But then Peter and Lisa go missing and are later found dead and we learn that Nancy's husband Carl shortly after this tragedy committed suicide. The evidence points to Nancy and she is charged with Peter and Lisa's murder. She is tried and convicted but her case is overturned on a technicality and cannot be retried since a key witness cannot be found. And so Nancy is released from prison and set free.
The book opens seven years after the trial. Nancy is now living in Cape Cod. She has changed her name and appearance and tried to rebuild her life marrying Ray Eldridge, a local real estate agent, and they have two children, Missy and Michael. The Eldridge family lives in a beautiful home in a quaint town where no one knows about Nancy's past. Life outwardly seems like it is going well for Nancy but in reality she remains afraid and very protective of Missy and Michael. And then the nightmare repeats itself when Missy and Michael go missing.
Where Are The Children is a novel where as the saying goes "the pages turn by themselves". I loved this book which is told from several points of view. And the central question is where are Missy and Michael and who murdered Peter and Lisa seven years prior?
In addition to Nancy there are other interesting characters in this novel. Jonathan Knowles for example, a retired attorney and neighbor of Nancy's who is a 1970's version of today's true crime podcaster. He is determined to solve the case. Also, Where Are The Children? touches on a disturbing topic that I was surprised to see brought up in a 1970's novel but clearly people were talking about this issue back then.
I am late coming to the Mary Higgins Clark fan club but now that I am here I will stay awhile and definitely be checking out at least two or three more of her novels.
I used to read a ton of Mary Higgins Clark's books back in the day. They're a lot of fun. The first one I ever read was A Stranger Is Watching. I also really loved Stillwatch, While My Pretty One Sleeps and Remember Me. If you try her again, I can happily recommend any of those. :D (Some of her later books aren't quite as good.)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lark. I will stick to the books you recommend and avoid the later works. It was a nice surprise finding Mary Higgins Clark because I haven't had good luck with some of the current bestselling domestic thrillers.
DeleteThat's a pretty chilling premise eh? But it does sound like a page-turner. I hope the investigators get to the bottom of it. Somebody seems to have followed or found Nancy in Cape Cod, yikes.
ReplyDeleteIt is a chilling premise and in the hands of a less talented author it would seem far fetched but Mary Higgins Clark has takent and she pulls it off. And someone has followed Nancy to Cape Cod.
DeleteGreat blog
ReplyDeleteThanks so much and I have checked out your blog which is great and very inspirational
DeleteKathy, sorry to comment so late. I thought I had commented but I must have forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI read this book many years ago. I don't remember my reaction at the time, but it is definitely a classic. I am glad you liked the book and that you will be try more of her books. I will see what you think of them to see if I might want to read more of them.
Hi Tracy, I did enjoy Where Are The Children. It is a classic and the most popular of Mary Higgins Clark's novels. And I must read one or two more. There is a recent sequel Where Are The Chikdren Now by Alifair Burke that might get fun.
Delete