Someone We Know: A Novel

As the title suggests, in any good whodunnit, the killer is always someone we know. But this novel, set in a neighborhood full of suspicious characters with various motives, makes unraveling the identity of the murderer nearly impossible. The crime in question is the murder of Amanda Pierce, a young and beautiful newlywed with a bit of a flirtatious reputation. Not long after she and her husband moved to the neighborhood, Amanda is found dead in the trunk of her car, sending the entire community into a frenzy. The investigation reveals more secrets and indiscretions than anyone could imagine, and soon it becomes clear that everyone is a suspect.

While I felt Lapena’s previous books relied too heavily upon absurdities in order to “twist” the final ending, her use of small pockets of perspective from each character in Someone We Know works effectively to create a constant of doubt. Though at times it does feel as though we may be hearing from one too many individuals, muddling the ability to gauge the importance of certain characters, the eerie premonition of what is to come that it evokes makes the confusion all worth the while.