Lady in the Lake (novel)

Not to be confused with The Lady in the Lake.

Lady in the Lake is a 2019 novel by Laura Lippman, published by William Morrow and Company. It was adapted by Alma Har'el into the miniseries of the same name on Apple TV+.^[1]

Background

Lippman was inspired to write the book by two unrelated deaths in Baltimore in 1969: the murder of 11-year-old Esther Lebowitz, and the mysterious death of Shirley Parker, a 33-year-old black woman.^[2] Lippman first learned about the latter death, which was underreported, while working at The Baltimore Sun.^[3]

Premise

A bored Jewish housewife leaves her husband and moves to downtown Baltimore to become an investigative reporter. She soon begins unraveling the mystery behind the murder of a black bartender and a young Jewish girl. The book deals with themes of racism and misogyny in 1960s America.

Reception

Author Stephen King gave the novel a positive review in The New York Times, calling it "extraordinary", and praising the novel's use of plot twists and characterizations.^[4] Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review and called it "a stylish, sexy, suspenseful period drama about a newsroom and the city it covers."^[5] It also received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, whose reviewer wrote that it "captures the era's zeitgeist while painting a striking portrait of unapologetic female ambition."^[6] Clémence Michallon of The Independent praised the novel's characters and realistic portrayal of 1960s Baltimore.^[7]

Adaptation

The book has been adapted for television as an Apple TV+ limited series, Lady in the Lake, starring Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram.^[1]