The Anastasia Syndrome and Other Stories

by Mary Higgins Clark

In the short novel The Anastasia Syndrome, prominent historical writer Judith Chase is living in London and preparing for her marriage to Sir Stephen Hallett, expected to become England's next Prime Minister. Orphaned during World War II, Judith wants to trace her origins. In this quest, she goes to a renowned psychiatrist and becomes the victim of his experiments in regression. When a woman in a dark green cape sets off bombs in London, Sir Stephen and Judith are faced with an intangible, mysterious force threatening their very existence.

Obsessive love is the subject of Terror Stalks the Class Reunion; psychic contact with a dead twin sister is the only defense against a murder in Double Vision; Lucky Day, compared to O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi, begins premonition of imminent danger; in The Lost Angel, mother follows her intuition in a harrowing search for her missing child.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Short Stories, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Adult

308 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

The #1 New York Times bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark 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 sister-in-law is the also author Mary Jane Clark.

Clark’s books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone. Her books are beloved around the world and made her an international bestseller many times over.

Reviews

[Omaira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fui a la biblioteca buscando una lectura ligera y acerté al coger este libro de Mary Higgins Clark. Está compuesto por 3 relatos y un fragmento de su novela Camino hacia el pasado, la cual yo leí hace tiempo y no me entusiasmó demasiado.

Los 3 relatos son bastante amenos y, aunque no tienen ningún giro argumental impresionante, presentan historias que logran entretener y despertar el interés. A continuación, voy a valorar brevemente cada uno de ellos:

Polizón (24 páginas)
Un vuelo está a punto de despegar y una azafata decide intentar ayudar a un fugitivo que quiere escapar del país en el que está. La intriga se mantiene gracias a que la azafata se ve en serios apuros y no está claro cómo acabará todo. Lo que no me convenció es que no se aclara con exactitud qué es lo que ha hecho ese prófugo y por qué los que lo persiguen son tan malos. Hay una mini dosis de romance y creo que sobraba, pero es tan pequeña que tampoco es que sea excesivamente relevante.

Fontanería para Willy (42 páginas)
Alvirah y su marido Willy se ganaron la lotería hace unos años y ahora viven tranquilamente intentando disfrutar del dinero de forma sensata. No hacen ostentaciones de su riqueza y administran cuidadosamente lo que han ganado, pero tras una entrevista, 3 delincuentes deciden secuestrar a Willy para obtener todo lo que el matrimonio tiene en sus cuentas bancarias. Debo decir que Alvirah y Willy son maravillosos, él es muy bonachón y ella muy ingeniosa y nada melodramática, así que hay una muy buena mezcla de tensión y humor en lo que va sucediendo.

Un cadáver en el armario (42 páginas)
Alvirah y Willy vuelven a ser los protagonistas, pero en este caso es porque se encuentran el cuerpo de una mujer en el armario de su casa. Ellos estaban de viaje y el único que en teoría tenía acceso a su vivienda era su sobrino. Ambos están seguros de que él es inocente, pero saben que él conocía a esa mujer y temen que no tenga una buena coartada. Adivinar la identidad del culpable es muy fácil, pero ver a Alvirah ejercer de detective volvió a ser genial porque es una mujer que no se rinde y no se corta un pelo para interrogar a cualquiera. Lo hace casi que como hobby, pero no se le da nada mal.

Si buscáis una lectura para pasar el rato y que os deje una buena impresión, os animo a tener en cuenta estos relatos. Puede que no sean extraordinarios, pero tampoco considero que sean cutres.

[Andrea Pleša · Rating 3 out of 5]

Other stories in this book are ok, but they are nothing special... But story named The Anastasia Syndrome is.. absolutely great! I read it 'till 2 o'clock am. It's exciting, very tensed...

[Abril Camino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relatos entretenidos para ratitos de playa.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love short stories and these were a fun read.  Even with the one note characters I still enjoyed the different stories.  I am so so with Higgins writing but her endings are full of suspense.

[Plum-crazy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoy Mary Higgins Clark's books but what utter tosh this was! The title story "The Anastasia Syndrome" was totally unbelievable. In simple terms,after being hypnotized Judith becomes "possessed" by a seventeenth century woman hell bent on revenge.
Now I don't have any problem with any storyline however outlandish, as long as the writer makes me believe in it while I'm reading (my stock example; Stephen King has no problem in making me believe that a car boot can be portal to another world) but this was just so lame with unconvincing characters & so many holes I could use it as a collander.

The other tales were better but predictable... the end of "The Lost Angel" was too sickly sweet for words & while you could see the ending of "Lucky Day" coming a mile off at least it nearly raised a smile.

All-in-all a pretty pathetic effort IMHO & I expected much, much better from this author.

[Lynn Coullard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my style, but as far as writing goes the stories kept me interested (scared) and wanting to keep reading. One thing I was amused by was the characters’ impeccable sense of style and the details of their outfits whenever they went out.

[Thruder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice collection of varied stories. Of course the first one and namesake of the book in my opinion was best!
M. Higgins Clark does not disappoint!

