3.5 stars rounded to 4. All That Is Mine I Carry With Me was a bit of a slow burn for me, wasn’t quite as suspenseful as I hoped, but still entertaining. It kept my interest and kept me guessing what happened and how all the parts were going to fit together. I think my favorite character in this book was Kate. I love the way she stood up for her sister, she demanded and fought for justice, and defended her fiercely. The end of the book was very satisfying.

Thank you Net Galley, and Random House Ballantine Books, for a copy in return for my honest review.

This book wasn't the easiest to read, and it isn't the easiest to review. It's dark and tragic and heartbreaking and frustrating and putting all those together, it's hard to say I "enjoyed" reading it. Yet I was glad I read it, and certainly felt it was a worthwhile read. It's a powerful study of family, love and vengeance. A mother disappears on an ordinary day. There are no clues. She leaves behind a husband and three children. The husband is the primary suspect. He's also a criminal defense attorney, which just feeds the suspicion against him because after all, who better "trained" to get away with it? Ultimately the case goes cold for 20 years, the children are raised by their father. Then her body is found. What happens next? The children are divided. Can there be a trial? Should there be? And will anyone ever get any kind of resolution? Not the easiest of reads in terms of the emotional aspects, but most definitely worthwhile.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

The novel tells the story of David, a 17-year-old boy in present-day Boston who is put into foster care after the death of his mother. David has a strained relationship with his new foster family and struggles to find meaning and connection in his life.

I truly enjoyed the letters that David discovers about his grandfather's experiences. The letters give him a sense of roots and help him connect with the grandfather he wishes he had known.

The book explores powerful themes of intergenerational connection, the impact of WWII on families, and finding meaning in one's roots and personal history. It is a poignant coming-of-age story and Landay captured the challenges of youth and forging an identity.

This was such an interesting story! I really enjoyed the unique plot and the characters. I look forward to the author’s next work!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I really enjoyed this book! Landay's other book, Defending Jacob, is one of my favorites so I was hoping this would be a great read! I was not disappointed! Another excellent read!

Also this is not a particularly happy book, it holds your interest. The different points of view of the characters is also interesting. Not the favorite book I’ve read this year, but worthwhile.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of All That is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This book was worth the wait! It's absolutely one of those books you are unable to put down from the minute you start reading it. So good and so many twists and turns to keep you guessing. Do yourself a big favor and read this ASAP.

Jeff Larkin was "lost in a maze of hate" stemming from "his mother's case and the forty years of misery that followed". Jeff decided to e-mail author Philip Solomon, former schoolmate, to ask if he might author a novel based upon the stunning case of the disappearance of Jane Larkin on November 12, 1975 in Newton, Massachusetts.

On November 12, 1975, ten year old Miranda Larkin returned from school to find her house dark, the front door locked. Her father Daniel Larkin, a criminal defense lawyer, found his children alone in the house. Police Detective Glover was called in to determine the whereabouts of Jane Larkin. "There was no clear evidence that a crime had been committed and no leads to follow if one had been." Jane's '75 Ford Thunderbird was found at the train station. The car was unlocked and wiped clean of fingerprints. Jane just seemed to vanish.

Husband Dan knew he would be considered a suspect. Detective Glover felt that Dan was guilty of something. The lack of real proof did not help Dan in "the court of public opinion" once newspapers and TV coverage theorized and created scenarios. Was Dan being victimized along with his children or was he capable of nefarious behavior?

The trajectory of the lives of the Larkin children was clouded by Jane's disappearance. Miranda wrongly believed that the disappearance was her fault and descended into intermittent, but long periods of depression. Jeff and his father, polar opposites, were always embattled. Jeff's anger and hatred deepened. Alex, the eldest child was "the star", the golden child. The one destined to become a defense lawyer, just like dad.

The lines were drawn, the family divided into two camps. Alex aligned with his dad, however the consensus, even 40 years later, was that Dan Larkin killed his wife. How can a case, based upon circumstantial evidence, unmask a killer? Some opinions would waver on a father's potential guilt for a crime he maintained he did not commit. "Most people are amateurs at murder. They make mistakes." "Witnesses make mistakes [as well]. They misperceive, misremember, misstate." "All That Is Mine I Carry with Me" by William Landay is a mystery, a novel of a cold case seemingly impossible to solve....until... Highly recommended!

Thank you Random House-Ballantine and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the quiet stillness of a November afternoon in 1975, ten-year-old Miranda Larkin returns home from school to a house that seems unnervingly hushed. Her mother is inexplicably absent. Everything else appears undisturbed – no signs of struggle, no disorder. Jane Larkin's pocketbook rests undisturbed in its customary place in the front hall.

Thus unfolds a riddle that will span a lifetime – the enigma of Jane Larkin's vanishing.

Suspicion falls upon Jane's husband, Dan Larkin, a seasoned criminal defense attorney who would seemingly possess the knowledge to outmaneuver the authorities. Yet, no evidence surfaces to implicate him in a crime, and the case gradually recedes from the public consciousness, an unsettling, unresolved mystery. The three Larkin children – Alex, Jeff, and Miranda – are left in the care of the man who may harbor the darkest of secrets.

Two decades later, the remains of Jane Larkin surface, rekindling the investigation. The children, now adults, find themselves drawn into a web of conflict and confrontation, forced to take sides in the quest for answers.

This book is irresistibly compelling, an unrelenting page-turner distinguished by its distinctive narrative style and impeccable character development. It unfolds as a triptych of narratives, traversing various temporal landscapes and offering perspectives from those entangled in Jane Larkin's disappearance. From the very first page, the reader is captivated, with every expectation met. There's no deviation from the path, no superfluous passages, and not a single word is squandered.

It's important to note that this is not a traditional thriller but rather an expertly woven tale of family drama and mystery. It hooks the reader's emotions, leaving them yearning for revelations. Jeff and Miranda, intricately drawn and profoundly convincing characters, elicit genuine empathy. And the denouement? It's nothing short of flawless.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alex, Jeff and Miranda are siblings. Jeff’s best childhood friend is Phil; however, as adults, they drifted apart. In 1975, Miranda arrives home from school and immediately senses something different in the house. It’s too quiet. Her mom, Jane, is nowhere to be found and never returns.
This is told from the four separate points of view labeled Books 1 through 4. Each of these is about a quarter of the book.
Book 1 – recounts Phil’s version of how his book came to be. He was having writer’s block when he encountered his old childhood friend, Jeff. Jeff suggests that Phil write a book about Jane’s disappearance, which remains unsolved. The detective that worked the case believed that Jane’s husband, Dan, (Jeff’s dad) killed her but there is no body.
Book 2 is Jane’s version of events…or is it Jane?
Book 3 is Jeff’s point of view. He, Miranda and their Aunt Kate file a civil suit against Dan.
Book 4 is Dan’s point of view. He is now suffering from dementia but is willing to speak with Phil now about Jane’s disappearance. Phil is hoping to get a confession from Dan, even though Dan has maintained his innocence since Jane disappeared.
This was a slow-burn for me and actually sat unread in my Kindle for a long time before I picked it back up. I also was not a fan of the author not using quotation marks when characters were having conversations, it was strange.

I loved Defending Jacob and was beyond excited to be selected for this book as an advanced copy. While I really appreciate elements of the book such as the three completely separate books focused on characters I felt like something was missing. It was an enjoyable book to read but felt like something was missing and in fairness to the writer the bar was so high with the first book I read. I would recommend this book to a reader.

I liked the format of four books, or sections told by different characters in different formats and time periods. But I didn’t like the writing style necessarily and I disliked the ending. Rounded up to 3 stars for being unique.

All That Is Mine, I Carry With Me, William Landay
Jeff Larkin and Phillip Solomon met when they were in seventh grade. The two almost 13-year-olds soon became best friends. In 2015, after a several decades long hiatus, Jeff Larkin emailed Phil to meet him for a beer. Phil, an author, was in a bit of a writer’s slump, but when he heard the details that had emerged over the intervening years, concerning the disappearance of Jeff’s mother, Jane Larkin, he became intrigued with the idea of writing her story.
Jane Larkin disappeared when she was 39-years-old, on November 12, 1975. She was the mother of three children: Jeff, Miranda and Alex. She had been married to Dan Larkin for 17 years. Her older sister, Kate, always disliked Jane’s husband Dan. She and her sister had matching rings. Jane never took hers off. When Jane disappeared, all eyes pointed to Dan Larkin, the husband, as they usually do. No evidence was found. No body was found. No indictment came. Dan professed his innocence. Tom Glover was the detective investigating Jane’s disappearance. For forty years, he carried her picture in his wallet because the case was unsolved.
Jane’s disappearance had an effect on each of her children. Miranda was the youngest, and at almost 10-years-old, she needed her mother’s guidance and love. She was often depressed. Jeff, almost 12, was in his brother’s shadow. He needed his mom’s support. He was angry for a long time. Alex, was older and soon would be off to college. He was the best able to handle the trauma and would soon leave the scene of the maelstrom.
This novel is written in four distinct parts:
Book 1 begins in 2015, when Phil and Jeff reunite. The background of the events of 1975 are introduced and carried forward.
Book 2 is told in Jane Larkin’s voice, and is Miranda’s version of the events and its effects.
Book 3 begins in 1993, when Jane Larkin’s body is found. It is told in Jeff’s voice, now almost 30-years-old. He has been estranged from his father. The discovery opens a whole new can of worms and investigations.
Book 4, takes place in 2017 and is told in Dan’s voice. He is now 81-years-old and in serious decline from Alzheimers. New discoveries have been made about the murder. In 2017, the case is closed.
Briefly, this is the story. Miranda Larkin comes home from school to a surprisingly quiet, empty house, in November of 1975. Where was her mother? She patiently waited, assuring herself that her mother would soon return. Although her car was found, Jane Larkin was never seen again. Miranda could not imagine life without her mother. She began to unravel. Jeff Larkin insists that his mother will return. Miranda and Jeff are close. They comfort each other, but soon, Jeff begins to unravel. He blames his dad for his mother’s disappearance. Dan Larkin is not a soft and fuzzy person. He is compulsive about neatness and order. His reactions seem wooden to them, almost like they were prepared in advance. Alex, the oldest child is more aloof and less judgmental. He is a successful athlete in high school, soon to graduate and go on to college. He is consumed with himself and wishes to study to be a lawyer like his dad, Dan Larkin. In 1994, when some members of the family decide to sue Dan Larkin for wrongful death in a civil suit. Alex does not sue his father. The court scenes are riveting and revealing. The posturing of the lawyers, their performance art and showmanship is well portrayed. Is vengeance or justice the ultimate goal, in the end? Is it fair to base any case on circumstantial evidence? As secrets are revealed, are they misinterpreted, over judged? Should family members sue each other civilly if they can’t get what they perceive as justice in a criminal court?
The characters in this novel, major and minor, are all well developed and defined. The author examines the idea of murder inside and out. He points out that when Phil Solomon knew he should end the life of a deer that was suffering, he was not sure he could do it. Afterward, he felt no remorse. He knew he did what was right. Is that how a murderer feels? Is their behavior so outrageous or delusional that they feel nothing afterwards? When Dan Larkin decides he wants to end his own life, is he committing a kind of murder? If family members do not prevent it, are they committing murder too? If they assist in any way are they guilty of murder? If you believed a relative committed murder, even though there was no proof of the crime, could you forgive them or would you forever insist on their guilt. What really happened to Dan Larkin at the end of the book? What really happened to Jane Larkin? Was her missing ring ever recovered? What is the meaning of Miranda’s tattoo that translates to the title of this book?

