Daddy's Little Girl (Hardcover)

by Mary Higgins Clark (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Writing in the first person a rarity for this veteran author has inspired and energized Clark. Her 21st novel of intrigue is her best in years, a tightly woven, emotionally potent tale of suspense and revenge. Clark's new heroine is Atlanta investigative journalist Ellie Cavanaugh, who was seven when her sister, Andrea, 15, was beaten to death by 20-year-old Rob Westerfield, scion of the wealthiest family in a small Westchester town. Now Westerfield is up for parole, so Ellie, now 30, returns home to speak out against him. When Westerfield is released, Ellie begins to write a book aimed at re-proving his guilt. Digging for evidence, she uncovers clues that Westerfield may have committed another murder as a youth, but that digging also enrages the Westerfields and other town members who think the man was railroaded. Before long, Ellie's life is in danger, as someone breaks into the house she's staying in, then later sets fire to it, nearly killing her, and as Westerfield himself begins to shadow her moves. What makes this novel work isn't only the considerable tension Clark teases from Ellie's precarious position, but the thoughtful backgrounding to the action. Ellie is cast as a lonely woman, without a lover and estranged from her father and half-brother: will she accept one or the other into her guarded life?; and she carries a heavy load of guilt for her sister's death, wondering at times if she is blinded by her thirst for vengeance. With its textured plot, well-sketched secondary characters, strong pacing and appealing heroine, this is Clark at her most winning. (On sale, Apr. 16)
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
At the parole hearing for Donald Waring, Trish Duncan begins to wonder whether he was wrongly convicted of killing her sister 20 years ago.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (April 16, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743206045
• ISBN-13: 978-0743206044
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (180 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #668,675 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Page-turning Suspense, April 19, 2002

By	Sheri Melnick (Enola, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ever popular fiction writer Mary Higgins Clark has written yet another spine-tingling tale in this latest read. As a slight deviation, the victim's sister tells the story in the first person. Twenty-two years ago, fifteen-year-old Andrea Cavanaugh was brutally murdered near her home in suburban West Chester County, New York. Her sister, Ellie, seven-years-old at the time, has shouldered the blame for not telling her parents where her sister might have gone on that fateful night. With the subsequent breakup of her family and her mother's alcoholism, Ellie has grown up remembering her father's "why didn't you tell us?"

Now, Ellie is twenty-nine-years-old and an investigative reporter in Atlanta. She returns to her childhood home on the eve of the release of her sister's murderer. Determined to prevent the killer to be exonerated with a new trial, Ellie starts a web page and begins to uncover startling new facts concerning her sister's killer. Though she faces opposition from members of the town who believe in the man's innocence, Ellie continues in her quest. But Ms. Higgins Clark has created a character the reader wants to champion even as her life becomes endangered when she journeys too close to the truth.

As the clues mount in this non-stop adventure, Ellie's relationship with her estranged father and half-brother becomes a factor in their effort to protect her from becoming a victim. Clue by clue, the identity of the murderer becomes solidified, but the reader still wonders if Ellie is not being misled. A brilliant read, suspenseful until the very end.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much better than her last two!, May 22, 2002

By	Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

Ellie Cavanaugh was seven years old when she found the body of Andrea, her fifteen year old sister, in the hideout. The hideout was in the garage behind old Mrs. Westerfield's house. It was little Ellie's testimony that put Andrea's boyfriend, Rob Westerfield, in prison for the murder. The stress and depression tore the family apart.

After twenty years Rob was coming up for parole. With his family's influence and money there was no doubt he would be released this time. The family also had an author writing Rob's life story to gain public sympathy.

Ellie had grown up and became an investigative reporter with the Atlanta News. She returned to her hometown to make sure Rob was not acquitted. Most believed Rob innocent of Andrea's death. As Ellie investigated and posted her findings on the web for the world to see, she became targeted for murder.

***** Mary Higgins Clark had not written this well in several years. I found it to be MUCH better than her last few novels! Clark seems to have found her muse once again! Highly recommended! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heroine in Jeopardy Makes For Exciting Suspense Story, April 26, 2002

By	Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"My sister, Andrea, was murdered nearly twenty-three years ago, yet it always seems as though it was just yesterday." Thus Ellie Cavanaugh begins her tale and the reader is drawn into the life of this Atlanta investigative journalist who has never come to terms with the murder of her sister, a murder she assumes partial blame for because she covered for her fifteen-year-old sister by not telling their parents that Andrea was secretly meeting handsome rich kid Rob Westerfield.

When Rob Westerfield, the convicted killer, comes up for parole twenty-three years later, Ellie returns to Westchester, New York, the scene of the crime, hoping to prevent his parole. She is, however, up against a rich and powerful family that is able to now produce an eye-witness that will clear the family's name. Ellie fights back with a website outlining all the reasons Westerfield should remain in prison. Many people want Ellie and her website stopped and one person is willing to kill again to accomplish this.

Ellie is one of Mary Higgins Clark's more sympathetic heroines. Like most MHC creations, she is a dedicated career woman. But unlike the others, Ellie is isolated. She has lost her sister and her mother because of the tragedy and is estranged from her father. Her only confidante is her boss in Atlanta. Even her childhood acquaintances still in New York think it is time to quit carrying a grudge---Westerfield has served his time, let him be.

When evidence starts to mount that Rob Wessterfield is really innocent and the crime was commmitted by another, Ellie swings into high gear to find the answers once and for all so that she can truly put the past to rest.

Can Ellie uncover the truth? Will the need for vengeance blind her? Will others deceive her? Can one single woman fight a community and the local law enforcement when her cause is unpopular? Can Ellie ever truly bury the past and move on with her life?

This is Mary Higgins Clark writing at the top of her form to give readers a stay-up-all-night-reading novel. The use of first-person gives the story an immediacy and excitement that keeps you interested up to the chilling climax and teary-eyed conclusion.