[Falko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mein erstes Buch von ihr. Ziemlich rasant und flüssig geschrieben, so dass ich es heute in einem Rutsch durchgelesen habe.
Mehrere Handlungsstränge münden im großen Finale - welches ohne richtiges Happy End den Leser ziemlich verdutzt zurücklässt.
Auch die manchmal überraschend kalt dargestellten Verluste von Menschenleben hätte ich der Dame gar nicht zugetraut.

Hat mir rundum gefallen, ich kann mir durchaus vorstellen mehr von ihr zu lesen.


Lieblingsstellen:
"Die Felder waren übersät mit Toten und Sterbenden, dazwischen Frauen jeden Alters, auf der Suche nach ihrem Gatten und Brüdern, Vätern und Söhnen. Zertrümmerte Waffen und Pferdekadaver zeugten von der Heftigkeit der Kämpfe. Insektenschwärme umschwirrten die Gefallenen. Da und dort ertönte ein verzweifelter Aufschrei, wurde ein Angehöriger mit lautem Weinen betrauert."

"In der gleichen Sekunde registrierte er, daß die Einkaufstasche, die sie auf dem antiken Tisch abgestellt hatte, verschoben wurden war. »Sofort raus hier!« brüllte er, riß die Labortür auf - zu spät. Die Bombe explodierte mit einem gewaltigen Knall, verwandelte die Praxis in ein Trümmerfeld, übersät mit Leichenteilen. Flammen loderten hoch, griffen auf das ganze Gebäude über - ein Inferno."

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have chosen to re-read this book which was a rather strange experience - the stories seemed so familiar and yet I had forgotten so many of the finer details - I guess this was the right time to read it again but now its time to move on to something different I think.


This is the first book of short stories of Mary Higgins Clark that I have read and I must admit it was very impressed and entertained. I have read a number of her books and felt that they are easy and accessible if at times a little cosy (you know the the kind where the villain gets his come-up-ance and the hero - who is more often than not a heroine, wins the day). But no, in this book the stories are different and sometimes even contrary to what you would expect from a "typical" Higgins Clark book.
For that alone I really enjoyed this book even if it is starting - well my copy at least did - its age. I am not sure if my lack of knowledge of her work or a reluctance by her publishers but I feel that many of the elements I have read in these short stories should be expanded and developed in to novels.

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

These were wonderfully wholesome little suspense stories. Everything wraps up in each of the stories with a happy ending, or at the very least, an appropriate ending to the story. There are no loose ends, and justice is served in each story. All in all it was imminently satisfying. Sometimes you just need a good story, and all of the short stories in this book fit the bill. Quite pleased with this one.

[Ranee Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this several years ago and I guess I forgot what a melodramatic writer Mary Higgins Clark is. I used to love her, but actually found it burdensome reading. I'm surprised she's a best seller considering how sloppy her writing is.

[Karen Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good mystery and no one, in my opinion, writes a better mystery than Mary Higgins Clark. I have read all of her books. Great reads!!!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite story in this collection was Lucky Day.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories and every one of them is excellent, from an historical time travel murder story, a kidnapping story, a jackpot winner in the lottery and lastly the story of a young child kidnapped by her father. All excellently written and most enjoyable. You know it's good when you read the whole book in one day.

[Alka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anastasia syndrome is about the psychoanalysis technique using regression wherein the subject remembers events of past life.
A collection of short stories. Keep you guessing. Genre is a mix of mystery thriller and suspense

[Nicky Wills · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not a huge fan of short stories to begin with, but these were just so frustrating!! Good writing as always but ugh.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.6

Anastasia syndrome- DNF at least for now
Terror stalks the class reunion- 5 stars
Lucky Day- 5 stars
Double vision- 4 stars
The lost angel- 4 stars

[Adrienne Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. I usually like Mary H Clark however I felt these short stories were what someone in high school could of written

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up because Mary surprised me a few times with this one. Many of these stories were pleasantly very unMary-like.  But she returned to form in the last installment

[Megan Rector · Rating 3 out of 5]

It gets a 3 because that's how many of the stories I liked.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Anastasia Syndrome is a well-written, psychological thriller about a woman who assumes the identity of a historical figure she’s researching. What may have begun as a standard case of multiple personality disorder (instigated, perhaps, by long hours spent in the library) becomes something of a possession by the long-dead murderess, and Judith must fight to take her life back or lose herself completely.

Terror Stalks the Class Reunion tells the story of a man’s lasting obsession with an old high school sweetheart and how “true love” never wanes. A wonderful look into the head of a stalker.

Lucky Day follows a woman’s investigation of the disappearance of an older gentleman friend – a disappearance her own befuddled husband may be at the very root of.

Double Vision follows a killer’s return to correct a mistake made years ago: he only learned he killed the wrong sister after it was too late. Or did he? They look so much alike.

The Lost Angel, told from the point of view of the angel and her frantic mother, depicts a criminal father’s ultimate con: kidnapping his daughter to enhance his fraudulent schemes.