What started off strong quickly fizzled for me, and I found myself going through another almost "do not finish" for the umpteenth time this year.

I made it through, but it was very slow. I put it down for a week before picking it up again.
Jane Larkin is a thirty-nine year old wife, mother, sister, and friend. He three children are each very different and make things challenging for her as a mother. Her husband is not supportive, has a wandering eye.
One day, Jane disappears.

Sounds like a great who dun it? I thought so too.
I felt a lot of empathy for the family, but did not love the rabbit holes I kept finding myself in.

A mother vanished. A father presumed guilty. There is no proof. There are no witnesses. For the children, there is only doubt. I loved Defending Jacob so was excited to get an advanced copy of William Landay's new book, All That is Mine I Carry with Me. I loved everything about this book.

DNF @ 30%

Unfortunately this book did not hold my interest and I had to set it aside. The plot is very slow-going and the characters do not relate to me at all. The synopsis really intrigued me and I am sure it will be enjoyable for others. Just not one for me.

I recently had the opportunity to read "All That Is Mine I Carry With Me" by William Landay, thanks to an ARC provided by NetGalley & the Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam. This novel is a captivating blend of mystery, suspense, & family drama that unfolds at its own pace.

The story revolves around a family haunted by the sudden disappearance of their mother, Jane. What sets this mystery apart is the complete absence of clues, suspects, or answers. As the years pass without resolution, the remaining family members grapple with the weight of the unknown. Landay's skillful storytelling keeps you engaged in their struggles and frustrations, making the family's predicament palpable.

The characters in the novel are complex and mostly likable, with Miranda being a standout. Landay's ability to craft relatable characters adds depth to the narrative. One highlights is a shocking revelation that occurs midway through the story, turning the plot in unexpected directions. This twist adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already compelling narrative.

However, I must admit that the pacing of the story was a bit slow for my taste. While the gradual unfolding of the mystery can be tantalizing, it might test the patience of readers seeking a faster tempo.

As a fan of Landay's previous work, "Defending Jacob," I will keep him on my list of authors to watch for. It's a good choice for those who appreciate a well-written, character-driven novel that explores the complexities of human relationships and the lingering effects of unresolved mysteries.

Mother Jane has disappeared. Her daughter, Miranda age 10 has come home to an empty house after school. Jane has always been there for he but now she is gone. No evidence can be found to explain what has happened to Jane. Miranda’s brothers, Alex and Jeff are possibly left with the dad that may have killed their mother. Dan is a criminal defense attorney and could be skilled in ways to make his wife missing or murdered. Do the children stay loyal to their father even though they suspect he may be guilty. Very worth reading and trying to decide what happened.

This is another William Landay epistle about a family in turmoil. As with his previous novel, Defending Jacob, ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME concerns a murder and its effect on a family. In this latest tome a woman named Jane Larkin disappears from her home without a trace and her three young children are left questioning whether their father, a criminal defense attorney with a wandering eye, could have murdered her. Without any proof of murder the case goes cold.

Eighteen years later Jane’s body is discovered at a construction site. Now adults, the children are at odds over their individual beliefs concerning their fathers’ guilt or innocence and the appropriate action to take in arriving at a resolution.

The novel itself is, in essence, a group of stories set in different eras, each narrated by a different character and leaves the reader to discern what is truth, what is conjecture and what is speculative fiction.

While ALL THAT IS MINE is slow in places it does provide an outcome that lends truth to the old adage that “what goes around comes around” - - - also known as “karma is a bitch”.