The Serial Killer’s Sister

By Alice Hunter

She thought she’d left her past behind.

She was wrong…

Despite a childhood in the care system, Anna Price has beaten the odds and built for herself the perfect life, complete with beautiful seaside home, devoted husband and a job she loves.

Then a policeman appears at Anna’s door: her estranged brother Henry is a wanted serial killer, and the police need Anna’s help to catch him before he strikes again.

When an envelope turns up on her doorstep, Anna suddenly finds herself caught in a sick game. One that she remembers all too well from childhood – one that, this time, she must win at all costs…

Readers are obsessing over The Serial Killer’s Sister!

‘Loved every second of this. Finished it in 36 hours. And the twist…Didn’t see that coming!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An excellent read with a fantastic jaw-dropping ending.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Loved every bit of this book. I thought I knew exactly what was going on but oh how wrong I was…The story right until the very end is full of surprises.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Alice Hunter is the queen of thrillers!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The twist at the end is so clever that I was left thinking about it for days after.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Twists, turns, revenge, evil, family...so freaking good!!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘WOW. This was such a page-turner, and I truly didn't expect that ending.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I devoured this book in just one sitting. This is an unputdownable, addictive and gripping read. Hunter has pulled me in and kept me captive until the very last page.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A true masterpiece, that ending just keeps on giving, with twist upon twist.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘WOW WOW WOW. I could've read it in one sitting, but I had to restrain myself!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: May 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9780008562229

Alice Hunter

After completing a psychology degree, Alice Hunter became an interventions facilitator in a prison. There, she was part of a team offering rehabilitation programmes to men serving sentences for a wide range of offences, often working with prisoners who’d committed serious violent crimes. Previously, Alice had been a nurse, working in the NHS. She now puts her experiences to good use in fiction. THE SERIAL KILLER’S WIFE draws heavily on her knowledge of psychology and the criminal mind.

Book preview

Prologue

‘Do we have to go inside?’ The boy, small for eight, stops walking before reaching the flaky green gate and looks up at his sister, his large, brown eyes begging.

‘We’re already late. You don’t want another whipping, do you?’

‘No.’ His lower lip wobbles, and the girl sighs and turns to him, putting her backpack on the pavement. With both her hands firmly on his shoulders, she stoops to look into his eyes.

‘Come on. I’ll sneak you in and straight up the stairs. Then I’ll make us Dairylea sandwiches.’

‘Can we eat them in your special tent?’ As he asks, he dips his head, and a chunk of sand-coloured hair falls over his right eye. The girl pushes it back. There’s only one year and eleven months between them, but already she’s far more grown up; she’s had to be.

‘Course,’ she says.

He smiles, then, and takes a deep breath. ‘I’m glad I’ve got you.’

‘I’m glad I’ve got you, too,’ she says. And she means it.

The smell of stale fags, alcohol, and what she guesses is pee hits her as she cracks open the front door and pops her head around to see if the coast is clear. She had considered trying the back door, but that needs WD-40 and squeals like a hundred mice, so they could never have snuck past him, no matter how drunk he is today. He always senses when they’re home. He smells them, like the giant in the sky in Jack and the Beanstalk.

It’s not him the girl glimpses, though, and she allows the air in her lungs to escape with a low hiss. Maybe they got away with it this time. The woman, dressed in a grubby, oversized t-shirt, with skinny legs clad in patchy grey leggings, lies on her back on the stained beige two-seater sofa. One arm dangles off it, the hand open and an empty wine bottle on its side beneath it. Crushed beer cans scatter the floor, making the pattern of the carpet almost invisible. A waft of sick rides on the air and the girl screws her nose up before pinching it tight with her thumb and finger. She notices lumps of undigested food mixed in a gravy-like liquid on the side of her mother’s face, spreading over the edge of the sofa.

Her breath hitches. Is she dead? The girl moves to block her brother’s line of sight. She can’t let him see. ‘Go on,’ she whispers, pushing him behind her back towards the stairs.

He barely gets his foot on the first step when the voice bellows.

‘Where the fuck have you two been?’ He’s standing at the top; must’ve just got out the loo. The girl pulls the boy back to her and they both recoil, slamming hard against the wall. If they could disappear into it, they would. ‘You better have got my stuff?’

As he descends the stairs, she slips the backpack off her shoulder, undoes it and with a shaky hand delves inside. The man jerks forward, yanking the bag from her grip. He pulls out the bottle of whisky, then throws the bag back at her. The metal zip catches her square in the face. She yelps, touching her fingertips to her bleeding nose. He snorts, then pushes past them. Just as they think they’ve escaped the worst of it, he turns and rushes at the boy.

‘Pathetic wimp. Bet you got your sister to steal this, didn’t you?’ He whacks the bottle against the boy’s chest. ‘When I was your age, I’d be getting my old man whatever he fancied. No questions. No big sister to do it for me. You need to grow a pair.’ He makes a grab for the boy, one large hand squeezing hard between his legs until he cries out. The man laughs. ‘Just like I thought. No balls.’

Hot tears run down the boy’s cheeks, which makes the man laugh even harder.

The girl launches at him, smacking his arm. ‘Leave him alone!’ she yells. ‘I’m going to call the police.’

‘Oh, really? Where’s this come from, eh, kid? What are you, seven?’

‘No, I’m ten and you’re not our dad, so you don’t belong here.’ The warm, tight ball that began in her stomach, like a knotted piece of string, grows bigger and gets hotter. It rises up until it explodes out of her mouth like a firework: a fizzing, burning Catherine Wheel, making a high-pitched squealing noise. The boy’s hands cup his ears, and he cowers in the corner as the girl’s scream goes on and on.

It’s not until the front door bursts in, wood splintering like gunfire, that the screaming stops.

And they are saved.

The large, wooden double doors of Finley Hall Children’s Home open wide, as if they’re the entrance to a magical castle. For one hopeful moment, they stand in awe, mouths agape as their faces turn upwards to the ornate ceiling.

That split second of optimism – the feeling that they’ve escaped their awful life, managed to find a safe and secure place to grow up – ends abruptly with a harsh shriek. Their pale faces watch as a man drags a boy across the hall in front of them, his feet barely touching the stone floor tiles as they scramble to find purchase.

‘What are you waiting for? Get here!’ A woman dressed head to toe in black, her hair wild and straw-like, appears from a room to their right. ‘Don’t take any notice of Frank. If you do as you’re told, you won’t have to meet him.’ She turns on her heel and goes back into the room. The name Miss Graves is written in black on a silver plaque on the door.

The girl gulps down her fear, turns to her brother and plasters on a smile. ‘It’s you and me, always, right?’

