Mary Higgins Clark is always a five star read for me - I'm so glad her books continue to be released despite her passing. I LOVE the premise of a true crime show bringing the truth to light. The book did a great job of convincing me it had to be one of the boys. I love the twists and turns.

Mary Higgins Clark is an author that I used to read as a teenager, and she proves once again that she’s still got it. I will admit, I haven’t read any of Alafair Burke’s solo work, but I’ll definitely check it out now.

There were some hints throughout the book that Laurie, the producer of a true crime show, was more than a passing character, but I appreciated the vague descriptions of her previous life, since I hope to read the series from the beginning. This is the eighth entry in the “Under Suspicion” series, but it can be read as a standalone, in my opinion—although you will get some spoilers about Laurie’s current family situation.

I did think that the action took a while to get going, but I enjoyed figuring out who might be responsible when all of the suspects had been presented. I’m proud to say that part of my guess was correct, but Clark and Burke certainly did not make it easy! There are twists in here that will have you second guessing yourself, and that’s a big part of why thrillers are such a popular genre. Just when you think you’ve narrowed down the suspect list, BAM, here comes another suspicious person! It’s, dare I say, quite fun.

Alafair Burke has given Mary Higgins Clark fans a gift by creating another entry in the Under Suspicion series that she cowrote with the Queen of Suspense. The series centers on a true crime journalist who's show concentrates on cold cases where someone has been living "Under Suspicion" for years, but never brought to trial. In this novel, Laurie Moran and her team investigate a ten year old murder case with identical twins are suspected of their parents' murder.. The police thought that they planned the murder together. Each brother supposedly suspects the other of the crime. The brothers have been estranged for a decade and their younger sister asks Laurie for help. This fantastic book is a fast paced mystery with just enough clues to mislead the reader and yet allow for the climatic ending. Laurie is a well developed character and she is surrounded by family and coworkers that series fans love. The new characters in each book are always rounded out with enough details to make the reader invested in the outcome. The plots are carefully written. Burk has done Clark justice with this novel,and I have become a fan of her writing too.

One of my favorite series. So glad Alafair is keeping it alive. I’m a fan of cold cases and love seeing new details emerge years later.
Laurie, Grace, Jerry and I guess, Ryan too, found the perfect cold case to solve on their show Under Suspicion. Frankie was just a young girl when her parents were brutally murdered. The number one suspects were her older twin brothers. There was so much evidence against them but they both swore innocence and thought the other twin did it alone. This tore the family apart. Ten years later, Frankie was coming into her inheritance, but was starting to question her brothers innocence also. She wanted answers and possibly her brothers back. Time to find out the truth by being on Under Suspicion

I would like to preface my review by saying thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me an advanced reader's copy of It Had to Be You in exchange for my honest review!

Simon and Ethan are identical twins who had their whole life ahead of them. Until their parents end up dead on the night of their college graduation party and they are the primary suspect. Ten years later the case has went cold and both brothers pin the blame on each other. Until their younger sister, Frankie, decides to enroll them in a show called "Under Suspicion" and they find out the truth of what happened that night 10 years ago.

This was my first Mary Higgins Clark book and I was pleasantly surprised! When I was growing up, my mother and grandmother would discuss the new Mary Higgins Clark book that just came out together. It felt nostalgic being able to read an ARC of an author whom my mother and grandmother were very fond of. This book was so fast paced with shorter chapters making it the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump. This is number 8 in the under suspicion series but you don't have to read the ones that come before this to understand it.

This was for sure one of those feel good thrillers that keep you guessing on who did it but then has the happy ending. I loved this one so much and I highly recommend this to those looking for a fun little thriller!

Thank you again to S&S!

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions expressed are my own. I would highly recommend "It had to be you" by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. Another great read about Under Suspicion Host Laurie Moran and the solving of a cold case murder. I would love more stories about Laurie and her team. They make solving murder cases "sitting on the edge of your seat interesting'

This is my first Mary Higgins Clark book and kind of wish I would've started at the beginning of the "Under Suspicion" universe, but alas it was an overall enjoyable time.

It Had to Be You is about a picture perfect family who have it all - a wonderful marriage, beautiful children, prestigious careers, and a cute dog. Or do they? On the night of the twins graduation party, Richard and Sarah were murdered and the twins were dubbed the 'Deadly Duo.' Never tried but always under suspicion, the twin boys drifted apart with only their little sister Frankie connecting them to each other.

