ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME by William Landay is a gripping story of family secrets, revenge and loyalty that hooked me from the very beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the stunning ending. It is told in two timelines forty years apart and from multiple points of view. In 1975, ten-year-old Miranda Larkin comes home from school to a silent house. Unexpectedly, her mother, Jane, is not home to greet her. Where could she be? Nothing else seems out of the ordinary and her mother’s purse and other belongings are right where they belong. Soon thereafter, Jane is declared missing and her husband, Dan, a criminal defense attorney, is a prime suspect. But with no witnesses and no evidence linking Dan to any crime, the case goes cold. Twenty years later, Jane’s remains are found and the investigation is re-opened. Now adults, Alex, Jeff and Miranda Larkin find themselves divided in their loyalties to their father. Their trauma over losing their mother and the ongoing suspicions that their father may have had a role in her murder lead to a complicated family drama that was perfectly executed. The story was full of suspense and expertly crafted for a strong emotional impact. I know it will stay on my mind for a long time to come. Highly recommended! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Once you write a book like Defending Jacob, it would be very hard to keep up that level of writing but he came close with this one. This is a great story, it is not a page burner, it is one of those that you sit back and just enjoy the tale. The characters were well developed, the only con I had was it was stated in the beginning that the father had Alzheimer’s, and the way the story played out, it was a bit confusing on what happened in the past and what events were happening while they were re-telling the story. He was writing the story from Miranda's memory and from Jane's. Took a while to figure out who was talking.
But once again, the ending, was well worth the wait. Comes in with 5 stars.
Received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for my unbiased review – This one comes in with 5 stars.

I loved Defending Jacob and knew this book would be a must for me. I was not disappointed. Jane, a wife and mother of 3 children disappears without any note or sign of struggle. Her husband is a self indulgent defense lawyer who defends shady people. All eyes are on him as the investigation proceeds, but there isn’t any evidence that he’s involved with her disappearance. Eighteen years pass and Jane’s body is found buried at a location where the family has vacationed. There still isn’t evidence that the husband was involved and a serial killer makes a death bed claim that he murdered her. Jane’s children have believed over the years that their father murdered their mother and aren’t convinced by the confession.
This author keeps you turning the pages with the view point of different characters in the story. I will read every book he writes.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In 1975, Jane Larkin goes missing, leaving her 3 children and husband behind. Her body won't be found for nearly 2 decades. There aren't any suspects besides Dan Larkin, her husband, but, with a missing body and no evidence, they can't prove anything. The children - Jeff, Miranda, and Alex are left to wonder, and decide for themselves, if their father is a murderer.

This book is told in 4 parts, from four different points of view. It's an interesting way to tell the story and to keep the reader engaged. Just when you think you have it, the POV shifts. The timeline shifts also - there are parts in the 70s when Jane goes missing, parts in the 90s when they find her body, and the present, when Dan's mind is failing him.

It's been a long time since Landay released Defending Jacob, but this book is worth the wait.

This is a character-driven novel that I didn't want to put down!!

In 1975, Miranda Larkin, 10, returns from school on a day as ordinary as most others. When she gets home, her mother, Jane, is surprisingly not there. The house is undisturbed, so Miranda sits down to wait for her. Her older brothers Alex and Jeff come in from their after-school activities, and Jane still isn't back. Nor has she returned, when her husband, criminal defense attorney Dan comes home. Jane is just gone.

Though Dan is the prime suspect in her disappearance (soon to be rumored to be her murder), not evidence is available to charge him. The children struggle to accept that their mom is gone and presumed dead, and that they are being raised by their father, her suspected killer. Their loyalties ebb and flow; the situation affects each of them differently, as well as their relationships with their siblings and their father.

Decades later, Jane's body is found, and the police and family must decide whether justice can be found at this point, and what that might look like.

The book is divided into 4 sections, each offering a different view point. Beautifully written in both character development and story line, you won't want to miss this read.

To the author, please don't make us wait so long for your next work!!

