All That Is Mine I Carry With Me is an addictive, interesting exploration of trauma, family, and life. I highly recommend this book.


Thanks NetGalley for an electronic ARC!

Upon finishing All That is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay (of Defending Jacob fame) I was left thinking about this story well beyond the last page. I really enjoyed this family saga / mystery about whether a lawyer really killed wife - told through various perspectives and timelines.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomBallantine for the complimentary copy of this book. Completed 3/17/23.

A mystery and a family drama, this book had lots of good "hooks" but as I go to write this review a few weeks later, I honestly couldn't remember anything about the story. Even after reading my notes, I only recall the bare bones of the story. To me that is a telling reaction.

A mom suddenly disappears from the family and we don't know if it's an accident, foul play, or did she run away? Her husband, a defense attorney, is a suspect of course, but nothing is proven - the family struggles with the not-knowing. Although it's a slow-burn, definitely a character driven story, the plot sounds intriguing, and the book kept me engaged most of the time, yet somehow it wasn't memorable enough to remember enough to recommend it.

Oh my goodness - I just finished this book and I don’t know if I am ok. I feel like it just ended and I wasn’t ready. I want to know what’s next!!!! Mr. Landry, can you call me??
Until then, this book WILL suck you in.
This book will NOT make you feel good.
These people are so flawed, so raw.
I just love his writing and I’m still waiting … for more.

I took William Landay's new book to bed with me intending to read a few pages. Next thing I knew light was peeking through the blinds and I was not sorry one bit.

If you have read Defending Jacob then you already know that Landay has well developed writing chops. As an attorney he also knows his way around criminal investigations and the courtroom. So it should come as no surprise that All That Is Mine I Carry With Me is expertly crafted and compelling from start to finish.

A woman in the prime of her life with everything to live for simply vanishes one day, leaving behind her husband and three children. Did she leave on her own? No one seems to think so. The husband, an unlikable, arrogant successful attorney quickly becomes the prime suspect. But where's the evidence? And what about the children who have not only lost their mother but feel like they must choose sides?

I enjoyed the unusual structure of the book with whole sections narrated by a different character and I loved the twisted ending. I recommend All That Is Mine I Carry With Me without hesitation.

When ten year old Miranda Larkin returns home from school to find her mother missing, suspicion falls on her dad, Dan Larkin, a defense attorney. Was Jane Larkin killed or did she run away? Dan cannot be arrested and the children are raised by someone who may have killed their mom. The story is revealed from long section illuminating the viewpoints of the middle son Jeff, Jane, Miranda, and Dan. Over the course of many years the answer is slowly revealed. The writing in this book is good. The lack of quotation marks didn’t bother me but the very long sections did. I think breaking this into smaller chapters and perhaps interspersing the POVs might have been effective. The multiple timelines were well-used. I enjoyed the courtroom scenes the most and the abrupt ending the least. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Frankly, I can’t decide if it was brilliant or too clever by a half. Landay nailed the characters and the late 1970s setting. I really liked the central mystery and how it ultimately unfolded. There were moments when I was riveted by the plot and moments where I got bogged down in the copious dialogue. Entering the story through Phil’s perspective muddled the plot for me, but I think Landay did that on purpose. This book is a real puzzler. If you like doubt and unresolved questions, you’ll love this!

11 years after his mega-hit, Defending Jacob, former prosecutor William Landay is back with another 5 star crime novel. about the wife and mother of 3 children (Jane) who disappears in the 1970's. Though the police suspected her husband (Dan, a criminal defense attorney), there was no evidence, so he went on to raise the 3 Larkin children. Her remains turn up decades later, focusing new attention on the case. Landay melds crime fiction and family drama so well in this story. It was an emotional roller coaster for me and my loyalties changed multiple times over the course of the story. Making Dan (the father and suspect) a legendary defense attorney added a layer of intrigue and I love how this case explored the court of public opinion and what it's like to have a father who's a suspected criminal. We hear from 4 points of view: a writer who is a friend of one of the Larkin kids, Jane, Jeff (Larkin brother), and Dan himself. I was surprised by the ending and was dying to get back to this book whenever I wasn't reading it.

One of the best books I’ve read this year!!!!

The story starts out with the youngest daughter of the family coming home after school to find that her mother is missing. Her mother never returns and the family is left trying to figure out what happened to her. Everyone suspects the husband but he is a criminal defense lawyer and there is no evidence against him.

The story follows the family as the years go by and the kids grow up to become adults. Even though there is a mystery in this story, this is very much also a family drama. I was engrossed the entire time. I kept flipping pages because I needed to know what was going to happen with this family and when I wasn’t reading, I wanted to get back to this book as soon as possible!

Thank you #netgalley and #ballantine #randomhouseballantine for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've been waiting for Landay to do something more after his extremely successful [book:Defending Jacob|11367726] and was excited to see my wish finally came true. This book will have you wondering is this fiction or non-fiction. What seems to start as an author's note explaining what's been going on with him in the decade since Jacob but the author's note doesn't seem to end and instead you realize it's his character, Phil, an author with writer's block who decides to write a story about his childhood friend whose mother disappeared when they were in middle school. The main, and only, suspect is his friend's father, a well-known criminal defense attorney. But with no real evidence to convict him and no body there's nothing the police or DA can do. This story follows the family of three children left behind to pick up the pieces all while torn about their father's guilt or innocence.

