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America's Queen of Suspense discuss her wildly successful career, her inspirations, and Daddy's Little Girl in our exclusive audio Q&A.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Ellie Cavanaugh was seven years old when her older sister was murdered near their home in New York's Westchester County. It was young Ellie's tearful testimony that put Rob Westerfield, the nineteen-year-old scion of a prominent family, in jail despite the existence of two other viable suspects. Twenty-two years later, Westerfield, who maintains his innocence, is paroled. Determined to thwart his attempts to pin the crime on another, Ellie, an investiga-tive reporter for an Atlanta newspaper, returns home and starts writing a book that will conclusively prove Westerfield's guilt. As she delves deeper into her research, however, she uncovers horrifying facts that shed new light on her sister's murder. With each discovery she comes closer to a confrontation with a desperate killer.

SYNOPSIS

Upon hearing that the man who murdered her sister is being granted an early release from prison, a young journalist returns to her hometown to uncover the truth. But the search for answers leads to even more questions, as she unwittingly stumbles on a treacherous political scandal involving adultery and blackmail including concrete evidence that her sister's killer has murdered more than once. And now that he's on parole, her life is in considerable danger... Once again, Mary Higgins Clark, the master of the personal crime narrative, conjures up heart-stopping suspense.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Writing in the first person a rarity for this veteran author has inspired and energized Clark. Her 21st novel of intrigue is her best in years, a tightly woven, emotionally potent tale of suspense and revenge. Clark's new heroine is Atlanta investigative journalist Ellie Cavanaugh, who was seven when her sister, Andrea, 15, was beaten to death by 20-year-old Rob Westerfield, scion of the wealthiest family in a small Westchester town. Now Westerfield is up for parole, so Ellie, now 30, returns home to speak out against him. When Westerfield is released, Ellie begins to write a book aimed at re-proving his guilt. Digging for evidence, she uncovers clues that Westerfield may have committed another murder as a youth, but that digging also enrages the Westerfields and other town members who think the man was railroaded. Before long, Ellie's life is in danger, as someone breaks into the house she's staying in, then later sets fire to it, nearly killing her, and as Westerfield himself begins to shadow her moves. What makes this novel work isn't only the considerable tension Clark teases from Ellie's precarious position, but the thoughtful backgrounding to the action. Ellie is cast as a lonely woman, without a lover and estranged from her father and half-brother: will she accept one or the other into her guarded life?; and she carries a heavy load of guilt for her sister's death, wondering at times if she is blinded by her thirst for vengeance. With its textured plot, well-sketched secondary characters, strong pacing and appealing heroine, this is Clark at her most winning. (On sale, Apr. 16) Forecast: One million first printing; main selection of the Literary Guild and BOMC, the Doubleday Book Club and Doubleday Large Print, and the Mystery Guild; all that, plus a fabulous green-toned jacket featuring a blood-stained locket on the front and a terrific photo of Clark on the back, add up to #1 with a bullet. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

At the parole hearing for Donald Waring, Trish Duncan begins to wonder whether he was wrongly convicted of killing her sister 20 years ago. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

AudioFile

Jan Maxwell reads Clark's first-person narration in an easy, authoritative style, building drama and tension appropriately. Investigative reporter Ellie Cavanaugh was 7 when her 15-year-old sister was murdered and her family destroyed. Totally convinced of rich sociopath Rob Westerfield's guilt, Ellie is researching a book on Rob's life to prove it conclusively. While exploring the criminal mind, Ellie also learns more about her family. Maxwell depicts Ellie as self-confident and assertive, using compelling, rapid speech patterns to emphasize horrifying discoveries in Rob's past and Ellie's fear as her life is repeatedly threatened. Maxwell and Clark work well together, producing a nail-biting page-turner. S.C.A. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews