Helpful Score: 4
Clark's books have been reduced to simplistic, predictable formulas with little innovation or creativity to spark them to life. Even the villain was predictable given Clark's over-worn habit of repeatedly choosing the same character type as the villain.
The plot depends on a series of highly improbably coincidences bordering on the absurd. The characters are stereotypes from her previous novels. Clark does remain exceedingly good at writing a flowing, rhythmic narrative. At times I found myself yelling at the heroine because she made so many dumb moves guaranteed to have a bad outcome.
Clark remains one of my favorite authors, but I feel she didn't work very hard earning her paycheck on this book.
The plot depends on a series of highly improbably coincidences bordering on the absurd. The characters are stereotypes from her previous novels. Clark does remain exceedingly good at writing a flowing, rhythmic narrative. At times I found myself yelling at the heroine because she made so many dumb moves guaranteed to have a bad outcome.
Clark remains one of my favorite authors, but I feel she didn't work very hard earning her paycheck on this book.
Helpful Score: 2
Clark's clever use of a bit of New Jersey real estate code fits perfectly into her usual formula for minting bestsellers in a novel about past deadly secrets coming to haunt the present. At One Old Mill Lane, in Mendham, N.J., 10-year-old Liza Barton wakes to find her stepfather, Ted Cartwright, attacking her mother, Audrey. Liza grabs a gun in defense, but in the ensuing melee Audrey is killed and Ted is wounded. Dubbed "Little Lizzie Borden," Liza is taken away and almost convicted of murdering her mother and attempting to kill the lying, scheming Ted. Twenty-four years later, Liza, now known as Celia Foster Nolan, has just been presented with a surprise birthday present from her new husband, Alex: the house at One Old Mill Lane. Alex doesn't know Celia is really Liza, and he doesn't know the house's grim pastâbut thanks to a real estate code obligating agents to notify prospective buyers if a house could be considered "stigmatized property," he's about to find out about the latter at least. As Celia fights to keep her dark secret hidden, their real estate agent turns up dead. More folks are killed and Celia comes under suspicion. But in typical Clark style, most of the characters look a little guilty. Some readers will get annoyed by Celia's tendency to do things that reinforce the cops' suspicions, but Clark's steadfast fans will suspend all necessary disbelief and play along
Helpful Score: 1
This one was one of the best. could not resist the desire to keep turning the pages. Ignore the need to do the chores, just read the words and enjoy.
Helpful Score: 1
Mary Higgins Clark did it again! This book kept me in surprise the whole time and always had me guessing who did "it?" If you like her other books you must read this one. This lady has a talent for suspenseful writing.
The story is about a litte girl, Lizzy, who accidentally shoots her mother trying to protect her from the stepfather. The murder is ruled an accident but town gives her the name Lizzy Borden. She is adopted by new parents who change her entire identity and allow her to begin a new life. As an adult she is widowed with a son but is happily remarrying a lawyer who gives her a huge gift... the house she killed her mother in!
The story is about a litte girl, Lizzy, who accidentally shoots her mother trying to protect her from the stepfather. The murder is ruled an accident but town gives her the name Lizzy Borden. She is adopted by new parents who change her entire identity and allow her to begin a new life. As an adult she is widowed with a son but is happily remarrying a lawyer who gives her a huge gift... the house she killed her mother in!
Helpful Score: 1
love this book ... awesome story my first book by her not my last.