This book is fast paced and takes a bit of turns that threw me off. I suspected about 3-4 characters as being the murderer but was then able to suspect more closely to the actual murderer. This is the kind of book where every character that gets introduced is in it for a reason and not to boost or act as a clutch to the main character(s). This was definitely a quick and fun read and a definite page turner!

My only remaining question is: what video was Annabeth's father (Jimmy) talking about when he said his friend (the lead in the investigation and face of the police department) took THE video to his grave?

Thank you to Mary Higgins Clark, NetGalley, and Simon and Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dare I say this was my first Mary Higgins Clark book?! I am a huge fan of Alafair Burke so the two paired together as writers is amazing.

This was a fast read that hit all the points it needed to as a thriller. It was fast-paced, engaging, well- written, great plot, with a great format in the plot with the case in the story being investigated on a tv show.

I wasn’t sure who was a liar between these twins or if one was even a liar. It was wrote so well that I couldn’t figure it out. This book kept me engaged throughout and I was infested the whole time because I needed to know who was responsible. Now I’m going to go back read all the books this duo wrote together!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Mary Higgins Clark was one of my all time favorite mystery writers. I mss her stories a lot. This book was very enjoyable about a reporter trying to get two brothers to let her do their story as they are believed to have killed their parents in their own home. They both say they didn’t do it and their younger sister believes they didn’t. The authorities say the boys were at their graduation party together ( they are twins) and that one left the party to kill their parents while they other stayed at the party and played the part of both brothers. This story was very similar to another Mary Higgins Clark mystery and was worth the read I would recommend this book to everyone.

I always love Mary Higgins Clark books. She is the Queen of Suspense and this book does not disappoint. Sometimes you want to just get lost in a book and this book pulls you in. Twin brothers are accused of murdering their parents. Each thinks the other one must be the guilty one or did they plan this together to create the perfect alibi as the police believe?

A wonderful mystery about two brothers who might of kill their parents and a tv show trying to get to the truth. After years go by of this cold case, we follow the clues along with Laurie Maran and the Under Suspicion crew as they finally uncover the truth. In true Mary Higgins Clark fashion, we are enthralled from the beginning to the very end.
I have always loved this author and with the help of Alafair Burke can still enjoy her. Here is to the next good read from the collaboration of these two.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for giving me the opportunity to read this.

Alafair Burke once again delivers a great installation in the series she began with Mary Higgins Clark in “It Had to Be You.”

Producer Laurie Moran is looking into a new storyline for her “Under Suspicion” show when she hears about the 10-year-old case of Sarah and Richard Harrington, believed to be killed by one or both of their twin sons, Simon and Ethan.

Given the green light by their daughter Frankie, Laurie and her crew begin to look into the case, plowing through what clues they can find to see if the sons are guilty, as many believe, or can be exonerated.

Once again Burke does an incredible job of writing in the voice of the late Mary Higgins Clark, continuing a great series that leaves readers guessing until the very end. Burke brilliantly weaves together a thrilling plot filled with twists and turns, all in the same voice and style as her former writing partner, using the same techniques the classic mystery writer used.

Fans of mysteries and psychological thrillers will love “It Had to Be You,” which is due out April 16.

Five stars out of five.

Simon & Schuster provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

It Had to Be You is every bit as riveting as the previous installments of the series penned by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke.
This story is absorbing and kept me guessing all the way to the end. I loved it!
The pacing is perfect, the story is compelling, the mystery is a real puzzler, and is written by two of my favorite female mystery writers.

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

This was my first Mary Higgins Clark book and despite starting with a book mid-series, the author did a good job at giving context so the reader would not feel lost. The dialogue was dramatic and was cheesy at times. The ending was a bit predictable and fell a little flat. I did enjoy reading about the investigation from the perspective of a true crime producer instead of the police. It felt like I was trying to solve the mystery along with the characters. Overall, this book was okay, not my favorite but not bad.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/196018873

Laurie Moran and her team from the Under Suspicion crime tv show are asked to investigate a cold case by the daughter of the victims. Ten years ago, Richard and Sarah Harrington were found shot to death in their vacation beach home. Police suspected that one or both of their identical sons, Ethan & Simon were involved, but there was no proof, so they were never charged. Since then, the remaining family has imploded, with the twins estranged from one another, and Frankie wants answers, hoping closure will bring her family back together. The more digging the Under Suspicion team does, the more it casts doubt on the twins' guilt, as well as bringing things to the surface that were meant to stay buried.

This is the 8th installment in the Under Suspicion series. I love these books. They keep me guessing until almost the very end. Laurie & her team do a great job with the investigations and Laurie makes a wonderful female protagonist. If you love mysteries then you will love this fun, quick read.

