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courtneygerdes10's review
3.0
I liked the book, but 90% of it was very boring and not a very action packed mystery book for my taste. It took all of the motivation in me to finish it, but overall a good book.
holmstead's review
Made it to the 100-page mark: Nothing kept my interest. Too many side stories going and different time lines, too much back and forth. I don't mind different perspectives and such from characters and places. This one just didn't keep me engaged. Don't know if I'll attempt another one by Lippman....we'll see.
laurkimberley224's review
2.0
I thought this mystery was going to be a real page turner but it was really just dragged out and boring. The time jumps to places and events that told the stories of those left behind by Felix Brewer made it hard to follow at times and it also didn’t lend anything to the overall mystery.
The story didn’t become interesting or actually even get at who had murdered the mistress until about the last 25% and by then it was too late to be invested. At that point I was reading simply because I’d made it too far to give up on it. But I definitely could have saved myself some time and just read the last few chapters because nothing remotely compelling really happens until then.
The story didn’t become interesting or actually even get at who had murdered the mistress until about the last 25% and by then it was too late to be invested. At that point I was reading simply because I’d made it too far to give up on it. But I definitely could have saved myself some time and just read the last few chapters because nothing remotely compelling really happens until then.
mg_in_md_'s review
4.0
The latest standalone novel by Laura Lippman is another standout. At this point, I think that I've read more of her standalone novels than the Tess Monaghan series (which I've really enjoyed) and find that each one is better than the last. The latest offering was inspired by Julius Salsbury, who headed a massive underground lottery operation in Baltimore into the 1970s before disappearing, never to be seen again. Like Salsbury, the character inspired by him, Felix Brewer, leaves behind a wife, three daughters, and a mistress, and that is where this story begins. What happened to the women Brewer left behind and how did his disappearance impact them? The event that triggers the story is not Brewer's disappearance but rather the discovery of his mistress Julie Saxony's body in Leakin Park, some 15 years after she herself disappeared. Retired Baltimore detective Roberto "Sandy" Sanchez is working as a cold case consultant and decides to take on Julie's case. Lippman skillfully moves between the past and the present to tell the women's stories and reveal what happened the day Julie disappeared. One of the aspects of Lippman's novels that I am drawn to is the female characters she creates -- they are strong, resilient, and sympathetic, even when their flaws are exposed. I was lucky to hear her talk about this latest novel at an event sponsored by my favorite independent bookstores on Maryland's Eastern Shore. One of the things she talked about was imagination and asking the question "what if?". I hope she continues to ask that question and look forward to reading how it gets answered.
claredesausmarez's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
beastreader's review
3.0
Bambi meet and fell in love with Felix. They got married and had children. Everything was good except for one small detail. Felix has a mistress. Felix disappears before he can face prison. Bambi thought that he left with his mistress. That is until ten years to the day that Felix disappeared that his mistress is found dead buried in a park. Now, it is up to Detective Sandy to figure out what happened to Felix and his mistress.
It has been a little while since I have read a book by this author. I was in the mood for a good mystery book. While I did like this book, I was not in love with it or the characters. Maybe it is because of Felix or that the women in Felix's life were not that intriguing. I kind of drifted along reading this book. What I mean by this is that after reading about a third of the way into this book, I sort of skimmed parts to make it go faster. I did not feel like I missed anything of great importance by doing this. However I must admit that Bambi did surprise me in the end and had me cheering for her. She was smart. Although, I do have to say that I did think the back and forth from past to present was smooth.
It has been a little while since I have read a book by this author. I was in the mood for a good mystery book. While I did like this book, I was not in love with it or the characters. Maybe it is because of Felix or that the women in Felix's life were not that intriguing. I kind of drifted along reading this book. What I mean by this is that after reading about a third of the way into this book, I sort of skimmed parts to make it go faster. I did not feel like I missed anything of great importance by doing this. However I must admit that Bambi did surprise me in the end and had me cheering for her. She was smart. Although, I do have to say that I did think the back and forth from past to present was smooth.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
After I’m Gone by Laura Lippman reminds me of an old black and white 50’s movie with a mix of love, tragedy, gangster type, with glamour, flair, money, and betrayal, for an intriguing mystery suspense-- while curling up in a mountain rustic cabin on a chilly rainy night by a fire!
