You know how some books catch you like you were back on the playground and your friends got the carousel going really fast and you jumped on and were instantly captured by the rush? Well, for me this was more like going to an empty playground and sitting on the teeter totter, waiting and waiting for someone to show up so the fun would begin.

A wife and mother went missing. Her jerk of a husband was suspect, but nothing could be proven. The pace picked up when the woman started telling her story, but I still had trouble. I wound up skipping a whole section (about 1/4 of the book) and finished the last part. The ending was interesting, but not enough that I cared to go back and see if I missed anything.

This just wasn't for me.

Brilliantly constructed. Told from several POVs that get deep into the characters' souls with tensions and possibilities all self cancelling. Landay provides information as needed, sliding back and forward in times covering 1975 through 2017, not a superfluous word or action. The destruction of a family when a mother disappears, no answers, no proof. No reason at all. Dad is the obvious target for a perp, because there is simply no other answer to the puzzle, but he maintains his innocence. Three kids, but only the younger two are really given voices. If there is a weakness, the character of the older son is somewhat glossed over. This is so well written and involving, I must go read Defending Jacob which slipped by me when it came out.

Another well told story by Willaim Landay!
What do you do when you think a family member murdered your mother? Deny, look for truth, or take revenge? This book had me at so many points, but the ending.! Nope, didnt see that one coming! Well done Mr. Landay, well done!
Thank you to Net Galley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was interested in reading this book because I liked Defending Jacob. It did not disappoint. I was captivated the whole time. Thanks for letting me check it out!

I just finished this novel, and I am somewhat numb as to how I feel about it. First and foremost, I was thrilled to be approved for this because I highly enjoyed Defending Jacob. Secondly, I absolutely loved the writing style and perspective writing that was in this novel. I was immediately sucked into the story, found it hard to put down, and could not wait to pick it back up when I had to take a break. I enjoyed the story being told from each of the family members perspective. Particularly, Jeff, as he was my favorite character. He was sarcastic and witty, and I found myself laughing several times from his comments. I also enjoyed reading things from Miranda’s perspective, particularly at the beginning of the story when her mother was missing. I also enjoyed the era when this novel took place, the mid to late 70s. The only complaint I have about this story, if I had to complain about anything, is the ending. I honestly wish that I was in a book club or had had someone buddy read this with me so I could discuss the ending. There was a huge final shock, which was great. But then the book ended very abruptly, leaving me to my imagination as to what happened. I give this book 4.5 stars. It was excellent, a very absorbing read, but the ending, just has me numb.

“We worked out all kinds of crazy theories explaining why Mom would hide herself from us: mental illness, amnesia, kidnapping, brainwashing, a threat of harm, a cult (okay, that was mine). Miranda adored this game. She made up elaborate stories about Mom sustaining a head injury that magically erased her memory or convinced her that she was some other woman”.

After eighteen years….
‘We win circumstantial cases all the time. But there just isn’t enough to charge anyone right now. Now, having said that, I want you to understand that the case is not closed”.

“Fourteen months later. September 21, 1994. Five days before the trial is scheduled to open”.

The end….
Huh?

Like with Defending Jacob …where I was driven batty - unclear what was what….
It’s happened again…
What the hell?

I don’t understand!

But … another 4 stars from me for Landay.

But… as with BOTH books….
They probably both deserve 5 stars.

I guess this book is going to haunt me for another decade just as the Jacob book did.

The expectations were sky high for Landay's DEFENDING JACOB's follow up. Years have passed but AppleTV pushed the NOS button a couple years ago and put Landay's masterpiece front stage. Anyone diving into ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME has a big chance of expecting something similar to DJ.

Having read DJ somehow enhanced the reading experience of ATIMICWM. Like my 4 year old son gets all giggly and on high alert when I make a move to tickle him, his fear of being tickled always generates a greater reaction than the actual tickling, I found that while reading ATIMICWM, I was waiting for that moment where I would realize, or have the certainty, that the narrator is leading me somewhere I never asked to go in the first place.
This anticipation made me turn pages.

It is again a lesson in pacing, leading, or misleading, and creating expectations.

