Scan barcode
A review by melissasbookshelf
Where Are the Children Now? by Mary Higgins Clark, Alafair Burke
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.