What Have You Done (Adler and Dwyer, #0.5)

What Have You Done? (2024) by Shari Lapena is a psychological thriller novel with supernatural elements that explores the death of a 17-year-old girl, Diana, in a small Vermont town. Lapena uses a shifting, limited third-person perspective to examine the lives of those affected by Diana’s death—her friends, family, teachers, townspeople, and several suspects. Through it all, Diana watches, struggling to remember what happened to her and needing revenge for her murder. The suspense and supernatural element work together to explore themes of The Consequences of Secrets and Deception, The Complexities of Sexual Assault Allegations, and The Impact of Tragedy on Communities.

Shari Lapena is a best-selling Canadian author. Known best for her work in the thriller genre, Lapena has published ten novels, including Things Go Flying (2008), which was shortlisted for the Sunburst Award, and Happiness Economics (2012), which was a Stephen Leacock Award finalist. As a former teacher, Lapena often looks at art and writing in her work, as depicted in What Have You Done? through Evan and his desire to explore the events of Diana’s death through writing. She also frequently examines trauma and the past and the psychological impact that personal history—and secrets—have on people’s lives.