A multi-generational saga of a family bound by one man, Felix Brewer, a gambler, strip club operator, a bookie, involved in all sorts of criminal activities. Faced with jail time, he disappears and leaves his beautiful wife, Bambi, and their three young daughters in 1976. He also leaves a young mistress, Julie (no shocker here).
Tom loves women; however, he loves Bambi and would never leave her, even though Julia was a bit more serious than some of his other flings. Bambi knew about the affairs; however, during this era with no education or skill set and knowing her husband loved her and would not leave, she stayed. However, no one could understand why Felix would disappear and not leave money to take care of his family.
Ten years later, to the day of Felix' disappearance, Julie disappears and her body is found in a park. The case was not solved and labeled a cold case.
Flashing back and forth from the 1950s, when Felix and Bambi Met (maybe this is where I am getting the B/W movie vibe). Their love story and then advances to the time where Bambi is lonely and waits on her husband to return home to their family. We also meet the three daughters and their different personalities all the way through adulthood and the present.
The cold case ends up on the desk of Sandy Sanchez, twenty some years later; a Cuban, private investigator, retired police offer, and consultant for the DA’s office. Flashing back and forth from 1976 when Felix disappears, to 1991 when Julie's body turns up thru 2012, when Sandy begins his investigation. He investigates everyone in the Brewer family along with their close group of friends.
Why, has Bambi had to live poor? Why didn't Felix leave her money so she could live in the same lifestyle as before? She finds herself going to Felix's friend Bert, a wealthy lawyer, to tide her over the rough financial times. Sandy notices there are discrepancies from every angle, from every testimony, and he is intrigued and how all of this is connected.
Lippman does a good job in taking you down different paths to keep you guessing the identity of the killer. She does such a good job, readers will be shocked with the motives and the explosive ending. While the novel is very engaging and holds your interest, it is not fast-paced. Possibly this is due in part to the voice on the audiobook. The narrator, Linda Emond had a soft soothing voice, and enjoyed the pace, as many times with other audiobooks, it moves so fast, you can miss an important part. The author is in control of her story and it works!
If you like a good murder mystery with a powerful and intriguing story, you will enjoy. The novel was even more intriguing based on the fact Lippman based her tale from a real-life disappearance, a fraud scandal of the 1970s, and bases Sandy on a real homicide detective, and the rest is her creative fictional imagination.
An emotionally charged and engrossing crime thriller mystery, which spans the decades of time for an explosive conclusion and satisfying read. My first by Lippman, and enjoyed her smooth style. She digs deep into each character, with details and background, and the time periods and flash backs are smooth and easy to follow.
A multi-generational saga of a family bound by one man, Felix Brewer, a gambler, strip club operator, a bookie, involved in all sorts of criminal activities. Faced with jail time, he disappears and leaves his beautiful wife, Bambi, and their three young daughters in 1976. He also leaves a young mistress, Julie (no shocker here).
Tom loves women; however, he loves Bambi and would never leave her, even though Julia was a bit more serious than some of his other flings. Bambi knew about the affairs; however, during this era with no education or skill set and knowing her husband loved her and would not leave, she stayed. However, no one could understand why Felix would disappear and not leave money to take care of his family.
Ten years later, to the day of Felix' disappearance, Julie disappears and her body is found in a park. The case was not solved and labeled a cold case.
Flashing back and forth from the 1950s, when Felix and Bambi Met (maybe this is where I am getting the B/W movie vibe). Their love story and then advances to the time where Bambi is lonely and waits on her husband to return home to their family. We also meet the three daughters and their different personalities all the way through adulthood and the present.
