All That is Mine I Carry With Me is the new book by William Landay author of Defending Jacob. For those of us who loved Defending Jacob it is likely necessary to be cautious not to judge this story against that one.
All That is Mine I Carry With Me is the story of the Larkin family and the disappearance/maybe murder of the mother Jane. The story is told from various points of views and hinges upon your caring for the characters rather than the resolution of the mystery. I found myself involved in the story and happy to return to the characters times and again. All in all a good read!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

I’ve been trudging through this book for days and finally finished it. A seemingly perfect family. The mother goes missing. The children are bereft. The husband appears indifferent but insists on his innocence. His law training has taught him to say things without saying them and to talk in circles whenever he’s questioned. This goes on for decades.

And that’s mostly what you read—dialogue, usually with no quotation marks—of questions and answers that lead nowhere, putting the reader in the jury box. It sounds smart, but it’s tiresome and doesn’t make for a great reading experience. Even the ending feels vague, cloudy, and anticlimactic.

Publish date: March 7, 2023. Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the advanced e-copy of this book.

A mother vanishes, and her three young children are left to pick up the pieces as their father seems to distance himself in the aftermath. Each child processes the disappearance differently wondering if she ran away, was hurt in some way, or if she had died. Years pass before they find out their mother’s fate. It is not until the final pages that we find out what happened.

3.5 starts.

4.5 stars.

I loved Landay's book 'Defending Jacob,' it was actually my introduction into the whole mystery/thriller genre, of which I have now read 100 (almost on the dot. I counted. I've read 102 since!) I have wondered tho if Defending Jacob would hold up now that I am more seasoned in that genre, so when I saw Landay was releasing a new book I was more than a little excited to get an ARC. And I have to say, 'All That Is Mine I Carry With Me' did not disappoint.

When Jane Sullivan disappears one day, suspicions turn to the husband, bc as they say...it's always the husband. The marriage had been tense for some time at that point, and when he has a beautiful girlfriend mere weeks after Jane's death, naturally suspicions are roused. Their 3 children are understandably very hesitant to put the blame on their father, but as time passes it becomes more and more obvious what happened, tho all 3 children are still divided on what they think happened and how they should respond. This division between siblings only increases as they get older and the damage that their mother's disappearance caused is visible not only in their relationships with each other but also individually in each of them.

This was a special kind of mystery/thriller, it wasn't the fast paced plot dominant story like most of them, it was more of a slow burn character study. That's not to say that it was slow, or boring, because I was wholly invested in the story from start to finish & it was still a page turner, it's just that the story wasn't relying on breakneck pacing or some stunning reveal, instead we're just taken along for the ride that the family goes on during the entire spectacle of her disappearance & then the process of trying to move on and live afterwards.

I really enjoyed this, it wasn't absolutely perfect but Landay's a strong and skilled writer, and this was a strong 4.5 star book for me. I'm sure there are some people who prefer a more traditional thriller pacing and plot line, but I am not one of those people. Landay has officially cemented himself as must-buy author and I will not only be buying a copy of this for my shelves but I'll 100% be reading everything he comes out with.

My one biggest complaint lay in the unique format of the first part of the book. I won't go into specifics to avoid spoilers, so I'll just say that the significance (or lack thereof) of the first part didn't sit right with me.

So in this one aspect, I think Landay came up a bit short, but everything else was juuust right. The writing was great, the pacing was perfect, 7 the character work felt realistic and raw. This was just shy of a 5 star read & I really hope that Landay won't wait another decade to release another book.

