The Shadow of Your Smile

The Shadow of Your Smile is the first Mary Higgins Clark novel I've ever read.

Of course I've heard of Mary Higgins Clark. Her name has been all over bestseller lists for years, and she occupies quite a lot of shelf space in public libraries and bookstores across the country. But she's not an author I was ever interested in reading. So I wasn't sure how I would react when I ended up listening to the audiobook of The Shadow of Your Smile on a recent road trip.

Reading other reviews of The Shadow of Your Smile, I realize this probably isn't the best book Ms. Clark has written. Consensus appears to place this novel on the low end of quality for her output. Perhaps it's regrettable it became my first Mary Higgins Clark novel.

Despite being show more sub-par, I completely understand now why Ms. Clark's work is so popular. The story is incredibly compelling. I had to find out how this book would end. I needed to know how it would all turn out. Her tale drew me in completely.

Ms. Clark is frequently criticized for being formulaic. This criticism is certainly apt when applied to The Shadow of Your Smile. However, if fails to recognize the essential fact that her formula works very well. She's a craftsman and she's developed a masterful storytelling template. In the case of Ms. Clark, I wouldn't assume that formulaic equals bad.

I found her characters relatable, likable and repugnant as the plot requires, and easy to believe. The plot relies a bit too much on coincidence but such is the nature of most suspense stories, so it wouldn't be fair to account this as a fault. None of these coincidences are unbelievable and they all work together to keep the reader guessing.

I more or less knew from the beginning how it would turn out. You know going into it there will be a happy ending and you quickly learn what the elements of a happy ending have to be. Knowing this doesn't detract from the suspense—you still wonder how the author is going to get there, how many complications she's going to throw in the way. I can honestly say there's one element of the resolution I didn't see coming, but the surprise isn't arbitrary and makes sense in retrospect. More surprisingly, Ms. Clark leaves some threads of the story unresolved—a bolder choice than I would expect from such a crowd-pleasing author working in such a crowd-pleasing genre.

Honestly, I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did.

Some of my enjoyment must be credited to the audiobook's narrator, Jan Maxwell. I found her voice well suited to this style of storytelling—compelling but not overly theatrical. She gave each character an appropriate voice without allowing any of them to become caricatures. It's a competent, satisfying performance.

The major problem with this novel—and it's a huge problem—is the stiflingly heavy-handed exposition. There are so many plot elements, and the characters each have so much backstory, the narrative drowns in explanations and background information. Ms. Clark relies too much on character reminiscences and flashbacks to communicate this necessary material to the reader. She integrates a good chunk of exposition into character dialog. But putting quotation marks around it, making it something a character speaks aloud, doesn't disguise the fact that there's a whole lot of dry, boring exposition going on here. Much of it is repetitious and some of it explains things that are obvious enough not to need so much explanation.

Part of me wants to forgive Ms. Clark for handling the expository needs of story so inelegantly. Exposition is difficult and even skilled authors have a hard time wrangling it. Then again—this story is of Ms. Clark's own devising and she only has herself to blame for crafting a tale which requires so much of it in the first place.

Even weighted down with such a freight of clunky exposition, Ms. Clark's plot formula still shines through. It still works. She still draws you in and leaves you eager to learn the outcome of all these machinations.

If Ms. Clark can create such a compelling plot even in a not-so-good book like The Shadow of Your Smile, it makes me wonder what she can accomplish with her best stuff. show less

When 82-year-old Olivia Morrow receives the news that she is dying and has little time left, she must make a big decision. Many years ago, her deceased cousin Catherine, who became a nun, had a big secret. And Olivia has letters in her possession that confirm the details of the fact that, at age seventeen, Catherine gave birth to a baby boy, whom she subsequently put up for adoption. The child's father, Alex Gannon, went on to become a world-famous doctor, scientist, and inventor holding medical patents.

Things become a bit more complicated when this same nun is being considered for "beatification" because of alleged miracles she has performed, by healing terminally ill children. Dr. Farrell is being called upon to "testify" as to the show more medical facts and supposed miracle that healed one of her patients, all in support of the sainthood of this nun. So the scene is set. What will Olivia do? And what will certain others do to keep the truth from coming to life?

I enjoyed the way the author pulled in supposedly incidental characters and created unique circumstances that would help bring down the house of cards built by the unworthy characters, somehow forestalling disaster. I like Mary Higgins Clark books. This one may not be in my top five from her but I still enjoyed it and it is well worth reading show less

This was one of the more interesting MHC books I've read - I liked one of the side plots of beautification in the Catholic church but there were still far too many 2 dimensional characters and she has an annoying habit of having her characters say completely idiotic things to each other. She wants us to know things but having the characters tell us makes them less believable.

True to style Mary Higgins Clark, with a bit more about her beloved Catholic Church, thrown in. Made me think on what makes a saint a Saint, which was an added bonus to a breezy summertime ear-read.

From my blog

Mary Higgins Clark is my favourite author mainly because she is consistent and hasn't let me down yet. She found a formula that works for her and sticks to it. She gives you the intro, the story with the characters interacting so you start thinking who are the bad guys and then near the end you are reading so fast because you have to know who don't it or how they did it and there is always a little twist.

At first I started thinking there are too many characters in this book but she gives you enough that you can keep track of them and begin thinking how do they relate to the suspense of the story. Monica was my favourite character and the story revolved around her. I find she always has a strong female character that comes show more across as genuine, someone you like.

A major family secret from generations long ago and because of adopted grandparents Monica did not know her history, so was naive in thinking someone was after her and would do anything to keep the secret which included murder.

I enjoyed how MaryHC showed that money don't make you happy, the glamorous and rich were definitely over their heads and miserable. show less

I admit it. I have been a fan of Mary Higgins Clark for many, many years now. So it was a no brainer to pick up the newest tome “The Shadow of Your Smile”. I have to also admit that I didn’t like it at first and this surprised me. I usually pick it up and finish it within the first day. This wasn’t happening. Why? I would have to say that while I did ultimately enjoy the read; it was a very predictable Mary Higgins Clark story. Could it be possible that I have outgrown her? Could be.

This all being said, I will add that once I did get going it was a race to the finish. There was plenty of intrigue, a hint at romance, some twist and turns all ingredients for the Higgins Clark recipe. The characters included the solid citizens, the show more slightly leery and the full blown villain also her signature types.

I might not run right out the next time and purchase the newest of her novels. I will, however, get it from the library and take it to the beach for the pure joy of a nonsense read. show less

I was ever so slightly disappointed in this book. I usually adore MHC books but this one left me a little befuddled. Too many characters were introduced early on and I mixed up names continually for the first half of the book. Also, I figured out 'who done it' very quickly and was frustrated with the slow story line. Perhaps that is just a measure of my familiarity of MHC's writing style. All in all it was a good read and I did spend a couple of late nights (early mornings) absorbed in the story.