ali_runs_and_reads's review
3.0
📚 All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a murder mystery. Jane Larkin disappears in 1975. She never comes home. Everyone knows her husband killed her, including their children, but no one can ever prove it. This story is told from multiple perspectives: an author writing a book about Janes disappearance, a detective on the case, Jane herself, some of the children, and finally the husband. The story was good, but the writing was just terrible. Choppy dialogue that made me just want to skim the whole thing. By the end, I was skimming the chapters just to get to the point. It felt stilted and I just didn’t like the style. Overall, entertaining enough on my flight home from Colorado, but not one I can really recommend.
bakerml1919's review
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
An interesting study of family interactions when the mother goes missing and is presumed dead. A bit of the narration is confusing to read. But in general a "good read" and the ending was very satisying.
kdtoverbooked's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A family saga told through 4 different perspectives. Definitely a bit of mystery involved with these people. Not a ton of extremely lovable characters but my heart went out to Miranda. It’s got to be hard being the only girl dealing with all that conflict between 3 men. I thought the ending of the book was quite amazing and was really glad to see it end with a bit retribution.
lcg527's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
brandeereads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sammaree's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cath518's review
slow-paced
3.0
Alex, Jeff and Miranda are siblings. Jeff’s best childhood friend is Phil; however, as adults, they drifted apart. In 1975, Miranda arrives home from school and immediately senses something different in the house. It’s too quiet. Her mom, Jane, is nowhere to be found and never returns.
This is told from the four separate points of view labeled Books 1 through 4. Each of these is about a quarter of the book.
Book 1 – recounts Phil’s version of how his book came to be. He was having writer’s block when he encountered his old childhood friend, Jeff. Jeff suggests that Phil write a book about Jane’s disappearance, which remains unsolved. The detective that worked the case believed that Jane’s husband, Dan, (Jeff’s dad) killed her but there is no body.
Book 2 is Jane’s version of events…or is it Jane?
Book 3 is Jeff’s point of view. He, Miranda and their Aunt Kate file a civil suit against Dan.
Book 4 is Dan’s point of view. He is now suffering from dementia but is willing to speak with Phil now about Jane’s disappearance. Phil is hoping to get a confession from Dan, even though Dan has maintained his innocence since Jane disappeared.
This was a slow-burn for me and actually sat unread in my Kindle for a long time before I picked it back up. I also was not a fan of the author not using quotation marks when characters were having conversations, it was strange.
This is told from the four separate points of view labeled Books 1 through 4. Each of these is about a quarter of the book.
Book 1 – recounts Phil’s version of how his book came to be. He was having writer’s block when he encountered his old childhood friend, Jeff. Jeff suggests that Phil write a book about Jane’s disappearance, which remains unsolved. The detective that worked the case believed that Jane’s husband, Dan, (Jeff’s dad) killed her but there is no body.
Book 2 is Jane’s version of events…or is it Jane?
Book 3 is Jeff’s point of view. He, Miranda and their Aunt Kate file a civil suit against Dan.
Book 4 is Dan’s point of view. He is now suffering from dementia but is willing to speak with Phil now about Jane’s disappearance. Phil is hoping to get a confession from Dan, even though Dan has maintained his innocence since Jane disappeared.
This was a slow-burn for me and actually sat unread in my Kindle for a long time before I picked it back up. I also was not a fan of the author not using quotation marks when characters were having conversations, it was strange.