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The Most Dangerous Thing

Laura Lippman
William Morrow (2011)
ISBN 9780061706516
Reviewed b y Enid Grabiner for RebeccasReads (10/11)

The 70’s offered a different freedom for children, especially those living in small towns such as Dickeyville outside of Baltimore. They had freedom to wander, exploring their neighborhood and nearby woods, especially during carefree summer days. Families were not strangers to one another and everyone watched out for each other, but despite the closeness of the community, there were secret experiences shared and left in the past.  Five childhood friends had one haunting night that changed their lives forever.

Gwen, Mickey and the three Halloran brothers had quite different home lives, but when they were together they were a tight pack, sharing childhood experiences, one of which was sneaking into the woods. They happened upon Chicken George, an inexplicable character who was as irresistible as he was repellent.  Drawn to him, they kept returning until one night he was dead. By whom and why?  What really happened was kept a mystery.

As years went by, the friendships splintered and the children became adults. Distancing themselves from each other, they each ultimately dealt with the implications of that night alone. Years later they were brought together by the sudden and questionable death of the youngest Halloran brother, Gordon.  Interacting once again forces them to examine their complicated past.  As each character is insightfully presented by the author, personalities, memories and impressions are clouded by prejudice.  Do they still cast blame on earlier circumstances or do they take ownership of their own lives?

Lippman skillfully takes the reader from the past to the present in "The Most Dangerous Thing” as she slowly reveals the impact of repressed events on the five friends.  Each reacts uniquely and follows a different path into adulthood.  Much of each portrait is painted by the reflections of the other four, so the five stories are often tainted by memory and perspective.  The truth lies somewhere therein!  As they come to grips with the disturbing facts, they must each face their own demons, once again questioning how much one event really contributed to who they are now as adults.

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