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billt's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.25
samlo_books's review
5.0
Initially, I was a little skeptical about where they could take the plot from Where Are the Children? However, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly it dug its hooks into me and never let go. Mary Higgins Clark wrote over 50 novels in her lifetime. Where Are The Children Now? is the sequel to Where Are The Children? which was Mary Higgins Clark's debut novel originally released in 1975. Almost 50 years later, Mary Higgins Clark with the assistance of Alafair Burke, revisits these beloved characters and sends them on a new adventure.
When Missy and Mike were children, they were abducted and subjected to abuse at the hands of Nancy's ex-husband. Nancy was able to rescue her children then. However, their past has a way of influencing their present. Missy is determined to leave the past in the past, while Mike is concerned about what she is repressing. Missy is a well-respected lawyer turned podcaster whose primary focus is on injustice in the criminal justice system. After she successfully helps a client overturn their conviction, Missy is skyrocketed into fame. Fame comes with its own problems, especially in the form of internet trolls.
Missy is set to get married to Charlie, whom she met in grief counseling after her father passed away. They haven't known each other long and Charlie has a young daughter named Riley. Everyone is concerned about Missy but she seems to be happy. After the wedding, Missy and Mike help Nancy pack up and move to Long Island to be closer to Missy. The move goes smoothly, but one day Missy takes Riley, her new stepdaughter, to the park. At the park, she is verbally attacked by a stranger. Missy and Riley head back to Nancy's new cottage and take a nap. However, it will be a decision Missy comes to regret as she is forcefully shaken awake by her brother Mike asking where Riley is. Missy is soon prime suspect number one, and Charlie has cut off communication with her.
As Missy struggles to prove her innocence she quickly starts to realize something isn't right. Not everyone is who they say they are. Could she have accidentally hurt her stepdaughter due to her struggles with insomnia? Or is someone else trying to frame her? If so, who, and more importantly why? Missy refuses to back down and puts herself in danger to find the truth. In the end, her main priority is her stepdaughter, and preventing her from suffering the same abuse she faced as a child.
What I loved:
+Revisiting old characters in new stages of their lives.
+Fast-paced, on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller.
+True crime podcast angle
What I didn't love:
-Not enough fleshing out of the criminal character's change in identity
-Missy's blind trust in a stranger seems to be in direct contradiction with her personality and past trauma
Part of the reason I was skeptical about reading this sequel, is that Mary Higgins Clark passed in 2020 and isn't around to help write these books anymore. However, I do believe the introduction mentions that she helped flesh out the idea for the story prior to her passing. Where Are The Children Now? very much reads like a classic Mary Higgins Clark novel. There are so many threads to follow, breadcrumb trails, and red herrings to avoid. Just when I thought I might have figured it out, there would be another twist to keep me on my toes.
Bottom line: I absolutely loved Where Are The Children Now? Mary Higgins Clark is a comfort author to me. I know what to expect when I sit down with one of her novels. This one did not disappoint. Be sure to read Where Are The Children? before you read Where Are The Children Now? to truly understand the trauma Nancy, Missy, and Mike are battling with.
Details:
Publication date: 4/18/23
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Page count: 284
Thank you to NetGalley for the free advanced reader's copy of Where Are The Children Now?
When Missy and Mike were children, they were abducted and subjected to abuse at the hands of Nancy's ex-husband. Nancy was able to rescue her children then. However, their past has a way of influencing their present. Missy is determined to leave the past in the past, while Mike is concerned about what she is repressing. Missy is a well-respected lawyer turned podcaster whose primary focus is on injustice in the criminal justice system. After she successfully helps a client overturn their conviction, Missy is skyrocketed into fame. Fame comes with its own problems, especially in the form of internet trolls.
Missy is set to get married to Charlie, whom she met in grief counseling after her father passed away. They haven't known each other long and Charlie has a young daughter named Riley. Everyone is concerned about Missy but she seems to be happy. After the wedding, Missy and Mike help Nancy pack up and move to Long Island to be closer to Missy. The move goes smoothly, but one day Missy takes Riley, her new stepdaughter, to the park. At the park, she is verbally attacked by a stranger. Missy and Riley head back to Nancy's new cottage and take a nap. However, it will be a decision Missy comes to regret as she is forcefully shaken awake by her brother Mike asking where Riley is. Missy is soon prime suspect number one, and Charlie has cut off communication with her.
As Missy struggles to prove her innocence she quickly starts to realize something isn't right. Not everyone is who they say they are. Could she have accidentally hurt her stepdaughter due to her struggles with insomnia? Or is someone else trying to frame her? If so, who, and more importantly why? Missy refuses to back down and puts herself in danger to find the truth. In the end, her main priority is her stepdaughter, and preventing her from suffering the same abuse she faced as a child.
