3: Where Are You Now? - Mary Higgins Clark

Mary Higgins Clark is one of the most popular writers in America. She writes about one new book a year, which always makes the bestseller list the moment it comes out. Out of most overly popular writers today, she's been a favorite of mine since I read Where Are The Children? over 15 years ago. Her books are very quick reads for me. They are well written, researched and always entertaining, even if they are slightly formulaic.

The formula is usually something like this:

• Woman with mystery or serious event involving death of someone that they loved that may or may not make them a suspect.
• Guy that usually has romantic interest in said woman tries to help.
• Auxiliary characters with something to hide, which usually leads to them being suspect to the reader.
• A series of twists near the end.
  

Her latest book, Where Are You Now?, focuses on a sister's desparate search for her brother, Charles MacKenzie. Mac, as he was called, disappeared into thin air 10 years ago at the age of 21. He still calls his mother every year on Mother's Day, speaking cryptically and with no information as to his whereabouts. During this year's call, Carolyn, his sister, vows to hunt for him, to do whatever it takes to find her brother. The following day, a note is found that states "Tell Carolyn she musn't look for me". Caroyln ignores the warning and plunges head on into a thorough investigation into the whereabouts of her long-lost brother, against the feverent protests of her mother.

There are many people with something to hide. Mac's college roomates; one a charming, sucessful club owner and the other a distant, yet wealthy real estate tycoon; both have plenty of secrets that they will protect. Neither of them are exactly helpful in the search for Mac. Could her brother be some sort of serial killer, as the police suspect when a young girl goes missing from a nightclub? The search for Mac leads Carloyn head long into a series of dangerous meeting and jeopardizes her own safety.

Like almost all of Ms. Clark's books, I enjoyed this one and found it to be a quick read. Her thillers are page-turning reads and probably some of the best popular fiction books to make the best seller list. The quality of her books has not faded over time and this one is just as enjoyable as some of her earlier works.