This book is a sequel to Where Are the Children published in 1975. The book has the two children that were kidnapped in the original book as adults in this sequel. I loved the original book and this one was just as good. It is full of suspense and unexpected twists, I couldn’t put it down. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Two of my all time favorite authors…I hope there are more books…mystery and intrigue at its best…linear timeline..lthird person narrator…no jumping around with voices from different characters…no going back to a million different years…just a good mystery like MHC always wrote…she never disappointed…never…these characters come alive on the pages…they exist. Red herrings abound…secrets…my goodness so many secrets. Is anyone who he says he is? Love and romance…friends and family. I liked this book so much I would give it more than five stars. I will read it again and again as I have always done with MHC books…Burke is a talented and gifted author…writes a cannot put down novel. This would make a fantastic movie. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks also to the publisher and to Burke…many thanks…now curl up in a cozy chair with a warm fuzzy afghan and a cup of steaming herbal tea…be transported into the world of these authors. Enjoy the mastery of mystery.

Where Are the Children Now? By Mary Higgins Clark and Alistair Burke
Forty years ago, Nancy Harmon was accused of murdering her children after they went missing. She remarried and had two children Mike and Melissa. Melissa just married Charlie after they met in grief counseling, she because of the death of her father and Charlie because of the death of his wife. They had an immediate connection and when Melissa met Charlies’ three-year-old daughter Riley, it sealed the deal. The three of them were helping Nancy move into her Cape Cod cottage. Melissa took Riley to the park, then home to nap. Melissa must have been drugged because she slept so soundly and did not know when Riley was taken even though they were in the same room. Melissa and Mike are frantic, reliving their abduction. Melissa is a lawyer turned true crime podcaster and has several enemies. The real question is if Riley was taken because of Melissa or Charlie? This is an excellent mystery. All the relationships seem so strong and true until they are not. As the book unfolds, I could suspect almost everyone. The characters were great and you could be so happy Melissa found a ready made family. Riley was so cute and added a lot to the story. The concern Mike had for his sister and her left over fear from the abduction was well done. Great book with a lot of surprises.

Where Are The Children Now
Over 40 years ago, Nancy Harmon was accused of killing her two children but released on a technicality. She changed her name, moved across the country and married again. This time her two children were then kidnapped and abused before being rescued.
Now Nancy’s daughter Melissa, a successful attorney, has a popular podcast about crimes. After the sudden death of her father, Melissa attended a grief therapy group where she met Charlie. He had lost his wife and was left with a 3 year old daughter, Riley. Melissa and Charlie fell in love quickly and soon married. Riley was happily welcomed into Melissa’s family.
Melissa and her brother, Mike, persuaded Nancy to sell her Cape Cod house and move to the Hamptons to be closer to Melissa’s NYC apartment. The brother and sister helped Nancy make the move. Melissa brought Riley along as Charlie was on a business trip. After a trip with Riley to a local park, Melissa fell asleep. When she woke from a very deep sleep, she discovered discover that Riley was missing. So she and her brother used things that they had learned as kidnapped children to find Riley.
This book has a satisfactory ending but many surprises that are not revealed until the end of the book. The late Mary Higgins Clark is listed as the co-author because she wrote the first book, Where Are The Children, that this book is based upon.
I received this book from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Where Are the Children Now is in a way a sequel to Mary Higgins Clark’s Where Are the Children. Melissa and Mike were kidnapped as children and their mother, Nancy, was the prime suspect. The real kidnapper was found and the children reunited with Nancy. Now Melissa and Mike are grown up. Melissa is an attorney who has become a podcaster. She has recently married a widower with a young child. While Riley is in Melissa’s care, she disappears. I have to admit, the ending did surprise me. I was excited to have one more book from Clark. She will be missed.

I reread Where are the Children as it has been years since I did and wanted to refresh my memory. I then jumped into Where are the Children Now and read it in one day. It kept me guessing that is for sure. Excellent follow up book.