What I loved:
+Revisiting old characters in new stages of their lives.
+Fast-paced, on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller.
+True crime podcast angle
What I didn't love:
-Not enough fleshing out of the criminal character's change in identity
-Missy's blind trust in a stranger seems to be in direct contradiction with her personality and past trauma
Part of the reason I was skeptical about reading this sequel, is that Mary Higgins Clark passed in 2020 and isn't around to help write these books anymore. However, I do believe the introduction mentions that she helped flesh out the idea for the story prior to her passing. Where Are The Children Now? very much reads like a classic Mary Higgins Clark novel. There are so many threads to follow, breadcrumb trails, and red herrings to avoid. Just when I thought I might have figured it out, there would be another twist to keep me on my toes.
Bottom line: I absolutely loved Where Are The Children Now? Mary Higgins Clark is a comfort author to me. I know what to expect when I sit down with one of her novels. This one did not disappoint. Be sure to read Where Are The Children? before you read Where Are The Children Now? to truly understand the trauma Nancy, Missy, and Mike are battling with.
Details:
Publication date: 4/18/23
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Page count: 284
Thank you to NetGalley for the free advanced reader's copy of Where Are The Children Now?
ashleysilver7's review
4.0
This was a fun follow-up to a book written 40-50 years ago. "Missy" goes by Melissa now, and she is a well-known defense lawyer and true crime podcaster. She has largely tried to block out what happened to her 40 years ago, but sadly her toddler step-daughter goes missing soon after their wedding. This was a fun mystery and an easy read.
lizmart88's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I am a longtime fan of Mary Higgins Clark, and I've tried her collabs with Alafair Burke and found them all to be lacking the spark she brings to the story. That was true here again and I probably shouldn't have read this one! It's lacking in the build-up and suspense that MHC was such a master of. I didn't guess the answer, but it felt anti-climactic when I learned who the kidnapper was. The story felt a little too contrived and convoluted to be believable. And it both referenced the old book too much in specific details, while not delving into how the characters have evolved since then. In short, read the original MHC books only!
lauren_soderberg's review
4.0
4.25 stars
Where Are the Children Now? is a fitting homage to Mark Higgins Clark’s debut novel, and Alafair Burke maintains the voice and pacing of the original in a seamless fashion.
Picking up 40 years after the events of Where Are the Children?, this novel gives readers an insight into the lives of Melissa and Mike and the ways in which they’ve processed their abduction. When Melissa’s stepdaughter goes missing, it seems like the events of the past are repeating themselves. And it’s a race against time to find little Riley.
This book brought me back to the classic MHC books I read as a child, capturing the same evocative storytelling and satisfying twists and turns. It was a joy to step back into that nostalgic place, while still feeling like I was reading a modern story. It was a wonderful way to feel like a piece of the Queen of Suspense lives on, and for that I am truly grateful.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for generously providing an ARC.
Where Are the Children Now? is a fitting homage to Mark Higgins Clark’s debut novel, and Alafair Burke maintains the voice and pacing of the original in a seamless fashion.
Picking up 40 years after the events of Where Are the Children?, this novel gives readers an insight into the lives of Melissa and Mike and the ways in which they’ve processed their abduction. When Melissa’s stepdaughter goes missing, it seems like the events of the past are repeating themselves. And it’s a race against time to find little Riley.
This book brought me back to the classic MHC books I read as a child, capturing the same evocative storytelling and satisfying twists and turns. It was a joy to step back into that nostalgic place, while still feeling like I was reading a modern story. It was a wonderful way to feel like a piece of the Queen of Suspense lives on, and for that I am truly grateful.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for generously providing an ARC.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
I missed the height of Mary Higgins Clark's popularity but I thought it was cool when a contemporary mystery/thriller author wrote a spin off based on characters from MHC's best-selling book. Having never read Where are the children didn't detract from my enjoyment of this latest mystery/thriller that sees former kidnap victim Melissa become a suspect when her stepdaughter goes mysteriously missing. Twisty and great for fans of true podcast crime stories. I loved the audiobook narration by one of my fav narrators, January LaVoy too. Many thanks to Librofm for an ALC since I likely wouldn't have picked this one up otherwise.
