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Alvirah & Willy #1
Weep No More, My Lady
Elizabeth Lange has arrived at Cypress Point Spa in Pebble Beach, California, weary of heart and soul. Still grieving for her beloved sister, a famous actress who plunged to her death from her Manhattan penthouse, Elizabeth is determined to unearth the truth about how Leila died. Dashing multimillionaire Ted Winters stands accused of her murder, but Elizabeth has doubts.
Along the windswept cliffs of the Monterey coast, in luxurious bungalows, between gourmet meals and beachfront walks, uneasiness stalks Elizabeth while she begins opening doors to the past. As glimpses of the dark truth about Leila's life and death -- and about Elizabeth herself -- start to crash against her mind, an ominous wave from an unexpected source threatens to engulf her entirely.
Along the windswept cliffs of the Monterey coast, in luxurious bungalows, between gourmet meals and beachfront walks, uneasiness stalks Elizabeth while she begins opening doors to the past. As glimpses of the dark truth about Leila's life and death -- and about Elizabeth herself -- start to crash against her mind, an ominous wave from an unexpected source threatens to engulf her entirely.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
1116 people are currently reading
5319 people want to read
About the author
Mary Higgins Clark
632 books13.5k followersThe #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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 556 reviews
September 6, 2018
I'd never acquiesce that books of this particular grind are good for the brain. But sometimes you need books like this just as you need junk food, though you should indulge in that infrequently. But the question is, should I read up to book 10 in this series? because it's really endearing to me. Will I wake up tomorrow with the mind (I already have the physique) of a troglodyte? Or more realistically, will I look back and regret wasting all my time on these books? For now, I say no. And I think books are not like food.
In many Hercule Poirot books, the detective barely appears. Here too, the supposedly main character is relegated to the background. Except that for a first book in a longrunning series, it's a bit bizarre to have the main persona so unremarkable. But, I guess, the author knows what she is doing. She has written books of the like for so many years.
Aw shucks, I'll make Alvirah Meehan the main character of my paragraph. I'm quite intrigued. I hasten to promote her. She won the lottery and got 40 million dollars. A former house cleaner, she is thrilled to be invited to Cypress Spa where she has a near death experience. There are a few choice people, all involved in the death of actress (an oscar winner, no less) Leila Lasalle. The latter's sister is present and so is the surely guilty suspect of the case, a guy simply named Ted. Do I smell romance in the air? Yuck! Ted was the boyfriend of Lasalle.
But seriously, I wonder why till now I haven't read mysteries with working class people as the main hero. Ken Follett has written a book like that, and his book sales took such a plunge, that he hasn't rewritten a sequel to that book. So what has Mary Higgins Clark got that Follett hasn't? Well for one, she is a woman. And secondly, she is more prolific and her errors are far behind her. Thirdly, she had got, once, many years ago, many loyal fans.
It's a wonder to guess what makes certain people tick. Polls show that 50% of the lottery winners figure out that they aren't more happy than before. A third of them file for bankruptcy. But the winner, when he checks his numbers, and when he/she realizes that they have won it all, well it must be a great feeling. Any rags-to-riches story is bound to melt hearts. I think that this book taps into the wishfulness of most humans living in big cities. Alvirah Meehan is that unlikely amateur detective that is more of a catalyst. Things just happen round her. We get to follow her stories. But she must be in a bind to guess why crime happens in front of her nose, and more importantly, why she wants to help those who need it. And, my, does she succeed at it.
In many Hercule Poirot books, the detective barely appears. Here too, the supposedly main character is relegated to the background. Except that for a first book in a longrunning series, it's a bit bizarre to have the main persona so unremarkable. But, I guess, the author knows what she is doing. She has written books of the like for so many years.
Aw shucks, I'll make Alvirah Meehan the main character of my paragraph. I'm quite intrigued. I hasten to promote her. She won the lottery and got 40 million dollars. A former house cleaner, she is thrilled to be invited to Cypress Spa where she has a near death experience. There are a few choice people, all involved in the death of actress (an oscar winner, no less) Leila Lasalle. The latter's sister is present and so is the surely guilty suspect of the case, a guy simply named Ted. Do I smell romance in the air? Yuck! Ted was the boyfriend of Lasalle.