‘Cross your heart?’ The boy’s voice quivers.

‘And hope to die.’ She makes a quick cross on her chest with her forefinger. The boy steps in front of her, preventing her from moving.

‘Stick a needle in your eye,’ he says, coolly.

She sighs, looks down at her brother and declares, ‘Stick a needle in my eye.’

Then she clasps his hand in hers, and together they walk into their new home.

MAY 9th

Four days to go

Chapter 1

The stench of smoke invades my nostrils and burns my throat, but I continue to draw deeply as I lean on the glass balcony balustrade, watching the seagulls swooping over the rooftops heading to the sea beyond. My silk dressing gown flaps gently in the breeze, offering a coolness to my thighs as the morning sun competes, its rays warming my face. I close my eyes to savour the moment.

‘Inhaling the sea air would be preferable, surely?’ Ross comes up behind me. I can’t sneak a ciggie past him – he probably smelled it from downstairs. I haven’t had one for over a year, but I remembered where I’d hidden the remaining few (for emergency purposes only).

‘Caught me.’ I don’t turn around. I’d rather not see the disappointed look he’s bound to have on his face.

‘Remember when we first moved in and we spent hours sitting on this balcony overlooking Ness Cove, being hypnotised by the whispering waves?’ he asks, snaking his arms around my waist.

‘Yes, and I still love it. But today, the salty air on my lips isn’t a match for this.’ I needlessly hold up the cigarette. ‘Nicotine does more for my nerves.’

‘Ahh, right. Inspection results today?’ His arms slacken.

‘Yup,’ I say, stubbing out the cigarette and pushing the end down into the peat of the pansies. There’s a neat row of terracotta plant pots and an aluminium planter running the length of the balcony. It’s the only garden we have to speak of – the easiest to maintain. ‘I know we’ve had them loads of times before—’

‘But each one manages to make you doubt yourself,’ Ross says. ‘I know. I remember you being like this last time, too.’

That time, the night before the report was due Ross had helped take my mind off it with a surprise meal out at our favourite Italian restaurant in Teignmouth. The Colosseum is where we’ve celebrated each wedding anniversary, and the owners are always so warm and friendly that it’s a real comfort place for me when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I probably should’ve predicted how stressed I’d be waiting for the result and booked a table myself this time.

‘Sorry,’ I say. ‘I’m not the easiest person to live with when I’m under scrutiny.’

‘Don’t be daft,’ Ross says. ‘It’s because you care. If you were nonchalant, I’d be worried.’

He’s right. I worked hard to get this teaching position. It’s at an independent school in Staverton, a nearby village, and initially I felt guilty for working with children whose parents could afford the luxury of an exclusive, private education, so far from the one I had. I’d been adamant I’d do something extraordinary for disadvantaged children, helping make a difference to their lives; just as I’d always prayed someone would do for me and my brother. Then the crippling doubt began to sneak through me like a poison, the utter fear of failure overpowering me. How could I risk letting another child down as badly as I had been? I realised that the possibility of me being the only person standing between a child’s life of misery and a happy future was too great a pressure and if I didn’t get it right, I’d never forgive myself. I’d be crushed by the responsibility.

I met Serena, a teacher at Seabrook Prep School, at just the right time. She gave me a way to have the opportunity to make a difference as a teacher, while also managing to take the easy way out.

Ross wraps his arms around me again and I relax back against his chest.

‘You have literally nothing to be nervous about. You’re an amazing teacher and those kids are lucky to have you.’

‘I hope so. I love them like my own—’ I cut myself off abruptly as I feel Ross’s muscles tense, ever so slightly, but enough to be noticeable. I screw my eyes shut, inwardly wincing. For an uncomfortable moment, I think he’s going to say something, but then he nuzzles into my neck, breathes me in and kisses me, allowing my brief moment of panic to ebb like the tide.

‘I’ll make you a coffee,’ he says, pulling away from me. ‘Or would you rather a vodka?’ His deep, throaty laugh reassures me that he didn’t take my flippant comment to heart. Reigniting the issue of children after we put it to bed last year isn’t something I want to do.

‘A coffee will suffice, thanks. I’ll save the hard stuff for this evening.’

After one final gaze towards Ness Cove, I back away and close the balcony door, giving the usual thanks to the universe for everything I have. It’s a far cry from where I grew up, even further from the future I was so sure I was destined for. The only one I believed I was worthy of.

It takes several attempts to button my sleeves, but finally, having taken some diaphragmatic breaths and given myself a calming self-talk, I stand back and check my appearance in the full-length mirror. Smart, sassy and classy. That’s what I see looking back. It’s a third true; I am smart at least. The rest might well be an illusion – a distortion of reality – but as long as it’s what the parents, the head teacher Mr Beaumont, and the school inspectors believe, that’s a job well done on my part. I have lived by the ‘fake it till you make it’ principle since I was about ten years old, and it hasn’t steered me far wrong. I smile at my reflection as I pick a stray thread from my red top and then smooth both hands down my black pencil skirt. Ross is right – there’s no way I could receive anything other than a good report.

‘Poached eggs?’ Ross asks as I enter the kitchen. His suit jacket hangs over the back of a chair and his white shirt sleeves are neatly rolled up as he cracks eggs over the boiling water. I shake my head, nausea gripping my stomach at the thought.

‘Thanks, but I’ll grab a bagel from the bakery on the way to work.’ I won’t, but he doesn’t need to know that. He gives me his one-eyed-squint look that confirms he’s well aware of my lie. I half-laugh. ‘Wow, I can’t slip anything past you today, can I?’

‘Can you ever?’ There’s a slight edge to his tone, and I frown. I’m about to go deeper into his comment when the doorbell rings. I give Ross a quizzical glance.

‘Might be Yasmin,’ he says. ‘She mentioned dropping a new property portfolio by for me this morning so I can bypass the office.’ He leaves the kitchen and I hear the front door open. A man’s voice rumbles through the hallway. Not Yasmin, then. Ross’s estate agency business in Shaldon, The Right Price, only employs four staff and I’ve met two of them: Oscar, the silent partner, and Yasmin, who helps out in the office. The other two are agents who Ross is yet to introduce me to. I bend to place my mug in the dishwasher and give a small gasp as I straighten and see a large-framed man, smartly dressed in a suit that makes him look very much like an estate agent.

‘Oh, hi. You must be a colleague of Ross’s?’

I note Ross’s tense expression as he peeps around from behind the man, and realise he isn’t.

