Review of "Where Are The Children Now: A Novel of Suspense" by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke

This book, co-authored by Alafair Burke, is a sequel to Mary Higgins Clark's 1975 novel 'Where Are the Children?'. Broadly speaking, 'Where Are The Children' is about a woman named Nancy whose two young children, Mike and Melissa are abducted, abused, and eventually rescued. The sequel provides enough background information to work fine as a standalone.

In 'Where Are The Children Now', Mike and Melissa - who were kidnapped as children - are now adults. Mike has had therapy to deal with the childhood trauma but Melissa couldn't (and still can't) bear to talk about her ordeal and claims she can 'choose to be happy.'



Mike works as a captain on a tourist boat in the Caribbean and Melissa is a lawyer, well-known for securing the release of a woman named Jennifer Duncan, who was accused of killing her abusive husband. Melissa is now also an author and the host of a popular true crime podcast. The current focus of the podcast is a missing boy, which hits close to home for Melissa.

Melissa is also a newlywed, happily married to a widower named Charlie Miller. Charlie has a sweet toddler daughter called Riley, who Melissa adores.





Melissa and Charlie live in the ritzy Long Island Hamptons and Melissa's mother Nancy is relocating to the same area. Melissa and her brother Mike - who's flown in from the Caribbean - are helping their mother pack and move.



Like anyone in the public eye, Melissa expects abusive remarks from trolls, but one particular lowlife has been leaving REALLY nasty comments, and Melissa is twitchy. One day Melissa is at the playground with her stepdaughter Riley, checking her phone and sipping coffee, when she looks up to see a woman speaking to Riley. Melissa rushes over, and the woman hurls insults, saying Melissa is neglecting the toddler, and Melissa is a fraud and a hypocrite.



Melissa is badly shaken and takes Riley home, where they both take a nap. When Melissa's brother Mike comes in a couple of hours later, Riley is gone and Melissa is so sleepy she can hardly be awakened.

To cut to the chase, the police suspect Melissa of harming little Riley. Melissa tries to point the police in a different direction, especially toward the nasty woman in the playground....but the cops don't want to listen.



In the meantime, Melissa's husband Charlie, heeding the advice of his lawyer, distances himself from Melissa, though he claims to believe she's blameless.



There's lots of excitement as the story unfolds, and plenty of twists and surprises. I like the book but wish that Melissa - an intelligent woman - was more perceptive than she is.

Still this is a compelling thriller with a nice array of characters. Recommended to mystery fans.

Rating: 3.5 stars