But seriously, I wonder why till now I haven't read mysteries with working class people as the main hero. Ken Follett has written a book like that, and his book sales took such a plunge, that he hasn't rewritten a sequel to that book. So what has Mary Higgins Clark got that Follett hasn't? Well for one, she is a woman. And secondly, she is more prolific and her errors are far behind her. Thirdly, she had got, once, many years ago, many loyal fans.
It's a wonder to guess what makes certain people tick. Polls show that 50% of the lottery winners figure out that they aren't more happy than before. A third of them file for bankruptcy. But the winner, when he checks his numbers, and when he/she realizes that they have won it all, well it must be a great feeling. Any rags-to-riches story is bound to melt hearts. I think that this book taps into the wishfulness of most humans living in big cities. Alvirah Meehan is that unlikely amateur detective that is more of a catalyst. Things just happen round her. We get to follow her stories. But she must be in a bind to guess why crime happens in front of her nose, and more importantly, why she wants to help those who need it. And, my, does she succeed at it.
April 1, 2013
This novel was my first foray into Mary Higgins Clark, and my expectations were pretty high considering she is well known for being the queen of suspense. I didn't find this book to be all that suspenseful or mysterious though, so I was disappointed. I'm not all that clever, and even I had the killer pegged from the beginning! I feel like this book was formulaic and very much like all the other books being produced by the likes of John Saul, Dean Koontz, Stuart Woods, and Heather Graham.
That said: it was a quick, enjoyable enough read even if it wasn't particularly memorable. If you're looking for a novel to kill time without having to expend a tremendous amount of energy or thought on, this is the book for you.
One last thing: I feel really nit-picky commenting on this, but one thing that really drove me nuts about this book was how every single sentence of flashback dialogue attributed to the deceased sister showed her using cheesy nicknames for those closet to her. Nobody talks like that, and it was distracting and irritating. I'm curious if anyone else was bothered by that.
That said: it was a quick, enjoyable enough read even if it wasn't particularly memorable. If you're looking for a novel to kill time without having to expend a tremendous amount of energy or thought on, this is the book for you.
One last thing: I feel really nit-picky commenting on this, but one thing that really drove me nuts about this book was how every single sentence of flashback dialogue attributed to the deceased sister showed her using cheesy nicknames for those closet to her. Nobody talks like that, and it was distracting and irritating. I'm curious if anyone else was bothered by that.
March 6, 2021
I have been a fan of Mary Higgins Clark, but this is not her best. It is a bit tedious and the characters are not very likeable, but it does introduce Alvirah Meehan which is a plus.
January 3, 2025
Not the best novel by Mary Higgins Clark.
I was surprised by the number of similarities between Weep No More, My Lady and one of Higgins Clark's newest novels All Dressed in White even though there is almost 30 years between them.
A superstar celebrity, Leila LaSalla, was killed after being throw off a balcony. Her fiancé is the prime suspect, while her sister, Elizabeth, is one of the witnesses. Before trial begin, like the rich and famous do, all her Leila's friends gather together at a spa.
Over the span of a week, the reader learns that everyone has their secrets and had a motive to kill Leila. More deaths occur and Elizabeth is in a rush for time to try to find Leila's killer.
I didn't enjoy the lives of the rich and famous. The characters were boring and there wasn't anyone to like. I uncovered the killer early on (woo hoo!), so it was a long drawn out rest of the novel.
I'm surprised that this novel is part of a series and that one of the minor characters is the lead character of the remaining novels in the series. I will be checking out the next novel of the series, but it isn't too high on my list of to-reads.
I was surprised by the number of similarities between Weep No More, My Lady and one of Higgins Clark's newest novels All Dressed in White even though there is almost 30 years between them.