‘Good morning, Mrs Price. I’m Detective Inspector Walker from the Devon and Cornwall Major Crime Investigation Team.’ He stoops to clear the low beam of the ceiling then stretches one arm out, presenting an open leather wallet containing his ID badge. I stare at it before taking his other proffered hand and shaking it; it’s large, square, and mine is completely enclosed in its firm grip. My heart gives a little jolt, as if warning me of what’s to come.

‘Is there something wrong?’ I say, my pulse quickening. He’s looking at me specifically, not Ross. But, I deduce, if someone was hurt or had died, there’d be two of them. That’s how it works on the telly. And besides, I’m no one’s next of kin other than Ross’s, and he’s safe. Then my legs tingle.

I am someone else’s though, aren’t I.

‘Can we take a seat, Mrs Price?’ DI Walker’s tone is authoritative, his words not really posed as a question, more of an instruction.

Ross jerks into action, he too having been momentarily stunned by the unexpected arrival of a detective.

‘Is your colleague coming in?’ Ross asks, and my heart tumbles in my chest. If there are two of them, then my theory doesn’t hold. I look out into the hallway, but I don’t see anyone else hovering. Then, spotting a blur of movement out of the corner of my eye, I glance out of the kitchen window, at the people dressed in black and yellow walking past. It takes me a few moments, as if time has slowed, to register that they’re police. Once this fact settles in my brain, a mix of intrigue and suspicion flares.

‘No,’ DI Walker says. ‘She’s conducting door-to-door enquiries with the rest of the team.’

‘Right, sure.’ Ross makes a face at me before skipping around DI Walker and pulling out a chair at the kitchen table for him. My feet stay planted as my mind wanders. Door-to-door enquiries. Okay, that’s not so bad. It’s not just me he’s seeing. Maybe he’s here because of a local burglary or something like that. The voice in my head doesn’t buy that, though – they wouldn’t send a senior detective for that type of crime, would they? The activity outside suggests something bigger. I swallow down the lump in my throat and take a deep breath as I finally take in the man’s fresh-faced appearance, then, without thinking, say:

‘You seem young to have made detective inspector already?’

Ross shoots me a wide-eyed glare, while DI Walker gives a tight smile that offers the only evidence of ageing skin by causing a slight crinkling at the corner of his eyes.

‘I get that a lot. I think it must be the police equivalent of doctors these days looking like teenagers,’ DI Walker says, drily. I mentally kick myself; offending him before I know why he’s here isn’t the best start. I’m sure he’s worked hard to get to his position, and having people question it must be irritating.

‘Sorry, I think I watch too much crime drama.’ I force my muscles to move, and sit down next to Ross, opposite DI Walker. I immediately jump back up. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t offer you a drink. Tea? Coffee?’ I sense the weight of Ross’s stare, and avoid his eyes.

DI Walker juts his arm out, releasing a watch from beneath the cuff of his crisp white shirt, and checks it.

‘Not for me, thank you.’ He places a small electronic notebook on the table and gives a cough, readying himself to communicate the reason for his visit. I thud back down in the chair. Wild fluttering in my stomach combines with my increased heart rate to provide me with an adrenaline-inducing cocktail. I slip my hands under my thighs to hide their tremor.

‘What can we do for you, Detective Walker?’ I smile.

His azure-blue eyes look directly into mine, and they’re so intense I lower my gaze, a strange feeling washing over me. What is he about to say? The room closes in on me, the air sucked from the atmosphere as I wait with my breath held.

‘We’ve been trying to track you down for a while, now, Mrs Price.’

My mouth dries. Is this it? The moment I’ve been dreading for so long? But would that warrant an entire team of police? I swallow, painfully.

‘Oh, really?’ From the corner of my eye, I catch Ross straighten in anticipation. I wish he’d left for work before the detective arrived.

‘Your name is Anna Price, previously Lincoln, yes?’

The sound of my pulse pounds in my ears. ‘Yes, that’s correct.’ I stare unblinking at DI Walker.

‘I’m sorry to be the one to inform you …’ DI Walker’s eyes flit from mine to Ross’s and back to me and I swallow my frustration together with my words: Get on with it, tell me he’s dead! ‘Your brother, Henry Lincoln,’ DI Walker’s features begin to blur; my blood pressure must be sky-high right at this moment, ‘is wanted …’ – not dead – ‘… for the murder of multiple women.’

‘What?’ I push back from the table, standing so abruptly that the chair topples to the tiled floor with an ear-ringing crash. Ross leaps up and drags it back to its position, then places a hand on my shoulder.

‘Anna, breathe,’ I hear him say. And I do. My chest heaves with the deep breaths I’m gulping in.

‘This must come as quite the shock. I’m sorry.’ DI Walker gives me a concerned look. ‘Do you want to take a moment? Or maybe sit somewhere more comfortable?’

‘The lounge,’ Ross is saying. ‘That would be better, I think.’

I’m manoeuvred to the sofa, where I plonk down heavily, the wind from my sails well and truly taken. I was prepared for dead. Not for murderer.

Henry – a killer? This can’t be for real.

Chapter 2

Ross’s hand takes mine, gently pulling it away from my mouth. I feel a sting, then the bubble of blood oozes and drips down my chin. I hadn’t realised I’d been picking the skin on my lip – a childhood habit left over from the anxiety and stress I suffered while at the home. I’ve tried hard to eradicate it. I dab it quickly with the tissue Ross has whipped from the box on the table.

‘Are you okay for me to continue?’ DI Walker asks. I nod, while inwardly screaming NO! ‘Your brother is wanted in connection with five murders—’

‘Five?’ I blink rapidly, shaking my head. ‘Five?’ I repeat.

‘Yes, I know it’s a lot to take in.’ DI Walker leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees. ‘They’ve all taken place over a two-and-a-half-year period, with one female being killed on two specific dates each year. The fifth occurred a few months ago.’

A serial killer. Henry is a serial killer. The words, spoken in my own voice, loop in my head over and over like an annoying earworm. The earworm continues to drown out the voices of Ross and the detective and the dizzying sensation it’s creating makes lying down the only good option. Not here, though. I need to go to bed. I bend forwards, readying to stand, but Ross’s hand firmly pushes down on my thigh, preventing my escape.

‘They were committed in different counties, which is why it’s taken a while to link them,’ DI Walker says. I’m vaguely aware this isn’t the beginning of the conversation – I’ve missed a chunk of it, and I try to gather myself so I can focus on what’s going on. ‘The evidence we’ve gathered shows they are connected, though; we’re not disclosing it for obvious reasons, but each murder shares the same signature.’ It’s as if I’m on a mobile phone going through a tunnel; the words are crackling, fading in and out; fragmented like a Dalek’s voice. I draw in air through my nostrils, but the nausea creeping through my gut only intensifies. I haven’t seen Henry in years. We didn’t part on the best terms, but despite it all – despite everything we went through – him turning out to be a serial killer feels a step too far.

