Alafair Burke writes an excellent sequel to Higgins Clark's iconic first suspense novel, Where Are The Children, first published in 1975. I devoured it!

Forty years after the first book's events, this one focuses on characters who were young children in the first book, now grown and one of them facing the unimaginable. Melissa still struggles with memories of when she and her brother were abducted but has become an attorney turned successful true crime podcaster. She has just married a widower with a young daughter. When her stepdaughter goes missing, Melissa must draw on her personal and professional experiences to help find the girl before it's too late.

I was SO excited to receive this ARC! As a fan of the original (which I quickly re-read before reading this one), I think Alafair Burke nailed it! The writing style and plot of the book read very much like Clark, "the Queen of Suspense," who sadly passed away in 2020. I don't know if the two collaborated before Clark's death, but either way, this is a compelling read. And I particularly found that the character of Nancy was totally in keeping with the original, although now a 71-year-old version of herself. However, if you still need to read the first one, this sequel does a good job with the backstory and works as a stand-alone.

With a high stakes and twisty plot, this book's short chapters and fast pacing ramp up the tension and suspense. I could not put it down! Both Mary Higgins Clark fans and those who love attention-grabbing suspense novels will enjoy this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to review this ARC. I loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a complimentary copy of this novel! All opinions expressed in this review are my own. I requested this book not even realizing this was a sequel. So before reading this novel I had to go back and read the first one by Mary Higgins Clark, “Where Are the Children?”. You don’t have to read the first one to understand this sequel, but I highly recommend you do! They don’t call Mary Higgins Clark “The Queen of Suspense” for nothing!!! These are the first two books I’ve read of hers I’ll be honest, but I was not disappointed at all!!! I’m hooked! This second novel is co-authored with Alafair Burke. I’ve read some of hers too and she doesn’t disappoint either!!! Where Are the Children Now will be available April 18, 2023! You will be in the edge of your seat and won’t want to put this book down until you’ve read the last page!!! The ending was a complete and total shocker!!!

Suspenseful and quick paced. Having just read, “Where are the Children?”, I was very familiar with the characters. There is a slight difference due to one major factor, that the first book was written almost 50!years ago, before Mary finessed her craft. I have. When reading the books pair with Alafair and I really liked them. This was no exception. This book reminds the reader of the past, while describing a great follow up mystery with the same family. If you enjoy MHC books, add this one to your list.

Where Are the Children Now? is a modern-day sequel to Mary Higgins Clark's classic bestseller Where Are the Children? The children from the original story are grown, and Missy (now called Melissa) is married with a stepdaughter of her own. Of course, her stepdaughter gets abducted. Melissa is a lawyer turned true crime Podcaster, so she has attracted attention of some crazy people (i.e. an online troll). This sequel was finished by Alafair Burke after Mary Higgins Clark's passing, but he retains a lot of the character of the original story. It's a fast-paced thriller with lots of twists and turns, and will make you question who you can trust. If you liked the original, you'll probably like this one, too.
Thank you to Alafair Burke, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a must read for fans of Where Are the Children. If you haven't read the first book, get a copy now so you are ready to dive in when Where are The Children Now is released. This book delivers and kept me guessing to the end. Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Where Are the Children Now is a sequel to Where Are the Children. If you haven't read Where Are the Children, you can still read Where Are the Children Now and understand everything that is going on. What you needed to know from the first book is summarized for you in this book, which is a good thing, as the first book was originally published 40 years ago. Mary Higgins Clark is billed as the "Queen of Suspense". This book, as with the majority of her books, keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. Where Are the Children Now is not the "scary" type of suspense but instead is more of a beach read type suspense. If you are a Mary Higgins Clark fan, this book reads like most of her other books. Having read a number of her books, I was happy to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have followed Mary Higgins Clark for a long time and when I saw this I knew I had to read it.
The rehash of the previous book seemed to be seamlessly woven into the plot of this one. Which I truly appreciated the way it become part of the story. Seeing the plight of the children yet again decades later was very thrilling and the wonderful twist.at the end was great. I loved this book as much as the first one.
Thank you Alafair Burke for this and of course a thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

I KNOW I read the first novel but it was, well, back in the 1970s and therefore this was a standalone for me- as I suspect it will be for many readers. This is all about generational trauma and kidnapping. Melissa and Mike have moved their mother Nancy to the Hamptons, where Melissa, a podcaster, is raising her stepdaughter Riley with her husband Charlie. All seems well and then Riley disappears. Standard thriller stuff except for Nancy's backstory and the fact that Melissa and Mike were also taken and found. Now the two of them must find Riley. Know that it might be a bit of a challenge to keep everyone straight at first but also that the short chapters, which always end with a bit of a zing, will keep you turning the pages. The funny thing is that MHC's plot from the original has become a trope but Alafair Burke has updated it and worked a little magic to make it fresher. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. No spoilers from me.