One of the very first mysteries I read many years ago was Where are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark. When I saw there was a sequel being released I was ready! It is forty years after the events of Where are the Children? and Nancy Harmon is moving away from Cape Cod, where she raised her children Michael and Missy following their kidnapping. Missy now goes by Melissa and is a successful criminal attorney with a popular true crime podcast. The family gathers for her wedding to a widower with a three-year old daughter, Riley. Shortly after the wedding, Mike, Melissa and Riley help pack up Nancy's house and move her to the Hamptons, where Riley disappears, and Melissa is now the suspect. Nancy shares her deep fear and anguish that she experienced when her children were missing and is able to help Melissa see her childhood experience in a different way.

The plot is very reminiscent of the first book, but it is by no means a copycat. I was surprised by the identity of who was behind the kidnapping, which I don't think is easy to accomplish, while still keeping the reader interested. Writing a sequel to such a popular novel would be very daunting. Doing so 48 years after the original was published I would think even more so. I am sorry that we will not see any future collaborations with Mary Higgins Clarke and Alafair Burke.

Fans of the Where are the Children? will not be disappointed.

I was so excited to see Where Are the Children Now? And I can’t believe it’s been 50 years since the Where Are the Children? was published! This book follows Melissa as she’s getting married to a widowed father and becoming a step mom. When her stepdaughter, Riley, goes missing Melissa starts to uncover her new husbands real life.
Alafair Burke does an amazing job of continuing Mary Higgins Clark’s legacy with this new release.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this eARC.

Once again, I am blown away by the meticulous planning and excellent writing of this duo. Although Mary Higgins Clark passed away in 2020, her legacy remains with the outline she planned with Alafair Burke.

Like all of her books, I was immediately pulled into the storyline. If you have not reas WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN, I highly recommend it, but is not really necessary to read this book.

If you like psychological thrillers, any of books my MHC are at the top of my list for must reads.

I think this book was the perfect way to close the incredible legacy of Mary Higgins Clark. Like all of her books, it kept me turning the pages and second guessing every conclusion I had made. I will definitely miss waiting for her latest release. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

"Where Are the Children Now?" is a great follow-up to Mary Higgins Clark's original novel. Alafair Burke has studied Clark's writing well, and the writing is true to her style, and even includes some call-backs to things from the first book. It is a great work of psychological suspense.

I admit that I was a little skeptical of how this sequel to Mary Higgins Clark's original novel Where Are The Children? would compare, but I can honestly say that I was blown away and loved this just as much! We follow the now grown daughter (Melissa) from the first novel as she goes through the horrifying experience of having her step-daughter (Riley) abducted, reminding her of the trauma she endured when she was younger. Our main characters must rely on their experience from the past to figure out what's really going on and try to bring little Riley home safe and sound. I was so impressed with the way this was written. Alafair Burke did an excellent job bringing this sequel to life in a way that readers of the original story could relate back to Mary Higgins Clark's fast-paced, suspenseful, heart-pounding writing style. I really enjoyed getting to read more about the lives of these same characters, and I found myself drawn in immediately by the mystery, not wanting to set this down until I was finished. Overall, I highly recommend this sequel.

Mary Higgins Clark never fails....this book kept me reading way later than I should have been. Excellent story and characters. If you didn't read the first book, it won't matter, it can work as a stand alone. The twists are not expected. Enough of the first book is inserted so you understand. Again, great book!!
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read this advanced copy.

The first Mary Higgins Clark I ever read was Where Are The Children? Now, many many years later, we catch up with them and get embroiled in a new mystery in this novel. Lots of twists and turns, various layers, this is a complex and intense mystery. It kept me turning pages on the edge of my seat. Great entertainment and fabulous story!

Although nothing could really compare to the original Where Are the Children? in terms of suspense and excitement, this long after sequel does a good job keeping the reader turning the pages. The hallmark Mary Higgins Clark twists and turns are there and the book is a satisfying read. You needn't have read the original to enjoy this one, but I imagine those who loved the first book will be the prime audience for this one.

