Holy suspects! So many possibilities. Had me on page one and couldn’t put it down. Loved it.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I’m a huge Shari Lapena fan, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of What Have You Done from NetGalley and Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review. I liken this story to a spider; it doesn’t look too frightening at first but as the plot develops after the discovery of the murder and all the characters start looking more and more guilty, the spider grows fatter, hairier, darker and more venomous. Lapena does an excellent job of building the tension and dark details about everyone connected to the victim. The reader starts to feel frenetic with the need to know what happened! You’re tempted to squash the spider out of fear but you are mesmerized by the web and will hold off until the very last word!! The depth of the secrets keeps getting deeper, as people become desperate to be proven innocent. There are a few different first-person perspectives that add to the mystery. I don’t want to say anymore in case I spoil the suspense but I will state this is Shari Lapena’s best book.

As always Sheri delivers! Yet another twisty thriller that has you on the edge of your seat. This was layered with everything you’ve come to know and love and it will not disappoint

This was a fast-paced read that had me gripped from beginning to end!

A well-liked teenage girl is found murdered in a farmers field. This begins an investigation into who could have done such a thing. and runs through a cast of possible suspects..

The small-town setting worked perfectly for this mystery and the author did a great job of making you second guess your sleuthing abilities!

A perfect choice if you enjoy a popcorn thriller!

This story is about a small town where everyone knows each other and nothing bad ever happens until Diana brewer, a popular, good looking, and extremely well liked teenager, is found dead and naked in a field by a local farmer. Following this discovery is a host of POVs from the main suspects, Diana’s friends, related residents of the town, and even Diana herself as the story of her death and the nefarious things that went on behind the scenes leading up to it.

As always, Lapena has delivered a quick, enticing, unputownable book that had me up in the wee hours of the night finishing (short chapters that always end on a little cliffhanger never fail hook me). There were so many people to choose from who were so sick and disgusting and I I just had to know what happened and who was responsible for Diana’s untimely death. That said, aside from a few developments, the ending was pretty predictable and not that surprising or satisfying. Seemed rushed and I felt like the reasoning was pretty half-baked and random. It was also quite similar to Everyone Here is Lying (small town, lots of suspects, similar crime), which I enjoyed a lot more. Also, the phrase “stand by me” was used way too much lol. All in all, this was a fast read but it was a “just ok” story. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. 3/5!

What Have You Done is a quick binge worthy thriller that kept me hooked. Although for me the suspect was obvious, it might not be to others. I did have it figured out early on, but it did not keep me from continuing and enjoying the rest of the book.

I loved all the different POV's we got. The motive for the murder was a little dull for me. There is also a ghost aspect, which I don't tend to enjoy and found it very unnecessary to be honest. The ending was also a little too abrupt for my liking.

I still did think this was a fun and entertaining book. It was a great story, the author definitely does make everyone a suspect and keeps the suspense building.

Another nail biter by Shari Lapena! I was “in it” from the beginning. Lapena writes in a straightforward and believable manner that takes her reader on a roller coaster of a ride. While I had many guesses “who done it”. - I was never truly convinced. The short chapters and fast pace story makes this one hard to put down. While not literary and leaves you feeling unsettled at the end - this book is a gripping, dark and twisty ride! Be warned!

* MILD SPOILERS AHEAD*

Shari Lapena is great at what she does. A queen of suspense, her stories are riveting, very well-paced, and her characters are distinct and well-developed. What Have You Done is no different.

What I loved: the pacing of this story was perfect: very little filler, was very quick and to the point, which I appreciate. It was very easy to sit down and read this in one sitting because I was dying to know what happened. She’ll keep you guessing until the end. I also like a story that commits to the omnipresent ghost instead of setting it up like a ghost story and then blaming it on a living character we just haven’t met yet.

What I struggled with: I did expect a little more of a shock towards the end, and I think there was a little too much smoke and mirrors to get to that point. I found the “various potential offenders” approach to be a little unbelievable (all of these men are terrible and none of them did it) and the idea of the real perpetrator having snapped in the moment - with no lead up or past of having done so - made less sense than the other storylines. I understand how it all came together in the end, but it was a stretch. I also expected a little more wrap-up with Diana’s ending: will she move on now that her killer has been found, or stick around to be close to her grieving loved ones?

I gave this 3/5 stars. I enjoyed the ride and would maybe read again. Many thanks to Penguin Random House for the galley.

What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena is another five star read from this captivating and always compelling author. I was hooked from the start and kept guessing until the very last page. Don't pick this one up until you clear your day. You will not be able to put it down.

High school student Diana Brewer is found murdered in a local farmer's field. Nothing like this has ever happened in the small, sleepy town of Fairhill, Vermont, where doors are never locked. Tensions begin to mount as nearly everyone in Diana's life quickly becomes a potential and viable suspect.

Told from multiple POVs, this one virtually propelled me through the pages as I searched for any clues as to the killer's identity. This is brilliant storytelling from beginning to end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC.

What Have You Done by Shari Lapena will have you hooked the minute you start reading. The book centres around Diana and the mystery of her death. We are introduced to many characters who possible could be the one/ones responsible. What we find out are that many of them have their own secrets to hide. This book will keep you guessing right till the end. I enjoyed the style of writing and ended up being a very quick read. Thank you to Penquin Random House of Canada and NetGalley for the arc and the opportunity to read this book. Five stars!!