Great mystery and follow up from Mary Higgans Clark original Where are the Children. It's not necessary to have read the original, This fills you in well with the back story. Once the book gets going its a great mystery and watching Melissa and family figure out what's happening with the kidnap of her new stepdaughter. Fast moving rapidly changing situations. An enjoyable read from NetGalley and the publishers.

Where are the Children? was my first suspense novel, and my first novel from Mary Higgins Clark, back when I was in my teens in the mid-80s, so I was a little concerned that Where are the Children Now? could tarnish that memory... Thankfully that hasn't happened! Indeed, the "sequel" has again reinstated my love for all things Mary Higgins Clark. I was also concerned about the addition of Alafair Burke, which again was an unfounded concern. The story grabbed me and held me captive from the start, just like the original, and kept me guessing until the end. A true mystery from start to finish, and a true tribute to MHC and her legacy. All I've left to say is Thank You.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC

I ate this book right up. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. I loved how reminiscent it was of the original and how the main characters were still working through the happenings of that book in their own ways.

I didn’t necessarily see all of the twists either which I really enjoyed. MHC was my Grandmothers favorite author and Alafair Burke co-writing this just made my heart so happy.

All in all, I Loved it.

I read the original book many years ago. I was skeptical at the beginning if i would be able to follow the book since its been a while but was able to pick up and it was an amazing sequel to the original book with all its twists and turns of mystery in the book. To the amazing end of the book thank you to Net galley for giving me an advanced copy I really enjoyed reading this book!!!

This was a wonderful follow up to Mary Higgins Clark classic Where Are The Children? The story picked up well enough after forty years and it was great that she showed that the kids didn’t have a perfect life. So many times you get left with a happy ever after feeling but this shows us that the children grew up and that they struggled with their kidnapping and then it is compounded when Missy’s stepdaughter is taken after she’s been drugged. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves Mary Higgins Clark. Even if you have never read the first book this one fills you in enough to make it quite enjoyable.

I loved this book! I finished it in about 4 days while on vacation. As in several books, I figured out part of the twist about 3/4 in but it was definitely suspenseful. I thought the writing was great and I enjoyed the characters depicted. Now I want to go back and read the original Where Are the Children again since I last read it in my 20s.
This was my first Alafair Burke book and I really liked her writing style. Ironically I had recently checked out an audiobook from the library by her which I also listened to on my trip. I’m adding her to my list of favorite authors !

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster, NetGalley, Mary Higgins Clark, and Alafair Burke for this advanced copy of the book!

I read the first book, Where Are The Children, and found it to be really good, so I was excited to see this sequel getting ready to be released. The previous book's storyline picks up with Mike, Melissa, and their mom. This time, there is a roller coaster of a missing child, a race against the clock to save her, and the ultimate betrayal. The pacing of the book helped to build up the suspense, and once I realized what was happening and who was responsible, I could not help but think, “how clever.” I love a cleaver who dun it. The level of betrayal that Melissa experienced made me empathize with her. But she was so strong and determined! There was a part where the plan was unhatched, and I had trouble understanding why one particular character did what they did because it seemed so disjointed, but betrayal is betrayal, no matter who it is. Good read!

This is such a fun book. It fast paced and has everything you could ever want from a Mary Higgins Clark book. I had never read Where Are the Children, but honestly you don’t have to to enjoy this book. However, if you are intending to read Where Are the Children, I would say make sure to read it first so as not to get any spoilers as to what happens. But this book has its own twists and turns that are just so lovely. I was able to figure out most of the mystery but not till right towards the end of the book, which is exactly what you want when reading a mystery thriller. I just can’t say enough good things about this story. I can’t wait to recommend it.
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I loved Where Are The Children? by Mary Higgins Clark and was a little nervous when I saw that there was a sequel. I have read all the books by Alafair Burke and MHC and knew they wrote well together. This book did not disappoint! The author stayed true to the first book and MHC storyline. A great read!

What an amazing novel which I truly enjoyed!

Where Are The Children Now is a thrilling and satisfying sequel to her iconic novel, Where Are The Children?. This time around, readers follow the life of Melissa, Nancy Harmon's daughter, who was kidnapped by her mother's former husband as a child along with her older brother Mike.

