Another mystery from Mary Higgins Clark and Alastair Burke! I give the followup in the Under Suspicion series 3 stars. At this point in the series, you know what is going to happen. It’s A + B = C. The same formula for every Under Suspicion novel, and I was hoping for a bit more twists and turns. You know what’s coming next, the main characters have not progressed that much. There is a cliffhanger of Laurie and Alex being pregnant now for next book but it felt like every chapter was a repeat of another book in the series. I enjoyed the previous book more because it wasn’t related and was a mystery not covered by the team of Under Suspicion. However, I do enjoy the family dynamics that each of these books cover and the mystery of who did it in the end.
Also, thank you to Simon and Schuster for letting me read and review this title early.

Ten years have gone by since the parents of identical twins were killed after the twins college graduation party. The killer was never found and the police hardly investigated as they were positive that one of the twins did the killing, or they both did it. Since the killing, the brothers have been estranged each accusing the other of the killings.
Their younger sister tired of the estrangement and the case never being solved, reaches out to Laurie Moran, the producer of the hit TV show “Under Suspicion.” Laurie and her team have been accredited with solving other cases that had been languishing in other cold case files. Agreeing to take on the case for the TV show, Laurie stipulates that both brothers must agree to be interviewed and come on the show. Long held secrets, jealousy, abuse and lies all come to an explosive end when the killer is finally revealed. The characters were real and their dialogue was as expected whether they were doing the investigating or being investigated. The twists and possible suspects kept me invested in this enjoyable read.
Alafair Burke has co-authored this former Mary Higgins Clark Series and it is appreciated by this reader. As the authors are and were favorites. Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for this arc. The review and comments are my opinion.

Another great addition to the Under Suspicion series! I was a teenager when I read my first Mary Higgins Clark book, Where Are the Children. I loved it so much that I went to my local library and started checking out all of her books in order of publication. Thirty years later, and her books are still just as enjoyable. Alafair Burke has also become a favorite of mine, so having them co-author this series together is a definite win-win. When I saw this available as "read now", I quickly hit that button, then re-read the entire series to refresh my memory of the characters and to enjoy the stories all over again. This was an interesting, fast-paced mystery that I flew through in a few hours. This particular cold case was definitely one of my favorites out of the series. Twin brothers suspected of killing their parents. Each accusing the other of being the guilty one. Definitely not a cozy little mystery. The main characters are endearing, and I've grown to love them like family. I am hoping that Burke will continue with this series in honor of Queen Mary. I am not ready to let these characters go.

Thank you to the authors, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for granting me digital access in exchange for my honest review!

This is the 8th installment in the Under Suspicion series. Laurie Moran and her team are on the cold case of murdered parents potentially at the hands of one or both of their twin sons. Laurie is feeling pressure at work and her work is suffering so she needs to knock this one out. Laurie is looking into a ten year old cold case of the murder of Sarah and Richard Harrington who were murdered on the night of their twin sons college graduation. Laurie reaches out to the family and Frankie the daughter and sister to her identical twin brothers Ethan and Simon wants the case solved as does Simon’s wife Michelle. Both brothers had been drinking and each accuse the other and have since been estranged. Once Laurie and her team begin to unravel the case it soon heats up and lots of twists and turns begin. There is never a dull moment and from the moment you pick up this book you will not want to put it down. The story and mystery are interesting but so are the depth of the characters in the story that makes is so real. This one is a winner and will not disappoint. Was great to read on a cold snowy day. Highly Recommend.

What a great book! I devoured it in one sitting because it was so hard to put down. I didn’t realize this was a part of a series, but is seemed fine as a stand alone story. Great investigative work, interesting characters and lots of secrets and twists I didn’t expect. Highly recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been reading Mary Higgins Clark book since I was a teenager and have read all of the Under Suspicion books, so I was more than thrilled to be given the opportunity to read an ARC copy of “It had to be You.” I’ve loved following the lives of Laurie Moran and her family through the series, and this one was no different. I’m so glad the story gets to live on with the help of Alafair Burke. What a great team! The story of identical twins accused, but never convicted, of killing their parents tears their family apart. Interesting plot with plenty of family drama. Because I’ve read so many by the author, I knew early on who I thought was the guilty one, but I was taken on a nice journey before it was revealed. Another excellent read.

What isn't to love about a Mary Higgins Clark novel. My grandmother was a die hard fan and I have also enjoyed the books. This is the first in this series I have read so the other 7 are now on my TBR. The authors did a great job keeping you engaged and guessing at each turn and twist. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

5 stars!! So many times my jaw was on the floor. Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Publication date April 16, 2024.

My FIRST MHC book… I am familiar with and have loved what I've read from Alafair Burke’s previous work. But, a Mary Higgins Clarke mystery has been on my (bookish) bucket list! Super excited I got to read an advanced digital copy!

