It's been a long wait for another book from William Landay but it was very much worth it. In All That is Mine I Carry With Me, mom of three Jane Larkin disappears one day, never to be seen again. Did her husband kill her? Did she leave willingly? People in town assume he killed her, especially when he moves his new girlfriend in. The children are left in limbo, missing their mother and not knowing whether to believe their father. Told from 4 different points of view this book was unputdownable and will keep the reader unsettled to the very end.

This book is a real phycological thriller.Told from different perspectives was a little confusing at first but was a way to tell the story from different angles. A book about family secrets and loyalties and how far we are willing to go to seek justice.

Set in Boston this story explores the children of a missing mother and their father, whom everyone believes killed her. It follows their lives through adulthood, it is heartbreaking and poignant, raw and will leave you spent.
The couple, Jane and Dan Larkin, are married young and have three children, Alex, Jeff, and Miranda. The time period begins in the seventies with Dan the breadwinner and Jane the homemaker. One day Jane is gone, did she run away? As time passes rumors grow. Miranda being the youngest is especially effected by the loss of her mother. The boys handle feelings and speculations differently. Dan appears to cooperate with the police. The main detective, Tom Glover, never buys into Dan’s version of Jane’s disappearance. His and Miranda’s characters will remain with me.
The story follows Miranda and Jeff with separate struggles and reactions to their grief and ensuing aftermath. Alex has removed himself physically and emotionally as far as he can get. How do you separate love for your father from believing he killed your mother? As the years pass with no new leads you are left with their unanswered questions and hopelessness. There will finally be a court case (no spoilers here). The resolution will take your breath away.
This is not a book to read if want joy and happiness. It is a well written fictional account of one family in crisis. It is a fascinating mystery and there is suspense. It left me emotionally drained, melancholy and depressed, viscerally spent however; I’m not sorry I read it and I won’t forget the characters or the trauma.
The digital advance reader copy of “All That Is Mine I Carry With Me” by William Landay, published by Bantam Books, Random House, was provided to me by NetGalley. Expected publication date is March 7, 2023. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

An intriguing mystery and another great novel by William Landay, author of Defending Jacob.

It’s November 12, 1975, Miranda’s mother fails to pick her up at school. When Miranda finally arrives home cold and tired, she finds the house dark and her mother missing. So begins a mystery that spans a lifetime for Miranda and her siblings. Where is Jane Larkin?

Three children are left behind, There is no trace of evidence or a body. Dan, Jane’s husband, is the number one suspect. The children’s loyalty to their father and to each other will be tested as they grow older. Alex, the oldest, believes his father is innocent. Alex, will always believe his father is guilty. Miranda, will always wonder.

Two decades later Jane’s body is found.

Is the man that cared for and raised them a murder?

A compelling story told from several points of view. Detective Tom Glover who spends his career searching for Jane Larkin and working to prove beyond a doubt that Dan Larkin is her murderer. Dan Larkin himself, a lawyer to the darkest of criminals, will continue to try to convince at least two of his children that he is innocent. Miranda and Alex will convince Phil Solomon to write the story of their missing mother with hopes of finally solving the disappearance of Jane Larkin.

Another page turner from Landay! His character development and dialogue is very authentic. The book holds your interest, but yet doesn't give away too much.

“All That Is Mine I Carry With Me,” by William Landay, Bantam, 336 pages, March 7, 2023.

On November 12, 1975, Miranda Larkin, 10, comes home from school to find her house eerily quiet. Her mother isn’t there. Nothing is out of place and there is no sign of a struggle. Her mom’s purse is in its usual spot in the front hall.

So begins a mystery that will span a lifetime. What happened to Jane Larkin? She was only 39 when she disappeared. Investigators suspect Jane’s husband of killing her. A criminal defense attorney near Boston, Dan Larkin would be an expert in covering a murder.

But no evidence is found linking him to a crime, and the case fades from the public’s memory. Jane’s three children—Alex, Jeff, and Miranda—are left to be raised by a man who may have murdered their mother.

Fast forward almost 20 years. Jeff Larkin asks Phil Solomon, a childhood friend who is a novelist, to meet with Miranda. Phil does, then calls Detective Tom Glover, who was the lead investigator in 1975. Phil decides to write a book about the case.

When a construction crew finds Jane Larkins’ remains, the investigation starts up again. The children, now grown, are forced to choose sides. Do they believe their father killed their mother? Is there another explanation for her death?

The writing is outstanding. The characters and dialogue are real. It is told from several points of view. “All That Is Mine I Carry With Me” will be on many best books of the year lists. William Landay is also the author of “Defending Jacob,” another excellent legal thriller. He is on my list of must-read authors.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Definitely a page turner! Really enjoyed this one.
It kept me guessing until the very end, and then kept me guessing more.
It’s always the husband. Or is it?
Jane is married to Dan, with 3 beautiful children living the picturesque life. That is until Jane goes missing. What happened to Jane?
Follow Jeff and Miranda, two of Jane’s children, as they try to relive the past and find resolution to their mother’s disappearance. With twists and turns, you’ll even be second guessing yourself over what happened to Jane.
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

Family drama is front and center as a mother disappears, the father is suspected of killing her, and their 3 children are divided on believing his guilt or innocence. The dialogue throughout is spot on which makes the story fun to read. The author wrote authentic characters and a compelling mystery with a satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam/Random House for the ARC to read and review.

This is the first novel I’ve read from William Landay, and I went into this expecting the usual fast paced thriller and whodunit.

However, this one really captivated me. Written with multiple POV, it had me all over the map with my feelings- suspense, doubt, heartbreak, anger, sadness. All of the feelings.