‘I – I don’t … I can’t.’ I shake my head, but the fog doesn’t clear. ‘Why are you here, telling me this?’

DI Walker smiles thinly. His expression softens and he leans closer to me, like he’s about to explain a complex idea to a child. ‘We hoped you’d had contact with him. Knew where he might be.’

‘That would make things easier,’ I say. DI Walker gives a disappointed nod, aware my answer means I don’t. And I really don’t. I’ve heard nothing from him, and I’ve not tried to contact him. There’s simply been no need.

‘One of the dates your brother has committed murders on is the fifteenth of February.’ DI Walker’s eyes are on my face, watching for my response. It’s immediate; a reaction I’m unable to control. My eyes widen and every muscle in my body tenses.

‘That’s my birthday.’

‘Yes.’ He purses his lips. Nods again. When I don’t offer anything else, he checks his notes. ‘The other is the thirteenth of May,’ he says, raising his eyes to meet mine.

My heart stutters, but thankfully my outward reaction is masked by the previous shock.

‘Four days from now,’ Ross adds, helpfully.

‘We don’t yet know the significance of this other date and we’re running out of time, Anna.’

I can’t breathe. My lungs are paralysed; no air seems to be able to enter them. I push Ross’s hand from my leg and get up. Dizziness instantly overwhelms me, the room spins, and DI Walker and Ross blur into one before my eyes close and there’s nothing but black silence.

Chapter 3

‘Anna, baby. Anna. Open your eyes. Come on.’

My cheek stings. I put a hand to it, opening my eyes. Ross’s face is close to mine.

‘What …?’

‘You fainted.’

I’ve experienced some truly stressful situations, but never come close to passing out.

‘I’ll call the doctor,’ Ross says, already scrolling through his mobile.

‘No. No need. Please don’t make a fuss.’ I swing my legs off the sofa and push myself into a sitting position. DI Walker doesn’t

Reviews for The Serial Killer’s Sister

[clue_4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I had read several favorable reviews in national publications and thought this would be one I couldn't put down. As it turns out, I could, I thought the book was pretty average in terms of plot and writing. The main character is looking back at her childhood through much of the book and I found her ability to remember so many events and conversations from childhood unlikely. It's not a bad read but not one I would recommend to people who have lots in their TBR stack.

[robertalea-223265 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Often times, the writeups on the book jackets and the reviews are better than the actual story.

[drled_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis:Cassandra Fallows has had two memoirs and one novel published. Not everyone is happy about her memoirs, although they did very well, because they don't think she remembers correctly. The novel wasn't a smashing success. Now she wants to write about a girl who was in their class; she was accused of killing her baby, but wouldn't say a word about what happened. No one could ever prove what actually happened. Cassandra finds that her memories were not, in fact, the truth. She also finds that the murder mystery brings up much more, including blackmail.Review: The largest part of the book is 'memories' and has do little to with a mystery. Most of the book is boring.

[zyphax-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting, but not my thing. Only got as far as I did because it was about a writer and there was a lot of trade talk and random writer life tidbits.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book has little to offer the reader. It is not suspenseful; there is not much of a mystery. There are no characters to like or cheer for. It is vague and unclear at times. It lacks focus much of the time, and is just plain uninteresting. I’m not sure what point the author is trying to make. Is it one of race relations? Is it about social structure? Maybe it’s about the court system. Is it about friendships? Familial relationships? Being unfaithful? Or just hiding infidelities. Telling the truth? Or just correctly perceiving what is true. All these topics are touched on in this tale of woe. None are really fully developed. This is a story of a writer, who, after two well-received memoirs, wrote a fiction story that was not. Now, wanting a subject for a fourth book, she turns to the story a classmate from her past who may or may not have killed her infant son and has refused to talk about his disappearance. After many pages of thinking “when will this story end,” it does get somewhat interesting at the very end. It is not enough to warrant reading the first 300 pages. Disappointing.

[daniellnic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Deeply satisfying novel with heavy mystery elements concerning memory an the act of writing, father/daughter relationships, childhood friendships and race relations in Baltimore.

[samsattler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Some childhood events are so remarkable (or horrific) that they can dramatically impact the self-image of the adult that child will become. But what most forget is that, whatever the experience, they were children when the events happened, and they experienced them through the eyes and perceptions of children. So what happens if what they remember is not the way it really happened? Whose fault is it? Cassandra Fallows is about to find out.Cassandra grew up in one of Baltimore's more racially mixed neighborhoods where her best friends Donna, Tisha, and Fatima, were all black. Calliope Jenkins, another little girl, also black, tried to make her own way into their inner circle but was only grudgingly accepted now and then. Now the girls have largely gone their separate ways and Cassandra has not seen any of them for years. This, however, has not kept her from using her childhood memories to earn her living.Cassandra's two memoirs have, in fact, earned her a very nice living and she has every reason to believe that the royalty checks will keep coming for a long time. Her frank willingness to expose herself and anyone who has ever impacted her life to public scrutiny has made the books long-term bestsellers. Perhaps overconfident, Cassandra decided to turn her pen toward her first novel - with, at best, mediocre results. Now she and her publisher agree that Cassandra needs a new memoir, one with a fresh hook - and Cassandra believes that the little girl who wanted to be part of her crowd all those years ago can provide the hook she needs. Calliope Jenkins spent seven years in jail for contempt of court, accused of killing her infant son but refusing, the whole time, to answer a single question regarding the whereabouts of the boy. Finally, the court was forced to release her even though the mystery has never been solved. Cassandra, believing she has found her next bestseller, is back in Baltimore where she hopes to shake things up enough to get at the truth of what happened to the baby boy. But if she thinks it will be easy, she is in for a big surprise. None of her old friends are happy to see her, Calliope Jenkins is nowhere to be found, and what she is about to learn about herself might just turn her bestselling memoirs into works of fiction.Bottom Line: Life Sentences, based on a real life incident in Baltimore, is an interesting mystery but, as usual in a Laura Lippman novel, the real fun comes from immersing oneself in the relationships between the book's intriguing characters. Lippman fans will not be disappointed in this 2009 novel.

[thebentley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As contemporary literature, Life Sentences is actually quite good. Lippman does a wonderfully thorough job of interrogating the nature of truth, lies, and memory--from the secrets we keep, to the lies we tell ourselves, to the relative value and impact of the unvarnished truth. As mysteries go, this isn't a very satisfying one, but it makes up for it in other surprises. This would be an excellent book club book, as I imagine it would foster a great deal of interesting discussion in a group.

