"Omnia mea mecum porto" (All That is Mine I Carry With Me) is a quote from Cicero that one of the lead characters, Miranda, has tattooed on her arm. It is a fitting allegory for this complex tale of a family who experienced a tragic event in Miranda's youth that shapes all of the family members - and others - in countless ways throughout their lives.

One afternoon in 1975, Miranda comes home from school to find the house empty,, her mother gone. There are no signs that anything is amiss,, and her purse is still there. Although no conclusive evidence is ever found, a detective working on the case and at least some of the family members are convinced that the father, Dan, has murdered his wife. Dan, an experienced trial lawyer, vehemently denies this.

The story is told in four sections (labeled "books"), each told from a different character's point of view:. First Phillip Solomon, the author who wants to write a book about the story, then Jane, the missing wife (a masterful touch), then Miranda's older son Jeff, and finally Dan, who tells his part of the story from the cage of Alzheimer's he contracts in his later life (not a spoiler, it is revealed in the first pages of the book). As in any good suspense novel or crime story, each character is able to shed more light on the situation. However, none of the revelations provide conclusive proof of Dan's guilt or innocence. Instead, we see the family living with the tragedy over the years; some of them convinced of Dan's guilt and wanting revenge, some ambivalent, some wanting to put the event behind them and move on.

It's impossible, however, to move on when a family member goes missing and is never found. It's carried by family members as they grow up, try to get jobs, fall in love (or not), cope with new family members, and most importantly, try to relate to each other. This is where Landay's masterful storytelling shines. The complex interactions, the love-hate relationships, the resentments, and yes, the love, all interweave and evolve throughout the book.

This is a superbly told crime story, and a masterfully written family saga. It's going to stick with me for a long time. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Jane Larkin disappears without a trace and her husband Dan is the person of interest, but there is not enough evidence to indict. He lives for decades under the shadow of suspicion, and the devastation for his children, where loyalties are divided, is an appealing premise.

The story is told in very long sections, with one section narrated by the dead woman. I am not a fan of this literary device so this section felt very long.

Also, why did the author make the choice to ditch quotation marks midway though the story?

I also didn’t buy the dad’s narration at the end. He has Alzheimer’s but he is very self-aware and cognizant of what is happening. Plus, his POV didn’t give us readers any worthwhile information.

Dan's choice near the end of his life doesn’t happen at his stage of dementia.

I felt suspense was lacking. There’s no insight or depth into the character’s lives as they deal with their mother’s death and the repercussions of the suspicion on their father. So much unrealized potential.

No book is for everyone. I loved the author's book, Defending Jacob, so will definitely be in line for the author's next book.

All That is Mine I Carry with Me by William Landay

Published: March 7, 2023
Bantam
Genre: Psychological Fiction
Pages: 319
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

William Landay is the author of three previous novels: Defending Jacob, which won the Strand Critics Award for best novel; The Strangler, listed as a best crime novel of the year by the Los Angeles Times, The Daily Telegraph, and others; and Mission Flats, winner of the Dagger award for best first crime novel. A former assistant district attorney, he lives in Boston.

“You see, suspicion does not need proof; it feeds just as well on the absence of it.”

Phil gets a reminder of his childhood when an old friend reaches out. Jeff, Miranda, and Alex have never forgotten their mother. They may disagree about what happened to her, but they remember her.

This was an off story, but I enjoyed it. The way it was told was clever, and I liked how it was broken into parts with various narrators.

I liked Phil; he was an excellent side character with a prominent role. I liked Miranda as well; she was stronger than she realized but also more damaged too. Jeff was a classic middle child, even into adulthood. Alex was the golden child and his father's star supporter.

The way this story is told, I was almost convinced that Daniel was innocent. But in the end, that subtle moment left me stunned.

This was a weirdly emotional but also very even-keeled novel. The idea of a wife and mother disappearing is heartbreaking, and we got to see all sides of that event.

The writing was engaging and well done. The story pulls you in and keeps you hooked. The ending of this book will slap you in the face and leave you speechless.

