I have been anxious to read another book by this author and this one did not disappoint. It tells the story of a long ago mystery of a missing mom and the struggle to find answers. I liked how the author began this story, sharing his struggles with writers block and how he came upon writing this story after years of thinking about it. This is a slow burning mystery with strong characters and great writing. I enjoyed it.

I know I should give a more in-depth review of this one. Honestly though- I really love going into books not knowing much about the story- but knowing people loved it. I LOVED this one! This author is genius at making you change your opinion of someone 12 times. The whole time I wondered, did he? Could he really have? No way. Wait, did he? Ahhhh, my favorite type of thriller - make me doubt my initial reactions over and over again. This book was all that I hoped after loving Defending Jacob. It reminded me of the Netflix series and documentary The Staircase. If you watched either and enjoyed - you will devour this one.

Any doubt about whether I recommend? Without hesitation I recommend you pick this one up immediately. I am super picky about giving 5 stars to Thrillers but this one earned every half star! Thank you NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the arc to read and review.

Jane Larkin disappeared one day, never to return. But no one knows if she is dead or just missing. Her husband is the biggest suspect, but is never indicted. Then years later, her body is found, and her husband is still not indicted. The family is torn apart and no one ever knows what really happened to Jane. Told from multiple viewpoints, this book is clever and engrossing. You will think you have it all figured out, and then you don't. Dan Larkin is a character you love to hate, but then he grows old and has dementia and you begin to sympathize with him, but keep your guard up with this book! Kudos William Lindlay!

This book is written by the same author who wrote "Defending Jacob," so I knew I would enjoy it. It starts with young Miranda Larkin coming home from school to an empty house. Her mom Jane has disappeared. There are no clues to her disappearance, no evidence, and no witnesses, although police and detectives suspect Dan, Jane's husband. Years go by with no leads. The family is torn apart, not knowing what to believe. Decades go by and Jane's remains are discovered, which only bring up more questions. How the three adult children deal with speculation around their dad, as well as the loss of their mom at a young age, poses emotional issues for two of them. I really enjoyed this book and loved that it takes place in my home state of Massachusetts. Thank you to Random House for the opportunity to read this in advance.

4.5 stars

This was an excellent read! I really enjoyed it! It's a slow burn kind of story, but it didn't take long at all to grab my attention and keep me turning pages until the end.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay is a family drama with some elements of mystery. It's about a woman that goes missing in 1975 and how that affects her family...from the husband who is suspected of killing her to her children who grow up without a mother and always suspicious of their father. It is a thoughtful and interesting story, but it's not a thriller as there is not really any action or suspense.

My favorite thing about this book is the way it is structured. The book is split into four separate books each with a different narrator. I really loved the way each narrator came in and added a new layer to the story. The way that the four parts fit together was just brilliant and expertly written!

I also liked the ending. I can see how not every reader will love it, but I thought it was a great way to end the story. I can't go into any more details without giving things away, so you will just have to read it for yourself.

Highly recommend this one!! It feels like a story that is going to stick with me for a very long time, and that's always a sign of a great book!!

What happened to Jane Larkin? People don’t just vanish into thin air. Did her criminal defense attorney husband have a hand in it? A stranger? Did Jane have secrets? Her three children are left with memories while being raised by their father, who is under a cloud of superstition.
20 years later, her remains are found. The investigation heats up, and Janes now grown children are old enough to choose sides.
Wonderfully written!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excided to read another book by this author as I loved Defending Jacob!

This story revolves around Jane Larkin's disappearance, and the story of what happened to her. All signs point to her husband, Dan; however, being a criminal defense attorney, and no sign of her body, they have no evidence to convict him.

Fast forward 20 years, and her remains are found. Their father pleads with the 3 children, as he still claims he is innocent.

The story is written in many voices, and has a couple of twists.

If you enjoy a good suspenseful book, then this one is for you!

