the DRC of “All That Is Mine I Carry With Me”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
In November 1975, ten-year-old Miranda Larkin came home to find it empty, her mother nowhere in sight but everything else in its usual spot. Neither her dad nor her brothers know anything, What happened to Jane Larkin? Did she go somewhere? Was she kidnapped? Murdered?
The suspicion automatically falls on Jane’s husband Dan, a criminal attorney who is vehement about his innocence. But in the lack of concrete evidence, the case goes cold.
How does Jane’s abrupt disappearance affect the Larkin family? We get to hear this from four characters’ first person perspectives. The book is divided into four sections called ‘Books’, with each character getting one ‘Book’ to narrate their version of the events.
Note: Don’t read the GR blurb. Go in blind.
Where the book worked for me:
✔ I loved the structuring of the book. It starts with an arc about a popular author writing a book about his friend’s missing mom, but soon, it is clear that the plot is more intricate than it appears. There’s some really clever storytelling in his novel.
✔ The ending, especially the climactic scene. Brief, yet brilliant! It’s the kind that will stay in your head long after you close the final page.
✔ Though the book is quite languid in pace, the story and the characters kept me hooked. Of course, it helped that I wasn’t reading this as a mystery-thriller. Otherwise, the slow unfurling of key events would have disappointed me. The second half is much faster.
✔ Despite this primarily being a family drama, the author still manages to throw in a few twists that caught me unawares.
✔ With four sections coming from four distinct characters, the first person writing could have been easy to muddle up. But each got a distinct voice, and I never lost track of who was narrating that section of the story. What also helped was how the four characters were not necessarily ones you would expect as narrators.
✔ A character-oriented story is nothing without well-developed characters. This one aces on that front. All the main characters are layered rather than unidimensional, thereby adding to the depth of the plot. Their emotions are explored well, and the repercussions of a shocking event on a family are detailed out realistically.
✔ The courtroom scenes were mesmerising. After a long time have I seen a book tackle the legal aspects of a plot so well.
✔ This wasn’t the kind of book that spoonfed its readers everything. There are clues here and there to help your mind stay active while you try to solve the mystery alongside the cast. Know that not all ends are neatly tied, but this adds to the impact of the book.
✔ One of the characters suffers from dementia later in life, and through that perspective, we get to see how hardhitting and unbiased dementia can be. I found this portrayal emotional but well-handled. If you are a caregiver to someone with dementia, it might be triggering.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
❌ The blurb stresses on the mystery angle more than it is used in the plot itself. While Jane Larkin’s disappearance is the lynchpin of the entire plot, the focus is more on the aftermath than on the mystery itself.
❌ The author doesn’t go overboard in giving us in-depth emotional perspectives of the entire family, but sticks to a few select ones. However, this leaves a couple of characters almost like strangers till the end, though they are a part of the immediate Larkin family. Alex Larkin gets an especially raw deal.
❌ No quotation marks around the dialogues in Books 3 & 4. I can tolerate this writing style, but I am not a fan, especially when the conversations are lengthy and all we have is line after line of back-and-forth dialogue with no quotation marks and no indicator of the speaker’s name.
❌ The cover is quite boring. I wouldn’t have given this a second glance had it not been for the glowing reviews it received from my Goodreads friends.
Overall, this is an unusual kind of family drama with shades of literary fiction and suspense mystery. Definitely recommended when you want a slowburn but captivating read. This book will thrill you, but not in the adrenaline rush kind of way.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley for the DRC of “All That Is Mine I Carry With Me”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
March 7, 2023
All That Is Mine I Carry With Me ~ by William Landay, is certainly a book that I will carry with me for a long time. I cannot stop thinking about this book. In fact, I am sad and I am also angry. This book shows the unfairness of life. How some people thrive through misfortune, and how some people will suffer their whole lives.
This story focuses on the disappearance of Jane Larkin. Jane Larkin disappeared on November 12, 1975. Jane was the wife to the pompous, arrogant criminal defense attorney, Dan Larkin. Jane was also the mother to three children, Alex, Jeff, and Miranda. We mainly read about Miranda and Jeff’s lives, and how the disappearance of their mother affected them. Miranda being the youngest and the only girl in the family, definitely took losing her mother the hardest. Throughout this story we don’t hear too much about the oldest son Alex, other than the fact that he turned out to be just like his father.
This story is broken down into four ‘Books’. In Book Two, we get to hear Jane’s story. Her story doesn’t come as a big surprise or shock, but the way her family has to deal with life after her is heartbreaking. I went through so many emotions while reading this. I also have to say that I can totally relate to Jeff Larkin. I think he ended up being the smartest one.
I do not want to go into too much more without giving the whole book away. I will say to read this book, and then think about it for a while (it will be hard not to think about it). With that being said, I also highly recommend reading this book because you will carry it with you for a long time after reading it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine-Bantam, and the author for the advanced copy of this wonderful book. Publication date: March 7, 2023.
This story focuses on the disappearance of Jane Larkin. Jane Larkin disappeared on November 12, 1975. Jane was the wife to the pompous, arrogant criminal defense attorney, Dan Larkin. Jane was also the mother to three children, Alex, Jeff, and Miranda. We mainly read about Miranda and Jeff’s lives, and how the disappearance of their mother affected them. Miranda being the youngest and the only girl in the family, definitely took losing her mother the hardest. Throughout this story we don’t hear too much about the oldest son Alex, other than the fact that he turned out to be just like his father.
