Eliza Benedict has a good life. She has a loving adoring husband. She is a mom of two children, Isobel (Iso) who is every bit the thirteen year old girl she should be, and eight year old Albie. Life is good and as it should be…
Right?
But Eliza has long-held on to a deep dark secret in her past and it is about to arrive on her door step in letter format. The letter is from Walter Bowman, a man on death row for the rape and murder of one girl, and who is also the man who had kidnapped Eliza for six weeks and raped her at the age of 15.
What could he possibly want and why is he pushing his way into Eliza’s wonderful life now after all this time?
“Dear Elizabeth,
I’m sure this is a shock, although that’s not my intention, to shock you. Up until a few weeks ago, I never thought I would have any communication with you at all and accepted that as fair. That’s how it’s been for more than twenty years now. But it’s hard to ignore signs when they are right there in front of your face, and there was your photo in Washingtonian magazine, not the usual thing I read, but you’d be surprised by my choice of reading material these days. Of course, you are older, a woman now. You’ve been a woman for a while, obviously. Still, I’d know you anywhere.”
So…. what if your past did come back to get you?
I listened to this book on audio and really enjoyed the narrator, Linda Emond (who also narrates in Lippman’s The What The Dead Know and Life Sentences).
The audio/book flashes back and forth to Eliza’s younger life at fifteen (then she was Elizabeth) and back to her current life and age of Thirty-eight. The story line is fantastic…. what do you do if you are the reason a man is on death row? What do you do if many years later he is reaching out in the last hours of his life saying he is wanting to apologize for the wrong he has done? And is that truly all he wants?
This was the type of read you didn’t want to stop, but instead I wanted to rush through to the ending to find out what was going to happen. What decisions would Eliza make for herself? For her family? What does Walter really hope to get out of contacting Eliza and is he truly a changed man?
Fast paced, well written. I definitely plan to read more from this author.
Amazon Rating
Book Journey’s 2010 Reading map has been updated to include I’d Know You Anywhere
When in Maryland, you should stop in to Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse
Cover Story: It does draw me in. When I seen this cover I wanted to know who the girl was and who was after her.
I received my copy of this audio from audible.com
Book Journey 
How scary that would be!! I love scary!! I’ll have to get a copy of this book!
Love your review!
Its good Vicki – and a good scary, not a creepy scary 😀
I really want to read this. I am going to have to hunt this down. On another note I have actually been to Red Emma’s. it is a fabulous place and any time I am in Baltimore it is a must do. Sorry I have not been over here lately. Life has been such a whirl wind. I can’t wait for tomorrow when I can sit with a cup of coffee and write one really long blog post, lol.
HI Bobbie! How cool you have been to that coffee shop! 😀 Laural Lippman is a very good writer and I have heard wonderful things about her other books as well.
It is a great place. If you are every this way I will take you:) I have the book on hold at the library.
I really want to read this; I’ve heard great things about it! Was this your first Lippman?
Hannah I thought for sure I had read this author before but when I looked at the list of her books I did not see a title I had read. I now want to read something else by her!
Laura Lippman is great! I have read two of her books so far, this being one of them, and I am definitely hooked!
Lola I need to read another of her books, I really liked the writing. 😀
I’ve enjoyed several books by this author and have been wanting to read this one…sooner rather than later, it sounds like!
A lot of “yay Lippman” comments here Laurel…. I guess I need to find another of hers as well too…. soon. 😛
It’s on my shelf… can’t wait to read it!
Yay Jules – I am really interested in your thoughts on this! 😀
This does sound like the kind of book you can’t put down (or stop listening to). A different plot line. Sounds like it would be a compelling read. Thanks for the review and making us aware of this book and author.
Sure Pat I think this would be a wonderful author for you! I would love to hear your thoughts on her.
This sounds very intriguing. I read Lippman’s What the Dead Know and enjoyed it.
Sue
Thanks Sue, I just reserved that one and a couple others at my library 😀
Wow – sounds like a great book! Thanks to you, I’m going to need to build some additional shelves! 🙂
I am so glad to share my addiction Jill 😀
This is one that I want to read for sure…I need to find out what her secret was!! 😀
Yay Staci! 😀
Sounds fascinating! Have added to my growing list!
Glad to hear it Kylie – I think Laura Lippman is an experience ewe should all have. 🙂
Ooh, I love the sound of this book. I have to get myself a copy! Thanks for the review 🙂
Sure! 😀