What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

In 1975, sisters Sunny and Heather Bethany disappeared in broad daylight from a mall near their home in the Baltimore area. Despite following various suspects and leads, the Baltimore police cannot find a trace of the girls anywhere. Thirty years later, a woman involved in a freak traffic accident claims to be the younger sister, Heather. What unravels is a story full of truths and lies, with the Baltimore police wondering if she could be one of the Bethany sisters. And, if she is, what happened to her sister? Moving back and forth between the past and the present, Lippman's storytelling fills in gaps and shows how the Bethany family and individuals involved in the case change and grow as a result of the disappearance. This is a story of survival and sacrifice and a story of forgiveness and hope.

Lippman is probably best known for her Tess Monaghan series. She has also written a few stand alone (non-series) novels; this book is one of her stand alone novels. I had not read any of Lippman's books prior to this one. What the Dead Know is incredible, storytelling at its finest. With twists and turns throughout the book, I had to keep reading long into the night to find out what happened next in the story. Lippman does not base her story on an actual case, though in her notes after the story, she does mention a specific case that triggered her interest in writing a story about the disappearance of sisters. After reading this remarkable story, I am anxious to read her other works.

What the Dead Know is definitely a must-read book.

Reviewed by Jessica