This novel was uniquely divided into 4 sections or books with different points of view. It was a very interesting stylistic choice that I enjoyed in the beginning, but I felt like the middle dragged for my ADHD brain.

Because of the way the story unraveled, I kept waiting for more twists & turns, but unfortunately that didn’t really happen. I was also not a fan of the repeated emphasis on the detective’s port wine stain. It seemed completely unnecessary.

I think the author is skilled at writing & the concept of this was super intriguing to me. I just don’t think this is a type of mystery j enjoy personally. However, there are many high praising reviews, so if this sounds like a mystery for you, check it out!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the free arc, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

Trigger warnings; Thid book mentions &/or contains murder, rape, violence, animal injury, animal killed in mercy & dementia & Alzheimer’s.

The Larkin family faced a terrible loss when their mother went missing. Even worse, their father was accused of her disappearance. Possibly even murder though no body has been recovered. The children Alex, Jeff, and Miranda now have to decide where they fall on the matter. Is their father guilty or innocent? Alex, the oldest, stands firmly by his fathers side. Jeff and Miranda have a tough go of it. They miss their mother terribly and they know that their father is more than capable of pulling off a crime especially since he is well renowned defense attorney.

The detective on the case has never been able to get the evidence needed to arrest Dan Larkin much less convict him.

This troubled family fractures until years later when a body is discovered buried in the woods in nearby Vermont. It's the remains of Jane Larkin. Has the family, as well as the detective on the case, finally got the evidence they need to convince a jury that Dan Larkin has, in fact, murdered his wife? You'll have to read this to find out!

What a riveting page-turner this was! Wowza! From the very first page I just knew that I was going to love this and I was right. No going off the rails here! No fluff, no filler, not one word wasted. One needs to be prepared that this is NOT a thriller. It's a family drama / mystery that was done expertly. I was desperate for answers to what happened. My heart ached for Jeff and Miranda. Both characters were so well drawn and convincing. The ending? Perfection!

This was my fist Landay novel but I assure you it won't be the last. I've heard a lot of praise for his book Defending Jacob and if this book is anything to go by then I'm in for a real treat. 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my complimentary copy.

I will think about All That Is Mine I Carry With Me for a long time. It's a masterful exploration of families, siblings, and how the passage of time can fix some things but not others. I was thrilled to read an advance copy and I read it over the course of a single day.

William Landay has found an untapped sweet spot with this book that reads like a behind the scenes of a true crime documentary. The book is told through multiple points of view with the hopes of finally solving a decades long cold case of a missing Mother, Jane. Obviously the book is a mystery novel but its also part police procedural and part family saga. As the reader you are not only invited to solve a case step by step, you are also invited on a ride to see how crime actually affects a family unit. A group of people that are supposed to be loyal and loving but become destroyed and crumble to dust under intense pressure and heartache.
The book is divided into 3 points of view, the main narrator Phil is an author, and family friend, of one of the missing woman's son, Jeff. Phil begins to write his newest book on Jeff's family and he starts with writing as Jeff's younger sister Miranda and what she must have felt and experienced as the one who initially noticed her mother was missing. Miranda's story covers the early days of her mothers disappearance and the hunt for answers. The next point of view is Jeff, and all that happens after their mother's body is found. This is where the book takes on a heavy Law and Order, prime time TV drama feel. With only circumstantial evidence to work with, Jeff attempts a lawsuit in civil court hoping to provide some sort of justice for his mother. The last point of view is the one that gives this book closure (so ill leave a little mystery). The book is thoughtfully put together and easy to read. You get sucked into the family drama aspect of it all really fast. Like I said before this book plays out like a TV drama or an episode of 20/20 so its a comfort to read, despite the darker subject matter.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me is the long-awaited new novel by William Landay. In 1975, Miranda comes home from school and notices her mom isn't home like she usually is. As the night comes she realizes that something is not quite right. Decades later a discovery is made that has Miranda and her siblings questioning what they thought they knew about their mom's disappearance and their father's possible role in it. I was glad to have a little courtroom drama written into the plot. Read and enjoy!

William Landay, author of Defending Jacob, has written a spellbindingly, intoxicating, can’t put down novel about a woman’s disappearance and how it affects her family, which both her sister and one of her three children believe her husband was somehow behind the vanishing.

