Someone We Know

Product Information

I never base a character on any particular person, although I’m sure I take the occasional trait here and there from different people I see and incorporate them into my characters. I develop characters organically; I put a character into a particular situation—usually a difficult one—and see what they do and say. They grow and develop as the story goes on and they face ever greater challenges. There’s no better way to learn about your characters than to put them in a situation of conflict and see how they react. For me, it’s much better than creating a chart with eye color and shoe size and how they take their coffee—although that would help to keep the details straight! In this neighborhood, it’s not just the husbands and wives who play games. Here, everyone in the family has something to hide . . . A] well-sculpted domestic thriller . . . highly suspenseful . . . Twists are subtly revealed with aplomb, taking the story to increasingly unpredictable levels.” Someone We Know is a new domestic suspense thriller from New York Times bestselling author Shari Lapena, where a murder shakes a quiet NY community that might have some dark secrets among neighbors.

His mind seizes. He can't answer that. If he tells her whose house he was in last night, she'll completely lose it. He can't bear to think of what the consequences of that might be. Shari Lapena…is brilliant at pinpointing those tiny but dangerous chinks in the smooth suburban façade through which terror and turmoil gradually seep. She’s a writer at the top of her game and this [Someone We Know] was another fabulous read. Lapena keeps the well-developed twists churning, with each a surprise notch in this ever-evolving plot, and she continues this skillful storytelling until the stunning twist at the end . . . memorable.” Now Amanda's handsome husband Richard Pierce has reported her missing. Amanda was supposed to have gone on a girls' weekend with her friend Caroline, but she never returned. And a call to Caroline revealed that no trip was planned.AS USUAL TOO MANY UNLIKABLE CHARACTERS: Of course I’m not quiet fan of cheaters, liars, fake friends, noisy neighbors who were watching (mostly stalking) the other houses’ inhabitants. Don’t forget Carmine Torres who threatens everyone just show them how smart and good detective she is. Everyone who knew Amanda is interviewed, and the cops suspect one person after another of being her killer. This book is non-stop twists and turns. Shari Lapena will leave your head spinning as you try and make sense of the lies surrounding the families in this neighborhood. And just when you think you’ve figured it out, you’re probably wrong. Absolutely recommend!”

Canadian author Shari Lapena offers up the tale of a suburban family in which no one can be trusted: It’s not a comforting book, but it is a thoughtful one—and if you like an edge-of-the-seat scary read, it’s worth reaching for.” I read this novel at one sitting, absolutely riveted by the story line. The suspense was beautifully rendered and unrelenting!”The mystery itself plays out like a whodunit, with plenty of suspects among a small pool of characters, and red herrings galore. Each character has secrets they want to keep hidden, and as those are revealed one by one, the twists and turns make for a truly entertaining read. A Missing woman and Anonymous letters about someone breaking and entering has the whole neighborhood on edge. As he makes his way down the stairs in his pajamas, he's sweating. When they enter the kitchen, his dad looks up in surprise. He can obviously tell from their expressions that something's up. Lapena has written a great whodunit, with a delicious Christie-like vibe. Fans of the author’s first novel will want this, and anyone who savors a well-crafted murder mystery will gobble it up!”