I enjoyed this sequel to Mary Higgins Clark’s first novel, “Where Are the Children?”. The characters were well written and I enjoyed that the setting was varied. For the original novel, the reader knew who the kidnapper was while the other characters in the story were kept in the dark. For the sequel, the reader was left in the dark about who the kidnapper was until the end.

I was able to figure out part of the story fairly early, but did not put all of the intricate pieces of the puzzle together until they were revealed. I enjoyed the suspense and it made the book a fast read.

The one thing I didn’t like was that this book made the abuse that Mike and Missy experienced in the first book much more extensive. The first novel alluded to things that were planned, but made it seem as if nothing like that was executed. I don’t think it was necessary to expand on the abuse as it was enough as written in the first novel and didn’t add to this one in any way.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Simon&Schuster for an eARC of #WhereAretheChildrenNow? by #MaryHigginsClark #AlafairBurke - 4 stars

I just reviewed Where Are the Children Now? by Mary Higgins Clark; Alafair Burke. #WhereAreTheChildrenNow #NetGalley
From someone who has been reading Mary Higgins Clark since I was a teenager borrowing books from my Moms bookshelves, her death was a great loss to me. And the books she wrote with Alafair Burke were just as good. I will greatly miss their series.
Before reading this book, I made sure I reread Where Are the Children so I would get the full impact of this book. This book was a great ending to her writing career. It was just as good as any other work she wrote. It’s hard to compare her books because they are all great!
Where Are the Children Now brings back the original family from Where Are the Children, Nancy, Mike and Melissa. After her father Ray passes away, Melissa starts going to grief counciling meetings. While there, she meets Charlie who lost his wife recently and left him raising his young daughter Riley. Melissa and Charlie hit it off quickly and were soon engaged and married quickly. Mike felt like it was too quickly and felt she was running from the past which she refuses to acknowledge happened. She blocked it out of her memory. One week while Charlie was out of town, his daughter Riley went missing. Is the past coming back to haunt them? It’s making Melissa deal with the past and the dreams she has been having. Is she going to repeat history and become accused of kidnapping and killing her stepdaughter?
This book will keep you guessing and wanting more.

This was such a good read! I couldn’t put it down!
There were a lot of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. However, I thought some of them were a bit far fetched which ultimately prevented me from giving the book a 5 star rating. I’d put it at a 4.5/5 for me, but rounded down to 4 stars on here.

Mary Higgins Clark has been a favorite author of mine since I was a pre-teen that decided to graduate from my Nancy Drew novels to my mother’s Mary Higgins Clark collection. I have enjoyed every book of hers that I’ve read and this one was no exception.
I read Where are the Children Now close to 20 years ago now and I was worried that would make this book harder to read if i hadn’t read Where are the Children recently but this book could easily be read as a stand-alone. It provided enough of the background from the prequel that the story still flowed well and worked even if you hadn’t read the prequel.

I will definitely be looking to delve more into Alafair Burke’s as well.

I highly recommend this book to thriller fans and Mary Higgins Clark fans. It’s also a great read for readers looking for a thriller that deals with dark subjects without feeling dark/grisly. It’s by no means a “cozy” read, but it’s not dark which can be a nice change of pace in thrillers that involve themes where children are hurt/in danger.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the copy of this eARC!

Where Are the Children Now by Mary Higgens Clark Alafair Burke

I've read most if not all of Mary Higgens Clark's books and loved all of them and was excited to read this book. Absolutely wanted to keep reading this book until little Riley was found! Good twists and fleshed out characters. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher and authors for allowing me to read this and leave my opinion.

I was not sure I was going to like this, it started so slow in my opinion. Then Riley disappeared! Man did it pick up with lots of twists and turns! This was really good and the ending was a big surprise. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my opinion.

This last book by Clark is as memorable as her first. It is also a tribute to Burke’s contributions which presage what should be an illustrious writing career. The novel quickly grabs the reader by the seat of their pants and rushes them into a taut mystery about the kidnap of a child. Nothing and no one is as they seem. Police are convinced that the girl’s new stepmother murdered the child in an attempt to rid herself of an unwanted child in her new marriage by recreating her own kidnap when she was about the child’s age. What do you do when everyone seems to assume guilt you do not share? This is a well-crafted novel, with intriguing characters and a sense of urgency that drives the reader forward. It is not to be missed with two authors at the top of their game.

