What the Dead Know
Free Book Review

Free Book Review: What the Dead Know Book Summary

On March 29, 1975 Sunny and Heather Bethany go to the mall to see a movie. They vanish without a trace and are never seen or heard from again.

That is until thirty years later when a woman surfaces after a hit-and-run car accident claiming to be the younger sister, Heather, of the long-lost Bethany girls.

From the moment "Heather" begins recounting the horrid tale of the past thirty years, everyone associated with the case - new and old - is thrown into a state of disbelief and slight panic. Chet, the now old but original officer investigating the disappearance, feels guilty for having overlooked a potential lead. Infante, the new officer investigating, just doesn't believe it's possible this woman all of the sudden reappeared as an adult after thirty years of never having contacted her family. Miriam, the mother who has run away from her past and tried to start fresh in a new town, can't decide if she will know if it's actually her child. And Heather, both the victim and culprit, seems to jump from one reality to the next, getting some facts spot on and others way too far from the truth to make her authentic.

A cold case reopened turned into a wild goose chase for a possible killer ends with a twist that you just didn't see coming!

Free Book Review: What the Dead Know Opinion

My mom was a teenager around the time the Lyon sisters disappeared from Wheaton Plaza in 1975 so she knew right away that this book was based on that story. While a little on the morbid side, I find it fascinating that Lippman was able to imagine an entire scenario following the disappearance of two sisters that is actually plausible and makes you wonder if perhaps one of the Lyon girls is still out there somewhere.

Lippman is a fantastic suspense novelist, keeping you guessing at every turn. Just when I thought I had figured out a small piece of the puzzle she added in a new twist that took the situation to a whole new level. Additionally, the characters are "real" which makes the book not only a fast-paced, thrilling read, but also a heart-wrenching tearjerker at the same time.

The most interesting part of the story (aside from the surprise ending) was the complete opposite manner in which the parents, Miriam and Dave, chose to handle the disappearance. Dave could never let go, was afraid that if he did nobody would ever remember his girls while Miriam wanted to be given a definitive answer as to what happened to her daughters and if she couldn't get it, she'd decide for herself because she wanted to figure out how to move on with life. As a parent myself, I'm not sure which path I would take. I think it's impossible to even fathom this situation happening to you so there is really no way to say how you would behave if in their shoes.

Free Book Review: What the Dead Know Discussion Questions

1. How often do you think children "vanish without a trace" these days with the CSI style capabilities of the investigators?
2. Is it believable that an abducted child would not return to her family once an adult?
3. Would you find the strength to go on with your life after a tragedy like this?

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