I wanted to check out All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay because I had watched the show, Defending Jacob. However, I did not connect with the writing style and will not be finishing this one, thank you for the early copy!

"I had a mother once. How odd. I wish I could have a moment with her, as Aunt Kate said. 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 where I lost my way and choose a different road."

This book gutted me - five stars. That's basically all I need to say. It's one that I'm left pondering over, trying to put my feelings into words (needing to talk about it NOW and not weeks later because I'm always behind on reviews) but that is the sum of it really. Five stars and may very well end up on my top reads list of the year - TBD. I don't want to give a big summary or tell you anything about it really. It was an experience. It left me feeling frustrated at points, taken aback at others...and at tears when I was at the point where I read the above quote. I went to Goodreads and read reviews on this one straight after finishing - and I can understand and agree with some of the criticisms. And yet...I think back to how this book made me feel while reading - and can't give it anything less. Here is what I want you to know. If you feel a bit ambivalent at first, stick with it (maybe not if you hit the halfway point and still feel this way). There are no quotation marks used which can be (and is) confusing at times. It's a slow burn - one where you are meant to trust the author and the ride that he is taking you on within the pages. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking. I didn't expect this one to hit like it did but that's the joy of reading for you. Also, I need more of you to read this one so we can discuss.

I'm hesitant on how to recommend this only because I understand that it might not hit everyone the same way like it did for me. But if you read and loved Long Bright River by Liz Moore or Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka (both also five star reads for me) then pick this book up. I think it's the characterization in these books that makes me feel like if you liked one, you might like the other. And also, if should go without saying by now, but I highly recommend this one!

CW - Dementia

Miranda Larkin is in elementary school in 1975 when she returns home from school one day to find her mother....gone. There is no explanation as to where Jane Larkin disappeared to. She seemingly vanished into thin air, leaving behind her husband Dan, as well as Miranda and her two older brothers. While many people suspected Dan, a criminal defense attorney, of foul play, no charges were ever made. It wasn't until years later when Jane's body was finally discovered that questions began to arise. The investigation begins anew, as do the suspicions. Did Dan Larkin kill his wife? If not, who could be responsible for such a heinous act?

As the siblings take sides, it becomes clear that this family was keeping secrets hidden. Will the truth be uncovered so that this fractured family can be put back together? Or perhaps, the truth is best left hidden in the past, where it belongs?

I absolutely loved Landay's "Defending Jacob." However, this book did fall flat for me. While I felt that Landay was trying to recreate some of the twists from "Jacob", he did not put ample time into the character development. I felt wholly un-invested in all of the characters, and actually found myself not really caring what happened to Jane. If you have not read "Defending Jacob", my advice would be to pick that one up instead. If you have, rest assured you can skip Landay's latest.

Ok, I sat on this one for a day because I was just feeling so much after finishing. This is maybe my favorite book so far of 2023. I read 96% of it in one sitting on Sunday and finished it up yesterday. The story follows a family in four parts (for povs) in the aftermath of a woman’s disappearance. The way it’s written allows information in the present and the past and different perspectives on how this event has shaped this family and others involved for the next 30 years. The character development in this book was so well done. I felt like I knew the characters and thought about them after the book was over. Some big subjects are covered throughout and done very well (euthanasia, domestic violence, rape- to name a few) and the ending is resolved, but also leaves a little to speculation. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries that are written with care and depth.

I loved this book!

I had never read any book by Landay before, but I am familiar with Defending Jacob. This book will ensure that I read Defending Jacob and any other books by Landay. I felt that the book was masterfully written. I loved the various perspectives on the death of Jane Larkin and the number one suspect, her husband. I was surprised that we got a 4th section from the perspective of Dan Larkin. The book is not your average suspense novel. This book is highly elevated and I would categorize it as a slow burn. The only convention that I struggled with at time was the lack of quotation marks. It made it hard for me to follow who was speaking from time to time. However, I got through it and was not at a total loss.

Whether you have read Landay or not, I highly suspect that you will enjoy this read.

What a powerful book. I loved the pivoting points of view, the continual guessing, and the thoughtful insights into family dynamics. I appreciated how the author introduced different perspectives with each chapter/book, and the additional details shifted my opinion of characters as the book progressed. My only warning to the reader is to take care-there is a storyline about dementia that I was NOT expecting or prepared for. If you are caring for someone with dementia, I would caution the reader to take care. Otherwise, prepare for a wild ride!

Really enjoyed this novel. Story was very interesting and engaging. Looking forward to reading more by this author. Highly recommend!