A superstar celebrity, Leila LaSalla, was killed after being throw off a balcony. Her fiancé is the prime suspect, while her sister, Elizabeth, is one of the witnesses. Before trial begin, like the rich and famous do, all her Leila's friends gather together at a spa.
Over the span of a week, the reader learns that everyone has their secrets and had a motive to kill Leila. More deaths occur and Elizabeth is in a rush for time to try to find Leila's killer.
I didn't enjoy the lives of the rich and famous. The characters were boring and there wasn't anyone to like. I uncovered the killer early on (woo hoo!), so it was a long drawn out rest of the novel.
I'm surprised that this novel is part of a series and that one of the minor characters is the lead character of the remaining novels in the series. I will be checking out the next novel of the series, but it isn't too high on my list of to-reads.
August 17, 2009
Oh. My. Gosh. Insanely good. Clark is great at keeping you guessing about who-done-it until the very end. In fact, if I hadn't cheated and read a few paragraphs near the back I never could have put it together. All along I did have one feeling, though, that Ted couldn't have done it. It was for any particular reason in the book, I just thought it would make for a rather boring plot line if he had actually done it. Along the way I suspected everyone, which, I'm guessing was the authors goal. I've read a few of her books before, long ago, and I can't remember knowing who did it. My own investigative mother proved this by saying even SHE could never figure it out. I admire her writing style and have to admit she's going to be a BIG influence on any writing I do in the near or far future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2017
A woman is dead and before her trial starts, a bunch of her former friends gather together at a spa, including her sister, the star witness and the fiance Ted, the man on trial for her murder. The killer is apprehended at the end. The premise is interesting enough and the suspense is sustained throughout the book, especially since everyone has something to hide and people keep lying in order to protect themselves or someone else. The author also introduced Alvirah Meehan in this book, who goes on to become a popular sleuth and unlike some of her later books, Meehan's inclusion does not seem forced and she seamlessly fits into the story.
The weak point of the book is Elizabeth, the dead woman's sister, who is also the main character of the book. She starts off with believing firmly in Ted's guilt, then somewhere down the line, she bursts out about suicide and finally, it ends with some silly nonsensical idea about how much she had always been in love with Ted, blah blah. What. The. Hell? Oh, and for some reason she deludes herself that the dead sister would have wanted them to get together. I don't understand from where authors come up with these unrealistic ideas! The main character was pretty weak and so was this 'romance' angle, which could have been entirely dispensed with and a more taut story line provided. But of course, we need the hero rescuing the heroine at the last moment - how's that possible if she doesn't fall in loooovveee at random?!
Another disappointing thing was the murderer and motive for the murder. It was again not believable enough. After reading some of Clark's psychological thrillers, this was an extremely lame effort by any standard.
The overall reading experience was good and the other characters were interesting. This was rather a saving grace as even though I guessed the killer in the last quarter of the book, I was still interested to know how they were all going to end up. An average book - enjoyable but with a lot of plot and character weaknesses.
The weak point of the book is Elizabeth, the dead woman's sister, who is also the main character of the book. She starts off with believing firmly in Ted's guilt, then somewhere down the line, she bursts out about suicide and finally, it ends with some silly nonsensical idea about how much she had always been in love with Ted, blah blah. What. The. Hell? Oh, and for some reason she deludes herself that the dead sister would have wanted them to get together. I don't understand from where authors come up with these unrealistic ideas! The main character was pretty weak and so was this 'romance' angle, which could have been entirely dispensed with and a more taut story line provided. But of course, we need the hero rescuing the heroine at the last moment - how's that possible if she doesn't fall in loooovveee at random?!
Another disappointing thing was the murderer and motive for the murder. It was again not believable enough. After reading some of Clark's psychological thrillers, this was an extremely lame effort by any standard.
The overall reading experience was good and the other characters were interesting. This was rather a saving grace as even though I guessed the killer in the last quarter of the book, I was still interested to know how they were all going to end up. An average book - enjoyable but with a lot of plot and character weaknesses.
