Any longtime reader of Mary Higgins Clark, the queen of suspense, knows that one of her most popular books of all-time is "Where Are the Children?" First published in 1975, it was one of the first books of hers that I read in middle school and is still one of my favorites.

Now, 40 years later, the children of the main character in that novel are taking center stage, though their mother Nancy Harmon is still in the picture. Nancy's daughter Melissa is recently married and her stepdaughter goes missing while the family is in the Hamptons. Melissa and her brother Mike use their own recollections of being kidnapped as children to try to find Riley, the stepdaughter.

Once again, I loved the characters that I first read about roughly 25 years ago. It felt like I had just finished the original book because I had such strong recollections of the story and the family dynamic. With her characteristic twists and turns, this posthumously published novel will not disappoint.

I have always been a MHC fan since my mom got me hooked as a young teen in search of a good beach read. I am sad that this will be her last book but love that this sequel is to her first best seller. I loved the original book and felt like this was a good follow-up. This novel had some of the hallmarks that come with every MHC book that readers have come to enjoy. I thought the mystery kept me guessing throughout most of the book and enjoyed all of the characters immensely. There was one glaring error in the story about IVF treatments that any reader familiar with infertility treatments will catch immediately and it is shame it wasn't researched better for accuracy.

I remember well my experience of reading Mary Higgins Clark’s breakout mystery, “Where Are the Children,” in the mid-1980s while in graduate school. I wanted to escape from the tedium of endless studies and get lost in a page-turning mystery.

Now, 40 years later, I have the opportunity to revisit that reading experience with the characters from “Where Are the Children.” The mother, Nancy, and abducted siblings, Melissa and Mike, are back and also 40 years older. Nancy is recently widowed; Mike has a boating business in the Caribbean; Melissa is a successful lawyer and podcaster, who is finally settling down with new husband, Charlie, and his 3-year-old daughter, Riley.

Little Riley is abducted a few weeks after the wedding, resurrecting all sorts of past trauma for the Eldredge family. Suspicion focuses on Melissa, just as it had years ago on her mother, Nancy. Suspense builds as the investigation continues and Melissa doesn’t know whom she can trust.

Readers who have not read the first book need not worry. The coauthors provide enough details (quite seamlessly, I might add) from the first story so that you won’t feel lost -- just captivated until the crime is resolved. “Where Are the Children Now” offers satisfying nostalgia along with a good mystery.

Amazing sequel! I have been a Mary Higgins Clark for most of my adult life. In fact, Where are the Children is probably THE book that got me hooked on thrillers way back in the early 1980’s. What a gift to get a sequel. To those who have not read the first book, don’t fret! Burke and Higgins expertly sprinkle back story along the way so the reader understands what has already transpired without being taken out of the current and modern story.

This story starts out with Melissa getting married to Charlie who has a young daughter named Riley. Melissa’s brother, Mike, works on a boat in St. Maarten. And, their mom, Nancy, who is now widowed is selling her Cape Cod home to relocate to the Hamptons in order to be closer to Melissa and her ready made family. But in true MHC fashion, Higgins and Burke offer a story that is going to get really bumpy before the end! Riley has gone missing and all the terrors from Mike and Melissa’s childhood trauma comes flooding back. Filled with tension, mystery, and breath holding suspense this is a story that could only have been written by the “Queen of Suspense” herself. MHC fans are going to love this one. And if you haven’t discovered the stories of Mary Higgins Clark, now is a great time!

Thank you Netgalley, Simon and Schuster and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be released on April 18, 2023

I read Where Are The Children many, many years ago. It was possibly the first Mary Higgins Clark book I ever read. So I was interested to see what I remembered and what this book was about. In the beginning, I thought that they repeated what had happened in the previous book too many times. And I thought it was a little unbelievable that a kidnapping had occurred yet once again to the same family. But as I read the book, I started getting more involved with the characters and found it hard to put down. I felt bad that so many people rushed to blame Melissa, and to blame her history rather than to actually listen to what she was saying. Even when a woman came forward and told her part in the story, the cops basically didn't believe her. It had a good ending, and I hope the happiness she was so looking for so hard stays with her.

Review of Advance Uncorrected Reader’s Proof

Melissa and Mike Eldredge, some forty years following their traumatic kidnapping, have lost their father, Ray. Trying to deal with her loss, Melissa attends a grief counseling group where she meets Charlie Miller. His wife, killed in an accident, left him a widower with a young daughter. It isn’t long before he asks Melissa to become his wife and she accepts. Their wedding is a small affair at a local winery; Charlie’s sister, Rachel, watches Riley while they honeymoon in Italy.

