Look Closer

Look Closer is a crime thriller written by American author David Ellis and published in 2022. Ellis is a Chicago attorney, and this book draws heavily on his legal expertise and his familiarity with the city. He has written numerous thrillers and has coauthored a series with James Patterson. Set in Chicago and surrounding areas, Look Closer follows Simon Dobias and Vicky Lanier, a married couple. After a wealthy socialite is murdered, the book slowly unravels Simon and Vicky’s relationship and uncovers the secrets of their past. The book draws on and plays with many conventions of the thriller and mystery genres, featuring unreliable narrators, plot twists, and elaborate schemes. The book’s themes include The Deceptive Nature of Appearances, The Dispensation of Justice, and The Traumatic Effects of Suicide on Survivors.

This study guide refers to the e-book version of the Putnam Edition.

Content Warning: This guide briefly mentions racism, sexual assault, addiction, abuse, suicide, and violence.

Plot Summary

Look Closer uses a complicated chronological and narrative format that provides many of the novel’s twists and surprises. It follows two time frames: one leading up to Lauren Betancourt’s murder on Halloween, and the other following the aftermath of the murder.