However, Queen of Suspense Mary Higgins Clark has been charming readers for decades with her cozy mystery thrillers, compelling writing, and intriguing plotlines.
If you’re looking for a new mystery book to sink your teeth into, allow us to introduce you to some of the best works of American author Mary Higgins Clark.
About Mary Higgins Clark
Mary Higgins Clark (1927-2020) was an American author who earned the nickname ‘The Queen of Suspense’ after her series of successful mystery thriller novels.
Each of her books became a bestseller in the states, and her series ‘Under Suspicion’ was by far her most successful series.
Mary Higgins Clark often teamed up with other authors to write her books, including her own daughter Carol Higgins Clark. Her final novel was released in 2022, shortly before her death.
In All Through the Night, our infamous ‘queen of suspense’ is back with another thrilling installment.
This time, Alvirah and Willy are called on to a unique case: a woman abandons her newborn at a church when a thief on the run snatches the baby as a distraction.
After seven years, the mother has returned to discover Alvirah and Willy attempting to crack the case of the missing child, and the treasured artifact that vanished on the same day.
Our next installment, Deck the Halls, follows Alvirah’s next intense adventure: her father and his driver are being held for a $1m ransom.
Alvirah and Regan must work together to outsmart the kidnappers and save Alvirah’s father – and a poorly timed winter storm may put them in even greater danger…
In The Christmas Thief, lottery winner sleuth Alvirah Meehan is teaming up with private investigator Regan in an unusual Christmas tale… a stunning spruce is being showcased at the Rockefeller Center, but attached to one of its branches is a bunch of very expensive diamonds belonging to a scam artist who put them in hiding.
Scammer Packy is on the hunt for his gems, but he’ll have to outwit our sleuths to get them…
In our next book, Santa Cruise, author Mary Higgins Clark is teaming up with her daughter Carol, to deliver a fast-paced, gripping holiday novel.
Alvirah and Regan and on the maiden voyage of the Royal Mermaid with their husbands.
However, the host’s nephew has unsuspectingly smuggled two criminals on board, and Alvirah and Regan will follow a mysterious trail of clues that lead them to these dangerous uninvited guests…
In Dashing Through the Snow, Mary and her daughter Carol are back with another festive mystery thriller.
In a small village, a group of locals is preparing for the Festival of Joy. Before it begins, a group of employees discovers they’ve just scooped a BIG win on the lottery, but one of their coworkers pulled out of play at the last minute and has gone missing.
A second winning ticket was mysteriously purchased in the next town… could it be him?
Next in the series is The Lost Years. In this story, a biblical scholar believes he’s just stumbled across a collection of parchments written by none other than Jesus Christ himself.
The parchments, originally stolen from the Vatican in the 1500s, are extremely valuable – her and just days later, scholar Jonathan is found dead, and his wife who suffers from dementia is holding the weapon.
Did she really kill her husband, or has someone cooked up a sinister plot involving this timeless archeological treasure?
The final installment in the series All By Myself, Alone. In this book, a woman is fleeing the arrest of her husband on the eve of their wedding.
Although she hopes to escape the attention and pain by lecturing on a cruise ship, she finds herself caught up in a mystery involving murder, wealth, and high-profile individuals…
Pros
The good character development of long-term characters
First in the ‘Under Suspicion’ series is I’ve Got You Under My Skin. In this book, Laurie’s husband was savagely murdered, and the only one with the answers is their three-year-old Timmy, who saw the murder happen.
5 years on, Timmy is haunted by the image of the killer, and the threat he delivered when he fled the scene… Now, another unsolved murder will bring up even more secrets and mystery.
In The Cinderella Murder, a TV producer celebrates the success of the pilot for her reality drama, Under Suspicion, which investigates cold cases and helps solve infamous murders.
However, producer Laurie soon becomes embroiled in a mysterious case involving the Hollywood elite and billionaires, but things aren’t quite as they seem…
Next up is All Dressed in White. In this story, producer Laurie is asked to investigate the mystery of a missing bride, who five years ago, was preparing to marry her lover before she unexpectedly vanished at the venue.
As they start recreating the mystery, new suspects are under suspicion; some closer to home than others.
Pros
Classic ‘whodunit’ style
Smooth writing
Intriguing misdirections and plot
Cons
May be too much of a slow burn for long-term fans to enjoy
In The Sleeping Beauty Killer, Laurie is risking it all to help a woman who she believes has been wrongly convicted of murder.