Where are the Children Now?

By: Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke

Publish Date: 18 April 2023

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

General Fiction (Adult)

#WhereAreTheChildrenNow#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to first thank both NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read and review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

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.

Book Review:

I loved this book and gave it 5 stars. Mary Higgins Clar does it again. I know she passed away a little over a year ago and I will miss her writing. I am glad she was working on this novel so we could get a follow up on this story.

The good reads synopsis does a really good job on telling you what the story line is about so i won’t go into too much detail. I love how the family work together to help each other even though Melissa doesn’t want to talk about what happened to them forty years ago. I also love the friendship in the story. They become friends with the next doors neighbor who helped find them forty years and now they are there for them with Riley missing. Not everything seems to fit the picture that Melissa was given by her husband, and she is trying to figure what is going on and who took her stepdaughter and why. Melissa thinks it has something to do with a case she was on several years ago before she started her podcast. She also isn’t telling most people about the troll that is on her social media that is calling her a fraud and lair. Are the two connect or is it something else? You will have to read the book to find out. I would also suggest that you reread the first book to get the full picture. You don’t have to because there is enough information given in the book.

Where Are the Children was originally published in 1975 is a story about a young mother, Nancy Harmon, who is accused of killing her children. She is released on a technicality and eventually remarries and has two children, who both disappear. Where are the Children Now? by Alafair Burke is a well-written sequel and focuses on Nancy's daughter, Melissa. Melissa has recently married and is happy to be stepmom to her new husband's daughter, Riley. History seems to be repeating itself when Riley disappears.

Burke does such a great job of sharing the important background information from the original book, you don't need to read it to enjoy this sequel. Being introduced to all of the various characters does give the book a slow start. However, it soon became so engrossing that I didn't want to put it down. Burke does Mary Higgins Clark and the original book proud with this entertaining and suspenseful book. I recommend it to fans of Mary Higgins Clark, Alafair Burke, or anyone looking for an entertaining domestic thriller. (4.5 stars)

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

The sequel lives up to the original in characters, tone, suspense and prose. Kudos to Alafair Burke for channelling spirit of Mary Higgins Clark with this decades later sequel to "Where are the Children". Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader copy.

This is a story filled with suspense and Drama. When Melissa finds herself reliving her childhood nightmare things take a dangerous turn. The author keeps the reader in heightened suspense as they turn the pages. Each clue discovered by Melissa brings you closer to unraveling the nightmare. It is filled with wonderful characters in a gorgeous setting. '

In the follow-up book to Mary Higgins Clark’s iconic novel Where Are The Children?, Nancy Harmon's children are now adults. It has been decades since Mike and Melissa were kidnapped. Melissa is getting married to a wonderful man with an adorable toddler. She met Charlie in a grief support group she had started going to in order to deal with the loss of her dad, and Charlie was dealing with the loss of his wife. After a whirlwind courtship, they decide to get married. Melissa, a successful lawyer turned podcaster, is excited to be a mom, and loves little Riley. When Melissa puts Riley down for a nap one afternoon,, and decides to take a nap herself while she has a chance, she awakes to discover Riley is missing. The police - and Charlie - immediately suspect Melissa did something to Riley because of her history, but Melissa will do anything to find the little girl and bring her home.
I read all of Mary Higgins Clark's books and loved them all. I didn't remember the specific details of the original book, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of this one in any way. So if you haven't read the original book, no worries. This had an excellent mystery, was very quick paced, and was very enjoyable. Mary Higgins Clark may be gone from our lives, but her voice lived on in that book. It sounded exactly as if she had written it solely by herself. If you are a fan of mysteries then you will definitely want to add this to your TBR pile!

Where Are the Children Now?
by Mary Higgins Clark; Alafair Burke
Pub Date: 18 Apr 2023

Where Are The Children Now is the sequel to author Mary Higgins Clark's classic suspense novel Where Are The Children from over four decades ago.

Just like the first book, the sequel is full of psychological suspense. It kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning until the final page! I truly loved this book as much or even more as the first one.

Synopsis:

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.

