Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline: A Mixed Bag of Thrills and Missed Opportunities
As a book blogger who thrives on diving into the depths of a well-crafted narrative, I was genuinely excited about Lisa Scottoline’s Someone Knows. After enjoying her previous romance novel, I couldn’t resist picking up this thriller, particularly with its intriguing premise: an English professor facing her dark past. With such tantalizing elements combined with my own affinity for stories exploring the consequences of choices made in youth, how could I say no?
However, my enthusiasm quickly waned, leading to a rather disappointing reading journey. The premise is promising: Elizabeth, who teaches creative writing, gets a submission eerily similar to a traumatic event from her past involving her best friend, Jocelyn, and a doomed affair with a teacher. Naturally, this sets the stage for a thrilling exploration of guilt, secrets, and the complexities of adulthood. While I appreciate when a story checks boxes, I find myself craving more depth in thrillers. Unfortunately, Someone Knows didn’t deliver on that front.
The first-person perspective was well-executed, capturing Elizabeth’s descent into chaos quite effectively. Scottoline nails the emotional tone, transitioning from an egocentric attitude to outright panic as the story unfolds. It’s a fast-paced read that definitely keeps you turning pages, even if the plot itself lacks substantial movement. Yet, as the narrative progressed, I found the pacing less enthralling and more predictable, with twists that I could see coming two or three chapters in advance. It’s frustrating when a thriller feels, well, too familiar.
A primary concern for me was Elizabeth herself. The modern trope of making the main character both relatable yet frustrating is a delicate balance. Unfortunately, she ticked all the boxes for the “idiotic protagonist” checklist: coffee and alcohol dependency, bad decisions in romantic entanglements, and a rather predictable unraveling of her mental state. I know many readers enjoy complex characters who spiral out of control; however, Elizabeth felt woefully one-dimensional, serving as a caricature more than a character.
Interestingly, the book positions itself as a chilling and sexy thriller, yet it wasn’t particularly chilling, nor could I find the “sexy” element that I anticipated. The erotic scenes began strong but soon devolved, feeling more like filler that undermined the overall tension. The final chapter, a trope that has unfortunately grown common in thrillers, felt like an unnecessary twist that questioned all I’d read before it. It served to frustrate rather than enlighten, leaving me with a sense of betrayal rather than closure.
In sum, Someone Knows has all the components of a good thriller, but for this reader, it fell flat. Those who revel in suspense-driven narratives and appreciate what might be termed “comfortingly predictable” plots could find enjoyment here. But if you’re craving innovative twists and fully realized characters, you might want to explore further before diving in. While my experience was underwhelming, I would encourage potential readers to consider reviews from others—this book may resonate in ways that didn’t quite connect for me.
Overall, while I appreciate Scottoline’s attempt at exploring heavier themes such as grooming, mental illness, and abusive relationships, the execution didn’t propel me into a gripping reading experience as I’d hoped. A warm thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the eARC, which allowed me to delve into these themes, even if the overall impact was less than I’d envisioned. Happy reading!