The cold case ends up on the desk of Sandy Sanchez, twenty some years later; a Cuban, private investigator, retired police offer, and consultant for the DA’s office. Flashing back and forth from 1976 when Felix disappears, to 1991 when Julie's body turns up thru 2012, when Sandy begins his investigation. He investigates everyone in the Brewer family along with their close group of friends.
Why, has Bambi had to live poor? Why didn't Felix leave her money so she could live in the same lifestyle as before? She finds herself going to Felix's friend Bert, a wealthy lawyer, to tide her over the rough financial times. Sandy notices there are discrepancies from every angle, from every testimony, and he is intrigued and how all of this is connected.
Lippman does a good job in taking you down different paths to keep you guessing the identity of the killer. She does such a good job, readers will be shocked with the motives and the explosive ending. While the novel is very engaging and holds your interest, it is not fast-paced. Possibly this is due in part to the voice on the audiobook. The narrator, Linda Emond had a soft soothing voice, and enjoyed the pace, as many times with other audiobooks, it moves so fast, you can miss an important part. The author is in control of her story and it works!
If you like a good murder mystery with a powerful and intriguing story, you will enjoy. The novel was even more intriguing based on the fact Lippman based her tale from a real-life disappearance, a fraud scandal of the 1970s, and bases Sandy on a real homicide detective, and the rest is her creative fictional imagination.
An emotionally charged and engrossing crime thriller mystery, which spans the decades of time for an explosive conclusion and satisfying read. My first by Lippman, and enjoyed her smooth style. She digs deep into each character, with details and background, and the time periods and flash backs are smooth and easy to follow.
mmc6661's review
3.0
I usually love Lippman's stand alones but having said that I had a hard time with this one. The format was a little choppy and I couldn't keep up with the flow of the story keeping it from being a page-turner. The story was very interesting and made a great crime investigation but i never got the feel of the characters.It was said to be based off a true story that was unsolved.
ridgewaygirl's review
3.0
Laura Lippman writes mainstream crime novels, a genre I usually avoid as predictable and usually featuring the protagonist putting themselves in needless peril so as to provide a good climax for the story. Lippman's stand-alone novels don't fall into those traps, although the writing can be workmanlike. The qualities that make her novels worth reading are an ability to create three dimensional characters and to make the reader care about them, even the not very likable ones, and that Baltimore is a character in the best of her books. Lippman clearly cares about this city and knows its history and geography with the kind of detail that only someone who loves it could.
In 1976, Felix, facing a few years in prison on a federal racketeering conviction, disappears instead. He leaves behind his wife and three young daughters, his friends and a serious girlfriend, who is the one who helps him flee the country. Ten years later, the girlfriend's body is found in Leakin Park, that infamous dumping ground. Nearly three decades later, a retired police working cold cases chooses that murder to look into. Going back and forth in time, and alternating point-of-views between the various characters, After I'm Gone tells the story of what happened to the girlfriend, the wife and the daughters of the fugitive.
This was a fun book to read, with the history of Baltimore's neighborhoods changing through the decades was interesting. While not serious literature, or even serious fiction, After I'm Gone was an entertaining way to spend a few snowy evenings.
In 1976, Felix, facing a few years in prison on a federal racketeering conviction, disappears instead. He leaves behind his wife and three young daughters, his friends and a serious girlfriend, who is the one who helps him flee the country. Ten years later, the girlfriend's body is found in Leakin Park, that infamous dumping ground. Nearly three decades later, a retired police working cold cases chooses that murder to look into. Going back and forth in time, and alternating point-of-views between the various characters, After I'm Gone tells the story of what happened to the girlfriend, the wife and the daughters of the fugitive.
This was a fun book to read, with the history of Baltimore's neighborhoods changing through the decades was interesting. While not serious literature, or even serious fiction, After I'm Gone was an entertaining way to spend a few snowy evenings.