Although she’s finished her sentence, she’s still treated as guilty and struggles to live peacefully.
However, in her quest to prove Casey’s innocence, Laurie must battle against big egos, gossip, and the mystery of who was really responsible for the murder of Casey’s fiance.
In the next book, Every Breath You Take, Laurie’s recent break up has left her down in the dumps, and struggling to get on with new colleagues.
However, the crew will soon delve into a mystery involving a wealthy family, after a museum donor was found dead in the snow after plunging to his death from a rooftop.
Plenty of unsavory characters are under suspicion, and this could lead to some compelling discoveries…
In You Don’t Own Me, Laurie is approached by the parents of Dr.Bell, who was shot dead in his own driveway five years ago.
The family is sure that his wife Kendra is responsible, and they’re asking Laurie to help investigate.
However, once she unravels the case, she learns some unsavory secrets about the so-called perfect husband, and a web of lies will keep readers guessing to the end.
The last in the series is Piece of My Heart. In this book, Alex, the former host of Under Suspicion, finds himself at the center of his own mystery when his seven-year-old nephew vanishes from the beach.
When his skimboard washes up at sunset, the family realizes things have taken a sinister turn.
Now it seems a creepy stalker may have something to do with his mysterious disappearance.
In this collection of five stories, a woman must come face to face with her past when a mysterious case of deja vu links her to the terrifying truth about a series of terrorist bombings.
The other four stories, including The Lost Angel and Lucky Day, are all beautifully quick reads that tie together nicely and offer plenty of suspense for readers.
In Death on the Cape and Other Stories, Mary Higgins Clark ties together some intriguing mysteries involving an airline stewardess who needs to save her passengers, a young woman whose terrifying nightmares may be the key to a mystery, and the lotto winner sleuth Alvirah Meehan, who finds a body in her own wardrobe…
One thing’s for sure – there’s plenty of mystery to keep you hooked in this series.
In My Gal Sunday, a former president and his young congresswoman bride become an unlikely sleuthing duo when they tie together an old unsolved case on a presidential yacht and become embroiled in a kidnapping that will bring former president Henry back into the Whitehouse.
In this intriguing collection of stories, long-standing sleuth Alvirah Meehan and her husband Willy will face a new stream of interesting cases and mysteries with this compelling collection of five stories in one.
In Death Wears a Beauty Mask and Other Stories, Mary Higgins Clark presents us with a wonderful collection of stories that will allow long-term fans to revisit some of her most classic tales involving Alvirah and Willy, and more.
This collection of short stories does involve some new plots but feels reminiscent of many of her older stories.
Pros
Nostalgic
Interesting characters
Intriguing plots
Cons
Some subplots are dull and rehashed
Final Thoughts
Mary Higgins Clark, also known as the Queen of Suspense, has left a timeless mystery-thriller legacy in her wake.
If you love cozy mysteries that will keep you guessing to the end, her intriguing collection of stories is a must-read that will never fail to keep you entertained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Mary Higgins Clark’s Last Novel?
“Piece of My Heart” is Mary Higgins Clark’s last novel.
Do You Need To Read The Under Suspicion Series In Order?
These books do not have to be read in order, as most of them serve as standalone novels.
However, if you wish to experience the full extent of the character development and relationships, we’d recommend reading them in order.
Hi, my name is Anna Davis and I have been working with books for five years now. I got a job at my local library, so I could be closer to all of the books! I created this website in the hopes of inspiring others to start reading again. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite book from my site!
![Alex Delaware Books In Order [All 38 Books]](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxNTAgMTUwIiB3aWR0aD0iMTUwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjE1MCIgZGF0YS11PSJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnJ0Ym9va3Jldmlld3MuY29tJTJGd3AtY29udGVudCUyRnVwbG9hZHMlMkYyMDIzJTJGMDQlMkZBbGV4LURlbGF3YXJlLUJvb2tzLUluLU9yZGVyLUFsbC0zOC1Cb29rcy0xNTB4MTUwLmpwZyIgZGF0YS13PSIxNTAiIGRhdGEtaD0iMTUwIiBkYXRhLWJpcD0iIj48L3N2Zz4= "Alex Delaware Books In Order [All 38 Books]")