For starters, I am a SUCKER for stories about twins. What roped me into this one was that the twins insisted after a decade the other was guilty of murdering their parents. The truth could’ve been a million possibilities! I was further intrigued to learn that the Under Suspicion producer was not merely drumming up ideas when she opted to pursue THIS case for a season of her show.

AMAZING concept. Not sure if all the books in this series unfold in this manner, but I liked it!

ALSO, I enjoyed the alternating perspectives from different characters. This helped to reveal the full picture to the reader without tremendous excess. I was satisfied with both the pace and mysterious nature of the case.

The book features an endearing group of well-developed characters in a whodunit storyline, against a modern, journalistic backdrop. My only criticism would be that it had a strikingly similar feel to some police procedurals. This was likely a result of it being the eighth book (I was very late to the show) in a series about a television production (which I would imagine is a very structured process). OVERALL, I truly enjoyed It Had To Be You. I am highly interested in the previous books in this series!

Special thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for the amazing digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley #simonbooks #undersuspicionseries #ithadtobeyoubook #mystery @mary.higgins.clark @alafair.burke @bookshell_f

“It Had to Be You” was a roller coaster of a read. There were so many twist that you didn’t see coming. This book kept you on the edge of your seat and made you want to keep reading.
The Under Suspicion crew is working on their next case for the show. When they find one that they agree on they have to get everyone on board to start filming. As things come into the light the questions start coming. Did the accused actually commit the crime or was someone else lurking in the shadows?
Highly recommend this book.

There is so much to love in this book... whether its the setting, the fabulous mystery, or the way Alafair Burke continues to artfully and creatively hold Mary Higgins Clark's pen... it's absolutely fabulous. Laurie Moran has settled into family life when she starts to produce a new special focused on identical twin brothers - each suspected to have murdered their parents. Their younger sister brings the case to Laurie and begs her to finally get answers. Written with MHC's characteristic twists, turns, and so much emotion, It Had to Be You needs to be on every mystery lover's reading list -- and at the top! Thank you to Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

I was so excited when I was approved for this book! I’ve loved Mary Higgins Clark books for as long as I can remember and this one was just as great! I loved the mystery and the suspense and the different point of views! It just kept you guessing until the very end! I read this book in 2 days, just could not put it down! It has the suspense/mystery that you’d want in a book like this and I hope everyone enjoys it just as much as I did!

I absolutely love Mary Higgins Clark, and miss her writing so much. I was thrilled to see a new book come out by Alafair Burke and MHC—-and was so excited to get an advance copy of this thrilling novel! This was a very engaging and suspenseful mystery. Although I found one or two parts to be a bit predictable, I overall thoroughly enjoyed this book ! I definitely recommended it for any other fans of these authors!

Another winner in the Under Suspicion series. This book keeps you turning the pages and the satisfying ending is arrived at after unexpected, but believable, twists. I really enjoyed it.

A lavish party for identical twins part of “the perfect family” turns ugly. The parents are found dead, the younger sister going to live with her parents best friends. The police focus on the brothers and for the next ten years they blame each other but no arrests were made. The younger sister, all grown up now, decides to ask for help from a true crime producer. The producer decides to use this case as an episode on the show. Of course we know that no such thing as a perfect family. As I read this I remembered how much I love Mary Higgins Clark books.

Growing up I only read Mary Higgins Clark. I was so excited when I saw another book by her! I really enjoyed this book. Kick and easy read. I’m happy Laurie is getting to grow her family with Alex. Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

I was a fan of MHC many, many years ago, hadn’t read her in years and was pleased to see this new book , written with the help of Alafair Burke, continuing her legacy.
The story includes the investigative team of the TV show Under Suspicion, who try to solve cold cases. This cold case involves the 10 year old murder of parents,Richard and Sarah Harrington, who were murdered in their own home, during the graduation party for their twin sons, Simon and Ethan. The twin are accused, but never found guilty. Their sister Frankie contacts the Under Suspicion team to try and solve the murders. Such a fun, exciting, twisty read! I will definitely be looking into other books in the series.
This book is part of a series, that I was not aware of. I had no problem at all with it as a stand alone.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

I was a huge fan of Clark's books growing up, and the format hasn't changed. Fast moving, plot driven mysteries. I haven't read the previous books in the series but enjoyed this one, though I guessed the killer early on.

MHC was my go to mystery author in HS (possibly MS), after a slew of Nancy Drew books when younger. Alafair Burke does a great job of continuing MHC's legacy.

I loved the set-up of this book, and rooted for many of the characters. The red herrings were great, causing me to go back and forth with who I felt was guilty.

The only quibble I had was it seemed like it would have been harder than it seemed here, for the guilty to keep the secret for as long as they did.

I’ve read nearly every book in this series - it’s not hard hitting or graphic but it’s not cozy either. Sometimes it’s exactly what I want to read.

So while I will say that this was a little too perfectly perfect (characters and issues) to be believable, I still read this in one day because I didn’t want to stop turning the pages.



Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the DRC