Thank you #NetGalley and #Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Nothing like a child abduction to keep you on the edge of your seat. I needed to make sure all would end okay, and spoiler it does. But literally not until you get to 96% of the way through!!

Where Are the Children Now? by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. Mary Higgins Clark is my all time favorite author and this book was a treat. The book had the absolute spirit of a classic Mary Higgins Clark suspense and catching up with the characters after these years brought me right back to the original.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I reread the original recently and dare I say this is even better? I didn't see the end coming at all! Though its technically a sequel I don't think reading the original is actually necessary to enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on April 18th.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Poor Nancy (Harmon) Eldredge. She and her family have been through. it. After being kidnapped when they were young, Nancy’s grown children, Mike and Melissa, are dealing with their trauma as best they can. When Melissa’s new step-daughter, Riley, goes missing, and she becomes a prime suspect, her family’s “curse” seems to have reared its head again. As everyone races to find Riley, twist after twist will keep you guessing until the end.

Mary Higgins Clark passed away in 2020, and while she didn’t write any of this book, she and Alafair Burke collaborated on several books before her death. I’m glad Burke was the one to write this sequel. It really felt like a MHC book, and the nostalgia factor was definitely felt.

I really liked this book. I think it’s better than the first one, but that could be my recency bias. Or it could be because there was less misogyny and no epithets. I also really enjoyed the plot twists. There were just enough clues to keep you guessing without giving everything away. I’ve had some of Alafair Burke’s novels on my TBR for a while, and I think it’s it’s time to move them toward the top.

This book was so special to me! I feel so honored to have received an advanced copy from one of my 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨. Mary Higgins Clark is, of course, the 𝓺𝓾𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓼𝓾𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓮, and I accredit her for my love of the mystery/suspense/thriller genre. My mom, aunts, grandma, and I would always get her new book every summer and pass it along to each other as we finished.

𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛 was Mary Higgins Clark’s first, and arguably most 𝕚𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕔, suspense novel. Originally published in 1975, and now almost 50 years later we are blessed with a follow up novel! I was worried that this book wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but I am thrilled to say that it not only lived up to but 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 them! Alafair Burke did a phenomenal job keeping the c͟l͟a͟s͟s͟i͟c 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍. I loved the throwbacks to 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛. It had the standard MHC storyline where you jump back and forth between lots of characters which feels a bit all over the place at the time but all comes together perfectly at the end. The entire story was fast-paced and gripping. I couldn’t put it down until I knew how it ended. And let me tell you, the twists at the end of this story were incredible! I didn’t see any of it coming. I was left speechless.

Before diving into this one, of course I had to reread 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛. It still holds up as one of my favorite books! It’s not necessary for reading this book, but I do highly recommend!

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝑵𝒐𝒘 follows Nancy’s adult daughter, Melissa, 40 years after her own abduction. After losing her father, Melissa joined a grief group where she meets single father and widower, Charlie and his daughter, Riley. Charlie is out of the country for work, and has left Riley in the care of Melissa. Riley goes missing while Melissa is napping and the family is instantly swept into a nightmarish deja vu.

Absolutely loved this book. My first one by this duo. I understand it is the second in a series so I will have to go back and read the first. Great characters and writing

Where Are the Children Now by Mary Higgins Clark, Alafair Burke is a thriller that you don’t want to skip. It’s an easy day at the beach read or a night thriller.
In Where Are the Children, which I probably read 20 years ago), Nancy Harmon is convicted of the murder of her two children, but gets out of prison on a technicality. She marries again and has two children, Mike and Mellissa. Believe it or not, they go missing. This time Nancy uses what she knows about the first murder to save her children from the real murderer.

Fast forward four decades later (this is where the new book begins). Melissa and Mike are grown adults with some baggage from years past. However, they try to move on in their life. Melissa gets married and has a step-daughter named Riley. You could probably guess that Riley now goes missing. (This does not ruin the plot at all… it’s still a great thriller. ) Who has Riley? Is she alive for dead.

Seriously, this is a great novel for a thriller fan. It might not be a classic read, but oh my it was a quick and easy read that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
This book will be published on April 18., 2023

Where Are the Children Now? was such a delight to read. It brought back all the feels of classic Mary Higgins Clark. The book is filled with suspense and wonderful characters. I highly recommend this book.