Review of Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena
Oh, how I waited for Shari Lapena’s latest thriller, Everyone Here Is Lying, to grace my shelves! My relationship with Lapena’s work has been one of delightful obsession—her knack for weaving tension into domestic life always keeps me perched on the edge of my seat. So, entering this story about secrets nestled within the quaint facade of suburbia, I couldn’t help but feel a thrill of anticipation. Little did I know, the journey would be filled with unexpected twists, and not all of them would hit the mark.
The story kicks off with William Wooler, a trusted doctor and seemingly devoted family man, who finds himself entangled in an affair with his neighbor, Nora Blanchard. Their weekly secret meet-ups at a local motel paint a picture of an idyllic dual life until Nora decides it’s time to end the charade. The abruptness is jarring, perfectly encapsulating the chaos that ensues when William returns home to confront the implications of his actions. What should have been a mundane return becomes a pivotal moment when he encounters his defiant nine-year-old daughter, Avery, leading to a heated exchange that sets the stage for her poignant disappearance later that evening.
Lapena excels in showcasing how tightly-woven relationships can hide layers of deceit. The characters, each more unlikable than the last, seem almost perfectly crafted, reflecting the flawed nature of trust. The tension builds not just from Avery’s disappearance but from the bitter confrontation of buried truths, revealing that even in a ‘perfect’ neighborhood, darkness lurks beneath the surface. My favorite part? The clever handing out of poetic justice to each character and their respective transgressions—a deliciously satisfying aspect that made me root for more.
However, while the plot had its intriguing moments, it meandered slightly longer than expected. Early chapters felt slow, as I found myself waiting for the suspense to truly kick in. Unlike Lapena’s previous books, where the tension climbed like a crescendo, this felt more like a gentle hum that stuttered through the revelations. The multiple perspectives, though intended to deepen the intrigue, often stripped away the mystery too soon, handing us the answers before the police could catch up—a bit of a letdown for a devoted mystery reader like myself.
Not to mention, though there’s a stunning twist that genuinely made me gasp, it left me feeling a bit deflated afterward, as the fallout wasn’t crafted with the same intensity. It left me yearning for more of that delightful tension I’d grown to love in Lapena’s writing.
In conclusion, while Everyone Here Is Lying didn’t quite live up to the dizzying expectations set by Lapena’s previous works, it’s still a gripping narrative filled with intriguing characters that are sure to captivate readers. If you enjoy stories that peel back the layers of suburban life, laden with secrets and betrayal, this is a book you won’t want to miss. Just a word of caution: lower your expectations slightly if you’re a die-hard Lapena enthusiast like me.
For those wading into the myriad themes of infidelity, parental tension, and the unsettling dynamics of family and community, this read promises to be chilling, if somewhat uneven in delivery. I walked away with my mind racing about the psychological depths of each character’s life—a testament to Lapena’s intricate storytelling, even if I didn’t find it as satisfying as I hoped. I’d rate it 3.5 stars, and whether you agree or disagree, I’d love to hear what you think!