[wortklauberlein · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Laura Lippman's "Life Sentences" explores concepts of truth, memory and lies as bestselling memoirist Cassandra returns to her Baltimore home and lands knee-deep in her own past, about which she has written much and understood little. The chance overhearing of a news broadcast mentioning the long-ago case of one of Cassandra's girlhood acquaintances, sent to jail for the death of her infant son, sends Cassandra -- who knows a good source of income when it sticks to her Manolos -- scrambling to find Calliope Jenkins. Some of the characters introduced along the way are finely portrayed, making Cassandra herself an even less appealing figure. That and my inability to believe that the fictional memoir excerpted between chapters would actually sell enough copies to make Cassandra a wealthy woman leads to the rather wan three-star rating.Still, the deceptively simple title, with its many layers and the underlying question of the book -- what gives someone the right to tell a story that can never be about just one person? -- provided enough pondering to keep me going until the somewhat hurried and not the least bit convincing end.

[bhowell_35 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Like some of the other reviewers, I found this book a bit tedious. It did not hold my interest and perhaps my expectations of a thriller were too high. Still , Ms Lippman is a very good writer and perhaps I will try "What the Dead know" .

[sugarcreekranch · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Like other books by Laura Lippman, Life Sentences is a "psychological thriller". But this book is far more "psychological" than "thriller", and I didn't enjoy it nearly as much. The plot sounds interesting: an author's childhood friends was jailed for 7 years for contempt of court, for refusing to reveal information about her missing childhood son. But it was actually a pretty slow, tame story. The "psychological" aspect is far stronger, with themes of differing perspectives, flawed memories, and racial influences. All in all, it was an okay read, but not one I'd recommend strongly.

[cailin_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Life Sentences focuses on author Cassandra Fallow's quest for the subject of her new book. An old school mate of Cassandra's, Calliope Jenkins is accused of murdering her son but will not speak about it to anyone. The book delves into how paths diverge and the way memory is often like a prism with different versions apprearing with different perspectives. I thought the book was well written and entertaining enough to make me want to finish it but I could not empathize with the main character. I disliked her and found her to be selfish and entitled. I did not like her father and found him the same, but maybe that was the point. To look at the characters and see in them their flaws.

[imbookingit · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

To me, Life Sentences was a strong 4 star book bogged down by trappings that didn't work for me.I really liked that plot and the main character.The mystery was interesting and (mostly) well plotted and revealed. The question is whether Cassandra's childhood friend Calliope really killed her child, and if so, why? I've read several books recently featuring writers as characters, and I've been enjoying them. Cassandra is no exception. I enjoyed her reflections on her past, present and future and how they interrelate. Her approach to investigation also worked well for me in the story.The other characters were overall a neutral for me. They were at times compelling and at others overdrawn. In general they didn't pull me out the story, and so I can forgive them many flaws.The problems I had with the book had to do with the delivery. It felt to me there was an effort to be Literary, and it distracted from the story.A prime example of this was the wandering point of view. When done well, I like when I'm shown what different characters are thinking and feeling about the events in a book. I did like that aspect of this book, although I sometimes had to pull myself out of the story to figure out who a particular chapter was focusing on. What I didn't get were the shifts between first and third person. I'm left with the feeling that I should go back and figure out why the POV shifted when it did, and what it meant. When reading, I found it distracted me from the story.

[evilynj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Author Cassandra Fallows has written two best-selling memoirs and one fiction book that did not do well. When she decides to write about Calliope Jenkins a childhood friend who was jailed for seven years for refusing to divulge the whereabouts of her infant son, Cassandra reconnects with her other childhood friends Tisha, Donna and Fatima, who all have strong feelings about how Cassandra protrayed them in her first two books. This is a literary mystery that peels away past memories and perspective layer by layer until all that is left is the truth. Lippman writes so seemlessly that it would be easy to believe Cassandra's story is her own. She addresses the weighty issues of ego, racism, self-deception, memory and perspective and weaves them into the story. Highly recommend.

[zibilee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cassandra Fallows, the gifted daughter of a classics professor and his equally intelligent wife, has used the lives of her and her family for fodder in her first two books and seeks to recapture the public's adoration by getting to the bottom of the tragic circumstances of her childhood friend Callie's life. As a child, Callie was on the outskirts of Cassandra's group, always very quiet and shy. But in more recent times, Callie's son has mysteriously gone missing. Callie, refusing to incriminate herself, remains silent on the question of her son's whereabouts and eventually has to serve seven years in prison for her silence. When Cassandra catches wind of the woman's story, she begins to pursue Callie and those who knew her, hoping to uncover the secret that Callie has kept hidden for years. As Cassandra begins to investigate the strange story, she reaches out to the friends she remembers from childhood, only to discover that they are unhappy and sometimes even hostile about their shared past. Each woman contacted has a different grudge against Cassandra and none are willing to furnish the information that she is seeking. Under the guise of camaraderie, Cassandra tries to put the women at ease but discovers that her memories from the past aren't what she remembers them to be, and also discovers the secret that binds all of the women together. Written with literary flourish, Life Sentences tells the story of a group of women whom time has torn asunder.When I was contacted to review this book by TLC Book Tours, I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into. On the surface, the story seemed to be a literary one but I couldn't help but glean that it may actually be more of a suspense story, which is not exactly my favorite genre. But after getting sufficiently involved in the narrative, I was pleased to discover that the book actually grabbed elements from many different genres.From the outset, I felt that I really understood Cassandra. Maybe it's because I am a bookish person by nature, but I felt that as a character, Cassandra was interesting to me for many reasons. One of the reasons, of course, was that she was an author. It was interesting to see how she mined her life and the lives of her acquaintances for fodder for her books and it seemed she was always looking for the literary bottom line in all of her encounters. Another reason her character was so compelling was that she was refreshingly honest about her life and her opinions of others. She didn't try to candy-coat all the unpleasant aspects of her personality or those around her. But for all this, I didn't really like her. She was very wily when it came to the other characters in the book and her motives were always suspect to me. Watching her maneuver through her friends' lives and secrets made me a little uncomfortable, and at best she came off as a bit of an opportunist. She was at times very manipulative, poking and prodding those around her for her own gain. I guess that was why I was a little conflicted when she got her comeuppance. I felt in some ways she deserved to be knocked down, yet in others I felt more than a little sorry for her. She was both a very pleasing and utterly contemptible person to me at times.Callie's portion of the narrative was, I think, a real highlight for me. I marveled at her ability to remain stanch throuought the book and I really liked her sense of fierce independence. When she finally reveals what happened to her son in the last half of the book, it was hard not to judge her a little bit, but it was also hard not to sympathize with her as well. I liked the frankness of her life, her ability to move on past tragedy and keep herself upright for many long years, just as I admired her for finally getting her story out. Though Cassandra originally wanted to glean Callie's story for her own purposes, I think she ended up having a very positive effect on Callie, and it was through her intervention that the woman was able to reclaim part of her life. There was a great sense of vindication for me when Callie finally revealed her secret.I also thought that the dynamics of Cassandra's friendship with the other women were well written and provided a lot of tension throughout the story. The other women never really thought of Cassandra as one of them but Cassandra never saw this. She saw only through the rose colored glasses of her past and assumed that their friendship would afford her some liberties among them. She never really saw that the the women only tolerated her and that she was far more out of their circle than in. I guess it would have been fair to say that Callie was more inclusive to the group than Cassandra had been. Each of the three other women begrudged Cassandra for her success, believing her to have rewritten their shared history for her glory. It wasn't really a surprise to me that they closed ranks upon her but it certainly came as a surprise to Cassandra. I got the picture that Cassandra saw only what she wanted to see, not what was actually in front of her.Towards the end of the book the story took a turn for the suspenseful, which although not my favorite genre, was, I felt, well deserved. As the women begin to slowly leak the unfortunate story of Callie's tragedy to Cassandra, the plot began to move and weave in ways I never saw coming. The secrets that had been hidden begin to come to light, and all the people that Cassandra had carefully canvassed become unmoored and careless with their stories. It was interesting to see who held information and to what lengths they would go to keep it buried. Finally the players begin to turn upon each other, leaving old notions and ideas shattered in their wake. The stunning conclusion to the story left me feeling very satisfied and I marveled at the author's ability to keep so many intertwined events clear and relevant.Overall, I found this book a really pleasant diversion that was able to make me feel an abundance of conflicting emotions and anticipation. The very literary quality of the writing combined with the elements of suspense and interpersonal relationships within the story made for a great reading experience. I think that readers who like a good dose of realism in their fiction would probably enjoy this book, as well as those who normally gravitate towards mildly suspenseful reads. I think that Lippman did a fantastic job cobbling all of these various elements together in her story and I would definitely recommend this book. It was a highly entertaining read.

