Shari Lapena's writing has greatly improved since her first novel. In her latest book, a suburban community is upturned by the recent disappearance of a young, beautiful woman, reported missing by her husband. Not only is Amanda Pierce beautiful, but she is a flirt and has come on to many of the neighborhood men.
Olivia and Paul Sharpe are best friends with Gloria and Keith Newell. The Sharpes discover that their teenage son, Raleigh, has been breaking into houses in the neighborhood. The Newell's son, Adam, has lately struggled with alcohol, becoming drunk on many occasions. The two women confide in each other.
When Amanda Pierce's body is found, her husband becomes the main suspect. When it is found that he has been having an affair with a neighbor, the suspicion ratchets higher. Then, it is determined that other neighbors have also been having affairs, and there are many secrets in this quiet neighborhood, where everyone thought their lives were idyllic, but truthfully, they are a mess. Everyone becomes a suspect, no one knows who they can believe, and it all comes crashing down in the finale.
I do think the ending was a bit rushed - and the crime, while understandable, is also a bit extreme. I think most people will be surprised at the ending, as everyone could easily have been the murderer. Ms. Lapena does a good job of throwing a lot of suspicion on all the characters.
This was a very quick read, I read it in just a few hours one afternoon.
#SomeoneWeKnow #ShariLapena

Someone We Know, Shari Lapena, author; Kirsten Potter, narrator
The book opens with a horribly gruesome murder, and from that point on, the reader is a captive. It goes off in many directions, which seem plausible, until it gets to a real surprise ending that, dear reader, you had better be prepared to stay up all night to figure out; I did.
The story centers around the Sharpe family. Olivia, Paul, and Raleigh seem to be a normal, happy family. They live in Aylesford, a charming community that seems perfect from the outside, with residents experiencing the normal growing pains families everywhere experience. However, cracks soon develop in that façade. The unraveling of lives begins when Olivia accidentally discovers that her teenaged son has been leading a secret life of which she and her husband were unaware. Raleigh is a techie, and he is engaging in illegal activity.
In the midst of this family trauma, a neighbor, Amanda Pierce, known to be an outrageous flirt, is reported missing by her husband Robert. She never returned from a planned weekend trip with her friend Caroline. Tongues begin to wag. Had she just decided to up and leave him? Rumors spread about possible troubles between Amanda and her husband. Then, when her body is discovered, other suspicions are aroused. Who murdered her? The husband is cool as a cucumber. Did she have a hidden life? Did he kill her when he discovered it?
When the two detectives from the Aylesford police force descend upon them, picking them up for questioning, frightening them with their insinuations, panic ensues. Soon, the Sharp family becomes inextricably involved in this investigation because of Raleigh’s foray into what he viewed as harmless criminal activity. Fingerprints are taken and more rumors surface; the neighbors’ memories of events and their testimonies point fingers in several directions. When all of the neighbors are questioned, it is discovered that a whole lot of them seem to have been living alternate lives, engaging in secret trysts and lies. Many of them could have had a motive. Many of them could not produce an airtight alibi.
How far will a parent go to protect a child or a spouse? Whose spouse is guilty? How should each of the accused respond? Should they protect their family or their friends? Can they? Will each choose a route that leads to disaster?
This book seems to be just the right number of pages. It didn’t ramble and there were few wasted words. It was read very well by Kirsten Potter. She did voices well and created tension in all the right places. At the end, this book seemed to be set up for a sequel, one I eagerly will await.

Ending rushed. Some storylines lacking full development. Left reader wanting resolution to collateral issues.