Customer Reviews

Where Are the Children?

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This may be the first Mary Higgins Clark novel and I think it's one of her best. The suspense is incredible and you'll turn the pages as fast as you can to follow the story of a mother desperate to find and bring home her two kidnapped children. In my opinion Ms. Clark's more recent books are not as gritty as her first efforts which are rich in atmosphere and edge-of-your-seat terror. If you haven't read Where Are the Children, you're in for a treat. If you read it once, read it again.

WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN? is Mary Higgins Clark's first work of fiction, published in 1975. It's a decent, short suspense novel that you can finish in a few hours. The main character, Nancy Harmon, suffers the agony of her two children being kidnapped. Ms. Harmon, however, has a suspicious history -- having once been suspected (and never cleared) of murdering her children from a prior marriage.

This novel is fast paced and exciting, and has a grittier feel than Clark's later fiction. My major beef with this novel, however, is that there is a major coincidence in this book that is very difficult to swallow (a key figure from the main character's past happens to show up at exactly the same time her children are kidnapped). Also, the identity of the killer is somewhat predictable once all the clues are presented. There are also too many supporting characters in this book -- it was tough for me to keep all of them straight.

Still, this book is fun way to spend an afternoon, especially if you like Clark's work. Recommended, but you may want to try some of Clark's later work first.

Her first mystery, I believe. Thrilling, chilling! It kept my attention, even though I have read it many times before. Well-written, believable characters. I enjoy her older works the most. This mystery is about a woman who has fled her past, and an accusation of murdering her children, to start a new life in New England . She marries again, has two more children, and life is getting back to normal. Until she goes outside to fetch her children from their playtime one morning, only to discover they are missing.

This 1975 debut novel is set on Cape Cod where the Eldredge's, Ray and Nancy are raising their children, Michael and Melissa. Ray is an up and coming real estate agent, well-liked and respected in the community but Nancy is not so popular. She is considered remote, unfriendly and just a bit strange. Only her husband and a close family friend know the truth about Nancy, about her first family, the two children who had been murdered and her husband who had committed suicide after she had been charged with the crime. Nancy had gotten released from jail due to a mistrial and when the star witness disappeared Nancy had fled across the country to Cape Cod to try and start her life over. Then, one day Nancy's world crumbled when once again her children disappeared.

This is a thrilling story, full of action and surprising twists and turns. In fact perhaps a few too many. The novel encompasses just one day but on that day not one, but two strangers from Nancy's past just happen to arrive. Also a famous trial lawyer who just happens to be familiar with the case turns out to be a neighbor. And that is not the end the coincidences, nearly every chapter seems to reveal another. Like many first novels this one has enough plot and characters for at least three others. Still it makes a pleasant way to spend a few hours. This 30 plus year old novel has held up fairly well but a modern reader will probably wonder why some of the characters didn't just pull out their cell phone.

I've read numerous MHC books, and this is the first one I've read that has foul language in it. Wow. I miss the MHC of old, the one who wrote about such disturbing characters who are relevant to real life. However, something that did bother me about this book was the fact that the transitions between characters was not very smooth, thus creating confusion on which character was thinking what, etc. She has gotten much better on that aspect. Anyway, the story is a good, quick, enjoyable read...I read it in less than two days.

There are elements of the story that have faded with time (the telephone numbers, the bulletins on the evening news, etc.) Yet, the fact remains that Clark showed even here in her debut that she can create suspense and plot twists like few other mystery writers. The tension builds up even when I least expected it and the ending is very satisfying.

Wow! I have to admit that I was thoroughly surprised by how much I enjoyed Mary Higgins Clark's writing. I can see how this book catapulted her career. It's not that the writing in the book was astonishing, poetic or mind altering but it was good. Good, old fashioned storytelling!
I have seen her books in stores all my life but had never considered reading her. To be honest, I assumed that she wrote romance novels....which I am not a fan of. I foolishly assumed, based off the covers, that her books would not hold my interest.
Luckily, I found out that I was wrong.

This book was a very enjoyable read. Well written, likable characters that I felt compassion for, a simple (yet interesting) plot to follow and enough suspense to capture, and maintain, my interest.
Everything flowed wonderfully and at no point was I aware of the fact that I was reading a piece of fiction. The characters were believable, as was their emotion.

Last, I love books that ar based in New England! I lived on Cape Cod and adored my time there. I miss it terribly! Mary Higgins Clark did a good job at describing the cape, the people who live there and the general ambiance of the place!!!

There's no reson not to pick up this book, provided you're considering reading it. It's very short at 280 pages, it's fast, enjoyable, suspenseful and delivers itself well!

i am a mary higgins clark junkie, i was suprised the found out early in the story line who took the children and now just figure would they be found in time. after reading so many of her books i figured out early on the real identity of the kidnapper.

This book had me sitting at the edge of my chair. I just could not put it down, I wanted to know what was about to happen next.

anything written by this lady is the best...we buy every one of her books and they are all so great.