[writestuff_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cassandra Fallows is casting around for her next book idea after having published two highly successful memoirs and one floundering novel, when an evening newscast brings up a name from her past. Calliope Jenkins had shared an elementary school classroom with Cassandra. She was later held for seven years in prison for refusing to reveal the whereabouts of her infant son…who is still missing and presumed dead. Now released from prison, Calliope provides the perfect backdrop for another memoir of sorts for Cassandra. Cassandra returns to her childhood home in Baltimore to try to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Calliope and her son, and ends up reconnecting with her old friends. What she discovers are buried secrets about her own life, and another perspective on what constitutes truth.Laura Lippman takes her time in developing her characters in Life Sentences, switching back and forth from the past to the present, and giving the reader multiple perspectives of Cassandra’s life. Cassandra is not wholly likable (she has a tendency to go to bed with other women’s husbands and seems oblivious to how her literary portrayal of the people in her life might impact them) yet I found myself wanting to give her a chance at redemption. Part of the conflict in the novel is internal – that which lies within Cassandra herself. Although her goal was to write a book and not rethink her life, Cassandra ultimately is forced to deal with her own weaknesses, learn another way of seeing the world, and revisit her version of the truth.Lippman apparently used to write straight forward mysteries and suspense novels, but in Life Sentences the mystery takes second stage to the deeper issues raised in the book. Using the historical backdrop of the civil rights movement in Baltimore and the assassination of Martin Luther King, Lippman explores the difficult subject of race relations. Cassandra’s unfaithful father leaves her mother to marry a black woman. Cassandra’s childhood friends are all black (she is white) and the division between them (and their later anger around Cassandra’s memoir) centers largely around unspoken race issues. One huge event in Cassandra’s life (when she is attacked by a group of white girls in her school) takes on a different meaning when seen outside of Cassandra’s narrow view and is explained from the viewpoint of a black friend who witnessed the attack but did nothing to stop it.Another huge theme in the book is that of memory and perspective – how two people can experience the same thing and yet remember it differently. As Cassandra tries to mine her past for her next book, she discovers her memories about important events vary significantly from that of her friends.Ultimately Lippman gets to the mystery and provides an answer for her readers, but she arrives there after a meandering journey through the lives of her central characters. And that is perhaps my only complaint with the novel – it moves a bit slowly at times. This is not a book a reader will plow through in one sitting. Despite this minor complaint, I can recommend Life Sentences to those readers who enjoy their mysteries character-driven vs. plot driven.

[reluctanttechie · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I read this book in the hopes that it could be a contender for the 2010 One Maryland One Book which will focus on community. Maryland authors would be favored if the book is appropriate. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I felt Laura Lippman was trying to extend herself beyond her more typical, mysteries featuring Tess in Baltimore, but somehow the writing style did not impress me and I was not drawn in by the characters. That said, I did want to finish the book to find out what happened, so the plot was sufficient.

[ctfrench · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Author Cassandra Fallows, with two successful memoirs behind her, tries her hand at fiction, which falls flat. When Cassandra reads about a former school friend jailed for contempt for not revealing the whereabouts of her baby’s body, Cassandra gets the idea to write about her childhood and her friends, and the events that lead them to their present-day lives. She returns to Baltimore to interview her family and friends, only to be met with resistance. Calliope Jenkins, the woman accused of murdering her baby and hiding his body, has disappeared and no one wants to talk about where she is or what happened. As Cassandra digs deeper into the past, painful truths about her own life and those of her friends are revealed which could impact their lives in a negative way if disclosed.Laura Lippman, known for the Tess Monaghan series, is adroit at character development, slowly peeling away layers of persona as the book progresses. Life Sentences is a compelling read, exploring the dynamics of childhood friendships and family relationships.

[porchsitter55 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was unfortunately not blown away by this book as I hoped I might be. This was the first Laura Lippman book I've ever read. I found myself being drawn in part of the time, then found myself getting bored, or feeling a bit lost in the midst of it all. It seemed to have alot of different things going on at once and I felt slightly discombobulated several times throughout the book.The story revolves around an author who decides to write a book about a woman she knew as a child, who spent 7 years in prison for murdering her child, and as Cassandra, the author, did her research, she finds out the "truth" regarding the woman's case.This one just didn't do it for me. I'll try one of the author's other books at a later date....I won't give up on her yet.

