I'll Walk Alone: A Novel
by Mary Higgins Clark
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Thirty-two year old Alexandra Moreland is a rising star in the architectural world and lives in Manhattan. But when she is plagued by identity theft, her successful life is turned upside down. Someone has gained access to her bank accounts, credit cards, personal background, and is now impersonating her. Then, with overwhelming circumstantial evidence stacked against her, Alexandra is arrested for the murder of a woman she claims she's never met. Or has she?Tags
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Member Reviews
This was an exciting story. Two years ago, a child was kidnapped. The mother, an interior decorator, never got over the loss and still believes that her son is alive. There are photos of the abduction. The woman in the pictures looks like the child's mother. Everyone turns against her because they believe she has kidnapped her child herself. It is difficult to prove her innocence, especially as the kidnapper takes on the role of the child's mother again. Also, her bank account is looted. Purchases are made by a stranger. The situation comes to a head as the mastermind decides that the child and his kidnapper must die.
I like a good mystery, and this fits the bill. Poor Zan, the main character, has herself in a situation that seems just about impossible. Her son has been kidnapped. After 2 years, a photograph surfaces that makes the hell she has been through even worse. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, but there was one thing that bothered me a lot - the number of coincidences required to make the outcome what it is. It got to the point of being ridiculous after a while. I like a mystery that is realistic, and this one bordered on being unrealistic, especially the web of people involved. They all just happened to know each other in some capacity, in a city as big as New York. I don't know about that. Still, if you're interested in being show more entertained, this book is worth the read. show less
You may also read my review here: http://bookbybookreview.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-ill-walk-alone.html
Having been a LOOOOOONG time fan of Mary Higgins Clark, I bought her new book without even reading the synopsis (actually still hadn't until I was doing this blog entry). It was a pleasant surprise to see that Alvirah Meehan, a recurring character in Mary Higgins Clark's books - whose debut was in Weep No More, My Lady but more famously, The Lottery Winner - was also a character. However, unlike most of the 'Alvirah and Willy' books, she wasn't a MAIN character and I was okay with that as she tends to be a bit over the top.
In typical Mary Higgins Clark fashion, this book kicked off with a bang and kept going with each and every turn show more of the page. Immediately, as with all 'who-done-it' books, you pick the most odvious of characters and the 'bad' guy but her writing style nevers lets you rest on that... maybe is becomes predictable that your first guess is rarely right but she has been known to throw enough curveballs in that you just never know. Switching from one 'bad' guy to another, wondering if she did it or didn't do it, really made this book a page-turner!
As a parent, if I had read the synopsis of this book, I would have been concerned about the whole kidnap and murder plot as I don't really like reading about young kids in distress (to close to home) so I was happy that the murder ...
... SPOILER ...
...wasn't of her child. In fact, it was nice to see/hear from Matthew a few times throughout the novel. (breathing sigh of relief)
... END SPOILER ...
Overall, another must-read by the queen of suspense. show less
Having been a LOOOOOONG time fan of Mary Higgins Clark, I bought her new book without even reading the synopsis (actually still hadn't until I was doing this blog entry). It was a pleasant surprise to see that Alvirah Meehan, a recurring character in Mary Higgins Clark's books - whose debut was in Weep No More, My Lady but more famously, The Lottery Winner - was also a character. However, unlike most of the 'Alvirah and Willy' books, she wasn't a MAIN character and I was okay with that as she tends to be a bit over the top.
In typical Mary Higgins Clark fashion, this book kicked off with a bang and kept going with each and every turn show more of the page. Immediately, as with all 'who-done-it' books, you pick the most odvious of characters and the 'bad' guy but her writing style nevers lets you rest on that... maybe is becomes predictable that your first guess is rarely right but she has been known to throw enough curveballs in that you just never know. Switching from one 'bad' guy to another, wondering if she did it or didn't do it, really made this book a page-turner!
As a parent, if I had read the synopsis of this book, I would have been concerned about the whole kidnap and murder plot as I don't really like reading about young kids in distress (to close to home) so I was happy that the murder ...
... SPOILER ...
...wasn't of her child. In fact, it was nice to see/hear from Matthew a few times throughout the novel. (breathing sigh of relief)
... END SPOILER ...
Overall, another must-read by the queen of suspense. show less
1.5
I don't review as much these days, but this book was pretty bad. Clark is an interesting writer. New York pretty much means Manhattan in her books and the main characters are pretty much always drowning in money -- dining at the Four Seasons on a regular basis, never, ever taking the subway. They're flat and could easily be substituted for one another. I don't know why I keep reading these. At least I don't buy them! Oh, and in this one, each character comes thisclose to revealing a crucial clue, but then doesn't for some random reason. It got old pretty quickly.
I don't review as much these days, but this book was pretty bad. Clark is an interesting writer. New York pretty much means Manhattan in her books and the main characters are pretty much always drowning in money -- dining at the Four Seasons on a regular basis, never, ever taking the subway. They're flat and could easily be substituted for one another. I don't know why I keep reading these. At least I don't buy them! Oh, and in this one, each character comes thisclose to revealing a crucial clue, but then doesn't for some random reason. It got old pretty quickly.