blogginboutbooks's review
3.0
As a teen and young adult, I DEVOURED MHC's books, staying up long into the night to finish them because I literally could not put them down. In the 2000s, though, her books didn't have the same pizzazz and I stopped reading them for the most part. When I saw that a sequel to WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN? had been written, I bought it and a copy of the original for nostalgia's sake and because I was curious. Re-reading the latter was...disappointing. Even though I give MHC credit for her pioneering storytelling techniques, I still found the book to be a less-than-average read. The characters are flat as paper, the plot is far-fetched, the dialogue is cringe-y, and the prose is lackluster. In my opinion, the sequel is a *little* better since the characters and plot are a bit more developed. Still, though, the characters are pretty meh. Melissa doesn't seem vibrant or smart enough to be a successful lawyer and podcaster. She doesn't have much personality, she's slow on the uptake, and she's incredibly naive for a seasoned woman and attorney. Her actions just don't seem believable considering who she is supposed to be. Plotwise, WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN NOW? is pretty dang contrived. Also predictable. I saw the Big Reveal coming a mile away, although there is one part that caught me by surprise (mostly because there aren't any clues to foreshadow it). That being said, the book was entertaining enough to keep me reading. In true MHC fashion, it has short chapters, lots of action, and multiple viewpoints that work together to bring the story to an exciting conclusion. As always, I also appreciate that MHC books have no graphic content. All of these things make WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN NOW? a quick, compelling-enough read, even though it's ridiculous and eyeroll-worthy at the same time.
melissasbookshelf's review
5.0
When Mary Higgins Clark passed away, I was so sad thinking I would just have to rely on her extensive body of work for my mystery enjoyment. Luckily, this gem was in the works! Where Are the Children Now exemplifies why Mary Higgins Clark was the “queen of suspense.” Her coauthor-ship with Alafair Burke only serves to make her stories even better. As a sequel to her first and best selling book Where Are the Children, this book takes the reader on just as many twists and turns. I admit I devoured it in a day because it was so hard to put down.
The mystery is laid out in Mary Higgins Clark’s signature fashion introducing all the characters including the mysterious would-be killer’s point of view. In the first book, Melissa and Mike were children and the victims of a cruel kidnapper. Now all grown up, Melissa is a successful attorney with her own podcast and getting ready to marry. Devastated after her father’s death, she agrees to go to counseling to not only deal with her grief but also the unresolved issues of her kidnapping. This is where she meets her future husband whose wife died in a tragic accident in Norway and is survived by two year old daughter Riley.
Despite her brother’s misgivings, Melissa marries Charlie and takes on the role of stepmother. When Riley goes missing in circumstances eerily similar to Melissa’s own kidnapping, she’s viewed as the number one suspect. In a race against time, Melissa tries to use every means necessary to find her stepdaughter and prove her innocence before it’s too late.
I have to say this mystery pulled me in and kept me guessing the whole time. The authors do a fantastic job casting suspicion on everyone, even Melissa herself. The suspense builds and builds until the dramatic, shocking conclusion that I honestly didn’t predict. It’s a fantastic sequel to the original and a must read for Mary Higgins Clark fans.
Don’t worry if you haven’t read the original Where Are the Children, this can definitely be read as a standalone. The authors do a fantastic job providing enough detail from the previous novel that readers can easily be brought up to speed. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are completely my own and voluntarily given.
Content warning: mentions of child abuse, mild infrequent swearing, mild violence.
The mystery is laid out in Mary Higgins Clark’s signature fashion introducing all the characters including the mysterious would-be killer’s point of view. In the first book, Melissa and Mike were children and the victims of a cruel kidnapper. Now all grown up, Melissa is a successful attorney with her own podcast and getting ready to marry. Devastated after her father’s death, she agrees to go to counseling to not only deal with her grief but also the unresolved issues of her kidnapping. This is where she meets her future husband whose wife died in a tragic accident in Norway and is survived by two year old daughter Riley.
Despite her brother’s misgivings, Melissa marries Charlie and takes on the role of stepmother. When Riley goes missing in circumstances eerily similar to Melissa’s own kidnapping, she’s viewed as the number one suspect. In a race against time, Melissa tries to use every means necessary to find her stepdaughter and prove her innocence before it’s too late.
I have to say this mystery pulled me in and kept me guessing the whole time. The authors do a fantastic job casting suspicion on everyone, even Melissa herself. The suspense builds and builds until the dramatic, shocking conclusion that I honestly didn’t predict. It’s a fantastic sequel to the original and a must read for Mary Higgins Clark fans.
Don’t worry if you haven’t read the original Where Are the Children, this can definitely be read as a standalone. The authors do a fantastic job providing enough detail from the previous novel that readers can easily be brought up to speed. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are completely my own and voluntarily given.
Content warning: mentions of child abuse, mild infrequent swearing, mild violence.