[nomadreader_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Here's how the publisher describes this novel:Author Cassandra Fallows has achieved remarkable success by baring her life on the page. Her two widely popular memoirs continue to sell briskly, acclaimed for their brutal, unexpurgated candor about friends, family, lovers—and herself. But now, after a singularly unsuccessful stab at fiction, Cassandra believes she may have found the story that will enable her triumphant return to nonfiction.When Cassandra was a girl, growing up in a racially diverse middle-class neighborhood in Baltimore, her best friends were all black: elegant, privileged Donna; sharp, shrewd Tisha; wild and worldly Fatima. A fifth girl orbited their world—a shy, quiet, unobtrusive child named Calliope Jenkins—who, years later, would be accused of killing her infant son. Yet the boy's body was never found and Calliope's unrelenting silence on the subject forced a judge to jail her for contempt. For seven years, Calliope refused to speak and the court was finally forced to let her go. Cassandra believes this still unsolved real-life mystery, largely unknown outside Baltimore, could be her next bestseller.But her homecoming and latest journey into the past will not be welcomed by everyone, especially by her former friends, who are unimpressed with Cassandra's success—and are insistent on their own version of their shared history. And by delving too deeply into Calliope's dark secrets, Cassandra may inadvertently unearth a few of her own—forcing her to reexamine the memories she holds most precious, as the stark light of truth illuminates a mother's pain, a father's betrayal . . . and what really transpired on a terrible day that changed not only a family but an entire country.My thoughts:This novel featured narration by a variety of characters, but predominantly our protagonist, Cassandra Fallows, narrated. As a reader, I did not feel a connection with her. She's wonderfully articulate, introspective, and thoughtful, but I didn't find her interesting or lovable. I found the so-called mystery to be interesting enough to finish the book, but not interesting enough to make me care what happens to these characters. I expected this novel to be mostly a mystery, but I found it to be mostly about race relations surrounding the shooting of Martin Luther King, Jr. and how his death affected these characters. As a tale of race relations, it was awkward at times. It's not a bad book, but there is something about it that does not quite work. It's certainly better in theory than in practice. The idea of this book is riveting and fascinating, but the execution fell short. Still, I'm eager to read Laura Lippman's other books. She is a good writer, and I look forward to reading an actual mystery.

[reannon_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've read and enjoyed some of Lippman's other books, but this one just didn't gel for me. I didn't particularly like the main charadcters, and there was one plot point I never did understand.The book is set in Baltimore like most of Lippman's work. The main character is Cassandra, who is, as might be guessed from the name, the daughter of a professor. She was a daddy's girl, but Daddy left when she was 10. As an adult, Cassandra has written best-selling volumes of memoirs, and thinks there might be another book in the story of her and her classmates, one of whom later spent sever years in prison after her baby son disappeared.Lippman is a good writer, but even good writers can occasionally produce a lesser work.

[kraaivrouw · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This one snuck up on me.This is another author who has a series that I like who's now writing her second standalone. I'll confess that I really hated the first one, What the Dead Know, & actually couldn't get through it which is rare for me - so I approached this book with some trepidation.The start is slow, but the story & the women in it really do creep up on you, get under your skin, make you keep reading. Add to that all the thinking I ended up doing about memoirs & the nature of memory & this was a really good read. The point is a simple one - that essentially all books based on memory are in some way fictionalized because we only really know our own side of the story - but it's well made & done so without beating you over the head. I thoroughly enjoyed this book

[24girl_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

With two highly successful memoirs under her belt author Cassandra Fallows latest work of fiction falls flat. Knowing that there is nothing else in her life to write about she is left contemplating her next step as a writer when she hears a news story that she believes could be the subject of her next non-fiction bestseller. In New Orleans a child has disappeared and his mother refuses to tell anyone what happened to him. The news story compares this case to a case in Baltimore where Calliope Jenkins once spent seven years in prison for failing to reveal what happened to her missing infant son. As it turns out Cassandra and Callie where once friends beginning when they met elementary school along with a group of girls including Donna, Tisha and Fatima. Returning home to Baltimore to investigate the story Cassandra faces resentment and bitterness from Tisha, Donna and Fatima each for a different reason but all of it having to do with her first successful memoir and Cassandra's recounting of their experiences. Finding Callie and learning the truth about what happened all those years ago is a lot tougher than she originally thought but she's determined to make it happen. I was hoping for more of a mystery read similar to What the Dead Know but Life Sentences is more a book about relationships and dealing with memories than it is a suspense story. It takes a long look at family interactions, racial issues, friendship bonds and how each are dealt with by different characters in the story. I enjoyed the book overall but was a little disappointed by the ending. The book was about 2/3 complete before Callie's story starts to be told and by the time the truth about her missing son is revealed it's more of a let down than a satisfying ending. I recommend it more for general fiction readers than suspense lovers.

[bigorangemichael_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

view all 4 status updates review: Some people look forward to the budding trees and warmer days when winter finally rolls around into spring. I look forward to the latest offering by Laura Lippman. As always with Lippman's novels, I found myself both eager to begin the journey and anxious that the ride would be over far too soon. The best thing you can say about a book is that it never feels too short nor does it overstay its welcome. And that's a praise I can heap on a lot of Lippman's novels. Cassa...more Some people look forward to the budding trees and warmer days when winter finally rolls around into spring. I look forward to the latest offering by Laura Lippman. As always with Lippman's novels, I found myself both eager to begin the journey and anxious that the ride would be over far too soon. The best thing you can say about a book is that it never feels too short nor does it overstay its welcome. And that's a praise I can heap on a lot of Lippman's novels. Cassandra Fellows is a successful non-fiction writer, who wrote two staggeringly successful memoirs about her life. One was about growing up in Baltimore and the other was about her various romantic liasons. Now Cassandra is on a book tour for his latest, fictional entry which is neither as critically acclaimed nor as commercially successful as her two autobiographical tomes. One night in a hotel room, cursed with insomnia, Cassandra hears the report of a missing boy in Louisiana and hears it linked to a case in Baltimore years before. The case involved a classmate of Cassandra's, Calliope Jenkins, whose first child was removed from the home by the authorities and her second child disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Calliope never confessed to a crime and was notoriously silent about where the child went. With little evidence, Calliope was held in jail for seven years before being released. Cassandra grew up with Calliope and decides that her next project will be an examination of not only Calliope, but their social group growing up, looking to find some answers to the unsolved crime. In typical Lippman fashion, the central mystery to the novel is important but it isn't the most vital part of "Life Sentences." Lippman once again examines the impact of a crime or a criminal act can have on the various lives that it touches--from that of Calliope Jenkins to Cassandra to the various people investigating the case or defending Jenkins. Lippman hooks you in right away with the central mystery and with great care and deliberation introduces the various players into the drama. Each character is facing his or her own life sentence based on choices he or she has made over the course of their lives. Lippman also examines how the various characters filter history through their own vantage point and how subjective events and memories can be. To say more would be to give away some of the more intriguing revelations in the story. And that last thing you want is for someone to ruin the joy of finding these things out for yourself. I've heard it said that Lippman writes mysteries that transcend the genre. I'd argue that while she does that, her novels are far more complex and rewarding than just a simple "who done it?" story. These are carefully crafted, psychological portraits of the impact of various events can have on the its characters. "Life Sentences" is another winner from Lippman and a novel I heartly recommend to anyone who enjoys a well-written, thought-provoking and enjoyable story