Now, Melissa and Mike are helping their mother, Nancy, move from the family home in Cape Cod to a small cottage in Southampton. Melissa and Mike are unpacking boxes while Charlie is in Antigua on business.

After lunch in town and some play time at the park, Melissa and Riley head back to the cottage. Melissa decides to lie down while Riley naps. Sometime later, Mike shakes her awake.

Riley is gone.

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This sequel to Mary Higgins Clark’s “Where Are the Children?” will surely keep readers on the edge of their seats as they turn the pages as fast as possible. Readers who have not read the original story will find sufficient backstory included here to show the relationship between the two stories.

Well-developed characters, a strong sense of place, and a compelling plot filled with unexpected twists and turns all work together to keep the suspense building as readers try to determine who is responsible for taking Riley. The pace is almost frenetic; it never lets up. Kudos to Alafair Burke; the writing here is truly reminiscent of Mary Higgins Clark and pulls the reader right back into the original story, providing a multi-layered reading experience.

Readers who enjoy twisty, unpredictable mysteries will find much to appreciate in this unputdownable story that races to an ending most readers will never see coming. Surprises, indeed.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Simon & Schuster and NetGalley
#WhereAreTheChildrenNow #NetGalley

Mary Higgins Clark was one of the first authors to really pull me into reading mysteries. I have read countless books by her and was so thrilled to have been given the chance to read this one.
The book gripped me from the beginning, it kept me wondering that there is so much to this story. Especially since I didn't read the first one I found this book to be filled with suspense, action and had me questioning every page after I read it.
Since this is a second book the first being Where Are the Children I would suggest to read that first. Yet I loved the characters because I really had to concentrate on them and piece them together and how they are connected.
Melissa and her brother Mike were kidnapped by a dangerous predator some 40 odd years ago which brought back all the painful memories for both Melissa and Mike. Especially for their mother Nancy who had been convicted of killing both her children from her first marriage. With that horror still on everyone's minds we jump to the future. Melissa is a successful attorney turned author turned podcast creator. She has broken up with her long time boyfriend Patrick and has found herself at a grief counseling meeting. Here she meets Charlie who has told Melissa that his wife had did in an accident and was left with a young daughter Riley. Next thing you know Melissa and Charlie are married and everything is wonderful or is it? You see Melissa and Riley along with her brother Mike have moved all of her mothers belongings to the Hampton's . Since Nancy sold the home she loved in Cape Cod and her beloved husband has passed she starts a whole new life out in the Hampton"s. Things aren't so happy when Nancy finds out that her beloved new step granddaughter has been taken while Melissa was sleeping. How can this be happening again. Who would want to hurt Riley or even Charlie and Melissa? Something is not right and once Melissa is a suspect in her step daughter's disappearance she plans to find out the truth. Even if her life is in danger.
This book hits every mark in my book for a thriller. It pulled me in from the beginning and never let me go. Mary Higgins Clark never failed to deliver and Alafair Burke brought it home. Loved everything about this book. If I cannot put a book down I know it will be a good one. I needed to have my questions answered and boy was I surprised by the ending.
Thank you Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke for a wonderful thriller. Also thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advance copy. Truly enjoyed it.

It has been a long time since I've read a MHC novel...reading this story did not disappoint! A true page turner. I did not see the twist coming. The story writing is mesmerizing. I have not read the original first story, but this story gave so much good background, I was able to easily follow. Highly recommend this suspenseful read.

So while this is a follow up book to a book a read when I was younger and was worried I wouldn’t remember I did go back for the reread of the original (which I think still stands perfect), but if I hadn’t I believe that there is enough in the book that covers the backstory you don’t need to do that.
While I was sooooo excited for this win of this book because MHC has and always willl be such an important author in my life and I wanted it to be a smash like the first it wasn’t perfect. I had some age/timeline issues that bothered me throughout the book.
After I decided to stop being too critical about some minor issues, I started to relax and really enjoy the book. While I tend to always be able to slightly figure out the underlying villain in the story this one kept me guessing and truly was shocked when I finally had my moment of clarity.
All in all it’s a solid 4 for me.

Mary Higgins Clark is one of those iconic authors I will always return to when searching for something to read that I know I will enjoy. This book was no exception, and Burke honored the origin story and characters so effectively. Burke's writing style is such a seamless match to Clark's.

I couldn't put this book down once I started it. It was suspenseful and twisty - I couldn't figure out what was going to happen next or who was behind it all. Watching the characters grapple with a crisis while trying to manage the impact of their own trauma brought real depth to the story. It made the characters more realistic and relatable. So many of us have trauma that overrules logic in stressful situations, and seeing the different ways this played out for Melissa, Mike, and Nancy was fascinating.