This isn't the first, and certainly won't be the last, book by this author duo. Another hit, they never miss. A murder involving one of the twins propels this story, when there are a few possibilities to make you question their validity, and who is who. A truly well-written thriller engaging until the very end.

It Had to Be You
by Mary Higgins Clark; Alafair Burke
Pub Date: 16 Apr 2024

The latest Under Suspicion Novel #8, "It Had to Be You" is about Laurie Moran, a dedicated producer of a true crime television show committed to unraveling cold cases. Laurie is approached by a young woman seeking assistance in solving the long-unsolved murder of her parents. Her identical twin brothers were the subjects of that murder but were never formally charged.

This a a great suspense/mystery book. Although it is the final book in a series it can be read in any order and you can read them without knowing anything about the previous stories. However, the relationships among the characters do evolve over time.

This is a book I found very easy to read, it was a quick read, great characters with a solid story line. A must read for suspense and mystery fans.

Many thanks to #NetGalley #Simon&Schuster and #ItHadtoBeYou for providing me with an E-ARC of this fantastic 5 star read!

The 8th book in the Under Suspicion series was another good addition to it. Two identical twins were accused separately of killing their parents, but each has said the other one did it. Their sister, Frankie, was 12 when it happened, now fixing to be 22 she contacts Under Suspicion True Crime show to find out what really happened. Laurie Moran and her team decided to do a special on the crime. I thought half way through that it was for sure someone else, then toward the end I changed my thinking to somebody else, and right before the end I thought oh it's this person.

Clark & Burke capture the reader at the beginning and keep them engaged. The main characters of the book continue to grow, so that it's not the same ol same with them. As prominent as True Crime shows are, the behind the scenes fictional glimpse gives True Crime enthusiast a chance to see how True Crime docs may be made.

I have read all the books in this series and enjoyed them all. I do think they could be read as stand-alones, but you could get confused about past stuff. Though, really, it probably wouldn't be that confusing. I recommend this book and series.

Tentative Publishing Date: April 16, 2024

Thanks to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster, and the authors for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#netgalley #simon&Schuster #maryhigginsclark #alafairburke #ithadtobeyou #arc #readaway2024 #serieslove2024

Laurie was the producer of the television show Under Suspicion, where she investigated cold cases. Frankie had contacted her because her parents, Richard and Sarah, had been killed and her twin brothers, Simon and Ethan, were the ones accused of the murder. The brothers had accused each other. Their murders had occurred 10 years prior. Frankie, Simon and Ethan's father, Richard, was a founding lawyer in his law firm. The other lawyer, Walter, and his wife Betsie, took Frankie in after the murder, as she was only 12 years old. They also had a son, Dennis, who was a year younger than Frankie.

Betsy and Sarah, Frankie's mother, we're best friends. When they were younger, they had purchased matching pearl bracelets for each other. During the murder, one of the bracelets have been broken and it was assumed it was Sarah's. The police had picked up all the pearls from the bracelet and had taken pictures of them. Betsie had given Frankie the remaining bracelet.

During the filming of the episode, Simon and Ethan got into a big fight which upset Frankie to the extent that she fled. She went back to Walter and Betsie's house where she went out back to sit on a rock and read her book. She told her brothers she needed time away to think things through. Before she knew it, she was kidnapped. She decided to break her bracelet to leave clues. All the while Frankie had been doing her own investigating and believed that she had clues as to whom murdered her parents. In the meantime, Laurie was doing her own investigating and had come up with clues of her own. While Frankie was kidnapped, Laurie and Simon had received text messages from her saying that she needed time away. Once Laurie realized something had happened to Frankie, it was clear the text messages hadn't come from her.

I liked the way the story flowed. The author didn't give any clues away early. The bracelets were a huge clue, but that didn't come out until near the end and Laurie was the one who discovered it. All in all, I thought the author did a fine job with this mystery. I was able to identify with the characters and the storyline was easy to follow. I gave it five stars.

This is coincidentally the second book I’ve read in a week involving a 10 year old cold case murder being solved by someone unaffiliated with police who remain uninvolved. Had I not read the other one first, I might have given this more stars, however, although this is an excellent book, it missed many opportunities to be an exceptional one. Told through the lens of identical twin brothers who have been accused of the murders, each of whom believes the other did the deed, and a public which is unsure if one acted alone or both acted in concert, the stage is set. A younger sister who has finally attained adulthood contacts a TV producer of a show that re-examines cold cases to determine who really dunnit, in the hope of ending the fractured sibling relationships. There are twists and turns and others who have motives for murder but in the end, truth will out. A very good read.