When Jane Larkin disappeared 20 years ago, many people expected her husband killed her. No evidence linking him to the crime was ever found and he was never charged. Jane's three children have very mixed feelings. Alex, thinks their father is innocent. Jeff and Miranda go back and forth about what they believe. When her remains are found years later they continue trying to find the truth.

My thoughts:
I never connected with any of these characters. I didn't like or dislike Miranda or Jeff. I just didn't really care about them one way or another. I did like the different viewpoints, especially the section that was told from Jane's point of view. The ending was fantastic! I felt like the plot was drawn out more than necessary. I also felt like there were a couple of characters that didn't really serve a real purpose, such as the brother, Alex. His part in the story didn't really add anything. I felt like the detective, Tom, didn't really get any closure. However, the ending made me glad I kept reading even thought at times it was a struggle for me to push through.

3.5 stars, rounded up

“I think all married men are a little unhappy, secretly, at least the ones who marry young.”

William Landay’s All That is Mine I Carry With Me begins with author Phil Solomon stymied when it comes to the subject of his next book until childhood friend, Jeff contacts him and suggests a topic: in 1975, Jeff’s mother, Jane Larkin vanished without a trace. Her husband Dan, a prominent attorney, was the prime suspect, but he was never charged with the crime. Phil decides to write the book and interviews many of those involved in the case including: Jane’s three children, Alex, Miranda and Jeff, the lead detective on the case, Glover, who is convinced that Dan is guilty, and Jane’s sister, Kate.

The novel is divided into 4 sections “books,” and the story unfolds over decades through various points of view. The main gist of the book is the permanent impact the crime/disappearance left on the children who are raised by the man who may or may not be their mother’s killer. The Larkins seemed like a storybook family, but under the shiny, wholesome surface, there are hints of trouble.

The story is somewhat uneven. The section concerning Miranda, Jane’s daughter, the youngest child, the first one home from school to find her mother absent, is particularly strong and moving. This is a little girl who grows up without her mother and in a sense without her father too–since she suspects he is responsible for her mother’s disappearance. Her life is tainted not just by the absence and disappearance of her mother, plus the question whether or not her mum is even alive, but also her life is also stained by the fact that her father is a suspect. Miranda, Glover, Jeff and Kate may live their lives but they will always partly be “stuck in time, looking for [Jane] while the rest of the world moved on.” Dan certainly moves forward with his life in spite of the BIG QUESTION about his missing wife hanging over his head. He isn’t a nice man. At all. Here he is on the subject of marriage:

“I’m just being honest here. The men I know–Okay, think of it like this: a young man is like a rising stock, like IBM or Coke. And the stock gets sold too soon, while it’s still going up. So what happens? The guy looks around, eight, ten, fifteen years later, and what does he say? He says, ‘I sold too low. I should have held out. I’m worth more than I got’ ”

Kate: “the woman, in your little metaphor, she’s a sinking stock. She’s worth less, eight or ten years in.”

“No, well–what she’s worth–well, yes. But look, this isn’t just me talking, this is society, this is what we’re taught. And let’s be honest, if we’re looking at men and women as a marketplace, as assets, in pure economic terms, then yes, our society assigns a higher value to a young sexy woman than to a middle-aged woman. […] A woman is sold closer to her peak value than a man. Before she begins to depreciate.“

For this reader, the characters are the book’s strongest point. Jane, Kate, Dan, Miranda, Glover were well developed, incredibly believable characters–so much so that this reads like a true-crime book. The weakness for me is in the novel’s structure. The beginning half of the book was very strong, and I couldn’t stop reading. But then the plot lost momentum. I notice other reviewers feel the opposite–many preferred the second half of the book. In spite of my quibble regarding the book’s structure, I am still thinking about it. …

I just finished watching the TV series Defending Jacob based on the book by this author, and I have a feeling that we will see this book on the screen too.

Review copy

Where is Jane Larkin?