This collection of short stories is proof that Mary Higgins Clark is just as capable of keeping me on the edge of my seat with a terse, pithy story as she is with her traditional full-length suspense novels.

[Valentina Trimigno · Rating 3 out of 5]

In questa raccolta ho trovato meno giallo e più "noir". Il primo racconto (che dà il nome alla raccolta ed è anche il più lungo) è una sorta di mini thriller psicologico di personalità; una lettura scorrevole, con una trama leggermente sopra le righe della credibilità - e non parlo del mistero della psiche ma proprio nello svolgimento delle indagini - ma accattivante. Mi è piaciuta l'ambientazione inglese, nelle parti di rievocazione storica mi sembrava quasi di leggere Outlander, anche se qui trattiamo l'epoca della rivolta di Cromwell. Solitamente i finali della Clark sono dolce-amari, qui invece è stato scioccante ed è una costante che ho ritrovato anche in altri racconti.
"Il terrore alla riunione di classe" mi è sembrato più il classico Mary HC: inquietante, con un amore malato e ossessivo e una figura che sbuca dal passato. Carino, ma molto più prevedibile.
"Giorno fortunato" mi è piaciuto molto, sembrava fosse tutto chiaro e delineato e invece il finale è stato proprio choc, mi ha convinto.
Gli ultimi due racconti sono quelli che ho trovato meno credibili, mi hanno convinto meno sia la storia che i personaggi - l'ultimo in particolare. In generale è stata una buona lettura, la scrittura è basic ma efficace, anche se con qualche descrizione lievemente ripetitiva.

[Piepie | The Napping Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been a great fan of Mary Higgins Clark, and I was delighted to find this book recently at Goodwill. A novel of hers that I hadn't yet read! :)
The first story - "The Anastasia Syndrome" - was probably my favorite - it was really well-written, including a certain plot twist that I didn't see coming - I could see all the people and places in my mind's eye - and the ending was chillingly creepy. The next tale, "Terror Stalks the Class Reunion," wasn't as good, and I kept waiting for the story to get better. "Lucky Day" was another well-written thriller, a story that kept me in suspense throughout. "Double Vision" was good - as someone who has been involved with theatre, I enjoyed this story as well. The last one - a short story entitled "The Lost Angel" - takes place on Christmas Eve and it was given a happy, heart-touching ending. It was interesting seeing parts of the story from the viewpoint of a four-year-old girl, who is lost and lonely and frightened ... with good reason to be.
All in all, a goodly collection of suspenseful stories that will scare you and thrill you!

[SpookySoto · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
Hace muchos años leí "la estrella robada" de Clarks y no me pareció la gran cosa, hasta olvidé la mayor parte de la historia. Sin embargo, mi mamá ha empezado a leer esta autora y le está gustando mucho, y me recomendó esta colección de historias.
Me agrada haberle dado una oportunidad, pues me gustaron. Son historias diferentes, se leen rápido y te mantienen en el suspenso de querer saber en qué terminará.
Me encontré la primera historia que da nombre al libro, el síndrome de Anastasia, buena pero un poco larga. Las demás para mi tienen la longitud y ritmo adecuados. Mi favorita fue "el día de suerte" uffff! Ese final!!!
Recomendado

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um, wow comes to mind when I think of how to sum up this book. It was so enthralling, I could not put it down until it was finished. It has a concept that if one is hypnotized and taking into the past (one not there own, I might add), if they witness a death they can become inhabited by the spirit of that person.
Its a story idea I have never read before and I found it completely plausible (even though I don't believe it could actually happen). It was so well told, I bought into it and I never saw the ending coming, that blew me away.

[Cathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this collection of stories. The first one, the title story, was creepy but I loved the psychological aspect of it and the two personality style theme. The last story, from the child's point of view, was wonderfully done. As a mother it drove me crazy because I couldn't help her, which made it all that more good to read. All of the stories were engaging, interesting and full of suspense. Enjoyed them

[Erica Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am generally not the biggest fan of the short story compilation, but a friend gave me her copy to read, and eventually I had to go out and buy this to keep handy and reread. All of the stories were good, but The Anastasia Syndrome itself was my favorite. It involved hypnosis, past lives and even a form of time travel. Great stuff, I still periodically reread it.

[Kitty · Rating 1 out of 5]

First time I didn't finish a Higgins Clark. It just bothered me somehow. The main "title" story was about a women trying past-life regression - and kind of "losing it". She has no idea what's happening, though, and the quack treating her isn't being straight with her. She's also lying to her fiance - just turned me off - never finished it.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Mary Higgins Clark book and I really really loved it! I loved the way the author progresses the events to a powerful (and very unexpected) ending. :) The other stories that are included in this book were quite good as well. I find myself buying more books from this author in the near future.

[Alesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The other stories in this book were okay, but The Anastasia Syndrome was brilliant. MHC definitely has talent for thrillers and mysteries, but this one was beyond anything I had read by her previously. I read it in a single night! I read it back when I was in high school, and it has stuck with me to this day. I only wish I could find the book now for my collection.