Sunburn

A Novel

By: Laura Lippman

Narrated by: Susan Bennett

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Laura Lippman returns with a superb novel of psychological suspense about a pair of lovers with the best intentions and the worst luck: two people locked in a passionate yet uncompromising game of cat and mouse. But instead of rules, this game has dark secrets, forbidden desires, inevitable betrayals - and cold-blooded murder.

One is playing a long game. But which one?

They meet at a local tavern in the small town of Belleville, Delaware. Polly is set on heading west. Adam says he's also passing through. Yet she stays, and he stays - drawn to this mysterious redhead whose quiet stillness both unnerves and excites him. Over the course of a punishing summer, Polly and Adam abandon themselves to a steamy, inexorable affair. Still, each holds something back from the other - dangerous, even lethal secrets.

Then someone dies. Was it an accident or part of a plan? By now Adam and Polly are so ensnared in each other's lives and lies that neither one knows how to get away - or even if they want to. Is their love strong enough to withstand the truth, or will it ultimately destroy them?

Something - or someone - has to give.

Which one will it be?

Inspired by James M. Cain's masterpieces The Postman Always Rings Twice, Double Indemnity, and Mildred Pierce, Sunburn is a tantalizing modern noir from the incomparable Laura Lippman.

©2018 Laura Lippman (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Narrator Susan Bennett takes Lippman's irresistible setup and puts us in a flickering black-and-white world in which morality is iffy and sometimes being bad isn't so bad.... Bennett gives even supporting characters dimension, from Polly's mother-in-law to her ex- to her rival for Adam. With Lippman's strong, spare prose and suspenseful plot - including film noir references sprinkled throughout - and Bennett's solid delivery, this is noir listening at its finest." (AudioFile)

Excellent noir novel

What did you like best about this story?

Love the way Lippman both draws on and updates noir tropes in this novel. Sunburn is as compelling as any classic noir tale, but Lippman opens the story up by relaying events from the perspective of different characters, which added depth and texture to the story. (Some of the characters who appeared very briefly in the book were interesting enough that I'd love to see them re-appear in one of Lippman's future books, like the lesbian detective)

I've been reading Lippman for years, and have enjoyed all of her other books, but this one is my favorite.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Polly arrives at Adam's motel room in the middle of the night

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

It's so much harder to find a good audiobook rather than just something to read. Bad narration makes it difficult to enjoy a good novel. Even mediocre narration, or a narrator who does an OK job but is a bad fit for the material, can create a disappointing listening experience. Fortunately, the narration of this novel works perfectly.

Classic Noir, The Good and Bad

This book was much better than that Woman in the Window disaster that seems to be everywhere at the moment. Sunburn owes a lot to James Cain and his work. Similar twists and dark characters making less-than-honest choices. But like Cain, the whole adventure seems oddly dated, and the main character makes decisions that are just a bit too cold to be believable. It’s really hard to like her, and ultimately the novel suffers for it.

Hard to “put down”

This was more than a pot boiler. It was very well-written with complex, intriguing characters. I didn’t love the ending. These types of stories are difficult to end perfectly. Well worth a listen!

Amazing!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you like not knowing till the very end - then this book is for you!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Absolutely!

Have you listened to any of Susan Bennett’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No this is the first. She did a good job

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me happy that it kept me guessing throughout the story.

Should’ve been named the great manipulator.

If one persons stealing, killing, lying, and cheating and still coming out smelling like a rose is your preference then this book is great for you. The ending stinks!

ok, not great

Like the headline, this book is ok but nothing special. Narration is good. The story gets more convoluted as it progresses, with both main characters having secrets. It's kind of far fetched.

A well written slow burn of a tragedy

Where does Sunburn rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I really enjoy this author and knew that her standalone books can be quite dark and wasn't surprised at this as other listeners seem to be. This book is very well written with excellent character development even if that makes one loathe the characters more. That being said, I rank this title among my top 3 Lippman books and in my top 10 audio-books.

What did you like best about this story?

The intricate layers that were revealed as the story unfolded, nothing was quite as it seemed. The way Lippman developed the history and character of Polly left me conflicted on whether or not I should be wanting her to overcome her circumstances or not. I also liked the setting although it was a bit cozy for all of the tragic events that took place there.

What does Susan Bennett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Grit - I can't say that I liked her when I started the book and almost considered returning the audio and picking up a hard copy but her even, direct performance contributed to the the ruthlessness of Polly. I also enjoyed her ability to build suspense using a change in pace and cadence rather than shouting as some narrators tend to do.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

BaltiMore

Nice little story / plot, but enjoyable .... very very East coast. The people, almost, beliveable.

Something Different From Laura Lippman

I’m a huge Laura Lippman fan and this may be her best novel so far. “Sunburn” is less a police procedural or mystery than it is a tense psychodrama. As usual, Lippman’s sense of place and attention to detail is impeccable. Also, Susan Bennett’s narration is first rate.

Bleak and Compelling with an Odd Twist of Hope and Humanity

I liked the psychological aspects of the characters and their complexity. I liked that most of the central questions were answered by the end of the book. I would recommend this book to noir fans and lovers of psychological thrillers.