I was so excited to hear that William Landay had written another novel after 'Defending Jacob'. It’s been ten long years of waiting patiently and we finally have a new novel! I must say, this is not a thriller or mystery but rather a family drama. The ending of the story is spelled out within the beginning of the book but that doesn’t make it any less shocking.
This is the tale of the Larkin family. It’s 1975 and the mother Jane, disappears without a trace. The father is the leading suspect but there is no evidence, only suspicion. The children are Alex, Miranda and Jeff. They all struggle to understand what happened to their mother. The story then takes you through the span of several decades and is very successfully told by multiple narrators, including the mother herself from heaven I assume. Every angle and viewpoint-it’s all so good.
Wow. What a book. I have every possible feeling going through my mind and body after this one. I feel it will stick with me for a really long time.
This story unfolds in such a thoughtful and fascinating way as to make it positively believable. The characters are so real in their pain and struggles trying to cope.
Do yourself a favor and add this one to your list for the spring of 2023 when it debuts.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing me early access to this spectacular novel for honest review.

One afternoon in November 1975, ten-year-old Miranda Larkin comes home from school to find the house eerily quiet. Her mother is missing. Nothing else is out of place. There is no sign of struggle. Her mom’s pocketbook remains in the front hall, in its usual spot.

So begins a mystery that will span a lifetime. What happened to Jane Larkin? As a highly skilled criminal defense attorney, Dan Larkin would be an expert in outfoxing the police -- if he did it. But with no evidence,Jane’s three children—Alex, Jeff, and Miranda—are left to be raised by a man who may have murdered their mother.

Two decades later, the remains of Jane Larkin are found. The investigation is awakened. The children, now grown, are forced to choose sides. With their father or against him? Guilty or innocent? And what if they are wrong?

William Landay has crafted a superb suspense novel that, at its heart, is about family, loyalty, and the lies we tell each other. Highly recommended. #AllThatIsMineICarryWithMe #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthors

Many thanks to Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay in return for an honest review.

Landay knows how to craft a mystery, and his character development is exceptional. He takes an average day and subjects it to chaos; he takes ordinary families and tests their capacity to defend, love and believe. Since reading Defending Jacob, William Landay has become a go-to author for me, and it was the best surprise to find that I had been gifted the ARC of his latest.

Told from different perspectives, the story details the disappearance of Jane Larson, and the impact that it had on her criminal defense attorney husband, Dan, and her three children, Alex,Jeff and Miranda, as well as her sister, Kate. Her husband, always a suspect, manages to evade arrest or criminal prosecution. The lack of closure haunts this family, and although they move forward, they suffer. Years later, a writer and family friend, Phil, reconnects with Jeff. He researches, interviews and chronicles the disappearance of Jane Larson. From the opening chapters, Phil is presented as a main character, and though his writer’s block is the catalyst for revisiting this tragic event from the past, he oddly plays a very minor role.

This was an engaging story, and when I wasn’t reading the novel, I wanted to be reading it. If not for the ending, I would have most certainly given the book a five star review, but the conclusion to this intensely plotted story fell a little flat for me, and it wasn’t a particularly satisfying ending either. Personally, I like good to prevail, and evil to receive just punishment, and I like it to be accomplished in a cathartic and satisfying manner. The reveal took too long, and it just wasn’t enough. For that reason, I deducted a star. To say any more would require spoilers.

I was very excited about reading this book, as I loved William Landay's prior book 'Defending Jacob', and this one was a long time coming. However, I was a bit disappointed. This is a sad story about the Larkin family, whose mother, Jane disappears one day in 1975, and her husband Dan becomes the main suspect. There is never any physical evidence that Dan caused her disappearance or was involved in any foul play, however, detective Tom Glover has a hunch and will stop at nothing to find out what happened to Jane. You never really find out what drives Tom. Was he haunted by a prior unsolved case? Was his friendship with Miranda the reason he feels compelled to solve the case? He travels around the country whenever someone thinks they've seen a sighting of Jane.
The main focus of the story is the effect this event has on Miranda and Jeff, two of Jane's 3 children, both who come to believe that their father might have killed their mother, so much so, they decide to follow through with a civil suit against him. The author tells this book from multiple perspectives, which was interesting. You hear Jeff, MIranda, and even Jane's thoughts about the events.
The character development in this book was outstanding, and the writing was well done, it just dragged for me. Your are caught up in the grief and depression of the children's lives for 18 years. Finally Jane's remains are discovered, and they start to have the hope of closure.
I did not find the end of the book shocking, as some reviewers mention. The culprit was not a surprise, but Miranda's behavior was, but to be expected under the circumstances.
So this is not a thriller, but a slow paced family drama that finally reaches a predictable conclusion.

