JUST TAKE MY HEART by Mary Higgins Clark
Mary Higgins Clark is one of the most consistently good writers in the field of popular fiction today. Her books are always at the top of the best seller lists and deservingly so. She creates mysteries that entertain and her latest JUST TAKE MY HEART is no exception.
In this novel you have several mysteries and threats going on at the same time. The main plotline involves Assistant District Attorney Emily Wallace. She is a widow who is also overcoming health problems. Her chance to get her career on the fast track comes about when she is assigned the plum case of prosecuting wealthy theatrical agent Gregg Aldrich for the murder of his wife, actress Natalie Raines.
Emily’s main witness against Aldrich is a petty criminal named Jimmy Easton. He claims Aldrich contracted with him to kill his wife, but Easton backed out of the deal. Later Aldrich took matters into his own hands and did the job himself. Circumstantial evidence also implicates Aldrich.
Another issue is Emily’s neighbor Zach Lanning. He is a killer who has rented the house next door to her. He becomes obsessed with her and tries to insert himself into her life. When she rebuffs him, he plots to kill her.
With all these murders and plots to murder filling the pages of this novel, the book races by and leave the reader wanting more, more, more. And Clark delivers by having each scene add to the excitement of those to follow. It must be admitted Clark writes in a simplistic style but it is easy to follow and easy to comprehend. Still it means you do not get the character depth you want, and the complexities of the plot are mainly brushed aside.
As the simplistic style is one of the weak points of Clark’s writing, it is also her strength. Millions of readers devour her books and this simple style is one of the main draws. They can read her books quickly and with complete comprehension.
You can’t argue with success and Mary Higgins Clark is one of the most widely read and popular novelists writing today. JUST TAKE MY HEART is more of the same from Clark and should entertain her followers and also add some new readers to her flock.
JUST TAKE MY HEART is published by Simon and Schuster. It contains 336 pages and sells for $25.95.