I'm not sure where to start with this book, except to say that my opinion is in the minority.

What I liked:
• Great writing, great dialogue.
• There was ample time for character development. I loved seeing the interaction between the siblings, and between the aunt and the dad.
• Some great courtroom interaction. We get to see Dan for the pompous yet effective lawyer that he is.
• Creative format - Book 2 (you'll have to see for yourself), and then suddenly -a lack of quotation marks - I'd love to hear the author's intention. I'm thinking it was to denote the rawness of the conversations?

What I struggled with:
• There were long swatches of narrative where essentially nothing happens. This was a slow build (except for Book 2) where there is a lot of speculation. A long time goes by before we have an idea about what has happened to Jane.
• The ending. Whew. It was not what I expected!

I loved Defending Jacob, so I was happy to get an advance reader's copy of this book, thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group.

In a Nutshell: Better if read as a family drama with elements of mystery, than as a crime thriller. Not fast-paced but still gripping. Recommended to literary fiction readers who would like a well-developed, slowburn story.

Story Synopsis:
In November 1975, ten-year-old Miranda Larkin came home to find it empty, her mother nowhere in sight but everything else in its usual spot. Neither her dad nor her brothers know anything, What happened to Jane Larkin? Did she go somewhere? Was she kidnapped? Murdered?
The suspicion automatically falls on Jane’s husband Dan, a criminal attorney who is vehement about his innocence. But in the lack of concrete evidence, the case goes cold.
How does Jane’s abrupt disappearance affect the Larkin family? We get to hear this from four characters’ first person perspectives. The book is divided into four sections called ‘Books’, with each character getting one ‘Book’ to narrate their version of the events.

Note: Don’t read the GR blurb. Go in blind.

Where the book worked for me:
✔ I loved the structuring of the book. It starts with an arc about a popular author writing a book about his friend’s missing mom, but soon, it is clear that the plot is more intricate than it appears. There’s some really clever storytelling in his novel.
✔ The ending, especially the climactic scene. Brief, yet brilliant! It’s the kind that will stay in your head long after you close the final page.
✔ Though the book is quite languid in pace, the story and the characters kept me hooked. Of course, it helped that I wasn’t reading this as a mystery-thriller. Otherwise, the slow unfurling of key events would have disappointed me. The second half is much faster.
✔ Despite this primarily being a family drama, the author still manages to throw in a few twists that caught me unawares.
✔ With four sections coming from four distinct characters, the first person writing could have been easy to muddle up. But each got a distinct voice, and I never lost track of who was narrating that section of the story. What also helped was how the four characters were not necessarily ones you would expect as narrators.
✔ A character-oriented story is nothing without well-developed characters. This one aces on that front. All the main characters are layered rather than unidimensional, thereby adding to the depth of the plot. Their emotions are explored well, and the repercussions of a shocking event on a family are detailed out realistically.
✔ The courtroom scenes were mesmerising. After a long time have I seen a book tackle the legal aspects of a plot so well.
✔ This wasn’t the kind of book that spoonfed its readers everything. There are clues here and there to help your mind stay active while you try to solve the mystery alongside the cast. Know that not all ends are neatly tied, but this adds to the impact of the book.
✔ One of the characters suffers from dementia later in life, and through that perspective, we get to see how hardhitting and unbiased dementia can be. I found this portrayal emotional but well-handled. If you are a caregiver to someone with dementia, it might be triggering.

Where the book could have worked better for me:
❌ The blurb stresses on the mystery angle more than it is used in the plot itself. While Jane Larkin’s disappearance is the lynchpin of the entire plot, the focus is more on the aftermath than on the mystery itself.
❌ The author doesn’t go overboard in giving us in-depth emotional perspectives of the entire family, but sticks to a few select ones. However, this leaves a couple of characters almost like strangers till the end, though they are a part of the immediate Larkin family. Alex Larkin gets an especially raw deal.
❌ No quotation marks around the dialogues in Books 3 & 4. I can tolerate this writing style, but I am not a fan, especially when the conversations are lengthy and all we have is line after line of back-and-forth dialogue with no quotation marks and no indicator of the speaker’s name.
❌ The cover is quite boring. I wouldn’t have given this a second glance had it not been for the glowing reviews it received from my Goodreads friends.

Overall, this is an unusual kind of family drama with shades of literary fiction and suspense mystery. Definitely recommended when you want a slowburn but captivating read. This book will thrill you, but not in the adrenaline rush kind of way.

4.25 stars.

My thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley for the DRC of “All That Is Mine I Carry With Me”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This story was told from four different points of view which usually makes for an interesting read. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this method of storytelling in All That Is Mine I Carry With Me. Book 2 was told by a presumably dead woman which I found hard to relate to and Book 3 had no quotation marks to define conversations so it was much harder to follow who was speaking. The story went back and forth in time over the course of the book and tended to be long and drawn out in parts. The premise of the story was good and the ending, while not a total surprise, was revealed in an intriguing manner. Not sure the method in which Mr. Landay told the story worked for me though. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was one of the most anticipated reads for 2023. I loved Landay's last novel, Defending Jacob, so I was so excited to see more by him. 

This book is a slow burn intense family drama. You have to be patient with this story, let it unfold as the chapters and years go on. 

The structure of this book is so interesting. It is split into 4 books. Book 1 starts with Phil, he is writing a book about the long ago disappearance of Jane Larkin. Jane disappeared without a trace one afternoon, leaving her husband and 3 children's confused and alone. The finger is quickly pointed at Dan, Jane's husband. The whole town and even some of the children believe he is responsible...but there is no body, and no proof. 

As the book moves along through Book 2, 3, and 4; the point of view changes to other characters in this story. The change of perspective really created an interesting story. The most compelling theme in this novel, is the question of loyalty of family. As Dan's 3 children consider their mother will never come back, do they believe their father is responsible...who are they loyal to? Who do they believe?

This would be a fantastic book club book. There is so much to unpack and dig through. Definably a book I wont soon forget.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Worth the wait!
Scene: 1975 Jane Larkin homemaker/wife of Dan (lawyer/comes from money) and mother of Alex, Jeff, and Miranda. One day 10 year old Miranda comes home from school to an empty house. Janes purse and belongings are still intact along with the rest of the house. Police are called. There are no signs of foul play. Naturally Janes sister, main detective, and locals think the husband did it.
Twenty years later, Janes remains are found near a vacation rental the family had taken 20+ years ago. Alex always believed in his dad’s innocence, Jeff, never got a long with his Dad and blamed him. Miranda, she was heart broken and has been depressed the past 20 years.
Present day: Jeff and Miranda take Dan to civil court. The family unfolds from here.
A few POV and To my surprise, one of the voices heard from was Janes. I enjoyed hearing the POV from the person missing. It added depth and insight to the characters, the marriage, and the relationships within the family unit.
A page turner. Different emotions tugged at my heart and head.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an ARC read that will stay with me for awhile!

As a ten year old child, Miranda came home to an empty house. While he mother normally met her after school, she never came home and the mystery of her disappearance went on for 18 years. While people suspected her father of the crime, there was never enough evidence. Now 18 years later, her mothers body has been found and Miranda and her two brothers, Alex and Jeff, need to decide what to do about it. Do they really believe their father is innocent?

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the aspect of the story being told by an author and friend of Jeff’s from childhood. It definitely made me question some of what was happening, was that really what happened? Or was that just what Phil had believed happened and how he was telling the story? I also loved that though she was dead, Jane’s pov was also included. That certainly added something extra to the story, and gave it the added cringe factor. I will say I knew how the story was going to end from about 25% of the way through, but that did not take away from the reading experience. Overall I would call this one a mysterious family drama over a thriller. it was a bit more character driven than I normally go for, but I still really appreciated the reading experience.

I LOVED the way this book was written, with the 4 separate books/POVs, but still following chronologically. I was hooked from the beginning when Miranda gets home from school and doesn’t see her mom. Slowly, piece by piece, we find out what happened. The ending was OMG! I did not expect that. This was a slow burn legal/crime thriller that kept me interested and guessing up until the very end. Book 2 was my favorite point of view. I highly recommend giving this book a read. It’s out now!!

I have been anxious to read another book by this author and this one did not disappoint. It tells the story of a long ago mystery of a missing mom and the struggle to find answers. I liked how the author began this story, sharing his struggles with writers block and how he came upon writing this story after years of thinking about it. This is a slow burning mystery with strong characters and great writing. I enjoyed it.

I know I should give a more in-depth review of this one. Honestly though- I really love going into books not knowing much about the story- but knowing people loved it. I LOVED this one! This author is genius at making you change your opinion of someone 12 times. The whole time I wondered, did he? Could he really have? No way. Wait, did he? Ahhhh, my favorite type of thriller - make me doubt my initial reactions over and over again. This book was all that I hoped after loving Defending Jacob. It reminded me of the Netflix series and documentary The Staircase. If you watched either and enjoyed - you will devour this one.

