I’d Know You Anywhere: A Novel by Laura Lippman (William Morrow Paperbacks, $14.99, 400 pages)
As with her prior novels, Laura Lippman does not disappoint as she again demonstrates her skill at writing crime fiction in the recent novel I’d Know You Anywhere.
To the outsider, Eliza Benedict appears to be a normal suburban stay-at-home mother of two with a loving, financially secure husband. However, when she receives a letter from Walter Bowman, she’s instantly forced to relive her past. Kidnapped by Walter at age fifteen, she was held hostage for almost 6 weeks. Bowman, now on death row in Virginia, has found Eliza and reaches out to make amends. As he presses her for increased contact, she begins to wonder what his real motivation is for contacting her. She also wonders if she, too, may need something in return to secure full and complete closure on her past.
Lippman’s literary gift is in presenting interesting characters that the reader connects with. By employing detailed descriptions and natural dialogue, she enables us to know each character in the story personally and intimately.
In I’d Know You Anywhere, Lippman’s writing is detailed and believable even when alternating between Eliza’s confident, yet conflicted (challenging yet clinging) teenager, to the delusional thought processes of Bowman. Lippman provides fascinating insight into what it would be like to be abducted and the impact on the victim and family members as they subsequently attempt to resume their lives.
In this novel, Lippman not only presents an entertaining read, she also encourages the reader to contemplate the political dilemmas of the death penalty and debate whether death row meets its presumed function of bringing justice to the families of crime victims. She further provides insight into the mind of someone with a mental illness; someone with twisted justifications of right versus wrong, and warped views on how his actions impact others. My only critique is that I would have liked to see a bit more depth in Eliza – the main character – whose passivity in life becomes daunting at times. However, the unique storyline and the detailed personalities of Lippman’s characters provides for an intriguing, engaging and interesting story.
Well recommended.
Kelly Monson
A review copy was provided by the publisher. I’d Know You Anywhere was released in trade paper form on May 3, 2011.
Joseph's Reviews 