The Second Time Around

In spite of some short comings...the book makes for an entertaining read. One thing that I especially liked about it was how plot focused it was. The protagonist is likable, and has a mind of her own.

As we all know, for every plus there is a negative. The biggest negative that I saw was that the author for some reason thought that it was necessary produce a recap of the story in nearly every chapter. I also got rather tired of the main character's "gut instinct" always being right no matter what. These however are small, easily overlooked things that the reader can live with.

Nick Spencer's search for a cancer vaccine has cost tons of people thousands of dollars. When Nick's plane crashes, and the vaccine shows signs of not working, his stockholders begin to question if it was really an accident or if Nick is in another country living it up. Media reporter, Carley DeCarlo, takes on the job of finding out what really happened for a cover story at her new job. The things Carley learns in her investigation into who Nick really is are a shock to her and others.

I guess that the book was okay for a one time read. I thought that it was slightly predictable and I probably wouldn't read it again. But I have definitely read worse.

Review: The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark.

It’s been quite awhile that I have read something from Mary Higgins Clark that I enjoyed her writing and the book kept me interested throughout the entire book. The plot was well organized and the suspense involved about a medical research company that was close to creating an anticancer vaccine. Nicholas Spencer talked many people to place high amounts of money in the company. He was a person who had a way with words that he led many people to sponsor in his company. Early results of the vaccine were showing high response towards a cure for one type of cancer.

After the FDA approval was turned down an unthinkable tragedy happened. Nicholas took his small plane to go to Puerto Rico show more on business and he crashed the plane and no remains were found. Certain circumstances happened that led people to believe that Nicholas stole all their money and set up the plane crash and just disappeared. After his disappearance his wife Lynn attends a meeting of the stockholders of the company and was accused of participating in the scam.

An investigation was started by angry people, especially a couple whose son was dying from cancer and gave everything they had to invest in this cure. Lynn became a target escaping serious danger when someone torched her mansion to the ground. The investigation goes on but she is still under scrutiny with many questions that needed to be answered. “Is Nicholas dead or hiding waiting for Lynn somewhere, were they set up or guilty, however Lynn knew nothing of her husbands company. It was a great mystery and unpredictable. show less

Carley DeCarlo, a financial advisor newspaper journalist, becomes entangled in the mystery surrounding the plane crash of her extremely wealthy and successful stepbrother in law. After the crash Nicholas Spencer's company Gen-stone, a pharmaceutical research company working on a cancer vaccine, is on the verge of bankruptcy. The cancer vaccine they worked on is announced to be a flop and all of the corporate investors have lost their money.

Then Spencer's widow's home is set on fire. Carley wonders if Nicholas Spencer is really dead, by acciddent or murder. Or did he fake his dead? Why are so many people connected to the cancer vaccine missing or dead?

Nice read, but she has written better ones.

I have no idea how the name of this book has anything to do with it!. I really didn't care all that much about the main characters, esp her love interest. No details. Too vague.
4/9/04

excellent as usual

Nicholas Spencer, charismatic head of the medical research company, Gen-stone, involved in the development of an anti-cancer vaccine, suddenly disappears. His private plane crashes en route to Puerto Rico, but his body is not found. Accusations of embezzlement and news that the FDA is denying approval of this drug follow and his wife is believed to be involved and finds her life in danger. She turns to Carley DeCarlo to her help her prove that she was not her husband's accomplice.