Jane Larkin became famous for disappearing. One day, in 1975 her very young daughter, Miranda came home from school to find her mother not home. Everything was where it should be, including her mother’s purse. So, Miranda sat down on the couch and waited. Everyone else, her two brothers, and her father came home, but not her mom. Thus began a two-decade mystery, with finger pointing and the unsolved mystery of where Jane Larkin had gone, and why.

The police are called and immediately Detective Tom Glover begins the investigation which his gut tells him has something to do with Jane’s husband, Dan, a lawyer whose cases sometimes include shady characters. But they were never able to find any actual proof that he had been involved. Jane’s sister, Aunt Katie too believes adamantly that Dan is the one and only suspect.

As for the three children, Melinda, Alex and Jeff, through the years, each sees the disappearance of their mom very differently. But one thing is for certain. Her vanishing not only haunts them but changes their lives forever as they are unable to not only process what could have happened, but also the feeling that the person who could possibly have done this still lives in the same house as them.

They each grow up with their own demons and when a friend from their childhood, who is now a writer decides he wants to write a book about the infamous missing person’s case, he begins to sift through what is known and unknown and interviews those involved, including Tom Glover who even after all these years still searches for evidence to prove his theory.

Suddenly, there is a break in the case when bones are found in the state of Vermont very near a vacation spot the family went to during the summer. Finally, Jane Larkin’s puzzle has one more piece. Pressure from the family to charge Dan with the murder finally comes to fruition. But there still is no physical evidence to tie him to what now is really known to be a murder. This tears the children further apart, with the family and Aunt Katie taking sides.

Could Dan have really done this they all ponder? Is so, how could he have lived with himself all these years. But they decide to try through the trial to put the questions to rest. Will justice finally be served? Will this family who has gone through so much ever be able to know for sure what happened to their mom, wife, sister, Jane Larkin.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me is a heartbreaking story about loss, grief, and the secrets we all carry, some of us even to our graves and beyond. The story, riveting and original will haunt you well after you’ve finished reading.

Thank you #NetGalley #Bantam/RandomHouse #WilliamLanday #AllThatisMineICarryWithMe for the advanced copy.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay is a beautifully written novel that looks at family, relationships and motivations in an absolutely compelling narrative.
Told from multiple POV and in two timelines that span 40 years, it is the story of Jane Larkin’s disappearance in 1975 and the long-lasting effects it has on her family. Her attorney husband Dan is the prime suspect, and their three children must live under that shadow as well as the crushing loss of their mother.
Eighteen years later, Jane’s skull is found near a vacation rental at Trout Lake and the adult children must decide what to do—pursue a culprit or leave the case unsolved. It rips the band-aid off the siblings’ feelings for their parents, and their persistent questions and grief about what happened to their mother. The story then carries the reader through the angst of their decisions, relationships, and finally, the stunning conclusion more than 40 years after Jane’s death.
The story is brilliantly set up in 4 books, each narrated by a different main character, and their voices are distinctive and compelling. This device definitely adds to the dramatic tension as the reader learns bits about each character from different angles and observers. It really enhances the richness and depth of the character’s emotions and personalities. While the central theme is the mystery of Jane’s death, this story is wonderfully character-driven, and I am in awe of the author’s ability to nail the emotion and vulnerability of the human condition in just the right few words! Landay is especially adept at writing realistic repartee between and among the character, and as a reader I often felt like I was watching a live drama on stage.
I highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoyed his previous book, Defending Jacob, as well as readers who appreciate expert storytelling, intelligent and realistic depictions of characters, and nuanced insight into family relationships.

Thank you to Bantam/Random House and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

A good book that held my attention. I will be giving it a strong recommendation because I believe it will appeal to many readers.

As a reader I was compelled by Jeff and Miranda as the lost and broken children dealing with he disappearance of their mother. Did she leave them? Did their father have something to do with her disappearance? This novel follows them as they navigate life and make choices to survive the loss in their life.

