Just Take My Heart: A Novel

Emily Wallace is assigned the prosecution of Gregg Aldrich who is accused of m urdering hsi actress wife two years ago. The prosecution's main witness is a career thief. I felt that the author tried to add more suspense by havign Emily live next to a stalker who becomes obsessed with her. If this whole subplot had been cut out I would have liked the book better. Personally the way Emily was portrayed as a brave young widow came accross as condescending.

I almost didn't finish this book. I was about half way through and it still hadn't gotten any better. But I am glad that I stuck with it because the second half of the book was like many other Mary Higgins Clark books, it had lots of suspense and left you guessing. I guess what I didn't like most about the beginning of the book was the trial. It was a page by page of the Greg Aldrich trial, a man who was being accused of murdering his wife. But after the book started going and Emily's neighbor, Zach, comes into the picture more the book really picked up.
I have to say that I was very surprised with the ending. It had a very different ending than what I am used to reading, but in a good way. I love reading a mystery/suspense novel and show more not know what is going to happen. I am finding most books predictable lately. But that is not the case with this one. show less

Emily Wallace assistant prosecutor just got the case of a lifetime prosecuting Gregg Aldrich for the death of his wife the actress Natalie Raines. But even as she feels like she will win the case there is a small voice in her head or should I say heart that says he is innocent and her key witness is as untrustworthy as they come. And to top it off her next door neighbor is starting to really give her the creeps.
Poor Emily she really is oblivious to all the people that are out to get her and there are a lot. Of course you do figure some things out but the title kind of gives it away anyway but I liked how MHC handled the reveal.
I really enjoyed this mystery and legal thriller there was a difference in this one than with some MHC books, show more there was no romance I liked that it was just a straight foreword mystery/thriller, and well written as are all MHC’s books. show less

The shark wasn't jumped, it was pole vaulted, landed on and exploded with that absolutely ridiculous ending. That said, it was an otherwise enjoyable read although I found Emily almost unlikeable. Interesting mix of her case- the Natalie Raines murder while Emily herself was the victim of a voyeur and peeping tom turned stalker. I enjoyed the typical MHC misdirection throughout.

This book, while not on par with some of her earlier works (like "A Stranger is Watching" or "Where are the Children?") is a step in the right direction. It had an interesting premise and sustained my interest throughout the entire novel, even though I had a hunch who the killer was by the middle of it. There was also a suspenseful subplot involving a serial killer. Also, the book was not overflowing with minor characters and I was able to keep track of all of them, unlike her last few books.

It is a fantastic story. It was enthralling from the first until the very last page. There are strong personalities and I've got quickly familiar with all of them. It also shows, that it's not up to somebody's education or social position whether they stand on the good or on the worse side of the law. On the other hand there is also a hint how the public view works when trial are discussed on broadcast. In this case it was helpful but that could easily turn around into the contrary.

This book was actually quite awful, but since I finished it and didn't throw it against a wall, I feel like I can't give it just one star. It was kind of like a cheesy Lifetime movie that you watch until the end while complaining about how sucky it is. The dialogue is stiff, the characters are completey uninteresting and the coincidences go way beyond suspension of disbelief into the no fucking way category. So, what does it say about me that I actually finished this? It's been a hard week. Don't judge!