I loved William Landay's previous books so i jumped at the chance to read this book. I tried coming into reading this book with no expectations but unfortunately I feel like this could have used a lot more work. I definitely felt like this was a fast read for me but wasn't all that satisfied with the ending. I felt like we were lead on a wild goose chase only to have a murky ending that was trying to pass itself off as a twist.

I do look forward to seeing what William Landay comes out with next.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the galley.

This was a effective and well-written mystery. At times I was engrossed in what was going to happen, and at others the pace slowed and I lost interest. It was a little bit of a roller coaster, I don't give spoilers in reviews, but the ending put me off - hence the lower rating.

Published by Bantam on March 7, 2023

Guilt is often ambiguous. If guilt were always certain, there would be no drama in trials. William Landay sustains ambiguity throughout All That Is Mine I Carry with Me, creating a story that, until the final pages, keeps the reader guessing.

The story is narrated by several characters, starting with Philip Solomon. Solomon’s childhood friend, Jeff Larkin, gets together with Solomon in 2015. Jeff and Philip bonded in their childhood over shared knowledge of a secret involving Jeff’s family. Later, in 1975, Jeff's mother disappeared.

Jeff tells Philip that his father, Dan Larkin, has Alzheimer’s. Dan is in the care of Jeff’s sister, Miranda. Jeff refuses to speak to his father. He believes his father murdered his mother. Philip decides there might be a book in Jane Larkin's disappearance and its aftermath, so he decides to interview the family members, as well as the primary police investigator, who has since retired.

The family has been torn apart by their father’s potential guilt. It took time for Jeff to reach the conclusion that his father killed his mother. For years after he entered adulthood, Jeff battled substance abuse. He could not easily get past the failure of his most significant relationship, leaving him drunk and alone for much of his life.

Jeff’s brother Gary (like Dan, a lawyer) has always been willing to give Dan the benefit of the doubt. Miranda can’t make up her mind about her father’ guilt. Her unresolved feelings likely contributed to the severe depression that defines much of her life. Jane’s sister Kate is convinced of Dan’s guilt and no amount of ambiguity will shake that certainty or soften her fury.

The evidence against Dan is circumstantial. He had a girlfriend while he was married. He changed his tie on the day Jane disappeared. Jane’s car, abandoned at a train station, is oddly free of his fingerprints. Accusations surface about Dan’s history of sexual abuse but Dan denies them. Small clues add up to suspicion but fall well short of overcoming reasonable doubt. The police investigator is frustrated by his inability to build a stronger case against Dan but prosecutors correctly decide that charges should not be filed if they cannot be proved.

One section of the novel seems to be narrated by Jane, who begins by telling the reader that her husband killed her. The next section relieved my potential disappointment by clarifying that the reader is not getting a perspective from beyond the grave. Subsequent chapters tell the story from Jeff’s, Miranda’s, and Dan’s point of view. A shaky family is eventually torn apart by a decision, driven by Kate and reluctantly joined by two of the children, to sue Dan for wrongful death.

Did Dan kill his wife? William Landay peppers the story with information that suggests his guilt and innocence. The reader does eventually learn the apparent truth, but the bigger story is the impact of ambiguity on the lives of Jane’s family. Unresolved suspicion is destructive but so is false accusation. Only Gary seems capable of understanding that the truth can’t always be known and that life goes on even in the absence of certainty. The family’s mistake lies in the belief that the legal system is capable of resolving doubts or bringing closure. Circumstantial evidence doesn’t become any stronger by presenting it to a jury.

The wrongful death trial contributes the strongest scenes to the novel — skillful cross-examinations are the stuff from which legal thrillers are made — but the reader knows before the verdict is delivered that the opinions of strangers who hear the evidence are no better than the reader’s own opinion or those of the family members. The story builds to a careful ending that delivers a measure of justice and truth that is beyond the power of the legal system to achieve.

