Oh my goodness! Where Are the Children was one of the first Mary Higgins Clark books I read. It was fantastic and I was immediately a huge fan of the author. When I saw the sequel, Where Are the Children Now? was being released, I knew it would be at the top of my to-be-read list. The authors (cowritten with Alafair Burke) have done a wonderful job of reminding you of the storyline from the first book. Though, this book is good enough that you could possibly read it without having read the first one. (But why would you?! You need to read Where Are the Children as well!) Anyway, I digress. The characters are well developed, the story line is set up with precision, and you are in for a shocking roller coaster ride. There are twists and turns, hints and misdirections, and shocking revelations. I literally gasped when the real culprit(s) is/are revealed. Don’t cheat and peek at the end. You will want to experience every intense suspenseful moment of this story ... from the first word until you have read the last word, closed the book, and will sit there absorbing the conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I’ve always love Mary Higgins Clark and this one didn’t disappoint. I can’t wait to read her next book!

I grew up reading my mom's Mary Higgins Clark novels. I never picked up Where Are the Children?, but this one interested me anyway. While these stories aren't really groundbreaking in any way, the mystery is always of interest. Melissa was a little too naïve for my taste, but what can you do? By the time we got to the twist, it felt a little farfetched, but as I enjoyed myself, I let it slide.

Wowzers!! This was such an awesome story by an iconic storyteller!! You will want to read this one!! Will keep you in suspense!

Of the fifty-six bestsellers the “Queen of Suspense” Mary Higgins Clark published in her lifetime, Where Are the Children? was her biggest, selling millions of copies and forever transforming the genre of suspense fiction. In that story, a young California mother named 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 her two children from a second marriage, Mike and Melissa, would go missing, and Nancy yet again became the prime suspect—but this time, Nancy was able to confront the secrets buried in her past and rescue her kids from a dangerous predator.

Now, more than four decades since readers first met Nancy and her children, comes the thrilling sequel to the groundbreaking book that set the stage for future generations of psychological suspense novels. A lawyer turned successful podcaster, Melissa has recently married a man whose first wife died tragically, leaving him and their young daughter, Riley, behind. While Melissa and her brother, Mike, help their mom, Nancy, relocate from Cape Cod to the equally idyllic Hamptons, Melissa’s new stepdaughter goes missing. Drawing on the experience of their own abduction, Melissa and Mike race to find Riley to save her from the trauma they still struggle with—or worse.

Just like the original, Where Are the Children Now? keeps readers guessing and holding their breath until the very last page.

Melissa, a lawyer turned successful podcaster, has recently married a man whose first wife tragically passed away, leaving him and their young daughter, Riley, behind. As Melissa and her brother, Mike, assist their mother, Nancy, in relocating from Cape Cod to the equally idyllic Hamptons, an unsettling turn of events unfolds. Melissa’s new stepdaughter, Riley, goes missing. Drawing on their own painful experiences of abduction, Melissa and Mike race against time to find Riley and protect her from the same trauma they still grapple with, or potentially even worse.

Having adored Mary Higgins Clark’s “Where Are The Children,” I couldn’t resist reading the sequel.

Melissa and Mike, now adults, continue to carry the scars of their past abduction experiences, and now, Melissa’s stepdaughter has also been abducted. It’s been nearly forty years since the events of the first book. While some parts of the story may be somewhat predictable, it doesn’t diminish my enjoyment of a well-crafted narrative.

This book, co-authored by Alafair Burke, is a superb collaboration that exceeded my expectations.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Where are the Children" was the first domestic suspense novel I ever read, at age 9. Even then, I figured out that who the villain was, and that he wasn't dead. I read the sequel mainly for the sake of sentimentality. I was astounded by how much better it was than the original. Kudos to Alafair Burke for bringing this classic into the 21st Century!

I have read all the books by Mary Higgins Clark. I have not read one that I did not like. I will keep reading. MHC never disappoints! Highly recommend!

Where Are the Children Now? is written by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. My grandmother introduced me to Mary Higgins Clark when I was a teenager and I remember reading her books after she did. I was excited to read this story. This book is packed full of suspense and action. It's also filled with twists and turns. The first story: Where are the Children was released in 1975 - so this one covers more then 4 decades later. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for my gifted ARC.

I read Where Are The Children before reading this one, but the author did a great job recapping in this book you really don't have to read the first book unless you want to. I loved this one, I actually liked this one better than the first one. This book kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat the whole time. I definitely recommend this one!

This was such a good book, definitely could be read as a standalone. The author did such a good job of introducing the original book, but building off of it. I found it was a thrilling story with an even better twist.

Tho I loved the original in this series I think I liked this one better. Maybe tho just because it’s a more current story. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this copy for read and review

This was the long awaited sequel many of us held our breaths for! I loved that it could also be read as a stand alone as it presents the original story leaving readers with great understanding.

This was fine. Where Are The Children was my first MHC book that got me hooked. Not sure this quite lives up to it but it was ok!

Mary Higgins is a go to author for me. Even in the books I don't absolutely love, I have never hated. She writes such wonderful complex stories that pull you in and induce so much emotions...I loved the first book though it's been years since I read it. Reading this I discovered I still recalled the main points so I was not left lost at all

I didnt realize this was a sequel but I think it can be treated as a stand alone. They did a good job of introducing the original story but building off of it. I wasn't familiar with Mary Higgins prior to but now shes one of my authors to watch .

This was a fantastic sequel and I relished every page of this tense drama. Well done!
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Having just read Where Are the Children? shortly before picking this one up, I do have to say Where Are the Children Now? definitely exceeded my expectations and was as good as the first book. Alafair Burke definitely has Mary Higgins Clark's writing style down and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the books they wrote together. This book will definitely appeal to new and old MHC fans alike as well as fans of crime novels with a true crime element.

One of the authors that made me fall in love with reading. I have read everything Mary ever wrote and grieved when I found out I may never get to read another one of her books. This one doesn’t disappoint. I did end up rereading the first one as a refresher. Her ability to tell stories is unmatched.

Good update to a classic book from a classic author! I’ve always enjoyed Marry Higgins Clark books! Good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc

What an amazing read! I hadn't even finished reading the book when I recommended it to one of my coworkers. It was great! It was many years ago when I read Where are the Children, and I was concerned that I might need to reread it before starting this one; however, Now brings you up to speed and refreshed my recollection. Honestly, the twist at the end caught me off guard, and I think that's why I enjoyed this book so much. Melissa was surprised to find out that her new husband was not all who she thought he was. I sympathized with her on so many levels, but was so happy with the ending.