This was a good solid story. Zan's son, Matthew, was stolen from her two years earlier. Now someone is trying to make her seem crazy and ruin her life. The reader knows all along that this really happened, but we have to watch Zan trying to convince her friends and the police of her innocence. When the villain is revealed, his motivation is hard to understand. We are left with the conclusion that he is just a crazy psychopath. At times I was frustrated with everyone doubting Zan, but the end came together in a satisfying way.
I enjoyed this book very much. Being so familiar with the author means that, once again, the ending was no great surprise but the writing was tight and the story kept me riveted to each page. Zan is a likable character and I even felt empathy for Glory.
I like reading Mary Higgins Clark even though her books are kind of cheesy but she has fun characters like Alvirah who is a lottery winner but is an amateur sleuth. I usually like Mary's books but I'm having a hard time with this plot line. What mother, who has custody of her child would kidnap her own child. Makes no sense to me and isn't realistic. I'm glad it only took me a day to read this book because I wouldn't have wanted to spent much more time on this book.
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ThingScore 63
...In typical Mary Higgins Clark fashion, this book kicked off with a bang and kept going with each and every turn of the page. Immediately, as with all 'who-done-it' books, you pick the most odvious of characters and the 'bad' guy but her writing style nevers lets you rest on that... maybe is becomes predictable that your first guess is rarely right but she has been known to throw enough show more curveballs in that you just never know. Switching from one 'bad' guy to another, wondering if she did it or didn't do it, really made this book a page-turner!... show less
added by LindsayGentles
Fans will bite their nails to the quick while they wait for all the characters who know bits and pieces of the story to pool their knowledge before the malefactor can strike again. Experts on identity theft will marvel that no matter what raw material goes into the Clark hopper, it all comes out looking much the same.
added by Shortride
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Author Information
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Mary Higgins Clark was born in the Bronx, New York on December 24, 1927. After graduating from high school and before she got married, she worked as a secretary, a copy editor, and an airline stewardess. She supplemented the family's income by writing short stories. After her husband died in 1964, leaving her with five children, she worked for show more many years writing four-minute radio scripts before turning to novels. Her debut novel, Aspire to the Heavens, which is a fictionalized account of the life of George Washington, did not sell well. She decided to focus on writing mystery/suspense novels and in 1975 Where Are the Children? was published. She received a B.A. in philosophy from Fordham University in 1979. Her other works include While My Pretty One Sleeps, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Moonlight Becomes You, Pretend You Don't See Her, No Place Like Home, The Lost Years, The Melody Lingers On, As Time Goes By and Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry. She is the author of the Alvirah and Willy series, which began with Weep No More, My Lady. She is also the co-author, with her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, of several holiday crossover books including Deck the Halls, He Sees You When You're Sleeping, Santa Cruise, The Christmas Thief, and Dashing Through the Snow. She writes the Under Suspicion series with Alafair Burke. In 2001, Kitchen Privileges: A Memoir was published. She received numerous honors including the Grand Prix de Literature of France in 1980), the Horatio Alger Award in 1997, the Gold Medal of Honor from the American-Irish Historical Society, the Spirit of Achievement Award from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University the first Reader's Digest Author of the Year Award 2002 and the Christopher Life Achievement Award in 2003. Many of her titles have made the best sellers list. Her recent books include All By Myself, Alone, I've Got My Eyes On You, and You Don't Own Me. Bestselling suspense novelist, Mary Higgins Clark died on January 31, 2020 at the age of 92. (Bowker Author Biography) Mary Higgins Clark has written nineteen novels & three short story collections since 1975. She has served as president of the Mystery Writers of America & lives in Saddle River, New Jersey. (Publisher Provided) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Ich folge deinem Schatten
- Original title
- I'll walk alone
- Original publication date
- 2011
- People/Characters
- Alvirah Meehan; Willy Meehan; Alexandra "Zan" Moreland; Father Aiden O'Brien
- Dedication
- In memory of Reverend Joseph A. Kelly, S. J.
1931-2008
Always a twinkle in this Jesuit's eye
Always a smile on his handsome face
Always faith and compassion overflowing his soul
He was the stuff of which... (show all) saints are made
When all heaven protested his absence
His Creator called him home - First words
- Father Aiden O'Brien was hearing confession in the lower church of St. Francis of Assisi on West Thirty-first Street in Manhattan.
Zan, Alvirah, Willy, Penny, Bernie, Fr. Aiden, Josh, Kevin Wilson, and his mother, Cate, watched with hearts overflowing as six-year-old Matthew, now restored to being a fiery redhead, blew out the candles of his birthday cak... (show all)e. (Epilogue) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Mommy," he whispered, "Mommy, I missed you."
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Now, Mommy, can we please cut the cake?" (Epilogue)
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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