While the family members generally remain civil with each other (and some even maintain a relationship with Dan), the novel’s strength lies in its exploration of how suspicion and uncertainty can affect families of crime victims. All That Is Mine I Carry with Me works as a legal thriller and as family drama while illustrating the legal system’s inability to deliver the kind of peace that victims seem to expect from it.

RECOMMENDED

The premise of the book revolves around telling the story of a school friend whose mother disappeared mysteriously. The narrator interviews the family members and detective in charge of the case to get a full story of that harrowing time.

The perspective shifts are executed deftly, and the way Landay the story is structured is clever and unique. The various viewpoints provide fascinating context to the disappearance, as well as an omniscient view of what happens to the family afterward, from Miranda's perspective.

The dialogue flows organically, and the story is paced spectacularly. I never knew where the story was going, but I definitely wanted to find out. The author keeps you guessing the whole way through; it was such a fun ride.

I loved Defending Jacob and was very excited to read this book as the summary was interesting and compelling. i ended up really connecting to the story and truly enjoyed the book! Not quite as twisty as I would have hoped but I still liked it very much!

This story centers around a housewife who goes missing in 1975, leaving behind her 3 children and husband.  Jane Larkin vanishes into thin air, never to be seen or heard from again.  Her children have never gotten over the trauma of losing their mother, and their father, Dan,  although cleared of any wrongdoing, has lived under a veil of suspicion his entire life.  This story draws you in with it's excellent character development and slow burn storyline.  Told from several different points of view, it follows the children into adulthood and how they cope with the fact that they have never found out what happened to their mother, and that they secretly believe their father had something to do wit it.  Great twist of an ending and another satisfying novel by William Landay.  Loved it!  Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

A very immersive, creative, family saga, with a side of murder. It explores the very interesting situation that I’m sure is not very common, but has probably happened before.

What would a family do if a parent went missing, presumed dead, and the lead suspect, is the other parent. With no evidence of foul play, and no explanation that is plausible.

How would they go on? How would they feel once they reach adulthood?

All That is Mine I Carry With Me explores that exact scenario. We get inside the investigation, inside a trial, and a glimpse of what life might be like for families of cold case victims.

It is immersive and difficult to put down. The twists are not totally blind sighting, and the end felt a little rushed and/or anticlimactic, but still overall, enjoyable!

When I started this book, I thought I was reading the author’s notes. But it is a character in the story giving his background and current version of what is happening. The story is told from the prospective of different characters. I like that an entire section was narrated by one character rather than chapter by chapter.

One afternoon when ten-year-old Miranda Larkin comes home from school, her mother isn’t there to greet her. Is her disappearance voluntary or sinister? The police suspect Miranda’s father, Dan but don’t have enough proof to charge him. The storyline continues through the Larkin children’s adolescence and into adulthood. The truth about Jane’s disappearance eventually surfaces after some twists and turns. I would highly recommend this book.

All That is Mine is a twisty page turner that will please fans of William Landry’s Defending Jacob. The book is split into four parts and told from alternating points of view. Those who enjoy crime thrillers paired with family dramas ought to pack this one in their beach bags.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.

"A mother vanished. A father presumed guilty. There is no proof. There are no witnesses. For the children, there is only doubt."

In November of 1975, ten-year old Miriam comes home from school to an empty house. Her mother, Jane, is gone, yet her purse sits in its usual spot in the front hallway. The police suspect Jane's husband, Dan, who is a criminal defense lawyer, but they can't find any evidence against him.

Jane's body is found two decades later, and her now grown children have doubts about whether or not their father killed her.

The first half of this book was a slow burn, and it didn't have chapters. Instead, it was broken into four parts, and they were long! Normally, I'm not a fan of that, but William Landay's writing is so good that it kept me fully engaged in the story, and I ended up flying through the pages.

This book is emotional, with some jaw-dropping moments. I highly recommend reading this one. The story will stay with you for quite some time.

