11 July 2024

“What Have You Done?” is fantastic in suspense and a gripping exploration of small-town secrets. Set in the seemingly idyllic Fairhill, Vermont, where nothing ever happens, Lapena cleverly transforms this sleepy town into a hotbed of fear and suspicion after the chilling discovery of Diana Brewer’s body in a hayfield.

From the outset, Lapena’s storytelling skill is evident. The novel opens with the jarring image of Diana Brewer, once a vibrant part of the community, now a lifeless body surrounded by vultures. This stark contrast sets the tone for a narrative that meticulously unravels the hidden layers of Fairhill. The town, with its unlocked doors and familiar faces, quickly becomes a place of mistrust and paranoia, a transformation Lapena captures with razor-sharp precision.

The characters in “What Have You Done?” are vividly drawn and multifaceted. The teenagers, who once found thrill in ghost stories, now confront a real-life horror that shatters their sense of security. Parents, previously confident in their children’s safety, struggle with the realization that danger lurks close to home. Lapena’s ability to delve into the psyche of a small community faced with an unimaginable crime is both compelling and unsettling.

The plot is expertly paced, with each chapter revealing new twists and turns that keep you on edge. Lapena builds tension, creating a deep sense of urgency as the town’s residents become suspects and the hunt for answers intensifies. The question, “What have you done?” resonates throughout the novel, a haunting refrain that underscores the novel’s themes of guilt, fear, and the search for truth. Lapena’s prose is crisp and evocative, drawing you into the heart of Fairhill’s unravelling. The atmospheric setting, combined with the intricate character dynamics, makes for an immersive reading experience. The novel’s climax is both shocking and satisfying, tying together the threads of the mystery in a way that leaves a lasting impact.

“What Have You Done?” is a fabulous thriller that showcases Shari Lapena’s talent for creating tension-filled narratives with rich character development. It’s a book that will keep you up late into the night, turning pages in a desperate quest for answers. For fans of psychological thrillers and small-town mysteries, this is a must-read. Five stars for an unforgettable journey into the dark underbelly of a seemingly perfect town.