I finished Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark late last night! I started reading it just a week ago and despite my busy schedule, I couldn’t put it down. While the book was interesting and had some great twists, it did read a little old. If you’re looking for a quick read, this shouldn’t be your go-to. There are many characters that are introduced quickly, one chapter at a time. However, once I got over the headache of keeping 15 or so people in my head, an amazing story unraveled!

Discovering Mary Higgins Clark

A quick anecdote before we dive in. I used to exclusively read girly romance novels. One day, on a trip to Thailand, my husband Isaac and I were stuck on a beach that was only accessible by boat. Since it was raining too hard for boats to run, we explored the bungalows and found a free library. It was quite pathetic with about 30 books. Half of them were outdated travel guides and the other half were falling apart. I picked up the one that looked in best shape; it was only slightly water damaged and missing the cover page. This book was You Belong to Me by Mary Higgins Clark and it introduced me to what became my favorite genre.

Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark: Synopsis

“IN WORLDWIDE BESTSELLING SUSPENSE WRITER MARY HIGGINS CLARK’S SPELLBINDING NEW THRILLER, A BROADWAY STAR’S MURDER IGNITES A SHOCKING SERIES OF DEADLY EVENTS. . . .

After famous actress Natalie Raines is found in her home, dying from a gunshot wound, police immediately suspect her theatrical agent and jealous soon-to-be-ex-husband, Gregg Aldrich. But no charges are brought against him until two years later, when a career criminal suddenly claims Aldrich had tried to hire him to kill her.

The case is a plum assignment for attractive thirty-two-year-old assistant prosecutor Emily Wallace. She spends long hours preparing for the trial, and unaware of a seemingly well-meaning neighbor’s violent past, gives him a key to her home to care for her dog.

The high-profile trial makes headlines, threatening to reveal personal matters about Emily, such as the fact that she had a heart transplant— especially when she experiences eerie sentiments that defy all reason and continue even after the jury decides Gregg Aldrich’s fate.

But little does she know, now her own life is at risk. . . .”

Goodreads

Disclaimer

First, let me begin by saying that I am super intimidated writing anything about Mary Higgins Clark. This woman has written thirty-eight suspense novels, four collections of short stories, a his­torical novel, a memoir, and two children’s books. With bestselling author Alafair Burke she wrote the Under Suspicion series. With her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, she has coauthored five more suspense novels.

Her books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone. She is an international bestseller many times over… so who am I to say anything about her work? I am an unworthy cockroach in comparison to Mary Higgins Clark. It would honestly be an honor to be stepped on by her. But this is the internet and somehow it’s okay for me to comment and nitpick. So here I go…

What I Loved

Despite all the issues with the style of this book and my lazy millennial brain, I read it quickly. There was a subtlety about this book that made it completely irresistible. The pace of the book wasn’t one that I was used to, but once I got through the first few chapters, I was hooked. I have to admit that I was a little more curious in the subplot, following Zack than the main story. I was always looking forward to his chapters more than the others and they were incredibly exciting.

The twist at the end… OMG, I absolutely loved it. I should have seen it coming, but somehow, I didn’t. It was one of those endings that leaves you smirking for hours or days after you read the book. I know that I won’t be forgetting this book any time soon. To me, that is what ultimately makes a good book. I have read books that I’ve enjoyed and then forgotten months if not weeks later. The first book I read by Mary Higgins Clark is still taking up precious brain space since I remember it five years later!

When I first started reading the book, I didn’t expected to love it. However, I was determined to finish it. I am so glad that I stuck with it, because the more I read, the more I liked it. And I wasn’t the only one! Out of the 11,000+ ratings on Goodreads, this book has a 3.8 star review. People are harsh so that’s a great rating, and I ended up giving it a 5. Even if I hadn’t loved it until the end, the very last page would have single-handedly raise the rating for me.

What I Didn’t Love

Oof, criticizing such a successful author is intimidating. That being said, I had no issue complaining about Paulo Coelho’s Adultery, so I guess it’s just something about Marry Higgins Clark that makes me worship her more than the usual bestselling author. Anyway… I didn’t love the format of the book. It was really hard for me to get all the characters into my brain to begin with. The chapters were short, the names were long and in the first 50 pages I was expected to memorize 15+ characters who weren’t immediately interacting. I don’t know if social media is to blame, or the simplicity of modern books, or maybe I’m just stupid, but I truly found it hard to follow.

I’m going to dig myself into a hole now for saying that I didn’t like how old the book read. It was published in 2009, which really isn’t that long ago so I guess the reason behind it is that it’s simply Mary Higgins Clark’s style. Today, in 2020, Mary Higgins Clark is 92 years old. So she wrote this when she was 81. It wasn’t the writing that felt old to me, but rather the style of chapters and pace. What’s strange is that I don’t remember You Belong to Me reading like this, or maybe I just don’t remember.

Now that I finished this book, I am so excited to devour the other 20-something books by Mary Higgins Clark that are in my library. I have no idea which book I will pick up next, but I do plan on reading everything that this amazing author has written. I really, REALLY, want to be her when I grow up. Yet I’m still working on my first book that I started eight years ago… let’s hope that reading her books will give me the much-needed push!

Summary: Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark

Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark was a great book that I won’t forget for years to come. It was different from my usual read and it hurt my brain just a little. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers or suspense. There is a lot of meat to this book and I found myself dry-swallowing certain parts to get to the juicier chapters. That being said, the ending left me speechless. I am so excited that this author has so many books under her belt. I can’t wait to read every single one.

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