Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman

Have you ever read a book set in a place that forced you to change your perspective? That’s what happened to me while reading Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman. Since the story takes place in Columbia, Maryland, a community I’m familiar with, I found myself reminiscing about my time as a student at Wilde Lake High School. When I moved to Columbia from Baltimore as a 15-year-old high school student, I thought nothing bad could happen in the suburbs. Columbia seemed safe and peaceful compared with Baltimore. But Wilde Lake reminded me that crime can happen anywhere, even in communities that appear safe and familiar. 

The novel follows Luisa Brant, a prosecutor who returns to Columbia after her father becomes ill. Going home brings back memories of her childhood, including a disturbing event involving her brother and his friends. As Luisa begins revisiting what happened years ago, she discovers that memories aren’t always as reliable as we think. 

What I enjoyed most about Wilde Lake is the way Lippman uses a familiar community to tell a complicated story. Columbia can feel like a safe, small, planned community compared with Baltimore, but Lippman shows that even familiar places can have secrets. That made the story feel more personal to me. It also reminded me that we can grow up in a place, leave it, and return years later with a completely different perspective. The story also made me think about how easily we form opinions about people and situations. Luisa is a prosecutor who spends her career seeking justice, but when she looks back at her own past, things aren’t so simple. The older she gets, the more she questions what she thought she knew. 

Wilde Lake is more than a mystery. It’s a story about family, memories, growing up, and how our understanding of the past can change. I especially enjoyed the local connections, including Lippman’s references to the Mall in Columbia, Wegmans, and the Lakefront. If you enjoy mysteries with strong characters and a Maryland setting, Wilde Lake is worth checking out. After reading it, you might find yourself looking at Columbia—and some of its familiar places—in a different way. 

Wilde Lake is available in print, in audiobook format on CD and as a Playaway, and in e-audiobook format from Libby/OverDrive.

Brandon is a Customer Service Specialist at HCLS Central Branch who loves reading, football, and taking nice long walks around his neighborhood.