Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Kerry McGrath is a prosecutor and divorced mother of one precocious ten-year-old girl. Or maybe just normal ten-year-old. She is doing well in her work and receiving good feedback when she is diverted by a case from before she was hired.

Skip Reardon was convicted of murdering his wife but has always maintained his innocence. He has filed many appeals and will continue to do so as long as he is able. The case was tried by the chief prosecutor and defended poorly. While Kerry is intrigued by some aspects of the case, initially she can't see a good reason to doubt Reardon's guilt. In spite of a gut feeling that he is telling the truth, she has to rely on evidence.

There are bizarre aspects to the case. The victim's father is a plastic show more surgeon who has been essentially recreating his daughter in some of his patients. His obsession seems to extend beyond grief. The victim, Suzanne Reardon, attracted many men and took advantage of that attraction. She was known to be unfaithful, and among her lovers she counts a mobster and possibly an art collector.

Meanwhile, Kerry's ex-husband is defending the mobster, and more than threats are taking place. Kerry is pulled in different directions as she tries to uncover the truth. Her boss doesn't want to stir up an old case when it practically made his reputation, and her husband worries that investigating his client will not go well for him or for the couple's daughter Robin.

In the end it all wraps up, which is what we expect from this type solid, standard mystery-suspense story. The characters are standard as well, and some of the prejudices are. For example, Kerry holds the belief that a lawyer who represents a really bad client is bound to be tainted by the same brush - lying down with dogs, getting up with fleas. But our justice system guarantees representation for all accused. A lawyer who defends a bad person is doing what needs to be done. Perry Mason had it wrong, only defending the "innocent".

All in all, good airplane reading, solid. show less

Really enjoyed this book - very fast moving, with several layers to the story. It keeps you thinking about who may have done it right up to the end. Read in 24 hours as very difficult to put down - wanted to know what happened next. Some good characterisation - made you care about the main characters.
Can't wait to read my next Mary Higgins Clark.

When prosecutor Kerry McGrath’s daughter (Robin) is in a car accident, Robin needs plastic surgery, so Kerry takes her to brilliant plastic surgeon (Dr. Charles Smith). While in his office she notices a beautiful patient that looks familiar. Then, on another visit, she notices another patient with the same face. Kerry finally figures out who they look like… Suzanne Reardon, the “Sweetheart Murder” victim that was killed over ten years ago. Why is Dr. Smith putting Suzanne’s face on these women? Kerry begins to look into the old case and begins to think the man they put away for Suzanne’s murder (Suzanne’s husband Skip Reardon) may be innocent, due to some new evidence. But someone is trying to stop her from discovering the show more truth…

This was a fun, fast-paced read. There were so many suspects, I enjoyed trying to figure out who the murderer was. Another great, captivating read by Mary Higgins Clark! show less

Since Mary Higgins Clark has been a renowned suspense author as long as I can remember (and longer), I decided I would see what the hype was about and if I might enjoy her work.

I guessed the culprit pretty early on, just from the general rule of, "Who seems to be the most unlikely suspect and doesn't appear to have direct ties to the case but doesn't really belong in the story otherwise?" And the suspense was just so-so. It was fairly easy reading, and not an overly complicated plot, which is fine by me, but it did have a ridiculous number of people connected to the scene of the crime, in varying degrees of culpability.

So, I probably won't be making any great effort to seek out more Mary Higgins Clark books, but I could see where they show more could fill a spot for some people, for vacation reading or something. show less

This book is good for readers who like lots of different povs. The mystery is well put together, but i feel that the reveal came out of left field. Personally, I felt it took a while for things to be revealed and had to put the book down a few times before I could be engaged enough to finish it.

The story very much felt like an episode of Law and Order. I had a little trouble connecting to the characters, especially when they mentioned the housekeepers that *only* came in twice a week, but enjoyed Kerry and Robin's characterizations a lot.

I really like Clark's books, especially her earlier ones and this was great. Short chapters, interesting characters, full of suspense and red herrings, and a happily ever after ending - what more could you ask for?

Just a straightforward mystery novel. Nothing fancy, nothing too surprising, fairly stock characters. Passably entertaining. Would have been better if the characters hadn't been so one-dimensional and predictable.