This story is broken down into four ‘Books’. In Book Two, we get to hear Jane’s story. Her story doesn’t come as a big surprise or shock, but the way her family has to deal with life after her is heartbreaking. I went through so many emotions while reading this. I also have to say that I can totally relate to Jeff Larkin. I think he ended up being the smartest one.
I do not want to go into too much more without giving the whole book away. I will say to read this book, and then think about it for a while (it will be hard not to think about it). With that being said, I also highly recommend reading this book because you will carry it with you for a long time after reading it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine-Bantam, and the author for the advanced copy of this wonderful book. Publication date: March 7, 2023.
April 16, 2023
First let me say this author is one of my favorites. And with my favorite authors I tend to critique them differently. Not fair I know but it’s impossible not to. I compare them to their most recent book. Defending Jacob was a killer book with one of the best—if not the best ending of any book I’ve read. His other books are great as well.
So, I had high expectations for this book, couldn’t wait for it to come out. When I started reading it loved it. Loved the voice. Loved the prose. Excellent read. The author is a true master.
The first sign of a problem (minor one) was when the point of view shifted to the dead woman/mother/wife. She tells us who killed her. At this point I’m thinking why would the author would do this? Give the reveal so early in the four C’s of the structure: Conflict, Complication, crisis, Conclusion.
Then, a short time later we find out the point of view was really the daughter who wrote what she thought happened in her mother’s point of view in order to get over the death of her mom. Why do this? It’s basically a cheat. A gimmick. Yikes.
And still the voice continued to carry the story—picked it up on the back of Voice (the big kahuna in writing, the everything in writing) and carried it forward. So, I stayed with it still loving it.
Until the ending.
Oddly, Defending Jacob has the best ending, and as it happens, this book doesn't have a the best of endings. Is the ending truly bad or is my perception skewed because of anticipation created by Defending Jacob? Don’t know for sure. You decide and let me know.
In any case I still highly recommend this book. This author can really write.
So, I had high expectations for this book, couldn’t wait for it to come out. When I started reading it loved it. Loved the voice. Loved the prose. Excellent read. The author is a true master.
The first sign of a problem (minor one) was when the point of view shifted to the dead woman/mother/wife. She tells us who killed her. At this point I’m thinking why would the author would do this? Give the reveal so early in the four C’s of the structure: Conflict, Complication, crisis, Conclusion.
Then, a short time later we find out the point of view was really the daughter who wrote what she thought happened in her mother’s point of view in order to get over the death of her mom. Why do this? It’s basically a cheat. A gimmick. Yikes.
And still the voice continued to carry the story—picked it up on the back of Voice (the big kahuna in writing, the everything in writing) and carried it forward. So, I stayed with it still loving it.
Until the ending.
Oddly, Defending Jacob has the best ending, and as it happens, this book doesn't have a the best of endings. Is the ending truly bad or is my perception skewed because of anticipation created by Defending Jacob? Don’t know for sure. You decide and let me know.
In any case I still highly recommend this book. This author can really write.
February 21, 2023
The Larkin family faced a terrible loss when their mother went missing. Even worse, their father was accused of her disappearance. Possibly even murder though no body has been recovered. The children Alex, Jeff, and Miranda now have to decide where they fall on the matter. Is their father guilty or innocent? Alex, the oldest, stands firmly by his fathers side. Jeff and Miranda have a tough go of it. They miss their mother terribly and they know that their father is more than capable of pulling off a crime especially since he is well renowned defense attorney.
The detective on the case has never been able to get the evidence needed to arrest Dan Larkin much less convict him.
This troubled family fractures until years later when a body is discovered buried in the woods in nearby Vermont. It's the remains of Jane Larkin. Has the family, as well as the detective on the case, finally got the evidence they need to convince a jury that Dan Larkin has, in fact, murdered his wife? You'll have to read this to find out!
What a riveting page-turner this was! Wowza! From the very first page I just knew that I was going to love this and I was right. No going off the rails here! No fluff, no filler, not one word wasted. One needs to be prepared that this is NOT a thriller. It's a family drama / mystery that was done expertly. I was desperate for answers to what happened. My heart ached for Jeff and Miranda. Both characters were so well drawn and convincing. The ending? Perfection!
This was my fist Landay novel but I assure you it won't be the last. I've heard a lot of praise for his book Defending Jacob and if this book is anything to go by then I'm in for a real treat. 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my complimentary copy.
The detective on the case has never been able to get the evidence needed to arrest Dan Larkin much less convict him.
This troubled family fractures until years later when a body is discovered buried in the woods in nearby Vermont. It's the remains of Jane Larkin. Has the family, as well as the detective on the case, finally got the evidence they need to convince a jury that Dan Larkin has, in fact, murdered his wife? You'll have to read this to find out!
What a riveting page-turner this was! Wowza! From the very first page I just knew that I was going to love this and I was right. No going off the rails here! No fluff, no filler, not one word wasted. One needs to be prepared that this is NOT a thriller. It's a family drama / mystery that was done expertly. I was desperate for answers to what happened. My heart ached for Jeff and Miranda. Both characters were so well drawn and convincing. The ending? Perfection!
This was my fist Landay novel but I assure you it won't be the last. I've heard a lot of praise for his book Defending Jacob and if this book is anything to go by then I'm in for a real treat. 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my complimentary copy.
March 7, 2023
I read it: I loved it!
What a fantastic story of family, of hope, of love, and of pain! It starts with a missing mom, when Miranda Larkin returns home from school to find the house empty her mom nowhere to be found. The family including two brothers and a very successful father, don't seem to be too upset about this happening, but soon they will be.