ll That is Mine I Carry With Me - a tattoo on a young woman's arm, it also tells the story of a family fractured by a mother's disappearance. The books is divided into parts, and starts with an author starting to tell you about how he broke his "writer's slump" by meeting with an old friend from his private school who shares his mother's story. To be honest, it read so much like a true crime book I was a little confused at the beginning. I thought at first I was reading the author's prologue. Young Miranda Larkin comes home from school one day to an empty house. Nothing is amiss, only she waits and waits, and her mother never returns home. From the beginning, the police detective assigned to the case is suspicious of the missing woman's husband - an attorney named Dan Larkin, who represented some crime lords, and also knows a bit about murder and due process. Dan's oldest son, Alex, is almost ready to leave for college, and of all the children he is the most unaffected by the tragedy. The middle son, Jeff, and daughter Miranda struggle throughout their adult lives. When Jane (the mom)'s body is found almost two decades later, the family is forced to come to terms with the fact that their father probably killed their mother. The family splinters, a court case ensues, and I could not stop reading, hoping to find out what happened to Jane Larkin all those years ago. This book is less a thriller, and more of a psychological family drama. Although a revelation leads you to believe what happened, for me I did not feel a sense of justice. I feel like this case mirrors many in real life - there are some details you never know, and those affected are tormented by doubt throughout their lives. It was thought provoking, and would be a good choice for a book discussion group. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me is a crime/family drama that has the potential to disappoint fans of either genre. The book is well written and Landay is a master of analogies but overall it lacked substance. Narrators change (often jarringly) and time passes, but the few stated facts remain the same despite the varying points of view. The characters are too often and easily labeled, however they do express provocative discussion prompts on subjects such as depression, reactions to trauma, and even the change in “value” of a bride or groom as the marriage progresses. Personally, many of these attitudes made my stomach squirm and eyes roll but I can imagine lively book club discussions around these topics.

Landay challenges himself by opting to have the last chapters narrated by an Alzheimer’s patient. Unfortunately, it falls flat as the actions are appropriate but the verbiage is not. Lastly, the shocking moments in the novel don’t produce enough emotional torque to keep the reader riveted.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read any of William Landay's books but I just downloaded Defending Jacob.

There are 4 parts to the book and several POV's. It was a very different story telling and you get to know the characters as you go. Basically an author who is having a writing block and gets to go back to childhood friends who lost their mother mysteriously and gets to write their story.

This one kept my attention page to page and the best part was hearing the missing woman's POV, which has hardly, if ever happened with a book that I've read.

This would be a good book club recommendation because of the ending, which I can't wait to see the discussions about - when it does come out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine - Bantam, publishing date 03/07/2023, for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

I really thought this one sounded really interesting, but ultimately, it was long and not suspenseful enough. A mother goes missing without a trace. The cops suspect her husband Dan. Problem is, there's nothing linking him to her disappearance, so their 3 children remain with their father. The case ends up unsolved, until 2 decades later when her remains are found. The now grown kids must decide who to believe. The father Dan, yeah he's a crap dad, so you could definitely be left thinking he absolutely killed their mother. But by the end, there were still so many unanswered questions.

The book is split into four parts "Books". Each part is told from a different POV, and at different times. It felt disjointed to me. And I felt bored through most of it. I did see many people loved this book, so don't necessarily take my word for it. If you think it sounds up your alley, I say go for it!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. Out March 7.

Difficult to read…yet hard to put down
Dark and sad

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

One of my favorite books of all time is Defending Jacob by William Landay, so I was thrilled to receive an arc of his upcoming novel, All That is Mine I Carry With Me.

One afternoon in 1975 Jane Larkin disappears without a trace, leaving behind her three children and husband. There are no signs of a struggle and her purse is left on the table. Her husband, a powerful local defense attorney is suspected to be behind the disappearance but the authorities are never able to link him to the possible crime. With no arrest, the story fades from the headlines and the time both matches on and stands still for the family. But when Jane Larkin’s remains are discovered 20 years later both the investigation and and old wounds are reopened.

I loved this book. It is both a thriller and an examination into the psychological dynamics of a dysfunctional family. And it is a powerful piece of literature that I was unable to put down. This book will enthrall, infuriate and make your heart break. Written from multiple perspectives the reader fully experiences the aftermath of Jane’s disappearance on her children and the ways in which their young lives are forever changed. And when an answer finally comes, it is powerful, cathartic and devastating.

I devoured this book and had a hard time setting it down when other duties called. The mystery of what happened to Jane Larkin captivated me and the story of her family touched me. This is psychological fiction done to perfection by a gifted writer and a book I won’t soon forget. Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for this arc in exchange for a fair review.

I first heard about All That Is Mine I Carry With Me from the podcast "Sarah's Bookshelves Live!" This was part of her preview show, and I love her recommendations. I read "Defending Jacob" while I waited for this to appear on NetGalley, and LOVED that book, also by WIlliam Landay, so I could not wait to read this one.
I loved the different viewpoints the book is written in. I found it to be very compelling and I wanted to read more and more of the story.
My issue with this book comes with the ending. I think sometimes I don't understand the theory of law or crime enough to completely grasp Landay's writing, so there were a few plot points that are still very muddy for me. I am going to try to be very discreet with why I believe I am confused. (You may want to stop reading if you are avoiding spoilers, but I don't give many details away).
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I'm not sure if I missed something important, or not, but it seems to be where there was a part where they blatantly had a confession from one person, and despite that confession, another person is still deemed guilty or maybe not guilty? (This was somewhat similar to Defending Jacob). I plan to reread the last 25% of the book in a few days to try to gain the insight I'm missing. While I liked the book, not understanding the end really was frustrating to me---

Overall, I think this is a very interesting book, and many readers will enjoy it. (And then hopefully explain the ending to me!)

