It Had to Be You
By Mary Higgins Clark; Alafair Burke
3.5
Television producer Laurie Moran investigates the unsolved murder of a beloved couple celebrating the college graduations of their successful twin sons.
I always enjoy reading anything by Mary Higgins Clark, the queen of suspense. The thing that intrigued me the most about this book was the premise of twins. I have never read a suspense book that had twins involved and the possibility of one brother killed his parents in cold blood while the other brother had an iron-clad alibi was super intriguing to me.
I really enjoyed Laurie Moran and her team. They had a great dynamic and the idea of a show called Under Suspicion is defiantly something that I would watch. I did jump into this series on book 8 so I did not get to see the character development, but I am going to go back and read the other books in this series, and I am excited to get to know them better.
I did figure out who did it very early on in the book so when I got to the reveal it was a mixed excitement. It is nice to be able to guess who dunn it occasionally, but I was also hoping that there would be a few more twists in this book. I do read a lot of suspense and thriller books so it might be that I am becoming a good detective.
I did like the end it left it at a happy ending where they could either end the series or leave it open for another book.
Thank you, NetGalley, Mary Higgins Clark; Alafair Burke and Simon & Schuster for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the newest in one of my favorite series and it did not disappoint! Another great installment of Under Suspicion and the return of beloved characters! I love how creative the authors are with the storyline and characters!

I am a fan of Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke’s Under Suspicion series so I was really excited to get book #8 in the series as an ARC. Let me tell you, just like the others in the series this one hooks you from page one. It has great characters development with an intriguing and very believable plot. My favorite character is Grace. She dresses to the nines and drives like a maniac. There is good banter between all the characters with Ryan being the one you want to hate.

This is a crime/mystery told from the prospective of a true crime podcaster and not from a police officer. This is a different perspective and one I really liked. This is a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone who is an armchair detective!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I think I've read EVERYTHING Mary Higgin Clark has ever written so I consider myself an expert. Lol... This book is the best so far in the "Under Suspicion" series. It leaves you guessing until the end!

Alafair Burke is continuing the “Under Suspicion” series that she and Mary Higgins Clark co-authored until the Queen of Suspense’s death in 2020. In the 8th installment, Laurie Moran, the investigative TV journalism show producer of “Under Suspicion” is looking for her next special (even though her new on-air host isn’t exactly a team player) and she’s settled on a Menendez brothers type story: twin brothers suspected of murdering their wealthy brothers, either as a team, or with one covering for the other. In this narrative, brother Simon thinks his twin Ethan (the one with more motive) possibly did it, and Ethan thinks Simon did it.

The entire family has pretty much avoided the press as the case became cold. But Simon’s wife has come to a 10 year realization, as podcasters come sniffing around on the anniversary of the crime, that she wants to clear her husband’s name, even if his estranged brother and his wife don’t want to assist. Younger sister Frankie (a 12 year old at the time of the killings) wants a resolution, too.

This is again a terrific addition to the series. Laurie Moran is the competent, intelligent, determined main character who is surrounded by a loving family and loyal staff. You can’t help but root for her and her investigative skills. The plot unfolds as more about the past is revealed and there are some acknowledged rabbit holes that get briefly followed. It’s terrific that the series has continued with author Burke. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Close, though. Jenna has hazel eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But some mysterious person is leaving flowers on the murdered mom’s grave.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I was thrilled to get this title, It Had to Be You, by the team of Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. This series, in particular the Under Suspicion series, has long been a favorite. With the passing of Mary Higgins Clark, I wasn't sure we'd see more of this series. I'm happy we did.

There are two identical twins, and they seem to live in the perfect family until one night, after a family party, their parents are murdered in cold blood. Eventually, each brother suspects the other, and their relationship is over.

They have a younger sister, who approaches the Under Suspicion team, hoping to find the truth...wherever that may lead.