Enter the intrigue, the wondering what had happened. Nothing was disturbed, nothing out of place, no one had seen her, heard from her, even her beloved sister has heard not a sound of her sister's voice. Something is wrong. Jane Larkin is gone and the weight of suspicion hangs over the father, Dan Larkin, well aware of ways to lead the police on a merry trail to avert their suspecting him. Days, months, years go by, without one iota of evidence of Jane's possible demise. Some are convinced Dan is the murderer, especially a police detective, Jane's sister and two of his children.
In the meantime, Dan brings a girlfriend and her children into the home and life becomes one where it seems the kids retreat into themselves. A trial happens but of course, Dan, who defends himself goes once again free. The questions remain and as the children grow, the sides they take split them from one another.
The author presents each one of the family members so vividly that one finds themselves aligned with them in their pursuit of the truth. At the end of this harrowing tale, we are given a most unexpected conclusion that cemented the fact to me that this was indeed an exceptional tale, one that I would recommend to many because of its exceptional writing and stoy elements. It was for me one of the books that was hard to break away from and I am so happy that this story equaled the quality of this author's Defending Jacob. William Landay, a former district attorney brings his skills into the courtroom scenes depicted in this story and makes the reader feel as if they were sitting there during the trial.
I heartily recommend this book and wish to thank William Landay, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this amazing story. Pick up a copy on March 7, 2023. You won't be disappointed.
What a fantastic story of family, of hope, of love, and of pain! It starts with a missing mom, when Miranda Larkin returns home from school to find the house empty her mom nowhere to be found. The family including two brothers and a very successful father, don't seem to be too upset about this happening, but soon they will be.
Enter the intrigue, the wondering what had happened. Nothing was disturbed, nothing out of place, no one had seen her, heard from her, even her beloved sister has heard not a sound of her sister's voice. Something is wrong. Jane Larkin is gone and the weight of suspicion hangs over the father, Dan Larkin, well aware of ways to lead the police on a merry trail to avert their suspecting him. Days, months, years go by, without one iota of evidence of Jane's possible demise. Some are convinced Dan is the murderer, especially a police detective, Jane's sister and two of his children.
In the meantime, Dan brings a girlfriend and her children into the home and life becomes one where it seems the kids retreat into themselves. A trial happens but of course, Dan, who defends himself goes once again free. The questions remain and as the children grow, the sides they take split them from one another.
The author presents each one of the family members so vividly that one finds themselves aligned with them in their pursuit of the truth. At the end of this harrowing tale, we are given a most unexpected conclusion that cemented the fact to me that this was indeed an exceptional tale, one that I would recommend to many because of its exceptional writing and stoy elements. It was for me one of the books that was hard to break away from and I am so happy that this story equaled the quality of this author's Defending Jacob. William Landay, a former district attorney brings his skills into the courtroom scenes depicted in this story and makes the reader feel as if they were sitting there during the trial.
I heartily recommend this book and wish to thank William Landay, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this amazing story. Pick up a copy on March 7, 2023. You won't be disappointed.
January 20, 2023
Questions, loss, and Doubt
Ten-year-old Miranda Larkin came home one day in November 1975 to an empty house. Her mother was not there. Her mother was always there to greet her after school. The house was quiet, nothing was missing, nothing was out of place and yet, her mother is nowhere to be seen.
Where is Jane Larkin?
That is a question that will haunt Jane's sister, Kate and her three children, Alex, Jeff and Miranda. The police believe her father killed their mother and disposed of her body. The children have doubts. Their father, an experienced criminal defense attorney has stated his innocence time and time again. But is he innocent? The majority people in his life and community believe he is a killer. But there is no evidence, no proof, and no witnesses. Now the children must live with a man who may have killed their mother.
Twenty years later their mother's remains are found, and the children now grown can bury their mother. They know she is truly gone but the question remains, did their father kill her? Now they are faced with a dilemma, what to do and how to move forward.
This book is told through various POV's and comprised of books. Readers see how the children's lives were affected by the loss of their mother; not only when they were children, but also when they are adults. They have had to grow up and experience life without her love, support and guidance. What is it like to live with doubt? To believe one parent killed the other? How does that affect relationships?
Once again, William Landay has crafted a well written, well thought out, thought provoking and emotional read. I was glued to the pages and wanted to learn the truth, although I too believed I knew who killed Jane.
Gripping, dramatic, and thought provoking.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Ten-year-old Miranda Larkin came home one day in November 1975 to an empty house. Her mother was not there. Her mother was always there to greet her after school. The house was quiet, nothing was missing, nothing was out of place and yet, her mother is nowhere to be seen.
Where is Jane Larkin?
That is a question that will haunt Jane's sister, Kate and her three children, Alex, Jeff and Miranda. The police believe her father killed their mother and disposed of her body. The children have doubts. Their father, an experienced criminal defense attorney has stated his innocence time and time again. But is he innocent? The majority people in his life and community believe he is a killer. But there is no evidence, no proof, and no witnesses. Now the children must live with a man who may have killed their mother.
Twenty years later their mother's remains are found, and the children now grown can bury their mother. They know she is truly gone but the question remains, did their father kill her? Now they are faced with a dilemma, what to do and how to move forward.
This book is told through various POV's and comprised of books. Readers see how the children's lives were affected by the loss of their mother; not only when they were children, but also when they are adults. They have had to grow up and experience life without her love, support and guidance. What is it like to live with doubt? To believe one parent killed the other? How does that affect relationships?