The ending was surprising and worth the build up. Did I stay up late in the night to read to find out how it would be wrapped up? Yes I did!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Amazing! Absolutely amazing read! So, too, was Defending Jacob, which I read ten years ago. Long wait between books I’ll admit, but with the same tightly written and mind twisting plot. Thank you #NetGalley and #RandomHouse for a day of reading and the dent in my sofa.

I can’t say I’ve ever met anyone who simply vanished with no trace or clue as to where or why. I can certainly understand how the suspicion would fall on family, most pointedly the husband. There’s always more going inside relationships than what meets the eye. Clearly the case here!

This book was a bullet train barreling down the track. It clipped along at a rapid pace. Each of the character’s stories was the fuel propelling the pace of the story. It slowed a bit near the end, but that was perfectly appropriate as this was the story being told in the later years of Dan’s life.

Overall, this was a compelling read with an ending that may leave you guessing, but so skillfully written. You wont want to miss this.

Thank you to Ballatine Publishers and Netgalley for giving me an arc of All that is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay. I am a big fan of this author always recommending Defending Jacob.
This book was hard for me to follow I think maybe because the chapters were so big. If the chapters were alot smaller it would have been easier to read.
A mom goes missing the children are 10, 13, and 17. The father was the prime suspecr but, he was never officially charged. 40 years later a writer is contacted by the middle son to see if he can discover what happened 40 years earlier.
I dont want to spoil the ending however, I honestly cannot recommend this book.

One day in 1975, Jane Larkin goes out to run some errands and never comes home, leaving her husband and three young children in an constant state of wondering what happened to her. As the children grow up, the younger two (and investigators) begin to believe their father is responsible, and that their mother is likely dead. Since there’s no proof and no body to be found, Jane’s husband is never charged with a crime…and even after her remains are found some 20-yrs later, there still aren’t any suspects. This is the same author who wrote Defending Jacob, and just like with that book, I found myself completely immersed in the story. The characters are so real, the descriptions so good, that I could practically see this all play out in my head like my own little movie. Highly recommend!

5 Stars

Note: Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

WHERE IS MOM?!? On November 12, 1975, Jane Larkin seems to have just disappeared. When little Miranda Larkin returns home from school, mom isn't there as usual to welcome her. After her two older brothers and father come home, they are flummoxed too and report Jane as missing. Detective Tom Glover who is investigating the case soon becomes convinced it's a case of murder--he just needs to find the proof. His chief suspect is Jane's husband Dan Larkin, a successful lawyer, known to be arrogant, argumentative, pontificating and scrappy. And not exactly grief-stricken--he now has himself a beautiful girlfriend.

The story is told in unusual ways from different points of view. I appreciated how that advances the story and fills in the details. 'The Wheels of Justice Grind Exceedingly Slow. But They Grind Exceedingly Fine.'

I received an arc of this new suspense novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own. I found the title to be both poetic and touching.

William Landay is a great storyteller! One day Jane Larkin disappears. While suspicions point to her husband Dan, there is no evidence to support that theory. This story is told in 4 books - each book is told from a different characters perspective.
Landay is known for an ambiguous ending and this book was no different. I enjoyed Book 2 the most. I think that book gave us the clearest idea of what happened. My only issue was the lack of quotation marks for the dialogue. I wasn’t always sure if the story was being told in the 1st or 3rd point of view.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this advance readers copy.

Another solid crime novel from William Landay! Loved his writing style in “Defending Jacob,” which had me excited about “All That is Mine I Carry With Me.” Engaging characters, mysterious plot, emotional writing, all make up this latest novel. The story comes full circle in the final stages & wraps up the plot in a neat little bow. Great pick for the crime fiction lover!

This book is earth shattering!!!! I finished it in a day!!! The ending made me cry so bad. What a book of emotions. It was soooo well written. A family torn apart and put back together to be torn apart again. The ending makes me soooo sad.

A well-written, slow burn story! I loved the characters and each long section from a different perspective

This was a compulsably readable novel. I wanted to keep learning more about each of the characters and there were some good twists and turns. The only issue I found was how little evidence there was at the beginning, which made it less believable to me that his kids would have turned on him.