Where Are the Children now brings us back to the Eldredge Family decades after Mary Higgins Clark wrote Where Are the Children. I actually re-read Where Are the Children to refresh my memory. I had read the original when I was in middle school and fell in love with the author and became a lifelong fan. Alafair Burke, the author's frequent co-author, made it feel like Higgins Clark wrote this novel as well. This latest installment finds Melissa Eldredge grown up, married, and at the center of another child abduction. There are some Easter eggs and also some unexpected twists in this latest installment. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it whether you have read the original or not! You will not be disappointed!

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the copy of Where Are the Children Now? If you read books by Mary Higgins Clark you know why she is called The Queen of Suspense. This book is a worthy sequel to one of MHC’s biggest books. It actually felt like it was written by her, but it was written by Alafair Burke, a friend and collaborator. If I didn’t know better, I would think it was written by Clark. The story was a sequel to Where Are The Children but it’s okay if you haven’t read it. I really liked that the story didn't throw in gratuitous ‘twists and turns’ but still had some surprises. The writing was seamless, and the characters were well-drawn. I loved finding out how Nancy, Melissa, and Mike’s lives turned out. If you’re looking for a engrossing read, this is it!

Thank you for this ARC! Mary Higgins Clark has always been the ultimate cozy read for me. I love all the characters she develops and how their stories intertwine. This story is an update on the characters from her masterpiece, Where are the Children? It is hard to believe that so many terrible things happened to the main character of this story, but if you suspend disbelief, it is an enjoyable, fast-paced read. There are not quite as many storylines as a typical MHC novel, but it is still enjoyable. I would recommend it to anyone that is a fan!

I couldn't believe there was a new MHC book out! Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy to read for the purpose of this review. Clark was one of my favorite authors that I would read no matter what she wrote. This was no exception.

I loved the premise of the book because it was reuniting us with characters from the original Where Are The Children? story. It was fast paced and unfolded it great timing.

Four stars! You'll have to read it because it is Mary Higgins Clark!

Brought me back to MHC's writing style; she and Burke were great partners as well. Even though I figured out some aspects the red herrings and set up were wonderful. A book I couldn't put down once I started it.

What a wonderful way to honor MHC,and let us revisit with Melissa and her family. Twisted, entertaining , and I must say, I never saw the end coming. A totally enjoyable read.

Oh baby!! Wow! Such a great sequel to Where are the Children!!

***Although it's been over
40 yrs since the original was published, you don't have to reread the original unless you want to. But if you haven't ever read it, I recommend you do! They did add a synopsis for us readers as a reminder.

I was a huge fan of the first one and have to say what a great continuance of this story! I loved the writing and how everything flowed at such a great pace. It was nice to see Nancy, Melissa and Mike and what they've been up to 40 yrs later. Although much trauma in their youth and even though they are still dealing with it, it was nice to see Melissa and Mike have become successful in their lives.

This is mainly Melissa's story. Melissa is now married to a man she met while going to counseling. She has a
3 yr old step-daughter that goes missing, from her locked house, while Melissa is sleeping and her hubby Charlie is out of the country.

Meanwhile the police are trying to figure out the mystery as to who took Riley and why, and how did she disappear?

I will say I did begin to figure it out towards the end, then bam!!! Plot twist! Just love them!!!

This is a must read for those that love twists, turns, and WTH just happened moments!

I just love Mary Higgins Clark's books and the addition of Alafair Burke whom helped bring this to fruition!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can not recommend it enough. Please make sure to grab a copy when it releases in April 2023!!

Thank you to Alafair Burke, Simon & Schuster, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy in exchange for a honest review

As a devout fan of Matt Higgins Clark, I was devastated at her death and imagine my shock and wonder to see the sequel to her blockbuster novel, “Where Are the Children?” show up on NetGalley and written by none other, than her good friend Alifair Burke. The story picks up several decades later with Melissa and Michael adults and Nancy, now in her 70’s. The twists and turns are absolutely reminiscent of what Mary Higgins Clark taught us to expect and kept me fully interested through the last page. No spoilers, but I'm sure that MHC is up there nodding her head in approval.

I was beyond excited when I first saw the publication for this book and even more excited to be granted early access! Mary Higgins Clark will always be one of my favorite authors of all time and I was delighted to see her legacy living on with Alafair Burke. I remember when I was first introduced to her books by my mother when I was 16. Where are the Children? (1975), her debut novel, was my very first read of hers. I loved it so much that I went to my local library and started requesting all of her books in the order that they were written. Almost thirty years later, I am proud to say that I have read them all. I know that this is a book review, but I felt that it was necessary to honor the "queen of suspense" for her wonderful stories and for the love of reading that she instilled in me. Her passing was devastating to the book community and she will be sadly missed.

Where are the Children Now? takes place decades after the first novel. Mike and Melissa are now adults and still living with the trauma of being abducted when they were children. When Melissa's step-daughter, Riley, goes missing, the investigation starts to lead in her direction as being the prime suspect. This scenario is all too familiar to their mother, Nancy, who was accused of killing her first two children in the original book as well as causing the disappearance of Mike and Melissa when they were kids. When Melissa begins to search for clues into Riley's disappearance on her own, disturbing information comes to light that will have her whole world come crashing down around her.