It was a very engaging story that I looked forward to picking up again whenever I was able to see what was going to happen next. I only took issue with the father's dementia at the end and how the progression of the disease seemed wildly fictionized to suit the story from what I know about my own father's Alzheimer's. Despite this I really enjoyed this story and hope it's not another decade before I get to read one of Landay's novels again.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Interesting story-line. It is definitely more of a family saga then it is a suspense novel. It was a slow build up but I did like the changing of point of view within the story particular the pov of the dead mother. The story is character driven and really shows how a loss of a mother can affect the children in long reaching ways. I felt that there was no justice in the story - the murderer was not held accountable - that to me is very upsetting - the feeling I come away with from this novel is anger at the injustice!

The author's casual, direct narrative voice had me fooled into thinking I was reading true crime. It wasn't until I Googled the victim's name that I realized it was fiction, and remembered the author's stunning work in Defending Jacob. Even as fiction, this book feels more real than the breathless thrillers that populate the genre. Unfolding over decades, it mimics the exhaustion families must feel when this type of tragedy hits home. A fake ending and a last-minute twist (that is perfectly set up) make this a book worth reading a second time.

Unique and wholly original mystery that seeks to answer the question -- what really happened to jane Larkin?

An 11-year-old, Miranda Larkin, comes home one November afternoon to discover that her mother is missing. Two brothers, Alex and Jeff, along with their father, Dan, report Jane's absence to the police. For decades, there's nothing but the waiting. To tell anymore about this story would ruin it, but it is definitely one you will want to read.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book but it sure took me through the wringer as far as reactions and emotions. I flip-flopped all over the place trying to speculate, but I had no more evidence than did the family and law enforcement. Reading the various viewpoints took me on a ride -- while common sense told me one thing, my intuition spoke otherwise. The whole narrative spans more than 40 years and then...what an ending! Such excellent writing and memorable characters. The structure sort of gives the book a true crime vibe. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

William Landay's novel really proved to have writing that was easily accessible and "smooth" - I saw another reviewer use that descriptor and I fully agree. While in the beginning I found myself a bit confused, I really ended up fully enjoying this novel. The ending was very good and honestly helped to increase my overall rating. This family story, full of tragedy and lifechanging events, is one I think many will enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Landay, and Random House Publishing for an ARC of All That Is Mine I Carry With Me.

This was an interessting read. I don't think I had ever read this type of crime fiction before. For quite a while, I thought it was true crime until I finally realized that the person telling the story was named Phil, not William. It's written from the perspective of a writer telling the story of his friend's family and the disappearnce of their mother when they were teeneagers.

The story flowed well, and the characters were easy to follow. Everyone was relatively well-developed, and you had empathy for the now-grown children of the missing woman. What happened to her? Did their father do something to her? Did she up and run away? They've all gone their whole lives wondering and living with the aftermath of not knowing.

All in all, this was a somewhat gripping read. At times I was engrossed in what was going to happen, and at others the pace slowed a little and I lost a bit of interest. It was a little bit of a roller coaster, but it all came together at the end.

Because I enjoyed Defending Jacob by William Landay, I was eager to read All That Is Mine I Carry With Me, and I was not disappointed.

The plot concerns the disappearance of Jane Larkin, mother of three, whose body is not found until many years later. In the meantime, her husband Dan is the main suspect, and although no evidence is found, he carries a cloud of potential guilt - even among his children.

The story is told from a few different points of view, which helps to move the plot along but does make the story a little confusing. Time periods and narrators are not always clear, so I found myself looking back through the text. But the characters are clearly developed, and I loved the way the story ended. This is a 4.5 star read rounded down to 4 stars for the confusion regarding the Book 2 section.

I will recommend this to readers who enjoy suspense fiction with intriguing family dynamics.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

All That is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay is a gripping and suspenseful novel about the disappearance of a woman and the impact it has on her family. The book is well-written and engaging, with well-developed characters and a compelling plot.

The book begins with the disappearance of Jane Larkin, a woman who vanishes without a trace. Her husband, Dan, is the prime suspect, but he is never charged with a crime. The book follows the lives of the Larkin family as they try to come to terms with Jane's death and the possibility that Dan may have killed her.

The characters in All That is Mine I Carry With Me are well-developed and relatable. Dan is a complex character who is both likable and frustrating. He is a loving husband and father, but he is also a flawed man who made some bad choices. Miranda, Jane and Dan's daughter, is a strong and resilient young woman who is trying to hold her family together.

The plot of All That is Mine I Carry With Me is compelling and suspenseful. The book is full of twists and turns, and the reader is never quite sure what is going to happen next. The book also explores the themes of grief, loss, and forgiveness.

Overall, All That is Mine I Carry With Me is a well-written and engaging novel that is sure to keep readers guessing until the very end.

I absolutely loved this book! It's heartbreaking, uncomfortable a little icky and deffinitely suspenseful. Gave me so much to think about.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House- Ballantine for the Arc. This is a very deep book that will keep me thinking. It is broken down into four “books”. I would recommend to literary fiction lovers.

2.75 ⭐️ This one was not for me. I did not like it. I should have DNF. The conversations were hard to follow at times. The section in Jane’s voice was confusing. This just wasn’t a good reading experience for me.