From a bounce to a pout…

The last book made me bounce, this one made me pout. The last book was a concerto, this one is chopsticks. Okay, okay, I’ll stop trying to be cute. Let me say that this book isn’t a terrible read, it’s just meh, and the complaints way outweigh the joy.

The story is about a boy and girl who are blown away when their mom disappears. Soon afterward, their dad brings a girlfriend, along with a daughter, into the home. Many years of anguish. Is mom alive or dead? Did dad kill her? The kids grow up. Dad goes on trial. Dad gets Alzheimer's. The end.

Joy Jar

-There are several points of view: life according to the boy, girl, mom, dad. This mostly works; I liked the different perspectives. I especially liked the missing mom’s viewpoint. (See below for a complaint about the dad’s POV.)

-I liked the occasional foreshadowing aside from a character, like this one from the mom: “Oh my, this is a sad story, isn’t it? I’m afraid I must be tormenting you. And things are about to get much worse, I’m afraid. But there were happy moments.”

-As the story moved along, it got a little more psychological, which I liked.

-Liked the trial scene. It was intense, and I felt like I was in the courtroom.

-The characters are mostly believable and not one-dimensional.

-Was mildly interested in how the book would wrap up. Was dad guilty or not?

Complaint Board

-All That I Read Annoys Me. The title and the story don’t match! Come on, doesn’t the title, “All That Is Mine I Carry with Me” sound intriguing? I thought I’d be getting something poetic and heavy, something full of deep sighs and a bit of wise. Nope! This is a simple family drama with simple language. Nothing to chomp down on.

-My biggest beef has to do with the dad and his Alzheimer's. Dad himself describes his decline. Wait a minute. If you’re demented, there is no way you can talk about how demented you are! That’s not how it works. Well, maybe at the very beginning you can describe what’s happening, but eventually you’ll be too out of it to describe anything real. I’ve run across this in books before, and every time I growl. This guy is very articulate as he explains how he’s losing it. Nope, not believable!

- Family drama masquerading as a crime drama.

-Where did the writer go who starts off the story? He disappears for an eternity, making a cameo appearance at the end. Hm…. Funny thing is, I didn’t even miss him! (I wonder if Landay is inserting himself into the story. The absentee writer in the story had had writer’s block; it had been many years since he had written a book. Landay had a long dry spell himself. Just wonderin’.)

-No tension. A crime drama without thrills is a drag.

-The ending was predictable. It was not supposed to be; you could tell the author was going for a wow moment.

-To use quote marks or to not use quote marks, that is the question. Okay, make up your mind and choose one or the other. I can live with naked dialogue, really I can. But here, there were quote marks used in the first half of the book, then they disappeared. Did two editors with different ideas divvy up the pages? Really sloppy; maybe this was fixed by pub date.

-Missed opportunity for a romance. It was weird, because there was a tease of a love story but it fizzled. Aren’t teases supposed to turn into romances? It’s disappointing to miss the chance for some huggy-face.

-One of my most scathing comments on a Complaint Board: the book was Hallmark-y. Not sap, here, luckily, but plenty of simple and predictable.

Bottom line: This one didn’t do it for me. I enjoyed Landay’s Defending Jacob but was disappointed in this one. It was an okay read but I ended up wishing I hadn’t wasted my time. Like I said, my biggest problem was the last section, where the demented man describes his dement. Drove me nuts.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

I really enjoyed this study of characters and their interactions after Jane, a mother of three, went missing in 1975. Having read Landay’s previous impressive work “Defending Jacob,” I had to read this one as soon as possible.

Phil Solomon can’t get his friend Jeff’s mother who went missing out of his head. He decides to write a piece about the suspected killer - her husband and Jeff’s father - 40 years after the incident.

The novel is divided into different “books,” and in each section we hear from a different character - some going back in time (like a plausible imagining of Jane’s story from sister Mimi and sister Miranda) and some in real time (Jeff and the father Dan). I wonder how much thought Landay put into ordering these sections. In this novel, we think we learn early on what happened to Jeff’s mother from her perspective, but then we learn it’s a novel from one of her daughter’s perspectives. I really liked how Landay chose to order them.

