I’ve always had a soft spot for Shari Lapena’s books. She has this uncanny knack for taking seemingly ordinary lives and quietly perfect households, then shattering them into a tangle of suspicion, lies, and secrets. She Didn’t See It Coming is another classic Lapena page-turner, and once again she had me hooked from the first chapter until the very last page.
The story revolves around Bryden, a married woman with a young child, who lives with her husband Sam. On the surface, she seems like any other woman juggling motherhood, marriage, and the invisible weights of everyday life. But then she’s murdered — brutally, shockingly, and suddenly the cracks in her world burst wide open. The police, naturally, look at the husband. After all, isn’t it always the husband? But there’s also another man in the picture, someone who might have been closer to her than anyone realized. And from there, the story expands outward, pulling in Bryden’s sister, her parents, her friends, and an entire cast of people from her building — many of whom turn out to be far seedier and more complicated than they first appear.
What I’ve always loved most about Lapena is the way she sets her scenes. She doesn’t just hand you a lineup of suspects; she breathes life into them. You can picture the weary set of Sam’s shoulders, the nervous glances of neighbors who know more than they should, the tired smile of Bryden’s sister who may be hiding secrets of her own. You see the drab hallways of the apartment building, hear the buzz of gossip behind closed doors, feel the unease of being in a community where everyone looks a little too closely at everyone else. It’s like watching a drama unfold in real time — the people are so real you almost expect to find them arguing in your own stairwell.
Now, I’ll confess: I had my suspicions fairly early on about who the murderer was. And yes, I guessed correctly. But here’s the thing — that didn’t lessen the thrill. Because with Lapena, the “who” is only half the fun. The real draw is the “how” and the “why,” and the deliciously messy way she reveals the cracks in every character. Even when you think you know the ending, you want to watch every thread unravel, every mask slip, every relationship disintegrate under the pressure of suspicion.
The pacing is, as always, one of her greatest strengths. Short, sharp chapters keep you flying through the pages. You tell yourself “just one more” and suddenly it’s two in the morning, your tea has gone cold, and you’re still wide-eyed, muttering, “Just one more.”
At its heart, She Didn’t See It Coming is a murder mystery, yes, but also a story about family, loyalty, and the things we keep hidden — even from those closest to us. It’s tense, atmospheric, and compulsively readable. Shari Lapena has once again delivered what she does best: a story that keeps you reading, keeps you guessing, and above all, keeps you entertained.
Even if you think you see it coming, trust me — you’ll want to stay for the ride.
Honest Reviews 