Mary Higgins Clark has been writing best-selling novels for decades and she continues that tradition with her latest novel, I've Got You Under My Skin. Although this one starts out a little slow, it soon picks up speed and ends with a winning pace.
The book has the Higgins Clark style of being filled with interesting characters caught up in an ominous plot. In this case there has been a murder and as we read the story we meet a whole cast of characters, anyone of whom could have done the deed.
The plot focuses on Laurie Moran. She is a television producer who is in need of a new hit show. She decides one which focuses on unsolved crimes is the way to go. One of the biggest crimes of the past few decades involved a woman named Betsy Powell. She and her husband Rob gave a graduation gala for her daughter and three of her friends when they graduated from college.
All four of the girls were staying at the Powell's house that weekend, along with the Powell's housekeeper Jane. During the night someone went into Betsy's room and smothered her with a pillow. The case was never solved. Now twenty years later Laurie wants to get everyone back to the Powell house to be interviewed about the crime.
As a side plot, Laurie's husband was gunned down in front of their son Timmy, who was around three at the time. Someone who witnessed the crime heard the gunman say he was coming for Timmy's mother next and then for Timmy. Now five years later Laurie still lives in fear for her son's life.
The plot gets even deeper and darker at this point but it is always in Mary Higgins Clark's control. This author knows how to quickly introduce her characters and how to set up the boundaries of the plot. She knows exactly where the plot is headed and how to best get everything necessary for an enjoyable story included.
For those readers who have been fans of Clark's stories over the years, this is just another perfect addition to their collection. For new readers, this will be an introduction to one of the most successful mystery writers of recent times. Her reputation has stood the test of time and I've Got You Under My Skin is her latest achievement.
Mary Higgins Clark isn't sharp and edgy; she is interesting and fun. She doesn't pile on the gore but rather just piles on the suspense. She makes reading her books an enjoyable experience.
I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN is published by Simon and Schuster. It contains 303 pages and sells for $26.99.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com