Brilliant i really enjoyed this book and i will definitely be recommending it to everyone in my book group

"What Have You Done?" is fantastic in suspense and a gripping exploration of small-town secrets. Set in the seemingly idyllic Fairhill, Vermont, where nothing ever happens, Lapena cleverly transforms this sleepy town into a hotbed of fear and suspicion after the chilling discovery of Diana Brewer’s body in a hayfield.
From the outset, Lapena's storytelling skill is evident. The novel opens with the jarring image of Diana Brewer, once a vibrant part of the community, now a lifeless body surrounded by vultures. This stark contrast sets the tone for a narrative that meticulously unravels the hidden layers of Fairhill. The town, with its unlocked doors and familiar faces, quickly becomes a place of mistrust and paranoia, a transformation Lapena captures with razor-sharp precision.
The characters in "What Have You Done?" are vividly drawn and multifaceted. The teenagers, who once found thrill in ghost stories, now confront a real-life horror that shatters their sense of security. Parents, previously confident in their children's safety, struggle with the realization that danger lurks close to home. Lapena's ability to delve into the psyche of a small community faced with an unimaginable crime is both compelling and unsettling.
The plot is expertly paced, with each chapter revealing new twists and turns that keep you on edge. Lapena builds tension, creating a deep sense of urgency as the town's residents become suspects and the hunt for answers intensifies. The question, "What have you done?" resonates throughout the novel, a haunting refrain that underscores the novel’s themes of guilt, fear, and the search for truth. Lapena's prose is crisp and evocative, drawing you into the heart of Fairhill's unravelling. The atmospheric setting, combined with the intricate character dynamics, makes for an immersive reading experience. The novel's climax is both shocking and satisfying, tying together the threads of the mystery in a way that leaves a lasting impact.
"What Have You Done?" is a fabulous thriller that showcases Shari Lapena's talent for creating tension-filled narratives with rich character development. It's a book that will keep you up late into the night, turning pages in a desperate quest for answers. For fans of psychological thrillers and small-town mysteries, this is a must-read. Five stars for an unforgettable journey into the dark underbelly of a seemingly perfect town.

“What Have You Done” by Shari Lapena is a captivating and haunting mystery that skilfully captures the spirit of a small town turned upside down by tragedy. Set in thew close knit community of Fairhill where everyone knows everyone and front doors are left unlocked, the story delves into the dark underbelly of seemingly idyllic suburban life.

The body of Diana Brewer is found in a hayfield and her tragic fate transforms her from a spirited teenager to a ghost haunting the memories of those who knew her. There is now an obvious contrast between the town’s former tranquillity and its current state of fear.

The investigation begins and there is a ripple effect of Diana’s death on the community, secrets are discovered and repressed emotions released. Previously Diane, Cameron, Riley and Evan often met in the town cemetery to tell ghost stories. But recently Diana and Cameron had started to leave out Riley and Evan. Riley especially felt put out as she thought Diana was her best friend and when her texts went unanswered she knew something was wrong. When the police confirmed her suspicions with the news of Diana’s murder she was shocked to hear that Cameron was a suspect. She knew that Diana wanted to break up with him but couldn’t believe he had any part in her murder. There are other potential suspects including someone who was stalking her at work as well as her PE teacher who she accused of inappropriate conduct.

This is an emotionally charged novel, well written and full of suspense.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this mystery set in a small Vermont town following the murder of a local teenager. Lots of twists and I guessed who the murderer was midway though their reasons were ambiguous and out of character. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I've really enjoyed previous offerings from this author and was really pleased to be able to read this
I absolutely loved this
Couldn't put it down

A great summer read

I like this writer but this one was not up to her usual standard. Good premise but guessed the culprit pretty early on. Some plot twists but just ok. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

Nothing ever happens in sleepy little Fairhill, Vermont. The teenagers get their kicks telling ghost stories in the old graveyard. The parents trust their kids will arrive home safe from school. Everyone knows everyone. Curtains rarely twitch. Front doors are left unlocked. But Diana Brewer isn't lying safely in her bed where she should be. Instead, she lies in a hay field, circled by vultures, discover by a local farmer. How quickly a girl becomes a ghost. How quickly a town of friendly, familiar faces becomes a town of suspects, a place of fear and paranoia. Someone in Fairhill did this. Everyone wants answers.

Everyone in Fairhill is a suspect when a farmer finds the naked body of a popular high school student in his hay field. The story is told from multiple perspectives, we also get Diana's point of view. I was all over the place, trying to work out who had killed Diana. There were plenty of suspects to choose from. There was also a chilling vibe running throughout the story. I was pulled in from the beginning of the book. Everyone had secrets in this twisted read. The ending is a bit abrupt.