I did struggle a bit with the believability of one particular aspect of the plot (don't want to reveal spoilers). It wasn't enough to keep me from finishing the book, but it was distracting at times. I think there were some gaps in the backstory that could/should have been addressed more thoroughly. It felt like the backstory was sacrificed in the name of getting right into the action.

At the end of the day, it was an engaging and entertaining read from a consistent and reliable author!

This was an ok read for me, I felt like from the beginning it was predictable not quite like the first one. I do recommend reading it if you liked the original.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for my ARC.

I have always love reading Mary High in Clark books. She was a truthful a great author. Mary also had picked another great author to be by her side on this book.
I read approximately 30 years again the first book of this series. Now my thoughts are the same with this book. I loved it. I read it in one day and it jyst as suspenseful as the first book.

Congratulations to Alasdair for do a great job on this book and of course Mary. A great duo.!

Mary Higgins Clark has a special place in my heart. She was the one who led me down the road of loving this genre and at a young age I was utterly obsessed with her novels. I was maybe 16 and I would drive to a hole in the wall bookstore trying to find any and every MHC novels I could. Not that you care about my life story but this was just all the feels for me and even though I didn’t exactly remember the first book it was so nice that it has everything you need to be able to pick up where it left off. Burke did an unbelievable job matching Clark’s style and that’s something alone to be impressed with.

The story itself is fast paced and easy to read. There isn’t a lull and it just brings all the old school detective work back out.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I read the original Where are the Children way back in junior high and it was my first Mary Higgins Clark and my first real mystery/thriller and I was hooked from then on. When I saw that there was a sequel of sorts I jumped at chance to read an advance copy and I was not disappointed. The story kept me guessing right up until the end and I stayed up late to finish it. Is is a fast paced read with great characters and I edge of your seat plot. This is a worthy successor to the original with just enough background from the first book to draw everything together.

Mary Higgins Clark was a favorite author of mine growing up. The sequel has big shoes to fill. And it succeeds! “Where are the Children Now” has been done with incredible taste, true to the spirit of Mary Higgins Clark’s style, and the story captivated me through to the end!

I did do a re-read of “Where are the Children” as I didn’t remember any of it from the two decades ago plus that I had previously read it. Too much life has happened between then and now! That said, this totally could have been read as a stand-alone without missing a beat. I did love that there was so much consistency between the two books and some fun easter eggs, which I could appreciate more having just done the re-read.

In the first story, Nancy Harmon is convicted and subsequently exonerated in the death of her two children. She moves to Cape Cod to start a new life, and history repeats itself, although the two children were found safe.

The second novel picks up with the two children, Mike and Melissa as adults. They have dealt with their trauma in very different ways. But when Melissa’s step- daughter goes missing, they come together. A psychological thriller dealing with generational trauma, this book does not let up until the end, and is a satisfying continuation of the original story that was years ahead of its time.

I highly recommend this book, and am grateful to Alafair Burke, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Where Are The Children was published in 1974. Today we have a story continuing on the classic. Nancy Harmon has moved to the East Coast, she has gotten married and has an adult son Mike and daughter Melissa. Melissa is a lawyer and has a podcast. And now Melissa is getting married. When another child goes missing Melissa is accused because she had been missing herself.
Great mystery. A must if you like Mary Higgins Clark. I cannot give this book enough stars.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Simon and Schuster.

I loved the original book Where Are The Children and couldn't wait to read this! It didn't disappoint and I did not expect the twist at the end! I would read anything this author wrote!

Loved! Captured the essence of the original book with the MHC vibes but updated the story well! I look forward to more from this author.

I was given an Arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Growing up my moms favorite author was Mary Higgins Clark so she bought and read every book she ever wrote, which meant I’ve read them all too! When I got this ARC I was so excited and a bit nervous to see how it would turn out. And while this isn’t necessarily the genre I read anymore it was great! This was a wonderful sequel and Burke kept the feel of Clark’s writing alive with this novel!

I read “Where Are the Children” after it was first released way back when. It was my first introduction to domestic suspense and I remember really enjoying the it. The current novel is a wonderful sequel and a real tribute to Mary Higgins Clark. This story features Nancy Harmon and her now grown children Melissa and Mike, the main characters in the original novel. There are numerous characters and suspects who might be involved in the kidnapping of recently married Melissa’s stepdaughter. Well-plotted with lots of suspicion cast on different characters throughout. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy in return for an honest review. This one was a special treat!