To the Power of Three

By: Laura Lippman

Narrated by: Linda Emond

Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

The three girls have been inseparable best friends since third grade: Josie, the athletic one; Perri, the brilliant, acerbic drama queen; and Kat, the beauty, who also had brains, grace, and a heart open to all around her. But their last day of high school becomes their final day together after one of them brings a gun to school to resolve a mysterious feud. When the police arrive, they discover two wounded girls. The third girl is dead, killed instantly by a shot to the heart.

For the shell-shocked parents, teachers, administrators, and students, healing must begin with answers to the usual questions, but only if the answers are safe ones, answers that will lead back to one girl and one family and absolve everyone else.

For Homicide Sgt. Harold Lenhardt, this case is a mystery with more twists than these grief-stricken suburbanites are willing to acknowledge, and the sole lucid survivor, a girl with a teenager's uncanny knack for stonewalling, strikes him as being less than honest. What is she concealing? Is she trying to protect herself or someone else? Even the simplest secrets can kill...and kill again if no one is willing to confront them.

©2005 Laura Lippman (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Lippman pushes the edge." (Sun Sentinel) "Smart, innovative and exciting... She delivers the goods." (George Pelecanos)

This is an abridged version.

I have long loved this book and was delighted to see the audio version. Nothing I saw indicated this was an abridged version and I am very disappointed. I have returned it for a refund. Regretfully, but return it I did. If they ever do the full text, I'd be thrilled to own it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not my cup of tea..

I gave high praise to Laura Lippman's other audible offering "By a Spider's Thread". And when I saw the same excellent narrator had done this one too I had high hopes. While the narration is excellent the story just wasn't for me.
This is a chick novel bluntly said. I should have paid more attention to the story line before I bought the book. It's about three teenage girls and...well, maybe that says enough. If the story line looks interesting to you then you'll probably really enjoy this book. It's well done.

5 of 9 people found this review helpful

Such a good one!

I love Laura Lippman, but this book stood out especially for its characters and plotting. Cameo appearances from some of her Baltimore regulars.

Dull

What disappointed you about To the Power of Three?

I found the story hard to keep up with. Not sure if this was because it was abridged but it seemed to jump between present and past with no warning. Maybe I was'nt paying attention and was missing bits as my mind did tend to wander because it was quite a dull listen

What could Laura Lippman have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not sure. I think her style of writing isnt for me.

What didn’t you like about Linda Emond’s performance?

Her voice seemed to drone

Any additional comments?

Maybe try an unabridged version - its a risk as it may be even more boring to listen to and longer !!