Any doubt about whether I recommend? Without hesitation I recommend you pick this one up immediately. I am super picky about giving 5 stars to Thrillers but this one earned every half star! Thank you NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the arc to read and review.

Jane Larkin disappeared one day, never to return. But no one knows if she is dead or just missing. Her husband is the biggest suspect, but is never indicted. Then years later, her body is found, and her husband is still not indicted. The family is torn apart and no one ever knows what really happened to Jane. Told from multiple viewpoints, this book is clever and engrossing. You will think you have it all figured out, and then you don't. Dan Larkin is a character you love to hate, but then he grows old and has dementia and you begin to sympathize with him, but keep your guard up with this book! Kudos William Lindlay!

This book is written by the same author who wrote "Defending Jacob," so I knew I would enjoy it. It starts with young Miranda Larkin coming home from school to an empty house. Her mom Jane has disappeared. There are no clues to her disappearance, no evidence, and no witnesses, although police and detectives suspect Dan, Jane's husband. Years go by with no leads. The family is torn apart, not knowing what to believe. Decades go by and Jane's remains are discovered, which only bring up more questions. How the three adult children deal with speculation around their dad, as well as the loss of their mom at a young age, poses emotional issues for two of them. I really enjoyed this book and loved that it takes place in my home state of Massachusetts. Thank you to Random House for the opportunity to read this in advance.

4.5 stars

This was an excellent read! I really enjoyed it! It's a slow burn kind of story, but it didn't take long at all to grab my attention and keep me turning pages until the end.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay is a family drama with some elements of mystery. It's about a woman that goes missing in 1975 and how that affects her family...from the husband who is suspected of killing her to her children who grow up without a mother and always suspicious of their father. It is a thoughtful and interesting story, but it's not a thriller as there is not really any action or suspense.

My favorite thing about this book is the way it is structured. The book is split into four separate books each with a different narrator. I really loved the way each narrator came in and added a new layer to the story. The way that the four parts fit together was just brilliant and expertly written!

I also liked the ending. I can see how not every reader will love it, but I thought it was a great way to end the story. I can't go into any more details without giving things away, so you will just have to read it for yourself.

Highly recommend this one!! It feels like a story that is going to stick with me for a very long time, and that's always a sign of a great book!!

What happened to Jane Larkin? People don’t just vanish into thin air. Did her criminal defense attorney husband have a hand in it? A stranger? Did Jane have secrets? Her three children are left with memories while being raised by their father, who is under a cloud of superstition.
20 years later, her remains are found. The investigation heats up, and Janes now grown children are old enough to choose sides.
Wonderfully written!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excided to read another book by this author as I loved Defending Jacob!

This story revolves around Jane Larkin's disappearance, and the story of what happened to her. All signs point to her husband, Dan; however, being a criminal defense attorney, and no sign of her body, they have no evidence to convict him.

Fast forward 20 years, and her remains are found. Their father pleads with the 3 children, as he still claims he is innocent.

The story is written in many voices, and has a couple of twists.

If you enjoy a good suspenseful book, then this one is for you!

When Jane Larkin disappeared 20 years ago, many people expected her husband killed her. No evidence linking him to the crime was ever found and he was never charged. Jane's three children have very mixed feelings. Alex, thinks their father is innocent. Jeff and Miranda go back and forth about what they believe. When her remains are found years later they continue trying to find the truth.

My thoughts:
I never connected with any of these characters. I didn't like or dislike Miranda or Jeff. I just didn't really care about them one way or another. I did like the different viewpoints, especially the section that was told from Jane's point of view. The ending was fantastic! I felt like the plot was drawn out more than necessary. I also felt like there were a couple of characters that didn't really serve a real purpose, such as the brother, Alex. His part in the story didn't really add anything. I felt like the detective, Tom, didn't really get any closure. However, the ending made me glad I kept reading even thought at times it was a struggle for me to push through.

3.5 stars, rounded up

“I think all married men are a little unhappy, secretly, at least the ones who marry young.”

William Landay’s All That is Mine I Carry With Me begins with author Phil Solomon stymied when it comes to the subject of his next book until childhood friend, Jeff contacts him and suggests a topic: in 1975, Jeff’s mother, Jane Larkin vanished without a trace. Her husband Dan, a prominent attorney, was the prime suspect, but he was never charged with the crime. Phil decides to write the book and interviews many of those involved in the case including: Jane’s three children, Alex, Miranda and Jeff, the lead detective on the case, Glover, who is convinced that Dan is guilty, and Jane’s sister, Kate.