The book opens with Melissa, now a successful lawyer and podcaster, helping her mother, Nancy, move from Cape Cod to the Hamptons. Melissa is a newlywed to a man she met at a grief therapy group. Not only Melissa fell hard and fast for Charlie, but she also became stepmother to his 2 year-old little girl Riley. Melissa's new family situation is complicated by the mysterious death of her stepdaughter's mother, and when the child goes missing, Melissa and Charlie must race against time to find her. The story takes readers on a suspenseful journey filled with twists and turns, and the stakes are high as the characters confront their deepest fears and secrets.

One of the strengths of Where Are The Children Now is its focus on character development. Higgins Clark skillfully portrays the complex relationships between the characters, particularly the tension between Melissa and her brother, Mike. They both have approached the trauma of their kidnapping in different ways, and neither of them agrees how the other has handled it. The author's ability to create multidimensional characters who are flawed yet relatable adds depth to the story, making the reader invested in the outcome.

In addition to the well-drawn characters, the world-building in this novel is top-notch. The Hamptons setting is vividly described, and the author's attention to detail makes it easy for readers to imagine themselves there. The sense of place adds to the atmosphere of the story, and the use of different locations and settings throughout the book keeps the plot interesting.

Of course, the plot itself is the backbone of the novel, and Higgins Clark delivers on this front as well. The story is fast-paced and engaging, with enough twists and turns to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The author masterfully weaves together different threads of the story, building tension and suspense as the characters race to uncover the truth. I also enjoyed the call-backs to the original story which draw the parallels to the current one. While I read Where Are The Kids a few years ago, there were so many things I had forgotten so I truly appreciated the reminders to understand Melissa's action as the plot developed.

Overall, Where Are The Children Now is a gripping and satisfying read that fans of the original novel will love. Higgins Clark's legacy as the "Queen of Suspense" continues with this highly anticipated sequel, which showcases her talent for creating unforgettable characters, building immersive worlds, and crafting suspenseful plots that keep readers guessing until the very end.

If you're a fan of thrilling mystery novels, then you're in for a treat with "Where Are the Children Now?" by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. This book is a sequel to the original classic, "Where Are the Children?" and it picks up the story forty years later, bringing back some beloved characters and introducing new twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The story begins by reintroducing us to the characters we fell in love with in the first book, including Nancy, Mike, and Missy. But this time around, they're navigating a whole new set of mysteries and challenges that will keep you on the edge of your seat. As the plotlines, suspects, and red herrings start to pile up, you'll find yourself turning the pages faster and faster, desperate to know what happens next.

What I loved most about this book is how it seamlessly incorporates backstory for new readers while still satisfying longtime fans. Even if you haven't read the first book, you can easily follow along with the story and understand the characters' histories. And for those of us who read the first book years ago, it's a fantastic way to revisit the world of Nancy, Mike, and Missy and see how their lives have changed.

The writing is superb, with a perfect balance of detail and pacing. The authors know exactly how to build tension and keep the reader invested in the story. The characters are well-developed and engaging, and you'll find yourself rooting for them as they work to uncover the truth.

Overall, "Where Are the Children Now?" is a fantastic follow-up to the first book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery. Whether you're new to the series or a longtime fan, this book is sure to keep you hooked until the very end. So settle in with a cup of tea and get ready for a wild ride!

I really enjoyed the Under Suspicion Series that Alafair co-wrote with Mary Higgins Clark. I thought it very fitting that she got to write a follow-up novel to MHC’s most popular book. This can be read without reading the original, Where Are the Children. It is almost forty years after the events in the first book. Melissa and Michael who were kidnapped in the first book come together for a happier occasion. Melissa is getting married to and becoming a step-mom to two year old Riley. Melissa is a successful attorney and also hosts an unsolved mystery podcast. Weeks after the wedding the siblings are helping their mom settle into a new cottage closer to the city. When Melissa takes a nap, Riley goes missing. The husband has an alibi for day so the police look hard at Melissa as the prime suspect. Much as happened to her mother years before.

This is excellent writing with a quick storyline that kept me turning the pages. The main mystery takes place over just a few days. As Melissa works to solve the mystery her knowledge of police work and unsolved mysteries is turned against her. I guessed a few things but couldn’t guess all the twists. This is a very good mystery and I enjoyed the tie in to the original book. I like that Burke is someone who actually wrote with MGC and this isn’t an attempt to pass off a ghost writer using a deceased person name. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC and I’m leaving a voluntary review.