Once again, William Landay has crafted a well written, well thought out, thought provoking and emotional read. I was glued to the pages and wanted to learn the truth, although I too believed I knew who killed Jane.
Gripping, dramatic, and thought provoking.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
March 7, 2023
What happened to Jane Larkin?
All that is Mine I Carry with Me is a dark domestic suspense novel that is disturbing, depressing, and simultaneously riveting. After an eleven-year hiatus from publishing the New York Times Best-Selling legal thriller, Defending Jacob, this highly anticipated book will once again make a lasting impression on its readers.
When Jane Larkin disappears in 1975, everyone is convinced that her husband killed her. However, there is no evidence to prove his guilt. Did he do it?
This is the story of the three Larkin children, Miranda, Jeff, and Alex. Each has their own theories, memories, and beliefs about their father’s role in their mother’s disappearance. Can they prove it before it’s too late?
Jeff’s childhood friend, Phillip Solomon, writes the Larkin family story at the bequest of Miranda when he admits that he has been suffering from terrible writer’s block and in need of a good plot.
This book took me on a strange journey. It is only 336 pages, but contains approximately six VERY LONG chapters. I was intrigued by the family drama, but didn’t like the book’s odd structure. I also don’t think it needed the extra layer of Phillip’s voice, as it didn’t really add much to the plot. However, I found myself constantly wavering between guilty and innocent, which is the sign of a well-written book!
I’m still ruminating on this one. Friends, I promise that it will mess with you!
Once again, Landay has written a thought-provoking novel, perfect for book clubs.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 3/7/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the ARC of All That is Mine I Carry With Me in exchange for an honest review.
All that is Mine I Carry with Me is a dark domestic suspense novel that is disturbing, depressing, and simultaneously riveting. After an eleven-year hiatus from publishing the New York Times Best-Selling legal thriller, Defending Jacob, this highly anticipated book will once again make a lasting impression on its readers.
When Jane Larkin disappears in 1975, everyone is convinced that her husband killed her. However, there is no evidence to prove his guilt. Did he do it?
This is the story of the three Larkin children, Miranda, Jeff, and Alex. Each has their own theories, memories, and beliefs about their father’s role in their mother’s disappearance. Can they prove it before it’s too late?
Jeff’s childhood friend, Phillip Solomon, writes the Larkin family story at the bequest of Miranda when he admits that he has been suffering from terrible writer’s block and in need of a good plot.
This book took me on a strange journey. It is only 336 pages, but contains approximately six VERY LONG chapters. I was intrigued by the family drama, but didn’t like the book’s odd structure. I also don’t think it needed the extra layer of Phillip’s voice, as it didn’t really add much to the plot. However, I found myself constantly wavering between guilty and innocent, which is the sign of a well-written book!
I’m still ruminating on this one. Friends, I promise that it will mess with you!
Once again, Landay has written a thought-provoking novel, perfect for book clubs.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 3/7/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the ARC of All That is Mine I Carry With Me in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2022
“We worked out all kinds of crazy theories explaining why Mom would hide herself from us: mental illness, amnesia, kidnapping, brainwashing, a threat of harm, a cult (okay, that was mine). Miranda adored this game. She made up elaborate stories about Mom sustaining a head injury that magically erased her memory or convinced her that she was some other woman”.
After eighteen years….
‘We win circumstantial cases all the time. But there just isn’t enough to charge anyone right now. Now, having said that, I want you to understand that the case is not closed”.
“Fourteen months later. September 21, 1994. Five days before the trial is scheduled to open”.
……
The end?
Huh?
Like with Defending Jacob …where I was driven batty - unclear what was what….
It’s happened again…
What the hell?
I don’t understand!
But … another 4 stars from me for Landay.
But…
as with BOTH books….
They probably both deserve 5 stars.
I guess this book is going to haunt me for another decade just as the Jacob book did.
After eighteen years….
‘We win circumstantial cases all the time. But there just isn’t enough to charge anyone right now. Now, having said that, I want you to understand that the case is not closed”.
“Fourteen months later. September 21, 1994. Five days before the trial is scheduled to open”.
……
The end?
Huh?
Like with Defending Jacob …where I was driven batty - unclear what was what….
It’s happened again…
What the hell?
I don’t understand!
But … another 4 stars from me for Landay.
But…
as with BOTH books….
They probably both deserve 5 stars.
I guess this book is going to haunt me for another decade just as the Jacob book did.
March 22, 2023
I was completely "carried away" by William Landay's "All That Is Mine I Carry with Me".
Similar to "Defending Jacob", Landay's newest release is set in Newton, Massachusetts, a town located 15 minutes from my home.
And just like "Defending Jacob", a family member is suspected and accused of an unthinkable murder.
Jane Larkin, a mother of three, disappears and her philandering, pompous, fastidious, and unlikeable defense attorney husband is the sole suspect.
Jane's three children and beloved sister are all traumatized and feel Jane's loss.
Unfolding from multiple POVs, the author's characterizations are over-the-top.
One could taste and smell the intense hatred that Jane Larkin's sister Kate had for Jane's husband.
Author William Landay is an attorney and former Massachusetts assistant DA, and his intimate knowledge of the law was impressive, impeccable, and all-encompassing.
As, too, were his descriptions of the devastating and long-lasting impact of murder on family members and the unethical tactics used by unscrupulous defense attorneys to sway juries.