I loved revisiting Laurie Moran's family and the players in this series. I can't wait for another installment. I know Mary Higgins Clark is gone, but hopefully the authors have a trove of ideas kept away somewhere.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#ItHadtoBeYou #MaryHigginsClark #AlafairBurke #UnderSuspicionSeries #SimonAndSchuster #NetGalley

before i leave my review, i would love to thank netgalley and the publisher, simon & schuster for providing me an advanced galley.
as most may know, i'm a pretty big fan of mary higgins clark. this is the 14th book i've ever read from her (12 are logged on here, the other 2 were from long before i had storygraph), she's been a rollercoaster of a ride for me as far as her books go (like hit or miss), i thought this one was just.. okay. maybe it's because i haven't read very many books in this series but i was confused on what was going on with any familiar characters. aside from that, i enjoyed this. in typical fashion of mary higgins clark, it was a quick read. i love how she never strayed from making the books a fast pace. some were slower than others but still

Fans of this suspenseful series will be pleased to catch up with Laurie, her family and the rest of the Under Suspicion crew. They investigate a family rife with old grudges and dark secrets with the hope of solving a decade old double homicide. Although part of a series, this title works fine as a stand alone. Fast moving and full of twisty plot points, it is a worthwhile read.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
by Mary Higgins Clark; Alafair Burke

Thank y0u to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster for the early read. I was hooked and pulled (or is it reeled) in from the first page. Mary Higgins Clark; Alafair Burke does it again! Great story! Strong character development.
Will recommend this book.

I remember watching “Remember the Children” which was one of Mary Higgins best works decades ago. After the movie I decided to read that book and after I snapped up every book of hers as it became available. The Under Suspicion series that she coauthored with Alafair Burke was another stellar story with an outstanding cast. Laurie is an amazing mom and one very tough lady to have pulled herself together and created a show that brought justice and closure to many. Her journey bought her love and an amazing group of friends. Each book has continued that journey from Laurie finding happiness to Tim growing up to the team standing together, we have traveled along with the characters on that path.
The story Laurie and her crew investigated was exactly the kind of ripped from the headlines story that would garner media attention. The treatment of that subject by the authors was both real and heartfelt. The authors did an amazing job of making you feel what the characters felt from the shock of the video clip to suspicions about family, we experienced it all on the page. I will admit that like many of the characters, I was willing to accept the easy answer that one of the twins was a killer. Regardless of who the killer ended up being, this book was about the journey much like the series has been. That journey may have been a roller coaster ride but that is what we have come to expect from a book coauthored by the Queen of Suspense.
I teared up a bit righting this review because Mary Higgins Clark is no longer with us to challenge our minds with her suspense. Alafair Burke has picked up the mantle alone in this series the ladies coauthored and did an amazing job as a tribute to a legendary author. We got a very happy ending to both the twin’s story and Laurie’s. I just hope the while she got a happy ending in this book that it is not the ending of this series.
Thank you so very much to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for allowing me read an advance copy of this title.

Oh how I love this series!

I was concerned about whether or not the Under Suspicion series would continue, and I am so glad it did.

Laurie and her team are searching for the perfect story for a new episode, and an old prospect falls into her lap. While managing her work life balance due to a new marriage and the potential threat of a traitor at work, Laurie is hopeful that she can find closure for a family that needs to be healed.

Two twin brothers have lived with the suspicion that they murdered their parents at their vacation home, and even worse, the rift between them for years. Their younger sister is desperate to find answers so that she can move forward, even if it means shattering her own happiness.

Laurie and her team find that the picture painted of the "happy" family is not all that it seemed, and while investigating finds a number of suspects who may have had a motive other than the brothers.

While I figured out the ending very, very early on, I loved the description of the sleepy vacation town where everyone knows everyone else, and the locals are wary of the outsiders, and policing is frequently compromised by friendships. I also enjoy how these books give you insight into what several characters are thinking as you go along.

I appreciate how everyone contributes to finding clues and watching the dynamics of different relationships. The ending was a little anti -climatic, but it was a lot of fun getting there.

I am hoping this wasn't the last that we will see of the Under Suspicion team.

I thank the publisher and NetGalley whom provided a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinions.

The next book in Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke's Under Suspicion series, this book continues the suspense we expect from these authors. In this story, the parents of two identical twins are murdered by one of the twins while the other has a solid alibi. Neither are convicted of the crime. Years later, the murder is still unsolved and the series regulars begin to reinvestigate only to uncover many unexpected twists.