I absolutely loved this book! A bit of a slow start, but after the first few chapters I was sold. The suspense was gripping and the twists and turns were classic Clark-style. It was a fast and easy read that had me clicking the pages very quickly to see what would happen next. I definitely recommend this one to all of MHC's fans and to all readers who love suspense! I am hoping that MHC left behind more writings that Burke can help bring to life.

Thank you to the authors, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion!! We love you Mary Higgins Clark!!!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Simon & Schuster and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own. 
WARNING: May contain details relevant to the story, possible spoilers.

To say I'm a fan of Mary Higgins Clark and her body of work, is possibly a grand understatment. Mary Higgins Clark is the Grand Dame of the cozy genre mysteries. They're not gruesome, graphic or overwrought in the way of the death, murder details. When she passed in '20, we lost a true master.
Alafair Burke is a long time collaborator, a true master, as well.
Where Are the Children Now is a sequel for the masterful Where Are the Children. Mellisa and Mike are aduls, Nancy's ready for the next stage in her life. When Melissa's new stepdaughter goes missing, all eyes are on Melissa and her family. Is the past coming back to haunt them, or is it a series of unfortunate coincidences?
While Mary Higgins Clark will be missed, Alafair Burke fills the void.

I did re-read the 1975 original prior to this thriller and what an incredible 5 star read that was. So incredibly plotted with well written characters. It’s a bit dated (telephone operators and a LOT of instant coffee), but it’s a reminder that crime fiction before technology was as compelling as it is now.

In the forward, Simon & Schuster’s executive editor reveals that longtime collaborator Alafair Burke weaves “in Easter eggs like memorable phrases and descriptions from the original novel that devoted fans will recognize and savor.” (So, I do recommend you read the original first). Regrettably Mary, the “Queen of Suspense” died in 2020 at the age of 92, so this novel is also a monument to the legacy of strong women protagonists in the thrillers and mysteries that she created.

It’s over 40 years since Nancy Harmon Eldredge discovered who murdered and molested her two small children and also tried to murder the children of her second marriage. Now her beloved husband Ray Eldredge died a year ago; Missy/Melissa is a successful lawyer, best-selling author and podcaster; and Mike is a boat captain in the Caribbean.

The original novel treaded carefully about child molestation, but the sequel has Mike confronting Missy regarding what happened to them. Melissa is finally going to grief counseling but still suffers nightmares regarding the past. The no-tech plot of 1975 is now infused with apps, bitcoin, Instagram trolls, GPS location sharing, and a luxe AirBNB business that deals in anonymity.

Melissa is about to marry Charlie, a widow with a three year old daughter, Riley. His late wife, Linda, died in a drowning accident shortly after Riley was born. Melissa had been engaged to Patrick, who mysteriously broke off their relationship a year and a half ago. Charlie also has a sister Rachel who refuses to attend the wedding for unknown reasons.

Six weeks later, as Nancy is relocating to the Hamptons from Cape Cod, her children Mike and Melissa are assisting while Charlie is out of the country, Riley goes missing. Mike and Melissa reach back to their own past abduction memories to find clues. They were kidnapped by their mother’s creepy first husband who had murdered and molested his own children. Is there a rogue ex or relative involved here?

The plot is twisty and intelligent and worthy of Mary Higgins Clark. It’s one of those read-in-one-sitting mysteries for a dreary afternoon. And even with great weather, the overwhelming sense of dread and concern for Riley will keep you breathing hard until the end. 5 stars!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Hazel and blue ones, but no green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Roses on cakes only, and those are always in season

I loved the series by Burke and Clark, but was very disappointed by this pickup of a novel written by Clark many years ago. I found it confusing and unrealistic. The twists and turns depend on a total suspension of disbelief. I am not capable of doing that.

Melissa is a very likable, intelligent protagonist, but the twists that got her involved with her “conman” spouse don’t seem authentic.

I hope Alafair Burke goes back to her own wonderful series and doesn’t go down this route again. I long to read more about Laurie!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

I'm a big MHC fan! I have every book and have enjoyed them.
She is the lady who started my love for the mystery genre.

I enjoyed the first book WATC so I was super excited even shocked when I seen the approval email.

Where Are the Children Now? By Mary Higgins Clark; Alafair Burke was a very well written book and had me turning the pages as fast as I could.
The plots weave a very interesting story and the characters are so real.
The characters are well developed in the story which makes the book even more interesting.
A mind blowing and thrilling story that I recommend.
If you enjoy mystery, you would definitely enjoy this novel full of surprises.
Alafair Burke created such a vivid, suspenseful and remarkable read here with WATCN?

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Simon & Schuster,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

"Where are the Children Now?" by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke
Simon & Schuster
April 18, 2023
10-198218941
Suspense/Thriller
288 Pages

More than forty years ago, Nancy Harmon was a young mother charged with drowning her two children, and due to a technicality, she was set free. Though suspicion was on her, she insisted she was innocent. She loved her children and would never do anything to harm them.