My thanks to Bantam Books for permitting me to read an ARC of the novel via NetGalley. The book is schedyed for publication on 3/7/23. All opinions within this review are my own and are freely given.

All that is Mine I Carry with Me by William Landay
Jane Larkin disappeared in 1975, leaving behind her three children, Miranda, Alex, and Jeff, and her defense lawyer husband, Dan. Dan is initially a suspect, but no evidence links him to the crime. Eventually, the case goes cold, but then Jane's remains are found 20 years later. The book follows the Larkin family through the original tragedy to present day and is told in alternating viewpoints. The structure of the book is a little different (no chapters) but the story didn't drag. The story is truly heartbreaking- not only do the Larkin family lose their mother and initially have no closure, but the man left raising them might have killed her. There are definitely a few twists but I wouldn't consider this a thriller. It is more drama/general fiction but still a great read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

This was a thought-provoking novel that kept me engaged until the end. Landay uses a creative and unusual structure that really worked for this story. I felt empathy for Jane Larkin and her three children. The mysterious disappearance of Jane affected the family members in many ways, over a long period of time. It was interesting to watch the children: how they handled the situation at the time and how it affected their development and personalities as adults. The heart of this novel lies in the relationships - between spouses, siblings, neighbors and friends. As with any murder, the novel raises questions: how well do we know someone (spouse, parent, colleague) and how do we get resolution in the case of an unexplained death? Landay's background in law lends credibility to the story. I highly recommend this one!

5 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.

I had never read Defending Jacob, so I had no idea what a phenomenal writer and storyteller Landay is. Now that I’ve read this book, I will have to go back and read Defending Jacob. This story had me on pins and needles.

Dan Larkin is a somewhat high-profile defense attorney, known for his less-than-savory client list. One day 10 year old Miranda Larkin comes home to find no one there. After knocking for a bit, she lets herself in the house. It’s not usual for her to come home to an empty house. Her mom is always there. But not this day. By nightfall there is concern. By morning a detective has arrived.

This is 1975. There are no suspects other than Dan Larkin. But there is no evidence that he committed a crime. Nor is there a body. Jane Larkin has simply vanished. Even the family suspects that Dan did something with Jane, but no one can prove much. The police, the district attorney, no one can find probable cause to charge him. But the case doesn’t ever go cold. The detective who was assigned to the case continues to pursue every lead.

Jump forward 20 years and an old friend of Jeff Larkin’s is now interested in the case. His interest spurs the kids back into action. But the three siblings are divided. Did their father commit murder?

This is a crazy good novel about family and how we perceive our siblings and parents. The way the novel is broken into parts told from different views makes the story really compelling. Everyone sees things a bit differently and the ability to differentiate their stories is done very well. Without giving anything away, I will say the end is crazy.

Pick it up for yourself. Prepare yourself for what you are about to dive into.

This books deals with the collateral damage of those left behind when a mother goes missing.
Told from multiple POV's. This page-turner asks the question: how do you live in a family when your mother goes missing, foul play is suspected, and your father might be the murderer? All three children have a different perspective on what happened.

Part courtroom drama, part police procedural, part mystery.

Very compelling read.

I read it; I loved it!

What a fantastic story of family, of hope, of love, and of pain! It starts with a missing mom. When Miranda Larkin returns home from school to find the house empty her mom nowhere to be found., she doesn't panic, but thinks perhaps she went for a walk or some such thing because her pocketbook was where it usually was. The family including two brothers and a very successful father, don't seem to be too upset about this happening, but soon they will be.

Enter the intrigue, the wondering what had happened. Nothing was disturbed, nothing out of place, no one had seen her, heard from her, even her beloved sister had heard not a sound of her sister's voice. Something is wrong. Jane Larkin is gone and the weight of suspicion hangs over the father, Dan Larkin, who is well aware of ways to lead the police on a merry trail to avert their suspecting him. Days, months, years go by, without one iota of evidence of Jane's possible demise. Some are convinced Dan is the murderer, especially a police detective, Jane's sister and two of his children.