Published 18th July 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers and the author #ShariLapena for my ARC of #WhatHaveYouDone in exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy this authors writing but for me this was maybe my least favourite,doesn’t mean I didn’t like it just it felt not to have the uniqueness of the authors previous books

There are some interesting characters and a goodish plot although I knew the culprit pretty quickly

Look forward to the authors next book

What Have You Done is set in the seemingly tranquil town of Fairhill, Vermont, where the brutal murder of teenager Diana Brewer shocks the community. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, revealing the hidden secrets of Diana and those around her.

I’ve read and loved the authors previous books, so I had high hopes for this one - it’s fast paced with many plot twists, and a decent read for those who enjoy a good mystery but in my humble opinion its perhaps not her best.

That said, I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a suspenseful, multi-layered thriller. It’s perfect for a quick, engaging read.

This thriller takes its readers to the sleepy little town Fairhill/Vermont where nothing ever happens until one morning a dead girl – murdered, as it is quickly established - is found in a field. An investigation gets under way and in a very short time, the police find three credible suspects. The population of Fairhill is quite small and people know each other - all this contributes to the claustrophobic atmosphere in which the police operate and almost everyone we come across is either consumed by feelings of grief, fear or guilt.

Some unpleasant surprises, all rooted in misogyny, surface during the investigation, which in the end comes to an unexpected but for me not very believable conclusion within only a weeks’ time – surely a rare thing by all measures.

There is also the spirit of the dead girl herself observing and commenting on the going-ons in the aftermath of her untimely and violent death, that provides us with nuggets of information about what happened to her.

To me, this is all a bit over-dramatic with everything being spelled out and not much left to imagination. Given that the book focuses largely on problems related to adolescence, it might well get a much more positive reception from this age group.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Transworld Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What started off as a promising read soon became a mildly entertaining yet pedestrian read.

I managed to read the whole book. Although I did struggle to find the desire. Like most from this genre this book is written from multiple perspectives. Whereas this tends to be a really simple yet clever way to hive the reader multiple motives. In this book it just falls flat. Yes the motives are there but the passion behind the motives aren’t fully explored or executed in a way that fully hides the ‘killer’.

It was quite obvious from the start who had killed Diana although their motive and the event was a little rushed and unbelievable. There are a few blanks t red herrings thrown in for good measure but even they were too obvious to be the right fit for the crime.

Overall it’s an easy going read. Those that want a crime thriller without the thrills for easy sunbed reading - head this way.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

If you are looking for a twisty book, pull up a chair, and start reading. This book is as twisty as it gets, and then some. I thought it was really good. The characters were well developed and I liked more about them being revealed throughout the book. I had my suspects but kept guessing until the very end I also liked the way we got to know the victim throughout the book. I really enjoyed reading it ,all my boxes were ticked it was everything I look for in a thriller, a cracking read.

I really like Shari Lapena's writing, but, for me this wasn't one of her best. I enjoyed the small town community and the believable characters but was a bit disappointed with the ouija board and ghost thread, and sadly underwhelmed by the ending.
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

A sleepy town where everyone knows everyone and nothing ever happens. Well it was until they find a body in a field and need to find who the culprit is.
It was an enjoyable storyline some of it felt a little disjointed in the flow of the book and there wasnt a lot of police procedural featuring in it. On the whole a decent read and would read more by this author. Thankyou for advanced copy.

I love Shari Lapena's books and this did not disappoint. It had me gripped from the start, trying to guess who did it! Highly recommend!

Another fab book from Shari Lapena.
One of my favourite authors. Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

I love Shari Lapena books so was excited to start this one. It gripped me from the beginning. Couldn’t put it down. So many lies and lots of folk could have been the murderer. I thought this person at the beginning but then I went accusing everyone else ! Fab read highly recommend!

A small town murder mystery is always difficult to bring off, as there are so few possible culprits. Shari Lapena certainly does a cracking job here. A talented, well loved and popular girl is found dead in a field and suspicions all turn to three possible suspects. All of them have nasty secrets to hide, but who killed Diana? The gradual unfolding of hidden pasts and presents is brilliant.y done in this book and even those who didn’t kill get their comeuppance - a really terrific plot twist, as it so rarely happens in real life! There were pointers towards the murderer as the book neared its end, but the final denouement was still shocking and very skilfully delivered.

I didn't enjoy this author latest book but this one, I did binge read it on a flight! It kept you guessing who did it. Quite intense! The part where the vicyim can see everything after death (no spoiler, victim is dead at the start of the book) I didn't really enjoy it but somehow it fits in.

What a brilliant book this is from the beginning until the fantastic ending. A twisty read full of twists and turns with brilliant characters so many lies in this small community you didn't know who was guilty.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for this great ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.