Book Review
What Have You Done by Shari Lapena

Tropes
Murdered girl
Paranormal Presence
Small town
Local drama
Teen romance
Multiple POV
Large cast of characters

Thoughts
Everyone has a potential motive
Everyone has secrets
Everyone has doubts about the people they love
Face paced page turner
At first felt like there was a lot (maybe too many?) characters and plot points to keep
Track of… was this done intentionally? Probably? It worked- there were so many people to Point fingers at (red herrings in hindsight) that when I did have an inking of the Who I completely disregarded it as improbable…. The Why completely eluded me until the finale
At the ending… kinda felt like a beginning…👀‼️

Overall
The addition of the victims POV told as a paranormal presence gave this book a fresh feel, setting it apart from your “typical” murder mystery
Highly bingeable

Thanks to @netgalley and @penguinrandomca @doubleday for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

This book, like every other Shari Lapena, will leave you guessing until the end.

Five stars!!

**Feedback for Shari Lapena on "What Have You Done?"**

This book was an absolute rollercoaster that kept me second-guessing every character and I'll never look at skipping ropes the same way!

Brad Turner—wow, he's a narcissistic pedophile and you did a great job of making my skin crawl when telling his story. If there was an award for Most Disgusting Character, he’d win it hands down. Cameron, on the other hand, really pulled at my heartstrings. I felt so bad for him as he got dragged through the mud - that's when I wasn't questioning if he was the one that killed Diana. And Evan? He absolutely deserves a one-way ticket to life in prison, no questions asked. I love that you threw Joe Prior in the mix! I was really thrown that he wasn't the one that ended up killing Diana. Brenda’s storyline was heart-wrenching, leaving me reaching for tissues more than once.

Your portrayal of the small-town vibe was spot on. It was so vivid and believable, I could almost smell the fresh-cut grass and hear the gossip at the local diner. It truly added an extra layer of tension to the narrative, making the story all the more gripping.

The seemingly innocuous detail of a skipping rope on a door handle was a masterstroke. Who knew such an innocent piece of exercise equipment could become so sinister? Kudos to you for turning everyday objects into sources of sheer terror.

Overall, "What Have You Done?" was a deliciously twisted thriller that kept me guessing, gasping, and maybe even glancing over my shoulder a few times. It was an absolutely captivating read, and your ability to craft such a suspenseful, emotionally charged narrative is truly commendable.

Thank you for the thrilling ride—I’m already looking forward to your next book!

I could not put this one down and read it in an afternoon while waiting to see the Dr. Summer colds are the worst! This book, is full of great characters, twists and intrigue that keeps you on the edge of their seats from start to finish. At times I knew who the killer was but in the end, I was surprised, not shocked but surprised. I loved the way Shari jumpy from character to character, it really kept the pace up. Definitely another #mustread by Shari Lapena!

I read this book in one sitting not because it was an engrossing book but because I knew I wouldn’t pick it up again if I didn’t finish it. The book switches across multiple POVs, many of which add nothing to the plot development. I think the book’s premise is a great one, but i did not enjoy the execution, mainly because individual motivations were never deeply explored, instead we got multiple pages of overly-descriptive and non-relevant information. The writing felt a bit juvenile as well, for this particular genre. Considering that this author has multiple other books in the genre, I’m disappointed.


I received this book as an arc from netgalley. Many thanks for the opportunity.

I really enjoyed this book! I love Shari’s way of using many POVs, and how she introduces us to all the characters at a good pace so you can keep up with who’s who. As always, I was guessing until the very end!

Share Lapena is the Queen of Thrillers!!

This book starts with a bang and ends with a bang and takes you on a twisty, whodunit ride in-between. This is a must must read!

A sleepy town is rocked to its core when the popular (but also kind and well-liked) girl is murdered. Who could possibly want her dead?
Told through multiple POVs which keeps the pacing moving quickly, it leaves you suspected several characters along the way.

A murder and ghost stories? I'm in! One of my favourite reads of the year!

An absolute unputdownable thrill ride. This one opens with serious horror. The emotions that are conveyed by each character are so well done it brought this book to life. The little supernatural twist made it unique. Everything in this book tied together and flowed perfectly. The characters were so well done I was sad to say goodbye to them at the end. This store was so well written. It twisted and turned and made your heart pound, then made you sad… so sad. Just enough twists to make you wonder without taking away from the development t of the story line. Writing like this is hard to come by. A book this well done is a rarity.

My first book in over four years! Thanks to Shari, I have been able to overcome the challenges of brain fog from LongCovid and post-covid. I’m still recovering and this book was a page turner for me. It kept me up at night for more reasons than it was just a great book. The small town plagued with suspects will have readers in small towns making sure that their doors are locked and have them looking twice at fellow residents.
The perfect summer thriller! Dark, disturbing, and devious! Loved it!

writing: trademark Shari Lapena | plot: meh | ending: sure

my opinion

Can someone more intelligent than me please explain how Shari Lapena's sparse ass, nearly monotone prose somehow works vs Freida? I can't articulate it properly but there's something about Lapena's writing that makes it not ASS when it seems like it should be?? Help.

Anyways. If you hate books with filler and fluff, good news, this book took Ozempic and is nothing but skin and bones. As with her other books, she gets right to the point and is all about that action. Character development or depth? Keep looking.

This started off interesting but then kept spinning its tires until the end. I clocked the big twist, but only because I've read too much of this genre. I didn't need the ghost POV; it reminded me of The Soulmate by Sally Hemsworth which was okay at best. It was just a lot of rinse and repeat in this book. I definitely liked Everyone Here Is Lying and Someone We Know better.

All in all, this will do the job if you need a quick, digestible read OR if you're new to the genre.

tysm penguin random house canada for the arc