by Laura Lippman
Published by William Morrow
Publication Date September 1st 2010
Source: Library
Genres: Mystery
Goodreads
Eliza Benedict cherishes her peaceful, ordinary suburban life with her successful husband and children, thirteen-year-old Iso and eight-year-old Albie. But her tranquillity is shattered when she receives a letter from the last person she ever expects—or wants—to hear from: Walter Bowman. There was your photo, in a magazine. Of course, you are older now. Still, I'd know you anywhere.
In the summer of 1985, when she was fifteen, Eliza was kidnapped by Walter and held hostage for almost six weeks. He had killed at least one girl and Eliza always suspected he had other victims as well. Now on death row in Virginia for the rape and murder of his final victim, Walter seems to be making a heartfelt act of contrition as his execution nears. Though Eliza wants nothing to do with him, she's never forgotten that Walter was most unpredictable when ignored. Desperate to shelter her children from this undisclosed trauma in her past, she cautiously makes contact with Walter. She's always wondered why Walter let her live, and perhaps now he'll tell her—and share the truth about his other victims.
Yet as Walter presses her for more and deeper contact, it becomes clear that he is after something greater than forgiveness. He wants Eliza to remember what really happened that long-ago summer. He wants her to save his life. And Eliza, who has worked hard for her comfortable, cocooned life, will do anything to protect it—even if it means finally facing the events of that horrifying summer and the terrible truth she's kept buried inside.
I’d Know You Anywhere is a chilling tale I could not turn away from. It was disturbing and vulnerable all at once — I didn’t realize that could be possible. The characters are well developed with their personality traits invoking the proper emotion appropriate for the subject matter at hand, bring the novel to life.
I’d Know You Anywhere is told in flashbacks jumping from 1985, the year Elizabeth was 15 to present day. I love stories told in this fashion as I believe the reader gets a better feel and interesting look at the minute details of the book. I think the only thing that could have made I’d Know You Anywhere better would be to have heard parts of it from Walter’s perspective, I think that would have been interesting. Laura Lippman’s I’d Know You Anywhere is an outstanding book by an author I hope to read more of.
I discovered Lippman this fall with What the Dead Know. Don't read/listen to many mysteries, but I loved it. I'd Know You Anywhere will be next… thanks for the review!
So glad you enjoyed this one! I have it and What the Dead Know on my TBR shelf, but I haven't read either yet. I'll have to get to them soon!
I just read this one. I think we had quite a few scenes from Walter's perspective in the past, but I agree that a few more scenes, from the future, would have been good.
I thought this was a fantastic book! Glad you enjoyed it too.