And, finally, I enjoyed the author's occasional references to near-and-dear Boston "landmarks", including Pino's Pizza, a hole-in-the-wall, no-frills restaurant only patronized by native Bostonians.
I listened to the full-cast audiobook and all narrators did an outstanding job with the narration of this slow-burn, coming-of-age drama about the murder of a beloved mother of three children.
I am a William Landay fan. Hopefully, we will not have to wait too long for his next release.
Similar to "Defending Jacob", Landay's newest release is set in Newton, Massachusetts, a town located 15 minutes from my home.
And just like "Defending Jacob", a family member is suspected and accused of an unthinkable murder.
Jane Larkin, a mother of three, disappears and her philandering, pompous, fastidious, and unlikeable defense attorney husband is the sole suspect.
Jane's three children and beloved sister are all traumatized and feel Jane's loss.
Unfolding from multiple POVs, the author's characterizations are over-the-top.
One could taste and smell the intense hatred that Jane Larkin's sister Kate had for Jane's husband.
Author William Landay is an attorney and former Massachusetts assistant DA, and his intimate knowledge of the law was impressive, impeccable, and all-encompassing.
As, too, were his descriptions of the devastating and long-lasting impact of murder on family members and the unethical tactics used by unscrupulous defense attorneys to sway juries.
And, finally, I enjoyed the author's occasional references to near-and-dear Boston "landmarks", including Pino's Pizza, a hole-in-the-wall, no-frills restaurant only patronized by native Bostonians.
I listened to the full-cast audiobook and all narrators did an outstanding job with the narration of this slow-burn, coming-of-age drama about the murder of a beloved mother of three children.
I am a William Landay fan. Hopefully, we will not have to wait too long for his next release.
June 7, 2023
the setup…
In late 1975, ten-year old Miranda Larkin returns home from school as she normally does but this time is different. The house is empty, her mother who typically greets her is nowhere to be found. Her purse is there and everything else seems to be in place. As the day progresses, it become clear that Jane Larkin is missing and from this moment on, life changes dramatically for every member of the family. The police believe her husband Dan, a criminal defense attorney, killed her as does the rest of the community but there’s no solid evidence to support the theory of the lead detective. Her oldest son Alex supports his father, her middle son Jeff is convinced he did it and Miranda is torn.
the heart of the story…
Throughout the story, I vacillated between whether Jane left on her own or if something had happened to her. We get the points of view of all of her children and Phil, Jeff’s childhood friend who returns decades later to write a book about the tragedy. But mostly, we get Jeff’s perspective, the child who had the most difficult relationship with his father and the one who had the most insight into Dan’s character. It was Jeff who helped shape my own belief about what happened to Jane but it was Miranda who gave voice to the heartbreak they experienced being raised by a man who might have murdered their mother. When she, Jeff and their Aunt Kate decide to initiate a civil suit against Dan, the courtroom drama was riveting and we get to see other sides of him. But it was the ending that took my breath away.
the narration…
Multiple narrators were used for the story, which I found immensely helpful in distinguishing the points of view. All had exceptional storytelling skills and voiced their characters in such a way that they became vivid images in my mind.
the bottom line…
I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting when I decided to listen to this story but it turned out to be an outstanding listening experience. There’s a mystery, a study of a family tragedy and courtroom drama, spanning decades. The dynamics between the siblings, them and their father (collectively and individually) and the reaction of the community give this story heft and weight. The characters are solidly developed, coming across so authentically that I always felt their behaviors were true to their natures. The ending was stunning but also true to the story. If you have a choice, listen to the book as I believe it elevated an excellent story to even greater heights.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
In late 1975, ten-year old Miranda Larkin returns home from school as she normally does but this time is different. The house is empty, her mother who typically greets her is nowhere to be found. Her purse is there and everything else seems to be in place. As the day progresses, it become clear that Jane Larkin is missing and from this moment on, life changes dramatically for every member of the family. The police believe her husband Dan, a criminal defense attorney, killed her as does the rest of the community but there’s no solid evidence to support the theory of the lead detective. Her oldest son Alex supports his father, her middle son Jeff is convinced he did it and Miranda is torn.
the heart of the story…
Throughout the story, I vacillated between whether Jane left on her own or if something had happened to her. We get the points of view of all of her children and Phil, Jeff’s childhood friend who returns decades later to write a book about the tragedy. But mostly, we get Jeff’s perspective, the child who had the most difficult relationship with his father and the one who had the most insight into Dan’s character. It was Jeff who helped shape my own belief about what happened to Jane but it was Miranda who gave voice to the heartbreak they experienced being raised by a man who might have murdered their mother. When she, Jeff and their Aunt Kate decide to initiate a civil suit against Dan, the courtroom drama was riveting and we get to see other sides of him. But it was the ending that took my breath away.
the narration…
Multiple narrators were used for the story, which I found immensely helpful in distinguishing the points of view. All had exceptional storytelling skills and voiced their characters in such a way that they became vivid images in my mind.
the bottom line…
I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting when I decided to listen to this story but it turned out to be an outstanding listening experience. There’s a mystery, a study of a family tragedy and courtroom drama, spanning decades. The dynamics between the siblings, them and their father (collectively and individually) and the reaction of the community give this story heft and weight. The characters are solidly developed, coming across so authentically that I always felt their behaviors were true to their natures. The ending was stunning but also true to the story. If you have a choice, listen to the book as I believe it elevated an excellent story to even greater heights.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
January 25, 2024
I first read this author’s book, “Defending Jacob” years ago and thought it was the best book I had ever read. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
So...