Her husband Carl left her, and she became a pariah in her California community, which forced her to move across the country and settle in Cape Cod. It was here she started a new life, remarried, became Nancy Eldredge, and later gave birth to Mike and Melissa. When these two went missing, Nancy’s earlier history was revealed. Again, she faced criticism, but secrets from her past allowed her to locate and rescue her kids.

Mike and Melissa have grown up with careers of their own. Mike captains a boat during the winter in St. Maarten and Melissa practices law in New York City. When Melissa’s father passes away, she is overcome with depression. Katie Palmer, Melissa’s best friend, and a New York, junior assistant district attorney researches therapists for Melissa to help with her grief. While attending counseling sessions, Melissa meets a man named Charlie Miller who is mourning the loss of his wife, Linda. The two share their bond of sorrow and soon become inseparable.

Before long, Charlie proposes, yet Melissa’s mother and Mike believe the relationship is moving too quickly. Melissa had recently been dumped by her ex-steady, Patrick Higgins, a man she had dated for a long time and thought she would marry. Recovering from a broken heart, she is thrilled to find Charlie is the “perfect man.” He not only loves her as she does him, but she also adores Charlie’s three-year-old daughter, Riley.

Melissa defends a woman named Jennifer Duncan who allegedly killed her older and abusive husband, Doug, in self-defense. Though she is exonerated, this turns into a hotly debated case because the prosecution tries to prove she murdered him for his money. Melissa and Jennifer become close, but soon afterward her acquittal, their friendship fizzles:

“But then Jennifer also wanted Melissa’s help in probate court, where her husband’s estate was still pending. Under the law, Jennifer’s criminal conviction prevented her from inheriting what she otherwise would have received under their will—which was the entire estate. Once her conviction was set aside, Jennifer claimed she was entitled to inherit everything after all. . . .

“Melissa tried to explain that she wasn’t an estate lawyer and wanted to focus her attention on criminal justice and not a probate battle with Doug’s children, but Jennifer lashed out at her in a fierce rage.”

From this trial with Jennifer, Melissa is given the opportunity to host a podcast, The Justice Club, where she highlights cases of those unjustly accused. She gives up her law practice and, in addition, she becomes a best-selling author and sought-after speaker on the lecture circuit.

Nancy, as a widow, still lives on Cape Cod but decides to sell the family house and move to the Hamptons. Mike is home for the summer, and he and Melissa help Nancy with her move. Charlie, now Melissa’s husband, is away on a business trip, and Riley is with Melissa while they are in the process of relocating Nancy. After her horrendous abduction as a child, Melissa keeps a vigilant eye on Riley, loving her as if she was her own flesh and blood. But helping her mother and working on her podcast exhausts her.

She tells Riley they both need to take a nap, and Melissa puts down the child and then falls into a deep, almost drugged sleep, only to wake up to discover Riley is missing. Panic-stricken, she searches everywhere, wondering where the child could be. She rushes to the nearby park where she took the child to recently, remembering how much Riley enjoyed it there. Her mind goes cold when she recalls the woman who tried to befriend Riley while she watched from a nearby bench. Could Riley have gone to the park? Was that woman there? Did she take Riley? She did seem very interested in the little girl.

Fear and anguish consume Melissa, bringing back the horrific memories of when she and Mike were taken. How can she tell Charlie about this? Riley is his life.

Melissa’s thoughts turn to Carl Harmon, her mother’s first husband, and the one who abducted
Mike and her so long ago. One could say the man “looked completely normal on the outside—people like Carl Harmon. His name. She hated that name and wished she could forget it forever.” Is he back again, and taken Riley?

The authorities are summoned and an intense search commences. Charlie is notified of his daughter’s disappearance and speeds home to go to police headquarters. Melissa contacts Grant “Mac” Macintosh, an attorney friend and part-time co-host on her podcast. She begs him to help Charlie, whom the police now believe it was he who captured and did away with his daughter. Mac agrees to counsel Charlie though he feels she and Charlie should have no contact with each other, which could be seen as a scheme they both concocted to get rid of Riley. Melissa thinks this is absurd but goes along with his demands.

Of course, Melissa is totally distraught, not to mention Nancy. Is history repeating itself a third time? How often can something like this happen to one person?

Confused, Melissa senses something is fishy with the whole situation, so she takes a deeper look into Charlie’s past, hoping to learn more about his deceased wife—a woman he never talks about. What she learns chills her to her bones making her question—who is this man I’ve married?

Things become more complicated as Melissa tries desperately to find the little child, she now considers her own and not just a step-child. When the truth of this whole plot is revealed, it is almost inconceivable, though she knows the world is full of cruel and contentious people who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

The connection between the past and the present is shockingly eerie as certain characters replay the same actions over and over. Fast-paced and thrilling, this addition to the original story has one wondering who they can trust, and if anyone is really safe. Truly suspenseful and hair-raising, and integrated with the previous book, Where Are the Children, this stands alone for it includes plotlines from the original while it demonstrates human nature remains the same throughout time.