Just trust me... The first book is slow but once you get to number two you are in for a roller coaster! The book is broken down into 4 books, each focusing on a character and it is full of suspense. Many times I had to read a sentence or paragraph again to make sure I understood. So good!!

I would have loved to seen more well balanced characters. They were developed enough for the story but had more emotional details been offered I may have connected with the characters more. Author William Landay's writing style is beautiful and so memorable.

Thank you to Random House Publishing, William Landay and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

A solid mystery by a writer that I have enjoyed in the past. When their mother disappears Miranda, Jeff and Alex’s lives are affected. Her body is not found. It is difficult to say whether she left her family purposefully, committed suicide or was killed. Suspicion falls on the husband but nothing is ever proved. How would you deal with the fact that people think that your father killed your mom? Thanks go to Bantam Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC. The review is my own honest opinion.

All That is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A big thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. This one came out this week!

Told from multiple POVs, this one blends family drama and mystery. Missing person turned renewed crime investigation and all the feelings in between.

Most of the focus was spent on the children of the missing mother. The daughter’s characterization was especially poignant. It wasn’t until the mother’s body was found that the mystery part of the book picked up. The ending felt a bit rushed to me, but it was a fitting ending. Not going to say too much as to not ruin anything.

Check this one out if you want a different take on a typical missing person/crime story.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me, by William Landay, is a compelling thriller that focuses the reader on whether the truth will ever be known, not the truth itself. It raises complex questions about justice and loyalty, particularly between parents and children. The author does employ one literary device that I did not appreciate, but the novel is otherwise well-written with characters that are very real. The legal aspects are thoughtfully explained and help propel the story without dominating it. Nonetheless, I was disappointed as the author’s previous work, Defending Jacob, remains one of the best books I’ve read, and one which I often think about. However, it is unfair to expect any author to consistently create work that will occupy permanent residence in their readers’ brains. This is a strong book that I recommend.

Gorgeously written and superbly crafted, All That Is Mine tells the story of a family coming apart at the seams. Years after their mother goes missing, the Larkin siblings are forced to come to terms with their mother's death. A powerful storyteller, this is Landay at his finest.

It was in November 1975 when Miranda Larkin, age 10, came home from school and found that her mother, Jane Larkin, 39, wasn’t there. Her purse was there so she figured that she just stepped to a neighbor’s house for awhile. But, her mother never returned. Detective Tom Glover was assigned to the case and the media hyped on the story. The years passed with no word or sighting leaving Miranda and her brothers Jeff and Alex without a mother. Their father, Dan, is a criminal defense attorney and while he had been a suspect, nothing have been found to prove him guilty of Jane's disappearance. Not long after Jane disappeared, Dan brought a woman to the house to live with them. This upset Miranda and Jeff and today they still hate him.

This story expresses the devastation of the loss of their mother and how it affected each of the children’s lives. Miranda is emotionally troubled all her life. Jeff can’t seem to find himself. Alex is the mirror image of his father, Dan, with his fancy clothes, cars and arrogant ways.

Part of the story is told from Jane’s point of view as she’s dead. She sees her sad children and hurts for them. The bottom line here is whether the family members can prove Dan killed her and it doesn’t look like they will be successful at that.

A depressing story and rather repetitious at times peppered with way too much dialogue. It is certainly a different kind of book than I have ever read before. I’m not sure I’m ready to read another like this for awhile, but the author did a very good job.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I LOVED Defending Jacob, so I was SO excited for this one. Although not as amazing as Defending Jacob, this book was still incredibly well done. A very slow start, but stick with it because the second half is amazing. I seriously could not put it down. The characters were realistic, scary, heartbreaking but also amazing. The descriptions in the book make you feel as if you are a part of the story. Just really well done.

In 1975, 10 year old Miranda came home to find her mother missing. Her father, a criminal defense attorney, is suspected but there was never evidence (or a body) found. Yet, 20 years later when her remains are found, Miranda and her two brothers are forced to choose sides - is their father guilty or innocent?