From the author of Defending Jacob, comes a new novel revolving around the disappearance of a mother told from the perspective of her family and those investigating it throughout the decades. Not only do we get her perspective of meeting her husband and what happened to her, we also see POV from two of her three children and her husband. It's a very different novel from Landay's previous well known novel.

It's a slow burn novel that failed to quite grab me completely. I enjoyed the novel for what it was, but I kept wanting more even at the end. I did enjoy the multiple narrator perspective, but with the lack of quotations it sometimes got confusion of who was talking and what was going on. Typically I don't mind the lack of quotations, but with the constant back and forth between characters and time it did get confusing at times. I enjoyed Landay doing something different than Defending Jacob, which many readers will know him for. It makes me want to read his debut novel to see how it differs from these two novels. Although this novel didn't quite work for me I look forward to seeing what he writes in the future.

Thank you to Bantam and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for my review.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I went back and forth on this book. There were parts I loved and parts that just dragged too long for me. I liked the story told in the different points of view and how they made you believe in guilt but then also doubt that he did it. It reminded me more of a crime documentary than a book. So that I liked.

My thoughts were all over the place with this book. When I started reading I thought maybe I misread the premise and it was a nonfiction true crime book. But I went back several times to confirm it was a novel. The book is told from multiple perspectives and the first perspective is so realistic, I thought it was true crime. I did enjoy some of the perspectives better than others and felt like some were stronger. Parts of the book seemed long a repetitive, but overall it is a unique take on a crime.

An intense, gripping drama. The writing style the author uses is different, but I actually like it. There are 3 main parts to the book but it flows together nicely.

Thank you to Net Galley for a copy of “ All That is Mine I Carry With Me”” in exchange for a honest review.That quote is on Miranda Larkin arm and it is a very fitting title for this engaging, drama filled book.Ever since Miranda came home from school one day to find her mother missing, she has been carrying emotional baggage.With her brothers , Alex and Jeff she has been left wondering what happened to Jane.Her sister Kate is convinced Miranda’s dad , Dan has killed her.Left to be raised by their father and his new girlfriend, the family is cast adrift.Many years later, Jane’s bones are found near a summer house where they vacationed.Now they know their mother was murdered.Who did it? Narrated by all the central characters including Jane, this is a gripping novel. Highly recommend.

When I saw there was a new book out from the author that wrote Defending Jacob, I had to jump on it. Defending Jacob ripped my heart from my chest and kind of mushed it around before putting it back. I still can't get over that one. And then the series was equally as good!

All That is Mine I Carry With Me was equally riveting. As a child, how do you reconcile the love you feel for your father who raised you when he is accused of murdering your mother? Think sweeping family drama, lots of complicated loyalties and emotions. Landay paints rich and complex characters against a complicated backdrop of loyalty and suspicion. A must read!

This one is out now. Get your copy.

A brilliant whodunit, evenly paced mystery. Well written and engaging. Family secrets and intrigue, fantastic read

William Landay has written another riveting novel. I’ll be telling all my friends to read this one. It’s been quite awhile since a book this involved caught me in its web. Absolutely un-put-downable for me!

This was really hard to get into and I ultimately couldn’t finish it. I thought I would love it but the storytelling was awkward, the pacing WAY too slow, and I hated the lack of quotation marks. I tried to pick this up many times before finally starting it and after trying to slog through it for a few weeks I decided to give up on it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is probably the best book I have read in a while. This book is written from multiple view points all about what happened to this woman who was happily married and had 3 children.

This story focuses on the children’s view point and later gives the view point of her husband. This story is a legal thriller. The children have to decide what they believe happened to their mother and it risks pulling them and their family apart.

All That Is Mine I carry With Me is told through multiple POV's. Each POV was equally intriguing and heartbreaking at the same time. The pacing was slower than what I am used to but it really worked for this story. The build up creates tension that will not be fully resolved. The emotional toll this book took was worth it.

One of the better works I have read this year. The ending, once you GOT it, was excellent. Still prefer Defending Jacob but I'll take it

When I saw William Landay had a new book I was so excited! I loved Defending Jacob so I couldn't wait to read All That is Mine, and I was not disappointed. This was more of a slow burn than what I normally expect when I pick up a mystery/thriller but the pacing works so well with this story. I loved the different perspectives and even though it was a slower paced book I still flew through it. This book, just like Defending Jacob, will be on my mind for a while! I highly recommend, I think this would be a great book club read.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.