I really loved all the layers to this, and it was a very compelling and fast read. In some ways, I would have liked it to be a little longer to learn even more about the characters.

I feel this is a slower-paced, more character-driven novel than “Defending Jacob,” but equally compelling. I’d say this one is more comparable to “Notes on an Execution,” given the multiple perspectives that rotate in sections as more of a mini deep dive on one perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was amazing! I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely terrifying and thrilling at the same time. One of my favorite books!!

On a November day in 1975, young Miranda Larkin comes home from school to an empty house. Where could her mother be? As the hours pass and Jane is nowhere to be found, she is declared missing. Her flamboyant husband, Dan, an attorney, is a prime suspect in her disappearance, but with no evidence he’s only guilty in the eyes of others. He has maintained his innocence throughout the years, but there are those that don’t believe him. Even his own children are divided. The book takes us on a journey from that fateful day until 2017 when Jeff Larkin meets an old friend that’s been suffering with writers block. A friend that he hasn’t seen for 40 years. Phil agrees to write about the disappearance of Jane. Dan is now in the throws of Alzheimer’s and can remember little of his past. As the story slowly unfolds the reader is caught up in the drama that reads like a true crime case. Will Jeff and Miranda ever get the closure they so desperately want or is it too much to ask after so many years? Told in several points of view, this book unravels slowly, but is perfectly paced. It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Mr. Landay, but he’s back! Thank you to National Geographic Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

The three Larkin children, Miranda, Jeff, and Alex, are trying to live their life in the wake of their mother Jane’s disappearance. Told in alternating viewpoints, including that of Jane, we watch the disappearance and the decades afterward. While the story does leisurely unfold, it is an absolutely gripping novel. When I got comfortable with one point of view and entirely invested in that story, we jumped perspectives, and it started again. Landay has you relating to everyone, from Detective Glover to young Miranda.

I lost my parents as a teen, but the difference was that I knew they were gone. I cannot imagine growing up without answers. I cannot imagine the absolute pain of not knowing, which is especially hard for Miranda. My heart hurt that she suffered so. I think it is interesting that we don’t get Alex’s perspective. As the oldest sibling, he’s kind of just there, a staunch supporter of their father, Dan, his only ally, really. I don’t feel like we need his point of view, but I would love to know why Dan’s only supporter does not get a say.

This was a fun read and a fabulous introduction to this author. I’m excited to go back and read some of his previous work. Thank you, Random House/Ballantine, for sending over an advanced copy of the novel.

Told through multiple points of view, this story of a husband who may have murdered his wife will keep you guessing long after you've finished the book.

I thought that this was good. I loved the authors other book and felt like this was a fist 2nd. I hope it also gets the TV treatment.

Author William Landay is known for Defending Jacob which I absolutely loved.
All That is Mine I Carry With Me is Wiliam Landay new novel. It tells the story in multiple POV's, of Jane Larkin, a mother of three and her 1975 disappearance. Her husband Dan a criminal defense attorney was the prime suspect at the time however with no other suspects, body or hard evidence, the case went cold.

When Jane’s body is found two-decades later, it reopens the case and the siblings choose sides in determining their father's guilt or innocence. Family secrets are revealed, and the reader is left guessing until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and look forward to William Landays next book!

Finally another book by William Landay, author of Defending Jacob. The world has waited a long time for this. All That is Mine I Carry With Me is Landay’s newest book and it will be out soon, March 7, 2023. 3.5 stars

The book got better and better as I continued to read. For me it started off slow. As each section progressed I enjoyed it more and more and the ending was my favorite part.

Jane Larkin, mother of Alex, Jeff and Miranda disappears. Did she just leave her three children behind or was she murdered? The story is told over decades, in four parts. Phil tells the first part, he is a friend of the Larkin family and a writer who wants to tell their story. Jane Larkin, the missing or murdered mom narrates part two, Jeff Larkin, her son narrates part three and Dan Larkin, her husband narrates the final section. I feel that the way the story was told made the book more interesting than it would have been otherwise.

While I enjoyed the writing, and I read it fast, I found something missing, the lack of suspense. This would make an excellent book club read, so much to discuss! If you doubted whether or not your father killed your mother could you still love him? If the only way to prove him guilty or innocent was to take him to court, would you?

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.