Jill and Ted adore their New York brownstone the way others adore their children. They have carefully, expensively, made every inch of it their own. It reflects who they are, their status and tastes. With the grand mahogany staircase and state-of-the-art kitchen, it is the stuff of glossy magazines and real-estate dreams. It is their sanctuary.
So when Ted’s inheritance runs out and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved home and enviable lifestyle?
The answer is obvious. Or at least, it is obvious to Jill and Ted. The death of one wealthy family member—from whom they stand to inherit millions—could solve all their problems. Together, they will get away with murder.
As long as they trust each other.
As long as neither makes a mistake.
As long as there are no surprises…
I look forward to Shari Lapena’s new books every year, and I have to say that this is one of her strongest—and not to be missed. If you haven’t read her books before, you’re in for a treat by starting with this one. It’s a fast-paced thriller with a morally gray married couple at the center of a ruthless plan to inherit millions, and I was caught up in their dangerous game from the start. The story has detours, hidden motives, suspicious characters, and multiple twists that keep you engaged and desperate to see how it all ends.
The story follows the 3rd-person POVs of couple Jill and Ted, beginning with a dramatic prologue as they carry out the “perfect murder” of Ted’s brother, Greg. It’s a gripping opening that hooks you into the story while making it clear that neither of these characters deserves your sympathy. I actually spent most of the book hoping their plan would fall apart spectacularly! 😂 From there, the novel jumps back two weeks to reveal what pushed them toward the murder before returning to the present-day timeline. It’s a great structure that slowly fills in missing pieces while maintaining suspense at all times.
One of my favorite characters was the relentless Special Agent Paul Ramirez. Even when everyone else accepts Greg’s death as an accident, his instincts tell him otherwise. Despite having no concrete evidence to support his suspicions, his investigation leads to an intense game of cat and mouse. And just when Jill and Ted convince themselves that they’re actually getting away with everything, everything starts falling apart. Add in a great supporting cast of suspicious characters—an immigrant housemaid with a criminal son; close friends Laura and Ben, who have access to Jill and Ted’s home; Greg’s ex-wife Minerva, who resents Ted; and a mysterious ex-con who appears everywhere—and you’ll find yourself second-guessing everyone’s motives.
The most captivating part of the story for me was the relationship between Ted and Jill. Watching the cracks and strain in their relationship is just as entertaining as the murder investigation itself. Jill gets far more than she bargained for and wrestles with her guilty conscience, paranoia, and increasingly desperate measures. Her moral conflict reminded me of Lady Macbeth, making her one of Shari Lapena’s most interesting protagonists I’ve read. You probably won’t like her (or Ted), but you won’t be able to look away!
The short chapters, many ending on cliffhangers, along with the dramatic dialogue, make this difficult to put down. I also loved that this story takes place in NYC, with the harbor, where the murder and investigation first happen, and the couple’s Brooklyn Heights brownstone, where most of the drama and twists unfold.
The climax headed in a direction I wasn’t expecting, and I enjoyed watching several characters squirm. The ending may divide readers, but I thought it suited the story, and the epilogue adds some dark humor.
If you’re an audiobook listener, January LaVoy delivers an outstanding performance and proves again why she’s the perfect match for Shari Lapena’s books. I also recommend sticking around for the Q&A at the end of the audiobook. It’s fascinating to hear January discuss her approach to bringing the characters to life, along with Shari’s insights into the development of the book. I hope they continue working together on every future book because they’re truly a match made in heaven!
Narrator Performance
Getting Away with Murder is read by award-winning narrator January LaVoy, who’s done an incredible job narrating many of Shari Lapena’s books, and this audiobook is no exception!
Right from the prologue, LaVoy gives Jill a voice that feels nervous and uneasy. You can hear the fear and hesitation in her voice while they’re about to commit murder, while Ted sounds confident and almost detached. As Jill and Ted start getting questioned and interrogated by Special Agent Ramirez, LaVoy does a great job of keeping Jill sounding composed on the outside, while you can still hear the discomfort and unease underneath.
A highlight of the audiobook is the private conversations between Jill and Ted in their Brooklyn Heights brownstone. At first, when they believe they’ve gotten away with everything, LaVoy brings an unsettled satisfaction to their dialogue. As things start to fall apart, you immediately hear the shift in Jill’s voice. LaVoy makes her frustration, anger, and growing resentment towards Ted palpable, especially as his mistakes start piling up.
To portray Ted early on, she uses a controlled, calculating tone, sounding like someone who’s convinced he has full control of the situation. But as things start going wrong, you can hear the unease and dread creeping in. In his scenes with Jill, when she gets angry with him and he tries to reassure her everything is fine, you can hear how he’s intimidated by her while also trying to convince himself, which makes their dynamic very interesting. LaVoy also does a great job of giving each supporting character a distinct voice, making it easy to follow and tell everyone apart. The housemaid, Nadia, is given an authentic accent and grounded voice, Minerva (Greg’s ex-wife) comes across as sharp and angry, and John Burley (the mysterious ex-con) sounds like a menacing and dangerous criminal.
