Release Date: 14/01/16
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
SYNOPSIS:
Lane Harmon, assistant to a renowned interior designer, is used to meeting the rich and famous in their opulent homes. But when she is called to the Bennett house, she knows this job will be different. Parker Bennett has been missing for two years - since just before the discovery that billions of dollars had vanished from a fund he managed. The scandal has not died and a cloud of suspicion remains around his name. Did he commit suicide or was his disappearance staged?
His wife is convinced Parker is innocent - and alive. But there are people after him who are determined to learn the truth at any cost. And the more Lane gets drawn into the Bennett's world of glamour and intrigue, the most she puts her life and those of her family in jeopardy…
With the hair-raising skill that has made her a multi-million copy global phenomenon, Mary Higgins Clark combines a huge financial scandal and a breathtaking tale of deception and betrayal into one of her finest novels yet.
REVIEW:
Another Mary Higgins Clark title and having been disappointed with the short story collection I was rather hoping for something that would fulfil my need for cracking crime writing. What unfurled however was a book that whilst not awful was a book that was just OK. The story did what you wanted, was easy to follow and with a predictable principle character gave me pretty much what I expected without any surprises. That’s not always a bad thing however when I start a new year, I always want something to take my breath away, something that takes me on an unforgettable journey into something that stays with me long after the final page is turned.
All round, this is just an OK book and at the end of the day, if you want an easy read then this is the one for you. If you want something to keep you on the edge of the seat then you’ll have to look elsewhere for now.
Release Date: 17/12/15
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
SYNOPSIS:
Collected together for the first time are 25 of Mary Higgins Clark's most acclaimed short stories. Featuring her trademark wit, style and razor-sharp plotting, this is must-have for every fan. And her most famous story, 'Death Wears a Beauty Mask', left unfinished since 1973, finally gets its spectacular ending ...
REVIEW:
I’ve read a few of Mary’s books and whilst on the whole I’ve felt that I get good story telling backed with solid writing and as a fan of short stories I was quite enthusiastic about having some travel time filled with tales that I could not only dip into but fully enjoy.
Sadly for me, whilst the writing was Ok within, it wasn’t anything that really stood out, it felt dated, the character fairly flat and sadly for me as each tale was starting to get good, it was finishing. I’m not saying that its dire, what I am saying is that short story writing is a skill that not everyone can do and for me Mary is one of those authors who excels at presenting a longer story and for me, that what I’ll be reading her for, from now on.
Release Date: 19/11/15
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
SYNOPSIS:
Five years ago Amanda Pierce was excitedly preparing to marry her college sweetheart. She and Jeffrey had already battled through sickness and health, although their lives were certainly more richer than poorer as Amanda was set to inherit her father's successful garment company.
Then Amanda disappeared the night of her bachelorette party.
In present-day New York City, Laurie Moran realizes a missing bride is the perfect cold case for her 'Under Suspicion' television series to investigate. By recreating the night of the disappearance at the wedding's Florida resort with Amanda's friends and family, Laurie hopes to find the same success solving the cases featured in the series' first episodes. With Amanda's former fiancé now married to a bridesmaid, and a jealous sister, playboy groomsmen, and rumors about the "beloved" bride herself, Laurie and Under Suspicion host Alex Buckley quickly realize everyone has their own theory about why Amanda disappeared into thin air.
One thing is certain, whoever was behind Amanda's vanishing plans to keep the truth hidden "til death do they part"…
REVIEW:
For me, there is nothing better than a crime novel that is not only well written but keeps you guessing until the last few scenes due to all the twists is always something that is a pure joy to read. However the first novel in the series (The Cinderella Murders) left me feeling pretty flat as for me I felt that it unravelled a little to easily as well as not being as sharp or as polished as it could have been.
However as a reader I always like to give a series two books before letting it go, as there is so much that can be learned from one title to another and errors that readers have had, have been fixed in future outings. This is a prime example of this happening. Firstly the writing was a lot fresher for me, the duo working better together to help create a more seamless entity in the final product. The overall arc was delightful with multiple twists that kept me guessing and generated a story that I had a hard time putting down when it came to sleep. So much so that my brain worked overtime trying to figure out what was going to happen next. (A sure sign that a book has really hit the spot with you.)
All round, I’m more than pleased that I have my 2 book rule in place as otherwise I’d have missed this great outing. Magic.