Never before have I been so convinced I knew what happened, feel it was confirmed, then doubt it all, start to root for and go in the complete opposite direction, only to be turned on my head again. Absolutely loved it and will definitely recommend.

Now I’m off to go read more by Mr. Landay.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the early read! Defending Jacob author finally has a new book coming out in March (he'll explain why the 10 year lapse in books). This book was very good with an interesting style of storytelling. Bravo!

I loved this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat! The family dynamics were real and the characters were relatable and well developed. I highly recommend you check it out!

Mr. Landay always seems to turn out an intelligent interesting story. His research is obvious. This is a very fine story written by an author who knows how to entertain and hold interest. Don't miss it.

This one will sit with me for a while. From the opening scene to the ending scene, I thought it was so well done and powerfully written. The writing is superb and the characters artfully developed. I'm a big fan of William Landay.

Heartbreaking, multiple POV story of family loyalty and loss. Split into several different books, you get a good sense of every characters inner thoughts as they struggle through the disappearance of their mother, wife, sister, and friend.

“I wish I could have a moment with her. Just a few minutes to visit. I would like to hear her voice. I would like to do right by her. Not for her (she is past caring) but for me. I would like to go back to the place I lost my way and choose a different road.”

While not all questions are answered, it’s a book that will stay with me for long after finishing it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Looking forward to my friends reading this after publication March 7, 2023.

The setting: "A mother vanished. A father presumed guilty. There is no proof.... What happened to Jane Larkin?" Dan, the husband, and a criminal defense attorney is suspected. The three children, Alex [oldest], then Jeff, then Miranda, are left to be raised by their father. The case fades from the public eye until two decades later, when Jane's remains are found A cold case warms up. The grown children must choose sides--Miranda and Jeff want to go ahead with prosecution against their father; not Alex. And factor in Jane's sister Kate, never fond of Dan. And so it [belatedly begins.]

What are the effects of the crime/disappearance on the family? How are their lives affected?

Vengeance and revenge. Dysfunction. Hatred. Family drama. An affair. Inappropriate behavior. Grief. Depression. Dementia. Money issues. MORE.

Book 1, 2, 3, 4--different voices/points of view on the disappearance of Jane, the general situation/setting. In order: Phillip, Jane {actually Miranda], Jeff [court room drama; choppy, but enjoyable], Dan/Phillip.

The beginning of the book: Philip Solomon, a writer, suffering writer's block, meets with his childhood friend, Jeff Larkin. In the last 10% of the book, we meet up again with Phillip--though it is mostly Dan's voice.. Full disclaimer: I sailed along, could not put it down, but did not like the ending/last 10%; a totally different tone!

What is the truth? Revisit the past with [two other] people involved in the case--Detective Tom Glover [throughout] and George Bailis, an attorney [Book 3].A fast, easy read and a welcome change from the last book I read.

Opinions: Dan Larkin was a prick--plain and simple. I did not buy into Miranda's change of heart in Book 4 [no spoiler from me]. There were a few disconnects in the read.

Not literary fiction, but I enjoyed.

William Landay’s earlier novel, “Defending Jacob,” is still vivid in my mind 10 years later. So I was eager to read his latest release, “All That Is Mine I Carry With Me.” While “Defending Jacob” centers on a father wrestling with whether or not his son committed murder, “All That Is Mine” turns the tables, and has the children wondering whether their father killed their mother.

When Jane Larkin goes missing without warning in November 1975, her defense attorney husband, Dan, is a suspect. Dan would know how to clean up a crime scene, plus Dan has a girlfriend on the side. But there is no corpse or conclusive evidence. Their three children – Alex, Jeff, and Miranda – differ on their father’s culpability.

The story is told in four movements: the first section is narrated by a friend of Jeff Larkin. Part two is told from the deceased Jane Larkin’s perspective. Jeff Larkin, now an adult, takes us through part three; while octogenarian Dan Larkin recounts part four through a brain fogged with dementia. Suspense builds slowly, but surely in this mystery/family drama that is as much character-driven as it is plot-driven. There is no shortage of topics for book clubs to discuss. As soon as I reached the last page, I wanted to talk with someone about this novel.

I loved the start of this book, really got me hooked and I loved the multiple POVs. I’m the middle where the dead wife starts talking that’s when I started to lose interest. I felt like a lot of the story was fluff and not really needed.

Gripping, face-paced read dealing with a family drama. Jane Larkin, mother and wife of the Larkin family mysteriously disappeared. Years later, a family friend writes a book about the disappearance. The book is told in four parts with each section being told by a family member and the writer of the book. I found having the different points of view unique and engrossing point. Dead Jane Larkin's pov is particularly compelling. As the book progresses, the husband, the not most ethical criminal defense attorney, is suspected by two of the children and the police in Jane's death, although it cannot be proven. The book really deals with the question as to where does family loyalty lie.

This one's a heartbreaker. Although told from three different POVs, the central character is the tragic Miranda (Mimi) who as a young child comes home one day to find her mother has vanished. The missing person case turns into a murder investigation with Mimi's father as the only suspect. Did he or didn't he? Either way, the family is torn apart and recovery seems impossible. I was lukewarm about Defending Jacob. I was halfway through the AppleTV series when I remembered I had read the book. I won't be forgetting All That is Mine anytime soon.

All That is MIne I Carry With Me
by William Landay
Pub Date: March 7, 2023
Bantam
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
A mother vanished. A father presumed guilty. There is no proof. There are no witnesses. For the children, there is only doubt. From the New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob. . . .
Sometimes you just know, as soon as you start reading a book that you are going to love or hate it.
This is a well written book and it was well worth the wait, even though I am not a very patient reader.
Especailly the second part of the book with the POV of Jane.
This book's ending make you speechless. I highly recommend this book.
Read it!
For fans of Defending Jacob!
5 stars