Book Title: Where are the Children now?
Author: Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: April 18, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars!

I have been a huge fan of MHC for decades and have enjoyed all her books. I do remember reading “Where are the Children” back in 1975!
We fans know she died January 31, 2020 shortly after turning 93 on December 24! I saw an interview shortly before she died and she said she is often asked ~ when are you going to retire?
She always answered “Why would I stop doing something I love?” ~
Awww What an inspiration to everyone to do what you love to do!

In this sequel Alafair Burke continues with MHC’s legacy and follows up with one her iconic novels. This story features Melissa and Mike - Nancy Harman’s adult children.
If you read [book: Where are the Children] you know that Nancy was living in California with her husband Carl and their two little children Peter and Lisa. The children were drowned and Nancy was convicted of their murder- she did get off on a technically. She moved from California to Cape Cod with a new identity and was able to establish a new life and a new family.
Only misfortune happens again. Melissa and Mike children from her second marriage go missing. Nancy is the prime suspect. However, she was able to find and rescue her children from a very dangerous situation. Turns out Carl her first husband was a very evil person and not only followed her to Cape Cod but he is the one who murdered Peter and Lisa
Nancy is now seventy-one and Melissa is about to marry Charlie a wonderful guy who is a widow with an adorable little girl Riley who is almost three.

Now young Riley goes missing, which reminds both Melissa and her brother Mike of the trauma they experienced when they were abduction. The authorities suspect everyone including Melissa and her brother Mike. They also have their suspicions about the accidental death of Linda, Charlie’s first wife as her parents believe Charlie had something to do with that.
There is so much going on in this story I started to take notes to keep it clean as to who is who and what is what!~
I read a lot of thrillers and this one had me on the edge of my seat.
I remember the ol’ MHC novels that were always full of suspense and then her novels became ‘mysteries for beginners’. Trust me ~ this was not a mystery just for beginners!

Want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for granted me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 18, 2023

This was a fast-paced thriller with a back story that I had read years ago. The current drama is a child is taken and the twists and turns to find her and figure out why she was taken. The chapters are short a n quick, and the resolution is satisfactory. This book did hold my interest.

Where Are the Children Now? is the sequel to Mary Higgins Clark’s first suspense novel, Where Are the Children? Originally published in 1975, Where Are the Children? was the novel that skyrocketed MHC to her well-deserved fame as the Queen of Suspense. In this highly anticipated follow-up, Nancy’s children Mike and Melissa are all grown up, and Melissa has just gotten married to a handsome widower. When Melissa’s little stepdaughter Riley goes missing, it’s like history is repeating itself.

I immediately pushed aside my entire TBR the second I got this book – that’s how excited I was to read it! MHC was one of the first “grown up” authors I read, and she remains a favorite more than thirty years later. Alafair Burke does an admirable job of bringing MHC’s characters back to life. The novel’s structure is very MHC-esque but feels very modern too. This is a page-turning read and the nolstagia factor of the classic characters can’t be beat!

MHC fans will not want to miss this book! There’s plenty of background info within the story to bring the reader up to speed on the characters’ past, so you don’t have to read the original to enjoy this sequel – but you should anyway, because it’s great! Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me an advance copy of this book.

It was nice to revisit Nancy and her two children in this sequel. Now all grown up another child disappears. This was a real thrilling follow up. It kept me interested and I thought I had it figured out but in the end I was wrong. I would recommend this thrilling read to Mary Higgins Clark die hard original fans.

This is a follow up to Clark's Where are the Children. In the original book, Nancy Harmon is convicted of murdering her two children. She is released on a technicality and moves to Cape Cod and changes her identity. With this book, it is years later, she has remarried and has two children, Mike and Melissa. When they go missing, Nany is the prime suspect and is forced to confront her past and rescue the children. Melissa, a lawyer, has married a man whose wife has died. and left a young daughter Riley.. Melissa's stepdaughter goes missing. Drawing on their own experience, Melissa and Mike try to find her. This one will keep you guessing until the end.

I was a fan of Mary Higgins Clark when I was a teenager and was eager to see where this book would go. I was not disappointed. The story is full of twists, turns, danger, secrets, revenge, and so much more. Mike seems to have learned to cope with the horror of having been kidnapped and abused as a young child, along with his sister, Melissa. Melissa claims she’s fine, but her nightmares and lack of sleep say otherwise. And now Melissa’s 3-year-old stepdaughter has been kidnapped and she becomes the prime suspect. The police don’t seem to want to hear any of her suspicions, having already pegged her as the guilty party. Mike and their mother, Nancy, know she’s not guilty and do everything in their power to help prove her innocence and rescue young Riley. Will they find her in time?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As a life long fan of Mary Higgins Clark, I was so excited to read “Where Are the Children Now?, “ and I was not disappointed! The story picks up forty years after Mike and Melissa were kidnapped by their mother’s first husband. Melissa is getting married to a single father and adores his little girl Riley. Then the unthinkable happens when Riley is kidnapped while in Melissa’s care. The novel follows the classic MHC pattern, plenty of red herrings with great pacing and never a slow moment. There are plenty of Easter eggs to MHC prior books, including a mention of a character from the joint MHC and Alafair Burke novels. While I highly recommend reading the first book “Where Are the Children” it is not necessary to read before this book, the main points of the first book are retold.

I loved every minute of this book and was sad when I was done as this is likely our last MHC book. MHC is a master in her craft and her books are always a must read in my opinion. She also introduced me to Alafair Burke and I’ve become a huge fan of her work as well. I will be purchasing this book to complete my collection.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for sending this book for review considerations. All opinions are my own.

This was actually my very first Mary Higgins Clark book and will NOT be my last! I really enjoyed it!

Excellent book. Hard to believe it wasn’t written by the late Mary Higgins Clark. Definitely her style.
The plot kept me turning pages long after I should have put the book down. Believable characters and situations that pull the reader in. Big twist at the end.

I absolutely love Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke! This incredibly engaging sequel to one of MHC’s best novels does not disappoint! Edgy, intense and impossible to put down. A true classic from a beloved author, whose work I greatly admire and miss since her passing. It was an honor to be given an ARC of this book!

I wish I could read this book for the first time a million times over. It was so good! The writing was incredible, as expected. The suspense had me racing through the book. I loved all of the characters. You can read this as a standalone but having read the first one, I loved seeing the old characters back. Easy 5 stars!

Where Are the Children Now is a fast-read mystery by the prolific mystery writer Mary Higgins Clark with the help of Alafair Burke. The book is actually a sequel to a book written early in Clark's career, Where Are The Children.

It revisits the same character with a traumatic past who is encountering the same horrific events that ruined her old life.

The family comes together to solve the mystery of a disappearing step-daughter.

A fast pace, lots of twists that I didn't see coming and a "stay up late" kind of read.

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.