It had been several years since I read a book written by Mary Higgins Clark and I remember enjoying her stories, especially those cowritten with Alafair Burke. This latest one did not disappoint.

Protagonist Laurie Moran is a television producer of a series that solve cold case murders. Her latest case is are the murders of the wealthy Harrington parents whose twin sons Ethan and Simon were accused but never convicted. Ten years after the murders, the twins’ younger sister Frankie, who has just turned twenty-two, decides that she needs to know the truth about who killed her parents and contacts Laurie in the hopes that she and her investigative team can uncover new clues that will lead them to the killer.

A fast paced, suspenseful mystery will have you playing armchair sleuth. The eighth book in this series, this can definitely be read as a standalone. Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this enjoyable book and bring the this great writing duo back to me in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely love this series and was thrilled to receive an early galley! Laurie Moran is looking for a new case for her show, and she believes she's found it in the deadly duo. Two brothers; a rich family; mom and dad murdered in cold blood. Who did it? How? Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke kept me guessing as the characters kept rolling in and the motives kept changing. Great story, perfect mystery, with characters I know and love. I loved this one!

Always enjoy the stories by these two! Another episode of Laurie Morgan's 'Under Suspicion'. Great story which, of course, the team uncovers new evidence. Two big 'announcements' at the end of this book that promise big changes ahead!

Ten years after a couple is murdered at their twin sons' graduation party, the twins' sister calls on Laurie Moran to help solve the mystery of her parents' deaths. The twin sons are the suspects but their sister doesn't believe it.

Wow! This is one of the best books I have read this year, and I am an avid reader! This fast paced book had great characters, suspense, intrigue and twisty plot twists that kept me up guessing and reading until the very last page. I was very surprised by who the murderer turned out to be! My thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this wonderful book to read and review.

Mary Higgins Clark is an author that I used to read as a teenager, and she proves once again that she’s still got it. I will admit, I haven’t read any of Alafair Burke’s solo work, but I’ll definitely check it out now.

There were some hints throughout the book that Laurie, the producer of a true crime show, was more than a passing character, but I appreciated the vague descriptions of her previous life, since I hope to read the series from the beginning. This is the eighth entry in the “Under Suspicion” series, but it can be read as a standalone, in my opinion—although you will get some spoilers about Laurie’s current family situation.

I did think that the action took a while to get going, but I enjoyed figuring out who might be responsible when all of the suspects had been presented. I’m proud to say that part of my guess was correct, but Clark and Burke certainly did not make it easy! There are twists in here that will have you second guessing yourself, and that’s a big part of why thrillers are such a popular genre. Just when you think you’ve narrowed down the suspect list, BAM, here comes another suspicious person! It’s, dare I say, quite fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback. I was thrilled (get it? 😁) to get my hands on an early copy of this! Look for this in just over a month!

I really enjoyed this book! It was fast paced and had a great plot. I definitely can’t wait to read more from these authors!

Within the first couple of paragraphs, I was hooked and read this book straight through. It begins with a happy celebration of the college graduation of the Harrington twins, Simon and Ethan. The Harrington’s have a large, lavish vacation home on Cape Cod, and at the end of the night, their parents, Richard and Sarah Harrington are found shot to death in their home. The case was never solved; however, the consensus was that one of the twins was the perpetrator. There was never enough evidence to charge anyone of the horrendous crime.
Fast forward ten years and television producer Laurie Moran and staff are discussing what to investigate next that will draw viewers to their true crime program. All agreed on the unsolved death of the Harringtons’ ten years earlier. Twins, Simon and Ethan both are now married, however, have never spoken to each other for ten years. Their sister, Frankie, who was 12 at the time of their parents’ death was taken in by their mother’s best friend Betsy, and her husband. She was raised by them, and is now in college about to graduate.
Laurie approaches both twins, as well as Frankie, about appearing on the program. Simon and Ethan are reluctant at first but finally agree to be on the program together. Frankie readily agrees as she is interested in closure. As the emotional roller coaster of an investigation progresses, there are many twists and turns, and long-held shocking secrets are revealed. Situations the initial police investigation never found.
Once I got into this fascinating, captivating story, I could not put it down. This is suspense at its best.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and comments are my own.