Scan barcode
markatong's review
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
In every whodunnit book of MHC she always alienated the person who did the crime. In The Lost Years, the same formula had been used only very much predictable.
libraryowl's review
2.0
Mary Higgins Clark used to be my favorite author. That being said, this novel was a complete letdown. She didn't take the time to help the reader get to know the characters enough to care about them. She reverted to two familiar characters from other novels to be leads in solving yet another case. I don't recommend this book, and I doubt I will bother to read any of her more recent novels.
micrummey's review against another edition
1.0
I always wanted to read a Mary Higgins Clark book but this was dreadful and I felt I was wasting my time. A gave it one star because I liked the idea of a lost letter written by Christ. Well it was less about that but a murder where you really didn't care less about the victim, the accused, or any of the characters involved. It meandered on and too much focus was played on the fact whether or not a convicted burglar would provide a identifit drawing. I didn't care and too much time was spent over it. In the end I wished Christ never wrote the letter or at least forgot to send it to spare me from this book.
mochagirlalysia's review
4.0
The book is a quick read and I thought the overall storyline was interesting. What would people and the church do if there was a real letter from Jesus in existence? Just the simple idea brought thoughts of the Da Vinici Code and Angles and Demons. I loved both of those books. The idea of a crime surrounding a historical and biblical artifact is very interesting to me. Mary Higgings
Clark throws that out there with an affair and a murder.
The book was a clean and easy read. There was only the mention from the victims wife of blood but there was no blood and detailed killing mentioned at all. I really appreciated that this book could be read by all ages and not give you nightmares. LOL! By the way the affair is something talked about in the form of love but no sexual descriptions at all.
With that being said I liked the pace of the book but something seemed to be lacking for me. I wish there was more details in the book making me want to never put it down. There were a few characters that all had reason and opportunity to shine more than they did. They seemed to just be in the background showing up here and there but not giving major input. The one reason that I can't give this book top billing is the constant jump in tense. One sentence is in first person and the next would be in third person. The jump in the being of the book really bothered me but I slowly got use to it toward the end. I would have loved to have this book in one tense throughout.
I actually thought I knew what was going to happen in the end. And I solved it two to three times in my head before the end. But to be honest I was wayyyyyy off! I had no idea! The author did a great job giving the reader (me) something to figure out along the way.
Clark throws that out there with an affair and a murder.
The book was a clean and easy read. There was only the mention from the victims wife of blood but there was no blood and detailed killing mentioned at all. I really appreciated that this book could be read by all ages and not give you nightmares. LOL! By the way the affair is something talked about in the form of love but no sexual descriptions at all.
With that being said I liked the pace of the book but something seemed to be lacking for me. I wish there was more details in the book making me want to never put it down. There were a few characters that all had reason and opportunity to shine more than they did. They seemed to just be in the background showing up here and there but not giving major input. The one reason that I can't give this book top billing is the constant jump in tense. One sentence is in first person and the next would be in third person. The jump in the being of the book really bothered me but I slowly got use to it toward the end. I would have loved to have this book in one tense throughout.
I actually thought I knew what was going to happen in the end. And I solved it two to three times in my head before the end. But to be honest I was wayyyyyy off! I had no idea! The author did a great job giving the reader (me) something to figure out along the way.
amothersmusings1's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Alvirah and Willy book by Mary Higgins Clarke that I have read (apart from Santa Cruise many years ago which I didn't enjoy and don't think I finished) and I believe is the 9th in the series. I don't know how Mary comes up with so many different story lines but she does and this was really interesting involving a missing possible religious parchment written by Christ and the death of a professor who had unearthed it. I love Mary's books and have read many - they are always easy to follow, traditional and you feel that you are in safe hands when reading it. Would recommend but probably not to everyone's taste.
shallwehavetea's review against another edition
3.0
As always when it comes to Mary Higgins Clark, I was drawn in instantly to the story line, kept glued to every page which left me not wanting to put it down at all. (Of course I did have too). From the very start of the book and until the end, it was a whirl wind adventure of murder and mystery and one sided relationships, a serious of unexpected twists just adds to the amazing talent Clark weaves in to her novels.
unsophisticatedreader's review
3.0
I love a good mystery! I used to think her books were the creme de la creme (is that the correct saying?) when it comes to mysteries. After becoming a more experienced reader, I don't believe so now, but I do still enjoy them. This was a pretty enjoyable read. It was quick and interesting and I liked it alright.
steelchick68's review
1.0
Confirmed why I don't normally read "mass producing" authors like this one. The last 30 pages were the only ones worth reading and those could have been set up in about 50 pages prior.
jenunderhill's review
2.0
Not much to write home about. It was predictable and not particularly engaging.
nekorose's review
5.0
Rating 5/5 : I really loved this book that was about religious themes in which a letter that Jesus wrote to Joseph of Arimathea goes missing which led to murder and friendships and families being torn apart over it. it kept me involved the whole book and I couldn't wait to finish and find who really was the murderer. I will definitely recommend this, its such a classic MHC title, no one can be disappointed in it.
After seeing all the horrendous trolling on this books reviews, DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM, theyre just trolls and let them be trolls but read this book, u wont regret it, its an amazing book by an amazing author, nothing is lazy or stupid or done wrong about it
After seeing all the horrendous trolling on this books reviews, DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM, theyre just trolls and let them be trolls but read this book, u wont regret it, its an amazing book by an amazing author, nothing is lazy or stupid or done wrong about it