by Vickie Britton

Created on: April 24, 2009

Suspense is what author Mary Higgins Clark does best. Her first thrilling novel, "Where are the Children", was written in 1975. It centers around Nancy Eldredge, a woman who is trying to recover from a tragic past. During her first marriage to Carl Harmon, her two young children, Peter and Lisa, were abducted and found brutally murdered. To make matters worse, after her husband and friends turned against her, Nancy was accused of the crime. Nancy's husband, Carl, committed suicide, and Nancy ended up going to prison.

Now, years later, in an attempt to leave the past behind, Nancy has moved from California to Cape Cod. She has changed her name, dyed her hair a different color and started a new life. Eventually, she remarries, this time to a man named Ray Eldredge. She and her new husband have two more children, a boy and a girl. Once again she is happily married, and life seems good. She believes she has succeeded in putting her nightmare life behind her.

Then, one day, Nancy looks out in the back yard where she has left her two children playing and discovers that they have disappeared. She finds a single, red mitten. In a panic, she begins to search for them. Her terrible history seems to be repeating itself.

Since Nancy was alone with the kids when they disappeared, she once more becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of her own children. Once more, she faces every mother's greatest fearlosing her children. Her past, of course, will not speak well for her. Twists and turns unfold as she attempts to hang on to her sanity and prove her innocence. But most important, she must find out what really happened to the children and to save them from fate of her first two. She knows that there must be some connection between the crime in the past and what is going on in the present, and she is determined to find the link that will free her from suspicion and save her children.

"Where are the Children' is as timely now as it was when it was written several decades ago. Like most of her books, it centers around issues of social concern, in this case the dangers of pedophiles. The modern-day cases of Caylee Anthony and other missing children make child abduction a real threat.

Mary Higgins Clark has consistently produced quality novels of mystery and suspense. Her twenty-six bestselling novels has earned her the title as Queen of Suspense. Her new novels include "No Place Like Home", "Two Little Girls in Blue," "I've Heard That Song Before", Where Are You Now?", and her latest release, Just Take My Heart".

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