I recently finished reading I Knew She Was There by Jennifer Sadera. This book, which comes out tomorrow, Nov. 12th, is a murder mystery thriller with a sometimes unreliable narrator. For much of the story, you’re not entirely sure if our narrator, Caroline Case, is telling the whole truth or even if she’s aware that she’s lying.
The Basic Premise
Caroline comes from a middle-class neighborhood. Soon after her baby is born, she discovers a rich neighborhood not too far from where she lives. She starts taking her baby for walks there. Because Caroline is nosy, she goes in the dark, when no one can see her but she can spy on the neighborhood’s residents. By the time the story starts, Caroline’s husband has left her, and these rich neighborhood strolls have become even more of an obsession. One night, she sees a bloody woman in a window. Caroline assumes she’s witnessed a murder, but when she calls the police, they don’t believe her.
More You Should Know About This Murder Mystery
This story is told in two parts, both narrated by Caroline. The first part, while necessary, does feel a bit slow and repetitive. I think many readers will give up on the book because the first part is so slow and at times confusing. It could be edited down a bit to make the story not feel like it’s dragging as much. If the first part feels too slow, just keep reading. The second part is much more exciting.
This book has a lot of twists and turns. There was one that I guessed, but most of them were surprises. I feel like the second part of the book was very well-written. I read the second part in one sitting.
Reader Warning
This book does have some swearing. As far as I remember, they are only the milder swear words. While there are several characters who are having affairs, we don’t get the graphic details of these affairs or any other sexual content. The violence is mostly behind the scenes. This book does deal with some serious issues including issues connected to mental illness as well as death. Overall, if you can make it through the slow first part of the book, I think you’ll enjoy this if you are a fan of domestic thrillers.
