Shari Lapena, often dubbed the “queen of the one-sit read,” returns with What Have You Done?, a small-town murder mystery that perfectly captures the tension, paranoia, and secrets simmering beneath quiet suburban life. Set in Fairhill, Vermont, this novel explores what happens when innocence shatters and everyone becomes a suspect.
The story begins with a chilling discovery. One early morning, a farmer finds the lifeless body of Diana Brewer, a local teenager, lying in a hayfield. The town of Fairhill, where everyone knows everyone and doors are left unlocked, suddenly becomes a place of fear and suspicion. As detectives Stone and Godfrey from the Vermont State Police investigate, the calm surface of the town begins to crack, revealing the dark undercurrents running through its residents.
Lapena structures her story through multiple perspectives friends, parents, teachers, and even Diana herself. The addition of Diana’s ghostly voice offers an emotional layer reminiscent of The Lovely Bones, where the dead try to make sense of their own tragedy. While some readers may find this supernatural element unnecessary, it undeniably deepens the haunting tone of the novel.
The author’s signature pacing shines here: short, compulsively readable chapters that beg you to keep turning the pages. Each character’s viewpoint adds a new clue or misdirection, and the suspects pile up quickly Cameron, Diana’s jealous boyfriend; Joe, an unsettling customer from her workplace; and Brad, the gym teacher accused of inappropriate behavior. As the web tightens, Lapena skillfully keeps readers guessing, scattering red herrings with practiced precision.
Some readers have noted that the large cast can be difficult to track, and that certain subplots might have benefited from tighter focus or a more extended ending. Still, Lapena’s ability to weave tension into every page remains intact. Even when the final reveal arrives with a quick punch, the journey there is gripping and atmospheric.
In the audiobook edition, the narration by January Lavoy, Jorjeana Marie, and Barrett Leddy adds another dimension, especially during the sections told through teenage voices and Evan’s journal entries. The performance enhances the emotional range of the story and amplifies the eerie undertones of Fairhill’s quiet terror.
What Have You Done? may not be Lapena’s most complex mystery, but it’s undoubtedly one of her most chilling. With its mix of small-town intrigue, moral ambiguity, and psychological suspense, it’s an addictive read for fans of domestic thrillers and anyone who enjoys peeling back the polished surface of a seemingly perfect community.
If you love fast-paced mysteries that keep you reading late into the night, this book deserves a spot on your list.
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