Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman was my first book by this author, though I’ve known her name for years. Obviously, this means that I can’t speak to how this title compares with her other standalones or her series. However, from just this one book, I understand why Lippman has such a following.
Immediately, I was drawn in by her writing and the main character. Supporting characters were a bit thin, but developed over time. Most importantly though, I was impressed by the fact that the most elusive mystery of the entire book was in fact, what mystery was being solved. The open-endedness of the plot—which weaved multiple unsolved, and ultimately unsolvable mysteries together—allowed late-blooming characters and a messiness that felt much more real than most mysteries that can be solved by the end of a book. Further, Lippman’s command of setting and visual environments is enjoyable to read, and only amplified by the fact that many of the book’s settings are ones from her own life.
More on Laura Lippman and Wilde Lake:
This post is part of #MySummerOfMysteries, a project to immerse myself in mysteries, thrillers, crime writing, and whodunits. For each book I finish, I’m posting brief thoughts and reflections here. Please note that these are not intended as full reviews. To view my reading progress throughout the summer, click here.