In the meantime, Dan brings a girlfriend and her children into the home and life becomes one where it seems the kids retreat into themselves. A civil trial happens but of course, Dan, who defends himself goes once again free. The questions remain and as the children grow, the sides they take split them from one another.

The author presents each one of the family members so vividly that one finds themselves aligned with them in their pursuit of the truth. At the end of this harrowing tale, we are given a most unexpected conclusion that cemented the fact to me that this was indeed an exceptional tale, one that I would recommend to many because of its exceptional writing and stoy elements. It was for me one of the books that was hard to break away from and I am so happy that this story equaled the quality of this author's Defending Jacob. William Landay, a former district attorney, brings his skills into the courtroom scenes depicted in this story and makes the reader feel as if they were sitting there during the trial.

I heartily recommend this book and wish to thank William Landay, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this amazing story. Pick up a copy on March 7, 2023. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for an early review copy.

This novel is another classic by William Landay. I loved Defending Jacob and All That Is Mine I Carry With Me is another great novel! A woman disappears in 1975 and the husband is suspected of murdering her.. The book alternates between a few different narrators and gives a lot of family drama. The ending kind of threw me off and I had to reread the last page and then sit and think on it for a bit. I think if you are a fan of Defending Jacob, you should definitely give this one a shot.

Thanks to NetGalley for an electronic copy to preview this book.

This book started out with a bang! No introduction, just right into the meat of it. It’s a story of a family, a missing person, and searching for answers. I’ll say right off I loved it.

But, a few complaints that detracted from the story. The book is broken into sections that are too long, some breaks are needed. Each “book” is told by a different character, and it’s often unclear what character until pages into the section. Since the first “book” is by someone outside the family, you aren’t quite sure who is speaking in the future “books”. Also, I find it very difficult the read books without quotation marks. It is distracting, confusing, and disrupts the flow of the book, slowing you down. I especially found this frustrating during the courtroom scene.

The story is intriguing and fast paced, the dynamics leave you wondering what you would do, and you are wondering how it will turn out right up until the end. I enjoyed the first two books more than the rest, but I was fully invested and put everything else by the wayside to keep reading.

In 1975, Jane, a mother of three children goes missing in Boston. The only real suspect, her husband Dan, is never charged due to the rather scanty circumstantial evidence. Over the ensuing decades, the family is torn apart as members side with or against Dan. How far will Dan, the slick lawyer, go to cover up his guilt? Or how far will his family members go in persecuting an innocent man? The book is divided into four sections, with the first being narrated by Phil, a novelist writing a book on the case, The second is told from Jane's point of view after her disappearance, which we later find is a story by Miranda, her daughter, Then we get Jeff's narration, who is implacably opposed to his father. Finally, we hear from Dan himself in his last years when he is suffering from Alzheimer's. A powerfully devastating and heartbreaking novel.

10 year old Miranda comes home from school to find her mother missing. But unlike other missing mom books, this is full of family drama that the toxic scorpio in me thrives on. Also unlike many other family drama books, I didn't see the last part coming. Without giving too much away, Book 3 was written beautifully. Keeps you hooked until the last 10 pages. Definitely worth the read.

What happened to Jane Larkin?

All that is Mine I Carry with Me is a dark domestic suspense novel that is disturbing, depressing, and simultaneously riveting. After an eleven-year hiatus from publishing the New York Times Best-Selling legal thriller, Defending Jacob, this highly anticipated book will once again make a lasting impression on its readers.

When Jane Larkin disappears in 1975, everyone is convinced that her husband killed her. However, there is no evidence to prove his guilt. Did he do it?

This is the story of the three Larkin children, Miranda, Jeff, and Alex. Each has their own theories, memories, and beliefs about their father’s role in their mother’s disappearance. Can they prove it before it’s too late?

Jeff’s childhood friend, Phillip Solomon, writes the Larkin family story at the bequest of Miranda when he admits that he has been suffering from terrible writer’s block and in need of a good plot.

