Silent Night

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. I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I must certainly will now.

It's probably a bit early to be reading a Christmas novel. However, I came across this one on my tbr shelf and decided to give it a try. "Silent Night" by Mary Higgins Clark is a short story that follows the disappearance of Brian, a seven-year-old boy who is anxious over the outcome of his father's surgery for Leukemia. He witnesses a woman walking off with his mother's wallet. He's concerned about the St. Christopher's medal that is in the wallet. The medal belonged to his grandfather, who believed that the medal kept him alive during World War II. Brian believes that if he can get the metal back and deliver it to his father, that his father will survive.
The drama that unfolds is well-written with believable characters. I would show more recommend. show less

My review from Amazon:

I was given this book as a gift from my mother so felt obliged to read it. I'm sorry I wasted my time. The plot was unbelievably thin with nary a twist. I could tolerate that if the book contained compelling characters but alas MHC clearly went to the character store and ordered "one worried mother, one hard-boiled cop with a heart of gold and one - no make that two - brave little boys". Add to that writing so ordinary that had this book been submitted by Mary Smith instead of Mary Higgins Clark, it would have been sent back with a note to try adding a metaphor or two. In fact, the manuscript would have been sent back with a form letter.

I can't account for the 5 star reviews here but if your reading level is above show more Dick and Jane, skip this and turn to Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" for a truly delightful holiday tale. show less

When Catherine Dornan's husband, Tom, is diagnosed with leukemia, she and their two young sons travel with him to New York during the holiday season for a lifesaving operation. On Christmas Eve, hoping to lift the boys' spirits, Catherine takes them to see Rockefeller Center's famous Christmas tree; while there, seven-year-old Brian notices a woman taking his mother's wallet. A St. Christopher medal tucked inside the wallet saved his grandfather's life in World War II, and Brian believes with all his heart that it will protect his father now. Impulsively, Brian follows the thief into the subway, and the most dangerous adventure of his young life begins.

I have never read a book by Mary Higgins Clark. I've purposely avoided her books, as I have w/books by James Patterson, Debbie Macomber and other similar authors. I see people reading these books on the subway, and they line the bookshelves at Stop & Shop. I've always dismissed them. But is it right to dismiss things you've never examined or at least perused?

And so a few days ago, my mother brought me this book. She'd read it, said "it wasn't great literature but it's an intriguing story." And b/c it takes place at Christmas time, and b/c my mother said, "here read this." I thought, "OK, I will". I read the story in one day, and I have to concur, this is not literature. It's an intriguing story, w/a fast moving plot, unrealistic show more dialogue and loose ends too neatly tied up in the end. It's superficial characterizations. It's fluff. Entertaining though it is. It didn't teach me anything, didn't leave me inspired or give me new insights.

One thing I will say about Mary Higgins Clark- at least she doesn't resort to foul language or hyper-sexual romances. I've had enough of her though, And so..I will continue walking right past those aisles at the Stop & Shop. show less

Ramping up for Christmas and getting into the holiday mood but lets throw in a bit of suspense in the mix. As in many Christmas mysteries, there's struggle, redemption, hope and suspense. As most are novellas, they're often short. This book was all of those things. For me, most novellas always leave me feeling a bit cheated. I long for greater character development and backstory. But if it's a quick read you're seeking for a cozy Christmas dinner sit by the fire, then this would certainly fit the bill. I certainly enjoyed the story and hope you will too.

Holiday themed novels are expected to be a bit syrupy and fluffy, and this one is definitely a holiday novel. Still, this is also a child-abduction thriller in which a kid wanders off and accidentally lands himself with a fugitive on the run towards Canada. Of course, few holiday novels have sad endings, so it is no surprise that the reader can guess roughly how the book will end as soon as the plot is established. Overall I liked this book and would definitely recommend it for folks wanting some light reading while traveling during the holiday season.