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

Smooth style and a little creepy

This is very good book! It reminds me of "The Time Traveler's Wife", it's written in the same time jumping style. The smooth talking and ease of accents make me feel like there should be a classical masterpeice playing in the background of a horror movie. I feel like this could be true, I feel like I could know this main character and her family.

Well written!

I think this book was a very good reflection of the emotions one has while parenting. Lisa's past colors her reactions to the people in her world. She does a good job of reconciling the terrible truths of her youth.

smooth and entertaining

Walter is a complicated man and his reasons for finding eliza are mysterious yet meaningful. It was worth waiting till the end to find out why.

If you are looking for a good story with great writing style, good dialogues and a short read, this book will satisfy you.

This isn't great literature but it worked great on my commute as I could get immersed easily in the combination of writing/narration. The story is flowing and there was no superflous material. Too many audiobooks fail to engage when I'm driving and not at 100% concentration.

Excellent story, great narrator

Thoroughly enjoyed the writing and presentation. Difficult topic, very well
done. Will definitely try additional books by this author.

A Good Novel

The story hooks you in and slowly untangles the mystery. It's well written in the same way the Lovely Bones was- strong characters, but not morbid and gruesome. A good listen and very well narrated.

Interesting Story

This is the first Laura Lipman booked that I've read. I enjoyed her character development, and her ability to blend the past with the present as she tells her story. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

One of the best

Really interesting-enjoy is not the correct word-more like fascinating. It is a riveting listen.

Just okay.....

While I finished this book I was not enthralled with it, like most other books; this took me longer to finish than any other audiobook I've ever listened to. It was not horrible, just not captivating, I didn't fall in love with any of the characters. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book.

Good story....

First I have to say, this story turned out to be much different than I had invisioned by reading the description, not sure if that was just the "reader" in me always looking for the hiden meaning or twist. The basics of the story is about Eliza who was kidnapped when she was 15 years old and now her kidnapper is on death row (close to execution) for the murder of another girl, which occurred while she was being held. Her kidnapper, Walter, and his advocate, Barbara, find Eliza with the purpose of trying to get her to "admit" her memory has cleared and now remembers the events of that day differently. It really turns out to be interesting how all the parties (Eliza and her family, the vicitims family, the advocate, and Walter) to the crime have their own unique perspective.

I do have one knock on the story, there were a few characters introduced into the story, i.e. Iso the daughter, Albie the son, Trudy the victim's mother, that had the beginings of interesting stories, but nothing ever happened. Mostly Eliza's daughter, Iso, there was always something going on with her, I was expecting some twist in the story concerning her, waiting for the preverbal "other shoe to drop". Even though that shoe never dropped, the story is still a very good one.

A big 5-star+ rating for the narrator, Linda Emond, she did a spectacular job!

Kept my attention...

This kept my attention for 10 hrs I recently made a drive from AZ to CO in a day and this book made me want to keep on driving to hear more.This is not some fancy literary review just letting someone know that this is surely worth a credit. The narration is good and the story is creepy and a little off setting but not too much just enough to make you want to know what happens next.