By the end, when Jill and Ted are forced to make risky decisions, LaVoy’s delivery makes it evident that they’re willing to let the cards fall where they may. The epilogue, which contains some small surprises and a touch of dark humour, is expertly narrated and will leave you fully entertained!
I recommend listening to the Q&A between Shari Lapena and LaVoy at the end. It’s so interesting to hear LaVoy discuss her approach to bringing the characters to life and Shari’s insights into the development of the book. It adds an extra layer to the whole experience! If you’re looking for a fast-paced, twisty summer thriller audiobook, this one is a must-listen!
Narrator Performance
Getting Away with Murder is read by award-winning narrator January LaVoy, who’s done an incredible job narrating many of Shari Lapena’s books, and this audiobook is no exception!
Right from the prologue, LaVoy gives Jill a voice that feels nervous and uneasy. You can hear the fear and hesitation in her voice while they’re about to commit murder, while Ted sounds confident and almost detached. As Jill and Ted start getting questioned and interrogated by Special Agent Ramirez, LaVoy does a great job of keeping Jill sounding composed on the outside, while you can still hear the discomfort and unease underneath.
A highlight of the audiobook is the private conversations between Jill and Ted in their Brooklyn Heights brownstone. At first, when they believe they’ve gotten away with everything, LaVoy brings an unsettled satisfaction to their dialogue. As things start to fall apart, you immediately hear the shift in Jill’s voice. LaVoy makes her frustration, anger, and growing resentment towards Ted palpable, especially as his mistakes start piling up.
To portray Ted early on, she uses a controlled, calculating tone, sounding like someone who’s convinced he has full control of the situation. But as things start going wrong, you can hear the unease and dread creeping in. In his scenes with Jill, when she gets angry with him and he tries to reassure her everything is fine, you can hear how he’s intimidated by her while also trying to convince himself, which makes their dynamic very interesting. LaVoy also does a great job of giving each supporting character a distinct voice, making it easy to follow and tell everyone apart. The housemaid, Nadia, is given an authentic accent and grounded voice, Minerva (Greg’s ex-wife) comes across as sharp and angry, and John Burley (the mysterious ex-con) sounds like a menacing and dangerous criminal.
By the end, when Jill and Ted are forced to make risky decisions, LaVoy’s delivery makes it evident that they’re willing to let the cards fall where they may. The epilogue, which contains some small surprises and a touch of dark humour, is expertly narrated and will leave you fully entertained!
I recommend listening to the Q&A between Shari Lapena and LaVoy at the end. It’s so interesting to hear LaVoy discuss her approach to bringing the characters to life and Shari’s insights into the development of the book. It adds an extra layer to the whole experience! If you’re looking for a fast-paced, twisty summer thriller audiobook, this one is a must-listen!
Getting Away with Murder is read by award-winning narrator January LaVoy, who’s done an incredible job narrating many of Shari Lapena’s books, and this audiobook is no exception!
Right from the prologue, LaVoy gives Jill a voice that feels nervous and uneasy. You can hear the fear and hesitation in her voice while they’re about to commit murder, while Ted sounds confident and almost detached. As Jill and Ted start getting questioned and interrogated by Special Agent Ramirez, LaVoy does a great job of keeping Jill sounding composed on the outside, while you can still hear the discomfort and unease underneath.
A highlight of the audiobook is the private conversations between Jill and Ted in their Brooklyn Heights brownstone. At first, when they believe they’ve gotten away with everything, LaVoy brings an unsettled satisfaction to their dialogue. As things start to fall apart, you immediately hear the shift in Jill’s voice. LaVoy makes her frustration, anger, and growing resentment towards Ted palpable, especially as his mistakes start piling up.
To portray Ted early on, she uses a controlled, calculating tone, sounding like someone who’s convinced he has full control of the situation. But as things start going wrong, you can hear the unease and dread creeping in. In his scenes with Jill, when she gets angry with him and he tries to reassure her everything is fine, you can hear how he’s intimidated by her while also trying to convince himself, which makes their dynamic very interesting. LaVoy also does a great job of giving each supporting character a distinct voice, making it easy to follow and tell everyone apart. The housemaid, Nadia, is given an authentic accent and grounded voice, Minerva (Greg’s ex-wife) comes across as sharp and angry, and John Burley (the mysterious ex-con) sounds like a menacing and dangerous criminal.
By the end, when Jill and Ted are forced to make risky decisions, LaVoy’s delivery makes it evident that they’re willing to let the cards fall where they may. The epilogue, which contains some small surprises and a touch of dark humour, is expertly narrated and will leave you fully entertained!
I recommend listening to the Q&A between Shari Lapena and LaVoy at the end. It’s so interesting to hear LaVoy discuss her approach to bringing the characters to life and Shari’s insights into the development of the book. It adds an extra layer to the whole experience! If you’re looking for a fast-paced, twisty summer thriller audiobook, this one is a must-listen!