[momgee_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cassandra Fallows has written two successful memoirs and is thinking of writing a book of fiction next. When she hears the name Calliope Jenkins on the news, she thinks it must be the same woman she knew as a girl. Memories start to wash over Cassandra. This is when she decides to do her next book on Callie, as she and three others in her group called Calliope. Calliope’s name was in the news because like a current case in New Orleans, she pled the Fifth more than twenty years ago, when she would not disclose the whereabouts of her son. Although, no body was ever found, nor would Callie say anything else, she spent seven years in jail. Cassandra wants to talk to Callie and get her story, along with the stories of the other three girls they both knew. Cassandra tries contacting the prosecuting attorney and the detective in the case. Unfortunately, this takes a lot of digging because no one will reveal where Callie is and no one seems to want to talk about the case or even their youth. When she does talk to the three other women she knew as a girl, it seems their memories don’t jive with what Cassandra wrote in her memoirs . She starts to question her own memories and the motives of the people involved. Through persistence Cassandra starts to put the pieces of the puzzle in order. Throughout the story there are some intriguing concurrent sub plots going on. Cassandra’s parents are divorced and he is remarried. Her father played a big part in Cassandra's memoirs but it turns out she based her memories on false information. Most of the main characters have their own life dramas going on which does make for interesting reading. I will say Lippman does a great job of fleshing out her characters, particularly the detective and the lawyer. Her location descriptions are also excellent. This is not your typical mystery. I felt like I was reading background material for a good part of the book when it dawned on me, this IS the book. It’s more of a character study than a traditional mystery. Maybe I was expecting something different than this format or something more from this author. Not sure. Even though I have never read Lippman’s work before, I have read gushing reviews about her mysteries. There is a real twist to the ending that I didn’t see coming. The last twenty pages tie it all up rather neatly and most of the misconceptions and unknowns are revealed. Overall, I did like the book even though I felt that I was waiting for something more to actually happen. 3.5***

[chrystal_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm surprised this is a mystery- there is an undercurrent of a mystery, what happened to the child of a schoolhood friend- but it is more a novel of social situation and relationships. Cassandra grew up in multicultural Baltimore and her 3 best friends in gradeschool were black. This story is about Cassandras life, her father and mother and how their divorce has shaped her life, and Cassandras search for her childhood friends and what has happened to them.

[novelbookworm_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Life Sentences by Laura Lippman is the story of a successful author, Cassandra Fallows. Cassandra’s first two books, memoirs of her own life, have had great success. But when she makes an attempt to write fiction, the book is greeted with a marked lack of enthusiasm. She returns to her hometown of Baltimore to write the story she thinks will be a huge hit and a return to nonfiction. A childhood acquaintance, Calliope Jenkins, was accused of killing her baby some years ago. The baby’s body was never found, and Calliope spent 7 years in jail on contempt charges because she refused to speak. Cassandra believes that this unsolved mystery will be her next big bestseller. During the course of investigating the story, Cassandra finds that her old childhood friends have much different memories that those she had outlined in her previous books, and many are not happy to see Cassandra back in town. Along the way, Cassandra finds out things about her youth, her friendships and her parents she never knew.Life Sentences wasn’t all that compelling for me. I found the characters mostly unlikable, Cassandra seemed to be clueless and pretty darn self absorbed most of the time. Her father seemed to be more than a little narcissistic and her old friends intolerant. I did like her mother, I think more than Cassandra does. (Possibly because I’ve been known to strip and refinish $25 yard sale finds myself and I’ve spent some time under sinks changing or fixing faucets as well!) I couldn’t figure out why this grown woman would spend so much time trying to gain her “jerk” father’s approval when she had a mother like she did. Cassandra is aware enough of her father’s attitudes, i.e. “My father believed in unconditional love, but only under certain conditions.” She just seems to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to make him approve of her. I liked the idea behind the plot; the old “whodunit” made a great starting point. I just felt like it sort of fizzled. In the end, it was all pretty mundane, I’d already figured out the “who” and “why”, and felt sort of let down that my ordinary ending was right. I much prefer to be wrong when I think I’ve figured it all out.

[dorisannn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For me, Laura Lippman never disappoints and I found LIFE SENTENCES absorbing especiallyconcerning the memories of our own lives to which we religiously cling even though theymay be completely wrong. Cassandra, after writing two best selling memoirs, has "failed" in writing fiction. Then she discovers that others who were "present" in her memoirs don't see the same incidents in the same way and also that the very "lynchpin" of her first book was completely wrong. This is a book with many layers and, for me, an outstanding example of this talented writer's work.

[prpl_reader_services · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A memoirist with writer's block decides to write a non-fiction

[jgoto_4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Laura Lippman’s Life Sentences is the story of a memoir writer, and her investigation into the circumstances of a childhood acquaintance’s accusation of murder many years before. It is full of one-sided characters, none of whom are particularly likeable, particularly the men who all engage in extra marital affairs without a second thought. The protagonist, writer Cassandra Fallows, is a fifty year old who made her jump to fame writing about her father’s infidelities and how they affected her. Despite this, during her investigation, she begins an affair with Reg, the husband of one of her former friends, with no thought about consequences. Lippman doesn’t bother to explain the appeal of the man, except for his middle-age good looks. There must be some, however, since it prevents Cassandra from reconnecting with her old friends (Reg’s wife and sister), and there is an ethical conflict of interest, since Reg was the lawyer of the woman Cassandra is investigating. Nevertheless, she jumps into bed with him after about thirty minutes’ contact and has to really work at not falling madly in love with him. Another character in the book is a former homicide detective who has quit the force and become an alcoholic because she could not solve the case. Even after twenty years, she is still obsessed with it. There is a mystery plot underneath all of the convoluted situations and shallow relationships, but it ends up being overshadowed by nonsense. All in all, this is a book I did not enjoy and would not recommend.