Shari Lapena adds a ghost to the mix for her latest entertaining thriller!
Bingable! Lapena immediately drops you right in the action, and I was riveted. This is set in a small town where everyone feels safe enough to leave their doors unlocked—until a farmer finds the body of a beloved local high school girl named Diana Bewer in one of his fields. What is uncovered will shock everyone, as some people hide dark secrets, and the reader learns that Diana's spirit is still around observing events.
This is suspenseful, full of drama, and fast-paced, with short chapters. As the tension built, I was immersed and needed to know what happened! Told in multiple POV format, including that of Diana's ghost, this story takes twists and turns, and almost everyone is a suspect at some point. I did figure out who the culprit was, but I second-guessed myself more than once as lies, flimsy alibis, and shady characters with dark motives came to light. Tautly written and compelling with some thought-provoking social commentary.
One thing I particularly enjoyed was the ghost story within this domestic thriller. The paranormal aspect set this one apart, and it was a fun touch. There is a scene where things get a little creepy, so be sure to read the Author's Note to learn about what inspired it.
January LaVoy, Jorjeana Marie, and Barrett Leddy narrate the audiobook and do a fantastic job of bringing this story to life. I'm a big fan of cast narration, and this cast was great. Their characterizations brought out the emotion, helped me keep the many POVs straight, and added to the suspense and atmosphere of the story. It is an engaging and very entertaining listen!
What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena
Pub Date: July 30, 2024
Thank you to Penguin Random House Audio and Pamela Dorman Books for the gifted audiobook
My steep was Guava Pomegranate Black Iced Tea from Club Magic Hour
PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS:
Nothing ever happens in sleepy little Fairhill, Vermont. But this morning that will change. And one innocent question could be deadly. What have you done?
The teenagers get their kicks telling ghost stories in the old graveyard. The parents trust their kids will arrive home safe from school. Everyone knows everyone. Curtains rarely twitch. Front doors are left unlocked.
But Diana Brewer isn’t lying safely in her bed where she belongs. Instead she lies in a hayfield, circled by vultures, discovered by a local farmer.
How quickly a girl becomes a ghost. How quickly a town of friendly, familiar faces becomes a town of suspects, a place of fear and paranoia.
Someone in Fairhill did this. Everyone wants answers.
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