Title: Piece of My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke
Under Suspicion Series Book Seven
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
In the latest thrilling collaboration from #1 New York Times bestselling author and “Queen of Suspense” Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke, television producer Laurie Moran must solve the kidnapping of her fiancée’s nephew—just days before her wedding.
Television producer Laurie Moran and her fiancée, Alex Buckley, the former host of her investigative television show, are just days away from their mid-summer wedding, when things take a dark turn. Alex’s seven-year-old nephew, Johnny, vanishes from the beach. A search party begins and witnesses recall Johnny playing in the water and collecting shells behind the beach shack, but no one remembers seeing him after the morning. As the sun sets, Johnny’s skim board washes up to shore, and everyone realizes that he could be anywhere, even under water.
A ticking clock, a sinister stalker, and fresh romance combine in this exhilarating follow up to the bestselling You Don’t Own Me—another riveting page-turner from the “Queen of Suspense” Mary Higgins Clark and her dazzling partner-in-crime Alafair Burke.
Review:
Piece of My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke is an intriguing mystery. This seventh installment in the Under Suspicion series can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the previous novels.
TV producer Laurie Moran and her soon to be husband Alex Buckley are celebrating his birthday with their families in the Hamptons. Laurie and her ten year old son Timmy arrive before her father, retired NYPD policeman Leo Farley. Alex and his brother Andrew, his wife Marcy, seven year old Johnny and their twin daughters are eager for the upcoming celebrations. But their joy turns to fear when Johnny disappears from the beach in the split second he is out of view of his babysitter. Although the local police are soon on the case, Laurie, Leo and Alex believe one of their enemies might be responsible for taking Johnny. Will they figure out the kidnapper’s identity and rescue Johnny before it is too late?
Laurie cannot help but wonder if someone whose path she crossed while producing her show might be out for revenge. As she is trying to narrow down a suspect, Leo is worried Johnny’s kidnapping has something to do with an old case of his. Eighteen years ago, Darren Gunther was convicted of stabbing a popular bar owner to death. However, Gunther is attempting to overturn the conviction based on new evidence and false accusations against Leo. Laurie and Leo are working together to investigate this angle but will their efforts prove successful?
Chapters from young Johnny’s perspective provide an intimate peek into his experiences with the kidnapper. Johnny manages to keep calm as he obeys the kidnapper’s demands. He is frightened but cool under pressure during extremely their stressful exchanges. Johnny remains hopeful his loved ones with soon rescue him but his situation takes a dire turn.
Piece of My Heart is an engrossing mystery with a fantastic cast of regular characters. The secondary characters are well drawn and life-like. The search for Johnny moves at a brisk pace as Laurie and Leo leave no stone unturned during their quest for answers. With unexpected plot twists, Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke bring this suspenseful mystery to a dramatic conclusion. Old and new fans are sure to enjoy this newest addition to the Under Suspicion series.
