I'd Know You Anywhere

By: Laura Lippman

Narrated by: Linda Emond

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

The acclaimed New York Times bestselling author returns with a new stand-alone novel—a powerful and utterly riveting tale that skillfully moves between past and present to explore the lasting effects of crime on a victim's life....I'd Know You Anywhere

Eliza Benedict cherishes her peaceful, ordinary suburban life with her successful husband and children, 13-year-old Iso and eight-year-old Albie. But her tranquility 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.

©2010 Laura Lippman (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

I liked it.

I feel like it's getting harder and harder to find an audiobook to grab my attention and keep it, truly. I usually am kind of switching between three and five of them waiting for one to catch my ADD and hold it. This one kept it from the start. I listen to probably five audiobooks a week, local library is a great source, although, if Audible would increase the monthly credits, I'd get more. I listen driving, doing laundry, doing dishes. Weeds are yanked up quite often while I'm dawdling out in the yard listening in peace. First Laura Lippman book, I will definitely be downloading/importing more. Love it when I stumble across another author that I can count on as a decent listen.

Great book

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. Well written and well read. Heavy topic but handled with respect. Definitely would recommend it.

Best of hers I've read. Spectacular.

What did you love best about I'd Know You Anywhere?

The ambiguity of everything. The crime in the eyes of the world, the family, the victim, the criminal. And the suspense as all is revealed. Brilliant fiction with realism and a powerful puzzle at its heart. And the evolution of the heroine's character from the point of view of the reader is fascinating. Why her character, which is not entirely admirable from the standard point of view, my point of view, helped her survive.

What did you like best about this story?

See above.

What about Linda Emond???s performance did you like?

She's simply a great reader. Not too too dramatic and not dead. Just great.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

What is the nature of guilt? Nahhh, no high concept movie would work with that tag line.

Interesting story

I enjoyed this story, though thought it was a little boring in places. I liked the characters and the dialogue.

worth two listens

There aren't many audio books I like to relisten to, but this was one of them. Compelling, gripping, and I wanted to cheer the lead character at the end. A great download.

I found the reason compelling

Like the previous reviewer, at first I couldn't understand why the victim would agree to talk to, let alone see, the kidnapper. But as the story unfolded, I found her reasons compelling and I probably would have done the same thing. A better explanation would be a spoiler as its one of the threads that keep you guessing. A great read that leaves you with something to think about. I highly recommend to all mystery lovers.

Good news...finally a credit worthy book

One of the best books I have listened to. The balance between the present and past was perfect. Believable.

Mixed feelings

I felt this book lost momentum at the end, but other than that I enjoyed it. I'm impressed with the author's ability to create fully-fleshed-out characters; she does a better job of it than certain other authors who are selling a lot more books. Still, while the ending wasn't bad or disappointing, it didn't seem to have the same quality of development as the rest of the book. It just sort of . . . ended, but it would have been far more satisfying had it been a bit more dramatic. After all, there's quite a bit of drama in this book. It's a good read and I recommend it, but a more compelling ending would have made it a much better book.

Compelling

Not just a detective novel (nothing wrong with that) this is a SERIOUS and compelling work of fiction. As a 51 year old I found myself back in the land of 1970s: malls, Orange Julius, teenage angst and the innocence of the 70's that had yet to be marred by the hideous kidnapping and murder of children.

Don't let that throw you- this is NOT a horror or "true crime slasher" exploiting the abduction of children- but a carefully crafted work that I found compelling and enlightening.

Simply superb!

Hang in there

I nearly shut this one off during the first 1/2 hour. The narrator described the main character's banal soccer-mom life in a sing-song voice that would've been perfect for a child's book about princesses or fairies. It was dreadful beyond belief, but I stuck it out, and I'm glad I did.

While certainly not the best book I've encountered, it did explore a unique situation in a realistic manner, and I was glad I'd purchased it. Hang in there and it will be worth it.