Well I’m just gobsmacked! William Landay absolutely cruses it! Crazy great novel with stunning characters. This was taut, chilling and perfectly executed. Just disappointed it had to end.
Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

I received an ARC of this intriguing mystery by a top-notch author through NetGalley.

The mystery involves a missing person, a wife and mother of three children. Is she dead or alive? Was it the doing of her husband? Will she be found? If not the husband, who else could it be? If alive, why would she leave?

The book is divided into sections, each with a different narrator. The first section is narrated by a lawyer-turned-author suffering from writer's block. At first, I thought this was a foreword by the author but then realized it was the beginning of the book! The next section is narrated by Jane, the missing wife/mother, spoken from heaven(?). Then the middle child, a son, narrates, followed by the husband.

The character development of all the family members is well executed. Dad, the hotshot, cocky lawyer. Mom, the loving lady holding the family together. The oldest son, a superstar with a super ego. The second son, a good soul living in the shadow of two alpha males (his father and older brother). Finally, the daughter, a sweetheart beloved by the entire family.

This goes down as the hardest book to put down that I've read this year. This author has a knack for drawing his reader in and not letting go. A terrific mystery.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me ~ by William Landry, is certainly a book that I will carry with me for a long time. I cannot stop thinking about this book. In fact, I am sad and I am also angry. This book shows the unfairness of life. How some people thrive through misfortune, and how some people will suffer their whole lives.

This story focuses on the disappearance of Jane Larkin. Jane Larkin disappeared on November 12, 1975. Jane was the wife to the pompous, arrogant criminal defense attorney, Dan Larkin. Jane was also the mother to three children, Alex, Jeff, and Miranda. We mainly read about Miranda and Jeff’s lives, and how the disappearance of their mother affected them. Miranda being the youngest and the only girl in the family, definitely took losing her mother the hardest. Throughout this story we don’t hear too much about the oldest son Alex, other than the fact that he turned out to be just like his father.

This story is broken down into four ‘Books’. In Book Two, we get to hear Jane’s story. Her story doesn’t come as a big surprise or shock, but the way her family has to deal with life after her is heartbreaking. I went through so many emotions while reading this. I also have to say that I can totally relate to Jeff Larkin. I think he ended up being the smartest one.

I do not want to go into too much more without giving the whole book away. I will say to read this book, and then think about it for a while (it will be hard not to think about it). With that being said, I also highly recommend reading this book because you will carry it with you for a long time after reading it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine-Bantam, and the author for the advanced copy of this wonderful book. Publication date: March 7, 2023.

Quite possibly one of the best mysteries of the year! Landay has written a heartfelt page turner about a family torn apart by the the possible murder of the mother. Told from multiple viewpoints in a style that whisks the plot along to an emotional conclusion. If you enjoyed Defending Jacob, and who didn't, this is a must for your shelf. Should be up for an Edgar Award. I cannot wait to handsell it!

I wanted to like this so badly. I loved Defending Jacob and was so excited that Landay had a new book coming out. But this was disappointing.

When young Miranda comes home from school to find her mother missing, her father is the obvious suspect. But there is no evidence, not even a body.

The book is separated into 4 perspectives: A friend of the family writing a book, the missing mother, the younger brother and then the father.

I looked up some reviews while reading because it was going to slowly and I was bored. I kept seeing people mention a huge twist at the end, similar to Defending Jacob. While I can certainly see the similarities due to the outcome, there was nothing twisty about it. The mystery is solved very early in the book and it is completely spelled out for you. The rest just seemed unnecessary.

2.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

First, let me say thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing access to this spectacular novel.

I was so excited to hear that William Landay had written another novel after 'Defending Jacob'. It was with great anticipation that I started 'All That is Mine I Carry With Me'. It was with something close to obsession that I continued with it. I could not put it down because it drew me in from the start. It is literary fiction, a page-turner, a thriller and a whodunit. The character development is superb and the method Landay uses to tell the narrative is perfect - it is told from different perspectives and in different timeframes.