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

3.5 stars

Whenever I hear a news story about a man who's suspected or convicted of killing his wife, I wonder about the couple's children. What do they think about their father? How do they interact with their dad going forward? Landay tackles that situation in this novel.

In 1975, 39-year-old Jane Larkin vanishes from her home in Newton, Massachusetts, leaving her children, Miranda (almost 11), Jeff (13), and Alex (a high school senior) bewildered and bereft. Jane's husband Dan - a cocky criminal defense attorney - puts on a good show of being baffled and worried, but his reaction seems phony from the get-go.

When Jane doesn't return in short order, the lead police detective Tom Glover must entertain two possibilities: Either Jane ran away or her absence is due to foul play. Jane's sister Kate insists Jane would NEVER leave her children, and since Kate always thought something was 'off' about Dan, she's sure he murdered Jane.

This feeling is intensified when Dan's extramarital girlfriend, a lithe beautiful blonde named Sarah, shows up unexpectedly. Dan appears unembarrassed by the revelation of his infidelity, and rather offhand about how it might affect his children.

The authorities agree with Kate that Dan killed his wife, but they can't put together enough evidence to charge him. However, the suspicion seeps out to residents of Newton, who make it clear they dislike and fear Dan.

As things play out, the Larkins' oldest son Alex is the least affected by his mother's disappearance. Alex is a popular high school athlete who's soon off to college, and he's willing to move forward and give his father the benefit of the doubt. On the other hand, Miranda and Jeff are irreparably damaged. Both kids think their father is responsible for their mother vanishing, but they still have to live with him, and to hear him reviled by relatives and neighbors.

As the siblings get older, Miranda falls into depression and Jeff loses all ambition and drinks too much. Both children have little or nothing to do with their father, who seems to happily go on with his life.

After almost twenty years, new evidence seems to point more firmly to Dan's guilt, but the district attorney is still reluctant to charge Dan, feeling the case can't be won.

There are measures the relatives can take, but they might break the family apart. Aunt Kate is pushing to go forward, Miranda and Jeff are torn about what to do, and Alex wants to let things lie.

We eventually learn what happened to Jane, but (for me) the story's resolution isn't wholly satisfying. Still, the book is more about the family than the mystery, and I was drawn into the novel and enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley, William Landay, and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of the manuscript.

Sooo good!

It begins with an author who needs an idea for a story. I was confused thinking it was the real author's (Landay) intro, but it's a character in the novel, Phil. I like this book already!

This was such a strange execution for a mystery but also clever. Phil is our first narrator providing the story of the disappearance of Jane Larkin from the family home in Newton, MA in November 1975. The second narrator is Jane herself, and the third is her husband Dan, a criminal defense lawyer. A thirty-year-old detective Glover is assigned to the missing person case but after a year of no evidence or lead, the investigation went cold.

I enjoyed this story which has a bit of everything. A missing mother, family drama, police detective, and courtroom scene. The writing is good, especially the dialog flows very well. My favorite is the banter between two siblings Jeff and Miranda. I have to say I was confused often about who is telling the story.

Dividing the book into three parts is a big change for a reader like me who likes short chapters. BUT to the author's credit, I didn't notice it until 40% when I thought to myself, why am I still on chapter 2? I did, however, completely forgot about Phil, the writer until the end when he shows up again. That was strange.

This is my first novel by William Landay and I can't wait to read his other novels.

I have been waiting for another William Landay book for YEARS. Defending Jacob remains a story that I think about on a weekly basis, so when I saw he had a new one out - I was thrilled. All That is Mine I Carry With Me is another moral thriller. A mom of three goes missing in 1975, and the father is suspected to have been involved, but never charged. Did he do it? Is he innocent like he’s always claimed? This novel was fast paced, and propulsive, but doesn’t quite pack the moral punch of Defending Jacob.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this early. This was such a good book, everyone just needs to read it! I was hooked until the very end.