When I was reviewing authors’ I would like to read again, his was one of the first names that came to me.
And...
I was not disappointed. This story is told in many voices. It is about a mother who vanishes, and a father who is presumed guilty, but because her body is never found, the younger children are left in his care, and we, as readers are left to wonder, is he guilty?
Also...
The children, and the detective, are left with that feeling of uncertainty, as well.
And...
Throughout the years, this defense attorney husband, even though all things point in his direction, seems to find a way to get away with it. Even after her bones are found.
But then…
That is all I wish to say.
Because...
This truly is a story you must read. You need to hear all the voices.
And...
I don’t even want to tell you whose voices speak. Because each voice has something to share – and each voice needs to be heard.
Which made this...
A difficult story to put down, and definitely one that deserves to be read.
So...
When I was reviewing authors’ I would like to read again, his was one of the first names that came to me.
And...
I was not disappointed. This story is told in many voices. It is about a mother who vanishes, and a father who is presumed guilty, but because her body is never found, the younger children are left in his care, and we, as readers are left to wonder, is he guilty?
Also...
The children, and the detective, are left with that feeling of uncertainty, as well.
And...
Throughout the years, this defense attorney husband, even though all things point in his direction, seems to find a way to get away with it. Even after her bones are found.
But then…
That is all I wish to say.
Because...
This truly is a story you must read. You need to hear all the voices.
And...
I don’t even want to tell you whose voices speak. Because each voice has something to share – and each voice needs to be heard.
Which made this...
A difficult story to put down, and definitely one that deserves to be read.
March 8, 2023
4 stars - was it murder or a runaway?
*this one is now available
We’ve all been there, the kids, the house, a job, it’s just too much. Mothers (and fathers) everywhere get to the breaking point and run away from all the responsibility. However, no one thinks that’s what happened to Jane Larkin. She adores her children, but now she’s definitely missing. The police and Jane’s sister think her husband killed her, and her children are caught in the middle.
Miranda is the one to discover that her mother is missing when she arrives home after school to an empty house. At age 10, she’s heavily impacted by the loss of her mother. Her aunt Katie comes to stay and help out the family. I loved the relationship Miranda built with the lead investigator on the case, Tom Glover.
And the husband, Dan, is a defense attorney. He knows some nefarious characters and knows how to hide a crime, but he insists he’s innocent. Without a body, witnesses, or evidence, the police can’t do much.
The other siblings – Alex and Jeff – are on opposite sides. Alex firmly believes in their dad’s innocence and Jeff isn’t quite sure, but he thinks his dad might be behind things. As the years go by, the investigation dies down and it remains a mystery what really happened to Jane. Evidence turns up and the siblings have to choose how to proceed. As the family is torn apart again, would the truth come out this time?
This one is told in an interesting manner, broken up into four parts. It starts with a friend of the family who is writing the Larkin family story. Then we get other points of view. I did like that the other points of view moved the story forward rather than repeating earlier parts of the book from another perspective. I thought it was a clever way to tell the story, but it took me a while to piece it together. I thought the ending was stunning.
This one would make for an excellent book club choice and lead to a lot of discussion. I found it to be a bit of a slow burn, but I’m so glad I stayed with it and finished it.
This one was an excellent buddy read with Mary Beth and Jayme -- we had lots of thoughts while we read it!
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine for the chance to read and honestly review this one.
*this one is now available
We’ve all been there, the kids, the house, a job, it’s just too much. Mothers (and fathers) everywhere get to the breaking point and run away from all the responsibility. However, no one thinks that’s what happened to Jane Larkin. She adores her children, but now she’s definitely missing. The police and Jane’s sister think her husband killed her, and her children are caught in the middle.
Miranda is the one to discover that her mother is missing when she arrives home after school to an empty house. At age 10, she’s heavily impacted by the loss of her mother. Her aunt Katie comes to stay and help out the family. I loved the relationship Miranda built with the lead investigator on the case, Tom Glover.
And the husband, Dan, is a defense attorney. He knows some nefarious characters and knows how to hide a crime, but he insists he’s innocent. Without a body, witnesses, or evidence, the police can’t do much.
The other siblings – Alex and Jeff – are on opposite sides. Alex firmly believes in their dad’s innocence and Jeff isn’t quite sure, but he thinks his dad might be behind things. As the years go by, the investigation dies down and it remains a mystery what really happened to Jane. Evidence turns up and the siblings have to choose how to proceed. As the family is torn apart again, would the truth come out this time?
This one is told in an interesting manner, broken up into four parts. It starts with a friend of the family who is writing the Larkin family story. Then we get other points of view. I did like that the other points of view moved the story forward rather than repeating earlier parts of the book from another perspective. I thought it was a clever way to tell the story, but it took me a while to piece it together. I thought the ending was stunning.
This one would make for an excellent book club choice and lead to a lot of discussion. I found it to be a bit of a slow burn, but I’m so glad I stayed with it and finished it.
This one was an excellent buddy read with Mary Beth and Jayme -- we had lots of thoughts while we read it!
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine for the chance to read and honestly review this one.
July 3, 2023
3.5 stars
Whenever I hear a news story about a man who's suspected or convicted of killing his wife, I wonder about the couple's children. What do they think about their father? How do they interact with their dad going forward? Landay tackles that situation in this novel.
In 1975, 39-year-old Jane Larkin vanishes from her home in Newton, Massachusetts.....
