Someone Knows: A Compelling Whodunnit That Misses the Mark
As a book blogger, I often find myself drawn to stories that promise a complex blend of mystery and emotional depth. When I stumbled upon Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline, I was excited to dive into what seemed like a riveting thriller that ticked all the boxes—murder, secrets, and a tantalizing backdrop of past mistakes. However, what started as an enticing premise soon devolved into a predictable narrative that left me a bit underwhelmed, earning a modest two stars in the end.
The story unfolds through the eyes of Elizabeth, an English professor whose world is shaken when one of her students submits a chapter about a high school senior having an affair with her teacher—setting off a cascade of buried memories. Elizabeth knows this story all too well; after all, her best friend, Jocelyn, was that girl—and she was involved in a shocking incident that she thought was well hidden. The narrative drags us back to Elizabeth’s Louisiana hometown, and we watch her grapple with her dark past as someone seems poised to expose the truth.
While I can tolerate predictability in cozy mysteries and romances, it simply doesn’t sit well in thrillers for me. I appreciate a well-crafted twist, but here, I found myself anticipating key reveals two or three chapters ahead. That said, the first-person perspective is spot-on, encapsulating Elizabeth’s frantic, often egoistical narrative through a whirlwind of emotions. Scottoline does an admirable job capturing the tone—from desperation to messy confusion, it almost reads like a study of patterns in human behaviors and relationships.
Despite its fast pace, I wished for a more substantial plot. The chapters ebb and flow with a sense of urgency, but the actual movement of the story feels stagnant—there simply wasn’t enough to propel it forward. The writing is engaging, but everything from the characterizations to the twists felt almost formulaic, which may resonate with fans of the genre but left me feeling unsatisfied.
Elizabeth herself follows the dreaded trope of the “idiot protagonist”; she bounces through life fueled by coffee and a seemingly unlimited supply of bad decisions. Her moments of poor judgment felt overdone rather than authentic, turning what should be a thrilling experience into moments of eye-rolling frustration. And while the book claims to be both chilling and sexy, I found it lacked the cool undercurrent of suspense and instead leaned heavily into what felt more like horniness than genuine erotic tension.
One of the more frustrating elements was the last chapter, an ending that seemed to aim for shock value at the expense of coherence. It felt unnecessary and muddled the entire experience, making me question the very plot I had entered into, which is a trend I hope to see come to an end.
In summary, Someone Knows has the ingredients for a gripping thriller, but the execution fell short for me. If you enjoy thrillers with fast-paced narratives and you don’t mind a predictable plot, this could still be your next read. However, I’d encourage potential readers to take a peek at other reviews, especially considering the book’s heavy themes, including grooming and mental illness. It’s a nuanced read that may spark conversation—perhaps a fitting choice for a book club, even if it didn’t quite do it for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the eARC. My review is a reflection of my genuine thoughts, and as always, I encourage fellow readers to approach with an open mind.
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