Book Review: Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline
When I stumbled upon Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline, I felt a strange pull. I’ve enjoyed Scottoline’s previous romance novels, so I was curious to see how she would navigate the murky waters of psychological thrillers. With themes of betrayal, guilt, and dark secrets woven throughout, I thought, “This could be a thrilling ride!” However, my excitement waned as I navigated the plot twists that felt more like rehashed tropes than unexpected revelations.
The story unfolds through the first-person perspective of Elizabeth, an English professor whose normal college life spirals when a student’s story echoes her own buried past. The revelation that the chapter—a scandal involving a high school senior and her teacher—mirrors my protagonist’s darkest secret adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. Elizabeth’s impending return to her Louisiana hometown to confront this long-buried guilt grips readers from the start. I appreciated how seamlessly Scottoline captured the tone of Elizabeth’s frantic emotional state. The narration fluctuates between self-centered introspection and reaching a frenzy of panic, which kept the pacing sharp and brisk.
Yet, here lies my dilemma: while I’m perfectly fine with predictable arcs in cozy mysteries or romance, in thrillers, predictability feels like a misplaced opportunity. From the first few chapters, I could foresee the key twists, diminishing their impact as the plot trudged to its conclusion. It felt almost mechanical—each twist and bump on the road felt reheated rather than fresh. Furthermore, I found myself questioning the character depth. Elizabeth, for all her internal chaos, came off as maddeningly oblivious. Her compulsions—living off coffee and alcohol, engaging in misguided flings—felt more like cliches than compelling character traits. At times, I felt like I was reading a checklist of the “tortured protagonist” archetype.
The book claims to be a chilling and sexy thriller, yet I found neither element engaging. What began as a promising exploration of passion and danger quickly devolved into a rather crass rendition of erotic tension that left me cringing rather than gasping. While it’s true that Scottoline raised questions about Elizabeth’s mental state, the exploration felt superficial and sometimes excessive. Most disappointingly, the last chapter dished out a twist that felt less like a revelation and more like a forced finale. I’m sure I’m not alone in my distaste for trend-driven endings that leave readers questioning the entire narrative integrity right after the climax.
That said, Someone Knows isn’t entirely without merit. Scottoline crafts a complex atmosphere of tension and longing, eliciting emotional responses and prompting deeper reflections, particularly surrounding the darker themes of grooming, abusive relationships, and mental illness. I could easily see this book sparking spirited discussions in a book club setting.
In closing, while my experience wasn’t what I had hoped for, others who revel in thrillers, particularly those new to the genre, might find it enjoyable. Just be sure to check the content warnings! As for me, I’ll likely stick to Scottoline’s romances in the future, where her knack for dialogue and character depth seems to shine more brightly.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the opportunity to read this eARC. My review is my own, and I’d love to hear your thoughts if you decide to pick this one up!