.....leaving her children, Miranda (almost 11), Jeff (13), and Alex (a high school senior) bewildered and bereft.
Jane's husband Dan - a cocky criminal defense attorney - puts on a good show of being baffled and worried, but his reaction seems phony from the get-go.
When Jane doesn't return in short order, the lead police detective Tom Glover must entertain two possibilities: Either Jane ran away or her absence is due to foul play.
Jane's sister Kate insists Jane would NEVER leave her children, and since Kate always thought something was 'off' about Dan, she's sure he murdered Jane.
This feeling is intensified when Dan's extramarital girlfriend, a lithe beautiful blonde named Sarah, shows up unexpectedly.
Dan appears unembarrassed by the revelation of his infidelity, and rather offhand about how it might affect his children.
The authorities agree with Kate that Dan killed his wife, but they can't put together enough evidence to charge him. However, the suspicion seeps out to residents of Newton, who make it clear they dislike and fear Dan.
As things play out, the Larkins' oldest son Alex is the least affected by his mother's disappearance. Alex is a popular high school athlete who's soon off to college, and he's willing to move forward and give his father the benefit of the doubt. On the other hand, Miranda and Jeff are irreparably damaged. Both kids think their father is responsible for their mother vanishing, but they still have to live with him, and to hear him reviled by relatives and neighbors.
As the siblings get older, Miranda falls into depression and Jeff loses all ambition and drinks too much. Both children have little or nothing to do with their father, who seems to happily go on with his life.
After almost twenty years, new evidence seems to point more firmly to Dan's guilt, but the district attorney is still reluctant to charge Dan, feeling the case can't be won.
There are measures the relatives can take, but they might break the family apart. Aunt Kate is pushing to go forward, Miranda and Jeff are torn about what to do, and Alex wants to let things lie.
We eventually learn what happened to Jane, but (for me) the story's resolution isn't wholly satisfying. Still, the book is more about the family than the mystery, and I was drawn into the novel and enjoyed it.
Thanks to Netgalley, William Landay, and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of the manuscript.
https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
April 21, 2023
I took William Landay's new book to bed with me intending to read a few pages. Next thing I knew light was peeking through the blinds and I was not sorry one bit.
If you have read Defending Jacob then you already know that Landay has well developed writing chops. As an attorney he also knows his way around criminal investigations and the courtroom. So it should come as no surprise that All That Is Mine I Carry With Me is expertly crafted and compelling from start to finish.
A woman in the prime of her life with everything to live for simply vanishes one day, leaving behind her husband and three children. Did she leave on her own? No one seems to think so. The husband, an unlikable, arrogant successful attorney quickly becomes the prime suspect. But where's the evidence? And what about the children who have not only lost their mother but feel like they must choose sides?
I enjoyed the unusual structure of the book with whole sections narrated by different characters. I loved the twisted ending. I recommend All That Is Mine I Carry With Me without hesitation.
If you have read Defending Jacob then you already know that Landay has well developed writing chops. As an attorney he also knows his way around criminal investigations and the courtroom. So it should come as no surprise that All That Is Mine I Carry With Me is expertly crafted and compelling from start to finish.
A woman in the prime of her life with everything to live for simply vanishes one day, leaving behind her husband and three children. Did she leave on her own? No one seems to think so. The husband, an unlikable, arrogant successful attorney quickly becomes the prime suspect. But where's the evidence? And what about the children who have not only lost their mother but feel like they must choose sides?
I enjoyed the unusual structure of the book with whole sections narrated by different characters. I loved the twisted ending. I recommend All That Is Mine I Carry With Me without hesitation.
November 24, 2022
What would you do if you came home one day to find your mother missing? Ten year old Miranda finds herself in that very situation in November 1975. Nothing is out of place or missing. It’s as if her mother, Jane Larkin just vanished.
Investigators naturally suspect Jane’s husband. He is a criminal defense attorney and would dedicated be able to pull it off. However no evidence is found. Twenty years later, Jane’s body is found and the investigation is reopened.
Her three children are now grown and are forced to choose if they believe their father is guilty or innocent.
I really enjoyed this! It was a bit slow but I was so hooked it didn’t bother me. I liked the multiple POV as you even get a glimpse at Jane’s perspective. Highly recommend!
Thank you to netgalley and randomhousepublishing for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Investigators naturally suspect Jane’s husband. He is a criminal defense attorney and would dedicated be able to pull it off. However no evidence is found. Twenty years later, Jane’s body is found and the investigation is reopened.
Her three children are now grown and are forced to choose if they believe their father is guilty or innocent.
I really enjoyed this! It was a bit slow but I was so hooked it didn’t bother me. I liked the multiple POV as you even get a glimpse at Jane’s perspective. Highly recommend!
Thank you to netgalley and randomhousepublishing for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Read
May 16, 2023I can't help feeling for an author who has a mega-hit. Fans are a fickle group. They hold on to what was and can't see beyond that, especially if said author hasn't had a book released in several years. Anticipation for William Landay's latest book was high. Though overall the reviews I've seen have been good, those that were not were really negative. Why? I think because it wasn't Defending Jacob all over again. Frankly, if Defending Jacob was what I was looking for, I'd have read Defending Jacob again. I went in with open eyes and and an open mind.