The novel is divided into 4 sections “books,” and the story unfolds over decades through various points of view. The main gist of the book is the permanent impact the crime/disappearance left on the children who are raised by the man who may or may not be their mother’s killer. The Larkins seemed like a storybook family, but under the shiny, wholesome surface, there are hints of trouble.

The story is somewhat uneven. The section concerning Miranda, Jane’s daughter, the youngest child, the first one home from school to find her mother absent, is particularly strong and moving. This is a little girl who grows up without her mother and in a sense without her father too–since she suspects he is responsible for her mother’s disappearance. Her life is tainted not just by the absence and disappearance of her mother, plus the question whether or not her mum is even alive, but also her life is also stained by the fact that her father is a suspect. Miranda, Glover, Jeff and Kate may live their lives but they will always partly be “stuck in time, looking for [Jane] while the rest of the world moved on.” Dan certainly moves forward with his life in spite of the BIG QUESTION about his missing wife hanging over his head. He isn’t a nice man. At all. Here he is on the subject of marriage:

“I’m just being honest here. The men I know–Okay, think of it like this: a young man is like a rising stock, like IBM or Coke. And the stock gets sold too soon, while it’s still going up. So what happens? The guy looks around, eight, ten, fifteen years later, and what does he say? He says, ‘I sold too low. I should have held out. I’m worth more than I got’ ”

Kate: “the woman, in your little metaphor, she’s a sinking stock. She’s worth less, eight or ten years in.”

“No, well–what she’s worth–well, yes. But look, this isn’t just me talking, this is society, this is what we’re taught. And let’s be honest, if we’re looking at men and women as a marketplace, as assets, in pure economic terms, then yes, our society assigns a higher value to a young sexy woman than to a middle-aged woman. […] A woman is sold closer to her peak value than a man. Before she begins to depreciate.“

For this reader, the characters are the book’s strongest point. Jane, Kate, Dan, Miranda, Glover were well developed, incredibly believable characters–so much so that this reads like a true-crime book. The weakness for me is in the novel’s structure. The beginning half of the book was very strong, and I couldn’t stop reading. But then the plot lost momentum. I notice other reviewers feel the opposite–many preferred the second half of the book. In spite of my quibble regarding the book’s structure, I am still thinking about it. …

I just finished watching the TV series Defending Jacob based on the book by this author, and I have a feeling that we will see this book on the screen too.

Review copy

Where is Jane Larkin?

Just trust me... The first book is slow but once you get to number two you are in for a roller coaster! The book is broken down into 4 books, each focusing on a character and it is full of suspense. Many times I had to read a sentence or paragraph again to make sure I understood. So good!!

I would have loved to seen more well balanced characters. They were developed enough for the story but had more emotional details been offered I may have connected with the characters more. Author William Landay's writing style is beautiful and so memorable.

Thank you to Random House Publishing, William Landay and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

A solid mystery by a writer that I have enjoyed in the past. When their mother disappears Miranda, Jeff and Alex’s lives are affected. Her body is not found. It is difficult to say whether she left her family purposefully, committed suicide or was killed. Suspicion falls on the husband but nothing is ever proved. How would you deal with the fact that people think that your father killed your mom? Thanks go to Bantam Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC. The review is my own honest opinion.

All That is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A big thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. This one came out this week!

Told from multiple POVs, this one blends family drama and mystery. Missing person turned renewed crime investigation and all the feelings in between.

Most of the focus was spent on the children of the missing mother. The daughter’s characterization was especially poignant. It wasn’t until the mother’s body was found that the mystery part of the book picked up. The ending felt a bit rushed to me, but it was a fitting ending. Not going to say too much as to not ruin anything.

Check this one out if you want a different take on a typical missing person/crime story.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me, by William Landay, is a compelling thriller that focuses the reader on whether the truth will ever be known, not the truth itself. It raises complex questions about justice and loyalty, particularly between parents and children. The author does employ one literary device that I did not appreciate, but the novel is otherwise well-written with characters that are very real. The legal aspects are thoughtfully explained and help propel the story without dominating it. Nonetheless, I was disappointed as the author’s previous work, Defending Jacob, remains one of the best books I’ve read, and one which I often think about. However, it is unfair to expect any author to consistently create work that will occupy permanent residence in their readers’ brains. This is a strong book that I recommend.