What the Dead Know is a crime thriller by the American writer Laura Lippman, published in 2007.Laura Lippman, What the Dead Know, William Morrow, 2007. , . Set in Baltimore in 2005, the novel follows an investigation into a woman who claims to be Heather Bethany, a girl who disappeared thirty years prior. The book received critical acclaim and won the 2007 Quill Award in the mystery/suspense/thriller category, as well as the 2008 Anthony Award for Best Novel.
Main characters, as first introduced The Bethany family: Dave and Miriam (née Toles); daughters Heather and Sunny Penelope Jackson – registered owner of a car in a highway accident Detective Kevin Infante – lead investigator Harold Lenhardt – Infante's sergeant Gloria Bustamante – lawyer Nancy Porter – police researcher and Infante's former police partner Kay Sullivan – social worker at St. Agnes Hospital; children Seth and Grace Dr. Schumeier – psychiatrist at St. Agnes Hospital Chester "Chet" V. Willoughby IV – retired detective Stan Dunham – former Pennsylvania property owner Irene – a foster mother Tony Dunham – man killed in a Florida house fire Roy Pincharelli – music teacher Joe – art gallery owner Javier – art gallery employee Jeff and Thelma Baumgarten – couple in fidelity crisis Ruth Leibig – Ohio school girl Estelle and Herb Turner – practitioners of Fivefold Path spirituality Priscilla "Syl" Browne – employee at "Swiss Colony" restaurant
Critical reception Reviewers saw What the Dead Know as a success both as a well-crafted mystery and as an emotionally powerful novel.Patrick Anderson, "A Virtuoso Reappearing Act" (review of What the Dead Know), Washington Post, March 19, 2007; Page C03.Janet Maslin, "Maybe She’s Reappeared; Definitely She’s a Mystery" (review of What the Dead Know), New York Times, April 5, 2007.
The Guardian described the novel as a "realistic and poignant detailing of emotional hide-and-seek, ... an excellent mystery and a thoughtful exploration of the nature and effects of grief and loss.""What the Dead Know" (book review), The Guardian, July 14, 2007. Kirkus Reviews praised the novel, noting that "Lippman (To the Power of Three, 2005, etc.) crafts a tale that resonates long after the last page is turned." Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised What the Dead Know as "an uncommonly clever imposter story", "three-dimensional", and worthy of reading a second time — "You read it once just to move breathlessly toward the finale. Then you revisit it to marvel at how well Ms. Lippman pulled the wool over your eyes."
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