Rated of 5
by Joanne V. (Towanda, PA) Interesting characters, but.....
I have never read Laura Lippman's books before this one and I must admit that I wasn't all that impressed. The characters were interesting, the plot could have been interesting, but somehow I just didn't care much about the characters or what the "mystery" was. It was a fast read, but just didn't hold my interest. The ending didn't work for me, either---too contrived. Maybe a good editing would help, but in the end, not a very satisfying read. I don't think I would recommend this to my book group.
Rated of 5
by Cheryl S. (brockport, new york) the most dangerous thing
After having many friends suggest this author, I was pleased to be chosen to review her new book. I very much enjoyed her writing. The characters reminded me somewhat of my own teenage years, the things we did, the secrets that we kept. I feel that it would make great book club conversation, with the ending that was a complete surprise.
Rated of 5
by Mary Ellen L. (Canfield, OH) A most interesting read
This was an intriguing book, starting which the quote from my favorite Whittier poem. I anticipated a plot following the poem's story line, which I did not find. What developed was a skillfully written and absorbing story with its mystery aspect subordinated to the development of the characters and the effects of their childhood relationships upon their lives. Perhaps the author intended to leave her readers to ponder "what might have been."
Rated of 5
by Froma F. (Boulder, CO) Good character driven book
With a character driven plot, this engaging book alternates between the perspective of a group of five children, their parents, and those same children as adults. Everyone has a secret relating to an incident that took place in the children’s lives but a child’s perspective is very different than an adult’s, and that something is a secret does not make it true. If you like unraveling a mystery and enjoy character study, I recommend The Most Dangerous Thing.
Rated of 5
by Jane H. (Owensboro, KY) The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman
I expected this to be more like her other books so was a little disappointed through the first part of the book that there wasn't more suspense and action. After getting used to the fact this was going to depart from her usual action/mystery format, I settled into reading an enjoyable book. The premise of this book reminds me of another book (or maybe movie) but I can't quite put my finger on it. I thought inserting the Tess character from her other series for a brief moment at the end of this book was a good touch..... sort of like Alfred Hitchcock appearing in a cameo role! I could put this book down and pick up the next day without feeling like I was "driven" to read, which is usually not a sign of a book I'm crazy about, but I actually found the character development to be interesting, the story plot a little plodding but had lots of possibilities. It wasn't a surprising book but I did enjoy it, so thus gave it a good rating. I'm not sure where she could edit it before publishing that would give it that "wow" factor -- maybe it just doesn't need it and is a satisfying although predictable read on its own.
Rated of 5
by Jeanne W. (Columbia, MD) Another Great Stand-Alone
Having been a fan of Laura Lippman for several years I was excited to get a jump on her newest book. She's one of the few writers whose writing gets better and better and yet this one wasn't quite up to par. An omniscient narrator had me confused and waiting for the "surprise" presence of a sixth main character. I found myself surprised not by "who dun it" but how and why.
Including the parents' viewpoints made for an interesting counterpoint and I can see some interesting child-rearing discussions between "the old days" and now and how much freedom is too much.
A bold, mesmerizing novel about the woman known as "Typhoid Mary," the first known healthy carrier of typhoid fever in the burgeoning metropolis of early twentieth century New York.
Z, the novel about the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is at points charming and; like another reviewer, I kept thinking of the movie, "Midnight...
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Although heavy on the scientific details, which slowed down the story for me (OK, I admit, I was one of those liberal arts majors who skipped out on...
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Loved this book. Magical, quirky, enchanting I could go on. All books do not have to be literary fiction, sometimes it is just so comforting to read...
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British Parliament asks Amazon to clarify why it pays $9 million in income tax on $23 billion of UK sales.(May 20 2013) Amazon will be called back to give further evidence to members of the British Parliament "to clarify how its activities in the U.K. justify its low corporate...
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of 5
by Joanne V. (Towanda, PA) 
of 5
by Cheryl S. (brockport, new york) 
