How We Were Before

By: Jonathan Kravetz

Narrated by: Kathryn Merry

When a savage home invasion results in the death of a town's most glamorous couple, the surviving friends and relatives of the victims must navigate the emotional aftermath: Exasperated high school Vice-Principal Zachary Rivers makes a final effort to reach a troubled student. Town librarian, Shelby Blythe— the eldest daughter of the murder victims— begins a correspondence with Billy Lawson, her parents' murderer.

Evelyn Kavanaugh, a retired marketing manager and beloved family friend of the Blythes, embarks on a luxurious cruise as a prelude to suicide. Noam Russell, Billy Lawson' s best friend, returns to Benfield to claim a share of his deceased father' s estate.

Samantha Blythe's maternal attempt to help an employee evokes a renewed desire to connect with her own family. The spaces between stories are haunted by echoes of the deceased couple's life— from the ignorant bliss of first impressions and great expectations to the tumultuous troubles of middle age, and, finally, an undying hope for reconciliation.

©2024 Jonathan Kravetz (P)2025 Jonathan Kravetz

Enjoyed it even more the second time around

I had already read this book, but I decided to give a listen to the Audible performance. I have to say it was even better the second time around! The book is a series of interrelated stories, centered on a fictitious Massachusetts town. There is a lot of jumping back and forth in time, and there are many different characters.

While there is no one overall arc, we come to understand the relationships between the various people and there are a lot of little details that run throughout the lot. It is indeed a motley crew of philanderers, drunks, juvenile delinquents, and people estranged from their partners or other family members. Despite the darkness that overshadows many of the characters' lives, there are glimmers of hope that break through.

Kudos to Kathryn Merry for an excellent performance. It cannot be easy to provide different voices and interpretations of so many characters, and--while a few of them slide into similarity to one another--it is overall an impressive feat.

Highly Compelling

A very moving reading by the narrator of this wonderfully engrossing journey. Kravetz brings to life a highly entertaining and deeply believable world. The various stories are written with compassion and humor and are tied together by a fabulously compelling plot that comes at you from surprising perspectives throughout your journey. Highly recommended.

Lovely Character Work

I went into this book blind and based upon the cover art (I broke the most obvious rule of all) I expected a murder mystery. I quickly discovered that this was less about any single moment and more about the character experiences and the ripple effects of any one action or choice and how those choices impact the lives of others even when we are unaware. I thoroughly enjoyed the series of beautiful mini-arcs that drew you into snapshots in time with unique characters who had a surprising depth for their word count. A lovely read that evoked a broad spectrum of emotion. I plan to listen again with particular attention to the details and how the stories weave in and out of one another in subtle ways.