The novel starts out with a writer who is friends with Jeff, a member of the Larkin family. He wants to write a book about the disappearance of Jane Larkin and to do so, he needs to interview the members of the family. Jane Larkin's disappearance was first page news in Boston. She fed her children breakfast, bid them goodbye and was never seen again. The police investigation centers on her husband, Dan Larkin, a narcissistic lawyer who fancies himself a dandy. He is an unlikable character and it is easy to think of him as a murderer but there is no body, no evidence and no witnesses. I won't say more about the plot because I want all readers to have the same enjoyment I had as I turned page after page.

The Larkins have three children - Alex, Miranda, and Jeff. Alex is the oldest and the son every father wants. He is great at sports and a good student. He is in high school when his mother disappears. Jeff is next oldest, a few years behind Alex. He is not particularly athletic and does not stand out in his private school like his brother did. Miranda, called Mimi, by the family, is the youngest. She is emotionally frail and the trauma of losing her mother nearly breaks her. She struggles with depression and most likely Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

One of the most interesting characters is Detective Glover, who Miranda takes an immediate liking to. He is in charge of the case and does everything in his power to solve the crime. The relationship between Detective Glover and Miranda is a tender one, one that is lasting.

Kate is Jane's sister and she does not like Dan Larkin. She wishes that Kate would leave him and move on with her life.

The mysterious Dan Larkin is a defense lawyer who will pull out any stops at hand to get his client off. Whether he does something that is considered close to illegal is not of interest to him. He is flashy and determined, a man in love with himself. He is so fastidious that he thoroughly washes out the sink after the dishes are done. He wears custom made suits and spends money like there's no tomorrow.

The protagonist of the book, in my opinion, is Jeff, the younger son. He is the lost child, the one who is standing in the shadows of his older brother, a person with no real ambition. He is close with Mimi but he keeps Alex at arm's distance.

This is a book about doubt and trust, belief and betrayal. It is very well-written and the characters all came alive for me. I love books that are propelled by great characterization and this one is. The question of whether Jane was murdered takes a close second seat to the inner lives of the characters. I highly recommend this book. It is a sterling read.

Jeff, Miranda and Alex didn’t have the best childhood. Growing up without their mother wasn’t easy. One day she was there...next she vanished with no explanation. What made it down-right horrific was that their father, Dan Larkin, is under the spotlight as prime suspect for murdering her.

Beautifully written from multiple POV, you witness the effects of the tremendous weight on the children and how it shapes them moving forward.

Will the killer come to justice? And what will that justice look like?

A slow-burn of a novel, but I was completely enthralled from beginning to end. I loved a previous book by this author Defending Jacob and immediately wished for this book as soon as I saw it. And yes, this book was equally captivating!

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for granting my wish!🧞‍♀️

When this book becomes a movie, and I just know it will, I will be the first in line to watch it. Mr Landay is an epic storyteller. This book will inspire the armchair detective in you as you get lost in the intricacies of what happened to Jane Larkin.

Jane Larkin disappeared on November 12, 1975. She was 39 years old. Her daughter, Miranda, came home from school to find her mother gone. Where did she go? Why would she leave her family? Will she come back? It seems that some people want to blame her father, but why would he be involved?

The disappearance of Jane has fractured this family and everyone has differing thoughts on where she could be. The dialogue between the family members is realistic enough to make you feel as though you’re right there with them trying to solve the mystery.

The character development is flawless. I felt their heartbreak, their anger, their confusion and their need for answers. Each of Jane’s children has a distinct personality and their lives are shaped by this tragic event. Miranda suffers from depression, Jeff drinks too much and chooses to live as far away from home as possible and Alex is just accepting of the fact that his mother will never return and he’ll never truly know what happened to her.

This book is amazing down to the very last page. It will certainly give you something to think about long after you’ve finished the book. I give All That Is Mine I Carry With Me 5 stars and have already started recommending it to others. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this amazing book. This is my honest review.

All That Is Mine I Carry with Me is William Landay's long-awaited novel, coming ten years after his popular best seller Defending Jacob. Told from the perspective of multiple characters over a span of several decades, it is a suspenseful family drama that unfolds with a quiet intensity, and slowly builds to an ending so shocking I never saw it coming. William Landay just gets better with each book he writes. If you enjoyed Defending Jacob, or any of his earlier books, you will absolutely love All That Is Mine. 5++ stars.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine-Bantam and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.