Someone We Know

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What were you up to last night, Raleigh? And don't say you were at the movies, because I'm not buying it. You'd better tell me everything before your father gets home." Her heart is pounding with anxiety. What has he done?

A flirtatious, unfaithful wife is brutally murdered in the first chapter. Suspicion immediately falls on the men in her life, especially those suspected of having extramarital relations with her or her jealous husband. Meanwhile, two mothers are worried about their teenage sons. One boy has been sneaking into neighbourhood homes and reading the content of their computers. What secrets may he have learned and how will his snooping connect with the plot? Another boy is a drunk. Their two mothers are best friends and support each other in their concerns. THERE ARE TOO MANY LIES, SECRETS, CHEATERS ON THIS BOOK! NOBODY IS INNOCENT: Every character lies on this book. Every character has big secrets. Every one of them has different agenda. I was about to blurt out laughing because at some parts the book turned into mysterious tele-novelas, most soap-y operas, you know that ones, the man who sleeps with his own maid, daughter in law at the same time, when his wife’s having a relationship with gardener and her trainer  Shari Lapena is one of those authors that should be on everyone's reading lists. Her writing is always dripping with suspense, and she always knows how to captivate an audience. Sadly, I've only read her last release, An Unwanted Guest, but that was a fun adventure! When I was given the opportunity to read Lapena's upcoming novel, Someone We Know—I just jumped out of my chair at the chance! Hell to the YES. The fantastically flirty Amanda Pierce has turned up dead. As our story opens with her brutal murder with a hammer, and her husband Robert's general relief as he files a missing persons report a couple of days later, this seems to be an open and shut case and just another instance of "it's always the husband." However, the small suburban neighborhood holds its fair share of secrets, as teenage Raleigh has been breaking into homes just for the sheer thrill of the hunt and taking a look at everyone's internet history (and deepest secrets) while he's at it.

READERS GUIDE

I think I loved Raleigh, I know what he did was wrong but at least he was brave enough to endure the consequences. And Olivia might be the most decent character. Even if it’s silly move to make her son write apologizing letters and put them in the P.O boxes of the victims were fair and honest actions.

In this neighborhood, it’s not just the husbands and wives who play games. Here, everyone in the family has something to hide . . . Olivia is mortified by her son, Raleigh, breaking into neighbors’ houses. Do you think the apology letters were a bad or good idea? To what degree should parents feel accountable, or be held accountable, for the actions of their children? Discuss.

Shari Lapena

He knows he can't get out of this by denying it. He's caught like a rat in a trap, and now all he can do is damage control. "I did sneak into somebody's house, but I wasn't stealing. It was more like-just looking around," he mutters. So we can't even console ourselves with the idea that someone else led you into this completely unacceptable, criminal, behavior?" No, I don’t know who the killer will be at the outset, but I know it has to be one of several people. I start with a situation with a lot of possibilities, one that can go in many different directions, and then, as I develop all the threads, and as I come to the end, the best answer presents itself. the Drake of domestic suspense: a resolutely home-grown talent whose reach is truly international.” The town of Aylesford in New York State's Hudson Valley is an affluent community where families know one another and have the occasional neighborhood party.

When the mystery is finally resolved and it all makes sense, you will still be asking yourself questions about how far people are willing to go to cover a crime committed by somebody they love. Raleigh looks up at his mom. She's standing over him with his cell phone in her hand. What the hell is she doing with his cell phone? What is she blathering on about? He's annoyed, but he's still half asleep. He doesn't wake up just like that; it's an adjustment.This is a very difficult letter to write. I hope you will not hate us too much. . . My son broke into your home recently while you were out.”