The Most Dangerous Thing (P.S.)

by Laura Lippman

Once the best of friends until a terrible secret tore them apart, a group of friends are suddenly brought back together under tragic circumstances and wonder if their long-ago lie is the reason for their troubles today and if someone is out to destroy them.

• ISBN10: 0061706515
• ISBN13: 9780061706516
• Publish Date: 23 August 2011
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 27 June 2012
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: HarperCollins
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[ibeforem]

I did not like this book anywhere near as much as I’ve liked Lippman’s other novels. She states that this is the most personal book she’s written, setting it in the area she grew up in, and I think the plot suffers for it.

The story follows the adult versions of childhood friends Gwen, McKey (nee Mickey), Tim, and Sean, awkwardly brought together after the death of the boys’ younger brother, Gordon. They are all keeping a terrible secret, which is supposed to be revealed to us in drips and drabs along the way, both through the present and the past.

The point of view jumps from character to character, which does not bother me at all. However, during the parts from the point of view of the children, the point of view is an unspecified “we”. It’s not like it’s one of the children and it’s a simple switch to first person – it’s apparent that it’s not any particular one of them. Those sections drove me crazy, and completely distracted me from the story.

The plot meanders along, and really struggled. By the end, it was difficult to muster any strong emotions about the “big” secret. It felt like Lippman really wanted to use this setting, but had a hard time finding a story to go along with it. I think she was too close to it.