This book took me on a strange journey. It is only 336 pages, but contains approximately six VERY LONG chapters. I was intrigued by the family drama, but didn’t like the book’s odd structure. I also don’t think it needed the extra layer of Phillip’s voice, as it didn’t really add much to the plot. However, I found myself constantly wavering between guilty and innocent, which is the sign of a well-written book!

I’m still ruminating this one. Friends, I promise that it will mess with you!

Once again, Landay has written a thought-provoking novel, perfect for book clubs.

3.5/5 stars rounded up

Expected publication date: 3/7/23

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the ARC of All That is Mine I Carry With Me in exchange for an honest review.

I was very much looking forward to this book as I loved Defending Jacob, but this one just wasn't for me. The story is about the disappearance of Jane, a mother of three. The obvious suspect is her husband who vehemently denies he had anything to do with her disappearance. The story is told from multiple perspectives which I usually like, but, in this book, I was left wanting more information about each character, especially at the end. While there is a resolution, and we find out what really happened to Jane, I was disappointed in the ending.

It's been a long wait for another book from William Landay but it was very much worth it. In All That is Mine I Carry With Me, mom of three Jane Larkin disappears one day, never to be seen again. Did her husband kill her? Did she leave willingly? People in town assume he killed her, especially when he moves his new girlfriend in. The children are left in limbo, missing their mother and not knowing whether to believe their father. Told from 4 different points of view this book was unputdownable and will keep the reader unsettled to the very end.

This book is a real phycological thriller.Told from different perspectives was a little confusing at first but was a way to tell the story from different angles. A book about family secrets and loyalties and how far we are willing to go to seek justice.

Set in Boston this story explores the children of a missing mother and their father, whom everyone believes killed her. It follows their lives through adulthood, it is heartbreaking and poignant, raw and will leave you spent.
The couple, Jane and Dan Larkin, are married young and have three children, Alex, Jeff, and Miranda. The time period begins in the seventies with Dan the breadwinner and Jane the homemaker. One day Jane is gone, did she run away? As time passes rumors grow. Miranda being the youngest is especially effected by the loss of her mother. The boys handle feelings and speculations differently. Dan appears to cooperate with the police. The main detective, Tom Glover, never buys into Dan’s version of Jane’s disappearance. His and Miranda’s characters will remain with me.
The story follows Miranda and Jeff with separate struggles and reactions to their grief and ensuing aftermath. Alex has removed himself physically and emotionally as far as he can get. How do you separate love for your father from believing he killed your mother? As the years pass with no new leads you are left with their unanswered questions and hopelessness. There will finally be a court case (no spoilers here). The resolution will take your breath away.
This is not a book to read if want joy and happiness. It is a well written fictional account of one family in crisis. It is a fascinating mystery and there is suspense. It left me emotionally drained, melancholy and depressed, viscerally spent however; I’m not sorry I read it and I won’t forget the characters or the trauma.
The digital advance reader copy of “All That Is Mine I Carry With Me” by William Landay, published by Bantam Books, Random House, was provided to me by NetGalley. Expected publication date is March 7, 2023. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

An intriguing mystery and another great novel by William Landay, author of Defending Jacob.

It’s November 12, 1975, Miranda’s mother fails to pick her up at school. When Miranda finally arrives home cold and tired, she finds the house dark and her mother missing. So begins a mystery that spans a lifetime for Miranda and her siblings. Where is Jane Larkin?

Three children are left behind, There is no trace of evidence or a body. Dan, Jane’s husband, is the number one suspect. The children’s loyalty to their father and to each other will be tested as they grow older. Alex, the oldest, believes his father is innocent. Alex, will always believe his father is guilty. Miranda, will always wonder.

Two decades later Jane’s body is found.

Is the man that cared for and raised them a murder?

A compelling story told from several points of view. Detective Tom Glover who spends his career searching for Jane Larkin and working to prove beyond a doubt that Dan Larkin is her murderer. Dan Larkin himself, a lawyer to the darkest of criminals, will continue to try to convince at least two of his children that he is innocent. Miranda and Alex will convince Phil Solomon to write the story of their missing mother with hopes of finally solving the disappearance of Jane Larkin.