Mary Higgins Clark (1927–2020)

When Mary Higgins Clark passed away, I was so sad thinking I would just have to rely on her extensive body of work for my mystery enjoyment. Luckily, this gem was in the works! Where Are the Children Now exemplifies why Mary Higgins Clark was the “queen of suspense.” Her coauthor-ship with Alafair Burke only serves to make her stories even better. As a sequel to her first and best selling book Where Are the Children, this book takes the reader on just as many twists and turns. I admit I show more devoured it in a day because it was so hard to put down.

The mystery is laid out in Mary Higgins Clark’s signature fashion introducing all the characters including the mysterious would-be killer’s point of view. In the first book, Melissa and Mike were children and the victims of a cruel kidnapper. Now all grown up, Melissa is a successful attorney with her own podcast and getting ready to marry. Devastated after her father’s death, she agrees to go to counseling to not only deal with her grief but also the unresolved issues of her kidnapping. This is where she meets her future husband whose wife died in a tragic accident in Norway and is survived by two year old daughter Riley.

Despite her brother’s misgivings, Melissa marries Charlie and takes on the role of stepmother. When Riley goes missing in circumstances eerily similar to Melissa’s own kidnapping, she’s viewed as the number one suspect. In a race against time, Melissa tries to use every means necessary to find her stepdaughter and prove her innocence before it’s too late.

I have to say this mystery pulled me in and kept me guessing the whole time. The authors do a fantastic job casting suspicion on everyone, even Melissa herself. The suspense builds and builds until the dramatic, shocking conclusion that I honestly didn’t predict. It’s a fantastic sequel to the original and a must read for Mary Higgins Clark fans.

Don’t worry if you haven’t read the original Where Are the Children, this can definitely be read as a standalone. The authors do a fantastic job providing enough detail from the previous novel that readers can easily be brought up to speed. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are completely my own and voluntarily given.

Content warning: mentions of child abuse, mild infrequent swearing, mild violence. show less

You Don’t Own Me by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke is a 2018 Simon & Schuster publication.

A multi-layered cold case mystery!

The latest cold case for Laurie Moran’s popular program, “Under Suspicion” involves the unsolved murder of Dr. Martin Bell, a prominent physician. Martin’s parents are convinced his troubled wife, Kendra, was behind his murder and they want Laurie to feature his case on her show. What they don’t know is that Kendra has already been approached about show more cooperating with them, but she refused to participate. But, after a second visit from Laurie and her partner, Ryan Nichols, Kendra is convinced it might be in her best interest to go along with it.

Meanwhile, Laurie and Alex are making wedding plans and looking for the perfect place to begin their new lives together, while also celebrating Alex’s appointment to a Federal Judgeship position.
But the reader knows something they don’t- Laurie is being followed and her stalker has murder on his mind…

I’ve followed this series from the beginning and I have loved every single installment. I will say the last chapter in the series was maybe the weakest one and I was just little concerned about the series running out of steam.

However, I needn’t have worried. This latest edition was one of the darkest and most layered cold cases so far. Most of you have heard me say that of all the various tropes in the mystery/thriller categories, cold cases are my favorite. Naturally, this series would appeal to me on that basis alone. Add in the fact that it is co-written by two of the best female mystery/suspense writers out there, and you have an unbeatable combination.

It seems every character in this story has an explosive secret, one that could cast suspicions on them. Even the murder victim has secrets, secrets that could give someone a nice motive for murder. This installment has some really nice and well-timed twists, which kept me on my toes and guessing all the way to the bitter end.

There was a lot going on in this story, with Alex, the stalker, and the murder case, but these clever and seasoned authors brought all the threads together for a rousing and suspenseful conclusion.

I can’t wait to see what these ladies will bring us next in this series!
4 stars show less

Growing up in Arizona, a young boy longs for his ancestral home in Connecticut, where his father's family had lived for many generations. With fond memories of having played with an antique wooden horse made by his great-grandfather, Johnny promises that same experience to his younger brother Liam, as a special Christmas gift. When the horse turns out to be missing, and all Johnny can find is a broken-down alternative, he is disappointed at not being able to keep his word. Then his father show more and grandfather step in, creating some Christmas magic of the familial kind...

Although familiar with author Mary Higgins Clark's adult suspense novels, I had never picked up one of her picture-books, so I wasn't sure what to expect with The Magical Christmas Horse. What I found was an emotionally involving family story and engaging holiday tale, all in one. I appreciated the way that Clark spun her story, working in not just family love at the Christmas season, but also the idea of belonging in a particular place - a "heart place." I also appreciated Wendell Minor's gouache and watercolor illustrations, which used a real house in his hometown of Washington, Connecticut for the setting, and real people (also from Washington) for the characters. Recommended to anyone looking for loving family stories set at Christmas. show less

This was a heckuva hard but excellent read. Brian is 7 years-old, and his father is in the hospital on Christmas Eve with a scary cancer diagnosis. When his mother drops an item he believes will save his father’s life, he takes after the person who picked it up and walked off with it in busy NYC. And soon he is kidnapped by an escaped prisoner intent on killing him. Brian, and everyone looking for him, are terrified. A masterfully crafted mystery that feels like it really could happen. show more I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I must certainly will now. show less