What the Dead Know

Last updated
What the Dead Know
What the Dead Know.jpg
First edition
Author Laura Lippman
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre Crime novel
Publisher William Morrow
Publication date
March 13, 2007
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages384 pages
ISBN 0-06-112885-6

What the Dead Know is a crime thriller by the American writer Laura Lippman, published in 2007. [1] [2] The story, set in Baltimore in 2005, is about an investigation into a woman who claims to be Heather Bethany, a girl who had gone missing thirty years before. The book was critically acclaimed and it won the 2007 Quill Award in the mystery/suspense/thriller category and 2008 Anthony Award for Best Novel.

Contents

Critical reception

Reviewers saw What the Dead Know as a success both as a well-crafted mystery and as an emotionally powerful novel. [3] [4] The Guardian described the novel as a "realistic and poignant detailing of emotional hide-and-seek, ... an excellent mystery and a thoughtful exploration of the nature and effects of grief and loss." [5] Kirkus Reviews praised the novel, noting that "Lippman (To the Power of Three, 2005, etc.) crafts a tale that resonates long after the last page is turned." [6] Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised What the Dead Know as "an uncommonly clever imposter story", "three-dimensional", and worthy of reading a second time — "You read it once just to move breathlessly toward the finale. Then you revisit it to marvel at how well Ms. Lippman pulled the wool over your eyes." [7]

Main characters, as first introduced

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References

  1. Laura Lippman, What the Dead Know, William Morrow, 2007. ISBN   0-06-112885-6, ISBN   978-0-06-112885-1.
  2. "WHAT THE DEAD KNOW | Kirkus Reviews" via www.kirkusreviews.com.
  3. Patrick Anderson, "A Virtuoso Reappearing Act" (review of What the Dead Know), Washington Post, March 19, 2007; Page C03.
  4. Janet Maslin, "Maybe She’s Reappeared; Definitely She’s a Mystery" (review of What the Dead Know), New York Times, April 5, 2007.
  5. "What the Dead Know" (book review), The Guardian, July 14, 2007.
  6. WHAT THE DEAD KNOW | Kirkus Reviews.
  7. Maslin, Janet (2007-04-05). "Maybe She's Reappeared; Definitely She's a Mystery". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-06-08.