All Is That Mine I Carry With Me reads like a cold case true crime story, one that would be a headliner; shouting out the disappearance of a woman, a white woman at that, the mother of three who goes missing. Days that she does not come home, turn into weeks and eventually years. Obviously, the first question is “Where is she”? Is she dead or alive? Family, friends, police and community, all have their theories. Next, if murdered, then by who? Her lawyer husband is soon the main suspect but the evidence is circumstantial at best.
Landay can weave a story and I liked that he chose to tell this one from 4 different perspectives. I had to concentrate a bit to know who was thinking, calculating, evaluating, when. Where Landay really shined was in the court room scene. He knows his law and I was mesmerized on how this played out.
The book was not perfect. At first I thought it could have been less repetitive, however I may have missed the need to repeat when writing point of view. What may seem repetitive may have revealed some crucial information if this reader was watching well. If I had read the book in one fell swoop I think it might have flowed better for me. Life gets in the way. The ending seems to have caused the most discussion and most angst about the book. It takes a bit of analyzing to figure how we get from here to there and why. When finishing the book, I was satisfied that, All Is That Mine I Carry With Me, was worth my time and I'm glad I read it.
Genre: Psychological fiction – got that right!
My sincere thanks to Edelweiss, William Landay and Bantam for providing an ARC for my honest review.
All Is That Mine I Carry With Me reads like a cold case true crime story, one that would be a headliner; shouting out the disappearance of a woman, a white woman at that, the mother of three who goes missing. Days that she does not come home, turn into weeks and eventually years. Obviously, the first question is “Where is she”? Is she dead or alive? Family, friends, police and community, all have their theories. Next, if murdered, then by who? Her lawyer husband is soon the main suspect but the evidence is circumstantial at best.
Landay can weave a story and I liked that he chose to tell this one from 4 different perspectives. I had to concentrate a bit to know who was thinking, calculating, evaluating, when. Where Landay really shined was in the court room scene. He knows his law and I was mesmerized on how this played out.
The book was not perfect. At first I thought it could have been less repetitive, however I may have missed the need to repeat when writing point of view. What may seem repetitive may have revealed some crucial information if this reader was watching well. If I had read the book in one fell swoop I think it might have flowed better for me. Life gets in the way. The ending seems to have caused the most discussion and most angst about the book. It takes a bit of analyzing to figure how we get from here to there and why. When finishing the book, I was satisfied that, All Is That Mine I Carry With Me, was worth my time and I'm glad I read it.
Genre: Psychological fiction – got that right!
My sincere thanks to Edelweiss, William Landay and Bantam for providing an ARC for my honest review.
November 20, 2022
I was not as big a fan of DEFENDING JACOB as everyone else was but I am always itching for more legal thrillers that actually have some understanding of the law. This, unfortunately, is just a sliver of a book.
You can distill this whole book down to a paragraph or so. You wouldn't need a whole page and you could still include most of the nuances. This doesn't have to be a flaw. Many very full books are built on a very simple frame. The problem is that Landay doesn't have anything to fill it up with. There are long, long scenes of dialogue where not only is there nothing actually happening to move the plot forward, but it tells us nothing about the characters. Everyone in this book sounds the same. It is naturalistic dialogue but the truth is most people are not all that interesting to listen to.
There are a few elements of structure trying to bring in different points of view and points in time. They do not do much either. They can be repetitive, but they don't enlighten.
At the end of the novel we are not in all that different of a place than at the beginning of the novel. The central question the main characters have is whether their father killed their mother. The answer matters less and less because their father sucks. This means it's easy to imagine him doing it, but also it makes him a flat character. Every scene with him feels like the one before. Fathers are disappointing (this is clearly a theme Landay is interested in).
A few late twists did not help.
You can distill this whole book down to a paragraph or so. You wouldn't need a whole page and you could still include most of the nuances. This doesn't have to be a flaw. Many very full books are built on a very simple frame. The problem is that Landay doesn't have anything to fill it up with. There are long, long scenes of dialogue where not only is there nothing actually happening to move the plot forward, but it tells us nothing about the characters. Everyone in this book sounds the same. It is naturalistic dialogue but the truth is most people are not all that interesting to listen to.
There are a few elements of structure trying to bring in different points of view and points in time. They do not do much either. They can be repetitive, but they don't enlighten.
At the end of the novel we are not in all that different of a place than at the beginning of the novel. The central question the main characters have is whether their father killed their mother. The answer matters less and less because their father sucks. This means it's easy to imagine him doing it, but also it makes him a flat character. Every scene with him feels like the one before. Fathers are disappointing (this is clearly a theme Landay is interested in).
A few late twists did not help.
November 8, 2022
This is a creatively concocted, suspenseful family drama much like this author's successful novel, Defending Jacob; with twists and turns and designs that I didn't see coming and an ending that readers will either love or hate. It is fast paced, with a long title that I could never seem to remember when someone asked what I was reading.
A mother of three goes missing and suspicion immediately falls on her husband. The family is torn apart by grief while also dealing with questions of trust. The same tragic event and its aftermath affects each family member differently and alliances are formed over many years. The resolution of the mystery is somewhat shocking, and I immediately wanted to discuss it with someone else who had read it. This just might be one of the very few books that I am going to read over again very soon.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book. Publication date: March 7, 2023.
A mother of three goes missing and suspicion immediately falls on her husband. The family is torn apart by grief while also dealing with questions of trust. The same tragic event and its aftermath affects each family member differently and alliances are formed over many years. The resolution of the mystery is somewhat shocking, and I immediately wanted to discuss it with someone else who had read it. This just might be one of the very few books that I am going to read over again very soon.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book. Publication date: March 7, 2023.
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