August 2026

Ahhhh the pleasure of holding a Shari Lapena book in my hands and knowing I am headed for what I call “a one-sit read.” 

In GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER, we meet Jill and Ted, who are living in a stunning brownstone that they have meticulously finished. They are able to stay on top of the maintenance around the place as Ted earns a substantial salary working in finance. But then the day comes when he makes a big investment, and it does not deliver. It actually tanks --- and with it goes their security as they try to keep up with their day-to-day costs, as well as appearances. 

Jill and Ted can’t just lick their wounds and move on. The way things have been leveraged, they are at risk of losing their brownstone, which feels like a character of its own. It's definitely part of their identity. 

Together they scheme how to save themselves. Their mutual plan is to kill Ted's brother, Greg, as they stand to inherit his sizable estate. They head out for a day on Greg's boat, and with one small gesture, Greg is left in the wake of the boat and then submerges. Jill and Ted are all but jumping for joy at the success of their plan when the Coast Guard answers their call. They quickly turn their glee into an appropriately somber mood as they are questioned about what happened.

As the days move on, Jill and Ted see that they surely have gotten away with it. Yes, the money will be coming any day now. However, there is a Coast Guard detective who is not buying their story, and they work on their appropriately sympathetic tone around him. 

But then they learn that their walls have ears…well, actually they have cameras. And there is a record of them planning what to do with Greg. What happens next? You have to read to find out. Once again, Shari has penned a brilliant one-sit read.