In the opening chapter of Laura Lippman’s latest thriller, a central character dies in a solo car crash after leaving a tavern in his hometown. Was the incident a suicide or an accident? This question lies at the heart of a story that page-by-page pulls readers into the heart of a childhood secret shared by five families.

The Most Dangerous Thing defies categorization, occupying a place somewhere between a coming-of-age saga and a thriller. In chapters that slip back and forth between the present and the past, it tells the story of five childhood friends who are forced to deal with their actions surrounding an incident that takes place in 1979.

Lippman returns to her favorite city, Baltimore, and even provides a cameo appearance for her signature private investigator Tess Monaghan, though this novel clearly is a stand alone. The premise involves a group of friends who spend the summer exploring a wooded area on the edge of their neighborhood—a place deemed off-limits by their parents. A mysterious event occurs that ultimately involves children and parents alike. No one truly understands what happened on the fateful day, but 30 years later they are forced to confront the reality of the event as they unravel the cause of a fatal car accident.

Lippman carefully dishes out details of the long-forgotten event creating tension and suspense. Her character sketches of the five friends and her observations about marriage, families, and childhood memories prove to be the strength of the book. A great rainy day read. ~Wendee