Thank you Netgalley, Simon& Schuster, Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke for allowing me the chance to read an advanced readers copy of “Where are the children Now in exchange for my honest review. Set to be published April 18th 2023.

Did you happen to ask yourself, “ Do I need to read Where Are The Children?” First before this one. Well personally I did not and I made it through ok and I’ve never read Mary Higgins before but I may look into reading some of her other older works.

I’m case you haven’t read the first book like I haven’t let me start off with a summary of it.

Nancy Harmon was convicted of murdering her two children. Though released on a technicality, she was abandoned by her husband and became such a pariah in the media that she was forced to move across the country to Cape Cod, change her identity and appearance and start a new life. Years later from a 2nd marriage her two children Mike and Melissa go missing and guess who’s the prime suspect! But this time Nancy was able to confront her past secrets and rescue her children.
Now 40 years late we get to meet Nancy again she is about to move to the Southamptons from Cape Cod. She had a wonderful life with her 2nd husband who passed away. While her 2 children try to do the best they can following what happened in their past. Mike is able to put the past behind him but Melissa isn’t able to forgive and forget her past. Melissa is happy in her little family with Charlie and his daughter Riley. But someone isn’t happy that Melissa is happy she starts to receive threats online then next thing you know Riley disappears.

Why does someone hate Melissa so much to take Riley? Will they be able to get her back safe and sound? You’ll have to read to find out ! This was an overall fantastic quick read but I should’ve read the 1st book first so I wasn’t so confused with the characters and the story line. So at some point I’ll have to go back and read the first book then reread this one to get a better understanding.
But I will definitely recommend this book it’s a must read! Just remember to read the first one first !

Thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to "Where are the Children?" The thing I love about Mary Higgins Clark books (and those written after her death using Alafair Burke) is that they are just a fun mystery. There is no woke culture or social agenda. Even though they are a mystery, they are light, breezy, and quick reads. They are fun mystery books and you can read them at all ages. This book was a walk down memory lane, having read Where are the Children in high school. I thought Burke did a great job retaining Clark's voice and I enjoyed the mystery and the update on Melissa and Mike from the original story. A must read for previous fans of Where are the Children and a great nod to the traditional MHC format and mystery.

Another collaboration between the late Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke to savor! This time, they revisit a previous book by the queen Ms. Clark and show that generational trauma is real! I am not sure if this is her last publication, but if so how fitting that we get an update on previous characters.

Melissa and her brother Mike have chosen different ways to deal with the events of the past, but both bear the scars of the madman that kidnapped them as children.

When the family comes together to celebrate Melissa’s new marriage, history seems to be repeating itself when her step daughter is taken.
As suspicion hangs over someone close to little Riley, both Mike and Melissa (along with Nancy) are forced to confront the past to solve the puzzle of what is going on in the present.
Nothing, and possibly no one , are what they seem! Old friendships are tested while Melissa races to unravel the mystery of why Riley was taken, and how (and if) it is connected to her. Will Riley be returned home, and will Melissa find out that everything that she thinks she knows may not be true?

I really enjoyed this book, although I confess I saw the plot twists coming. It was interesting how they tied it to the other series by the two authors, while leaving room for this to possibly become a series of its own. I thought the ending was a little unrealistic, but unmasking the culprit was satisfying! I would have liked her brother to be more involved in the outcome, but it was clear at the beginning that this was more of a Melissa story.

I was graciously provided an advanced copy of this book by the publisher and Net Galley in return for an honest review.

I LOVE all books that have Mary Higgins Clark and with her already passed this makes it extra special to still be able to ready a book by her! You can never go wrong with her! Alafair is just as amazing!

This is a terrific sequel to the first book. I had read the first book around the first year it was published which was in 2000. So it stands to reason I have very little memory of the original storyline. This book while being a sequel works as a standalone book too. I had no difficulty in following the storyline and was kept in suspense til the end. As always I try to figure out the mystery and villains prior to the reveal, I was only half right. But that makes me love the book even more.
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of the book by Simon & Schuster and NetGalley in exchange for my review..