Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Type: Fiction
I find Mary
Higgins Clark’s works quite engaging and I need not say this is a suspense
thriller and set in the 1980’s.
The plot
starts with Jenny, a divorcee and a mother of 2 kids, who works in an art
gallery. Her ex-husband Kevin is a struggling actor and often leeches off on
Jenny for money. She meets Erich the painting artist during his art exhibition
and he sweeps her off her feet with his charm and warmth. Within a month they
get married and she moves from New York to his mansion in Minnesota. He is rich
and has people working for him to cater to his every whim. Jenny slowly realizes
that Erich is a perfectionist and very possessive. Slowly her life turns into a
nightmare when weird incidents begins happening. At one point, Jenny feels she
is entrapped in the mansion. Does she escape her nightmare and the answers to why
strange events keep happening.
The author
takes her time to set the premise before the creepy events unfold. At one point
the book feels like a horror story. The pace is quick and there are so many
unsolved questions which are answered at the end. There are several other characters
attributing to suspicious circumstances and make us shift our doubts to every
other person. The final reveal is a good one.
The primary
point by which Erich is besotted by Jenny is that she is almost a replica of
his dead mother Caroline. Jenny realizes that she and Caroline have more than
physical similarities. But one question that bothers me is how does any woman,
let alone a mother of two, decide to marry a person she knows only for a month
and knows basically nothing of his life. I even thought that Jenny has some
psychological issues. Also, she invariably tolerates Erich’s annoying acts and
felt maybe she should not be this naïve.
Verdict: Overall the
book an engaging easy read and is a mix of romance, thriller and horror. It
keeps you hooked till the end.
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