Thank you, @netgalley, @randomhouse, and the author for the gifted e-arc of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

The plot: A mother vanishes and the father is presumed guilty, but there is no evidence. For the children, they have their doubts. The mystery is what happened to Jane Larkin and who was responsible. It is twenty years later and this is a cold case. The children have to choose sides as to whether they believe their father did the crime or not. What about family loyalty? So much to think about with this book that is beautifully constructed.

Slow to develop, yet well-paced and gripping! Missing person, intense family drama, courtroom action; this book had me turning pages long after I should have been asleep. I loved the author’s book, Defending Jacob, but managed to love this one even more! Thank you to Netgalley and Random House-Ballantine for providing a complimentary e-arc of this book.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me is an addictive, interesting exploration of trauma, family, and life. I highly recommend this book.


Thanks NetGalley for an electronic ARC!

Upon finishing All That is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay (of Defending Jacob fame) I was left thinking about this story well beyond the last page. I really enjoyed this family saga / mystery about whether a lawyer really killed wife - told through various perspectives and timelines.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomBallantine for the complimentary copy of this book. Completed 3/17/23.

A mystery and a family drama, this book had lots of good "hooks" but as I go to write this review a few weeks later, I honestly couldn't remember anything about the story. Even after reading my notes, I only recall the bare bones of the story. To me that is a telling reaction.

A mom suddenly disappears from the family and we don't know if it's an accident, foul play, or did she run away? Her husband, a defense attorney, is a suspect of course, but nothing is proven - the family struggles with the not-knowing. Although it's a slow-burn, definitely a character driven story, the plot sounds intriguing, and the book kept me engaged most of the time, yet somehow it wasn't memorable enough to remember enough to recommend it.

Oh my goodness - I just finished this book and I don’t know if I am ok. I feel like it just ended and I wasn’t ready. I want to know what’s next!!!! Mr. Landry, can you call me??
Until then, this book WILL suck you in.
This book will NOT make you feel good.
These people are so flawed, so raw.
I just love his writing and I’m still waiting … for more.

I took William Landay's new book to bed with me intending to read a few pages. Next thing I knew light was peeking through the blinds and I was not sorry one bit.

If you have read Defending Jacob then you already know that Landay has well developed writing chops. As an attorney he also knows his way around criminal investigations and the courtroom. So it should come as no surprise that All That Is Mine I Carry With Me is expertly crafted and compelling from start to finish.

A woman in the prime of her life with everything to live for simply vanishes one day, leaving behind her husband and three children. Did she leave on her own? No one seems to think so. The husband, an unlikable, arrogant successful attorney quickly becomes the prime suspect. But where's the evidence? And what about the children who have not only lost their mother but feel like they must choose sides?

I enjoyed the unusual structure of the book with whole sections narrated by a different character and I loved the twisted ending. I recommend All That Is Mine I Carry With Me without hesitation.

When ten year old Miranda Larkin returns home from school to find her mother missing, suspicion falls on her dad, Dan Larkin, a defense attorney. Was Jane Larkin killed or did she run away? Dan cannot be arrested and the children are raised by someone who may have killed their mom. The story is revealed from long section illuminating the viewpoints of the middle son Jeff, Jane, Miranda, and Dan. Over the course of many years the answer is slowly revealed. The writing in this book is good. The lack of quotation marks didn’t bother me but the very long sections did. I think breaking this into smaller chapters and perhaps interspersing the POVs might have been effective. The multiple timelines were well-used. I enjoyed the courtroom scenes the most and the abrupt ending the least. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Frankly, I can’t decide if it was brilliant or too clever by a half. Landay nailed the characters and the late 1970s setting. I really liked the central mystery and how it ultimately unfolded. There were moments when I was riveted by the plot and moments where I got bogged down in the copious dialogue. Entering the story through Phil’s perspective muddled the plot for me, but I think Landay did that on purpose. This book is a real puzzler. If you like doubt and unresolved questions, you’ll love this!