When Laurie was four years old, she was kidnapped from her home, then returned two years later. Now 21, her parents are killed in a terrible accident. This sends Laurie spiralling and her sister Sarah unable to help her. Then, Laurie's teacher is murdered and Laurie is the prime suspect. Can Sarah figure out who the real killer is before the abductors come back to finish what they started? ( )

The story: girl has multiple personalities and did/did not commit murder. On so many levels this book is lame. I remember my high school english teacher advising that writers should never end a story by saying, "And then Mary woke up." Ending a story by finding out the whole thing is a dream is a big cop-out. I think that my english teacher would have applied the same cop-out label to Mary Higgins Clark's All Around the Town. Unless you are a very creative writer, the multiple personality conundrum is pretty boring/mundane. And MHC is not a "very creative writer" at least in this instance. Can you say, "Formulaic Writing?"

I think the worst thing about this novel is that MHC didn't do much research into multiple personalities. Maybe she just figured watching Sybil was enough? However, the fact that multiple personality disorder is a terribly serious disease doesn't seem to receive the literary treatment it deserves. I think this is aptly demonstrated at the very end of the book. I think that All Around the Town could have had some redeeming value had MHC done some research into multiple personality disorder. Maybe, in addition to a mystery, the reader could have learned more about this serious medical condition. ( )

Great mystery by Mark Higgins Clark! Fast read, quick page turning suspense. Lovely book! ( )

All Around the Town recooked the dry and tasteless politically correct plot--young girl gets kidnapped by evil pedophile, suffers mental trauma in the form of multiple personality disorder, and undertakes therapy to purge herself of disabling memories in hopes of becoming healthy and happy once more. Clark adds a few twists to the story in the form of an interesting but predictable murder mystery. With superficial characters the reader can't relate to and almost no noticeable research on the topic of dissociative identity disorder, All Around the Town is disappointing, to say the least. However, if the reader is looking for a quick read to settle down for the night, the story is entertaining enough. ( )

Amazing book! I never knew what was going to happen next. Kept me up all hours of the night. It was fabulous! ( )