February 28, 2015
This was one of those really bad books that I shouldn't have bothered to finish reading. I'm not sure why this author is known as the 'Queen of Suspense' but she apparently is. Lucky I only paid a dollar or two for it
March 25, 2011
This is one of my favortie mystery books. I never saw the end coming. And thats what makes it great. Its full of twists and turn ands secrets that keep you guessing. It is extremely well done to make the ending exciting. This also makes the rest of the book suspenseful with clues about different characters dropped here and there.
It also draws you in because of the beginning. The young life/conditions lived in it displays for these girls is deplorable really at best. But then they get out and work to become famous. Which basically anyone would want, its a very common dream, and in the book it draws you in because the dream is a reality for the characters. The lavishness of it all is very well described to draw most of us who havent seen things like it into picturing it in reality. It also contains those everyday moments and small things though to keep it just real enough.
It also draws you in because of the beginning. The young life/conditions lived in it displays for these girls is deplorable really at best. But then they get out and work to become famous. Which basically anyone would want, its a very common dream, and in the book it draws you in because the dream is a reality for the characters. The lavishness of it all is very well described to draw most of us who havent seen things like it into picturing it in reality. It also contains those everyday moments and small things though to keep it just real enough.
July 26, 2025
A very 80s book but it held up fairly well. The romance, which was slight, was not believable but the mystery was nicely done except for the motive. That was hinted at but should have been fleshed out a bit more.
June 25, 2011
I finished this book today and liked it very much. I did guess who had murdered Leila, but still enjoyed how everything was tied together. This one had Alvirha Meehan in it and I am pretty sure this is the first book that she was introduced in. She is quite the character. The only complaint I have and it is a minor one, is that some of the sentences appear to be choppy. But I did like the book and plan to read more by this author.
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December 6, 2016Very good. I love Mary Higgins Clark and she never disappoints and didn't with this one.
July 22, 2023
A very clean mystery novel with an awesome plot. It was a great book!!
November 14, 2025
Murder? Suicide? Accident?
Tempers and drunken rage.
All the evidence points to one man, but can the evidence be trusted?
When cryptic letters to the deceased are discovered, the suspect pool widens.
3.5 stars rounded up
Tempers and drunken rage.
All the evidence points to one man, but can the evidence be trusted?
When cryptic letters to the deceased are discovered, the suspect pool widens.
3.5 stars rounded up
June 18, 2017
This was not at all what I expected but I found it a very interesting way of writing a suspense/crime novel.
Elizabeth, the token main character, is the sister of the murdered Leila LaSalle and only barely more than a week before the trial, all the characters who could possibly have had motive or time to murder Leila come together in the same spot and chaos ensues.
I liked the way the author created confusion and made you reconsider over and over again whether you really had the correct suspect in mind.
Definitely an enjoyable read though some things could have been a little more fleshed out.
3.5 stars
Elizabeth, the token main character, is the sister of the murdered Leila LaSalle and only barely more than a week before the trial, all the characters who could possibly have had motive or time to murder Leila come together in the same spot and chaos ensues.
I liked the way the author created confusion and made you reconsider over and over again whether you really had the correct suspect in mind.
Definitely an enjoyable read though some things could have been a little more fleshed out.
3.5 stars
January 1, 2016
A little pulpy, but enjoyable. I've read a lot of mary Higgins Clark, but in my experience this is one of her lesser books. Seems like the motive wasn't built up enough so It wasn't a very satisfactory end.
July 24, 2017
Somewhere around 3.5 stars... About half way through I thought I had it figured out and was disappointed that it was so easy, but alas in the last 40 pages or so the plot thickened and the ending did take me by surprise.
March 29, 2018
I really enjoyed this book - it stands out in my memory and might be the first MHC book I read years ago. I love the character Alvirah and I’m looking forward to reading more with her in them.
January 2, 2019
Not my favorite Mary Higgins Clarke book. I found it predictable and I particularly disliked the ending. For me it was unrealistic.
June 2, 2020
Perhaps my favorite MHC that I've read.
August 4, 2024
Quería volver a casa cada día para leerlo, muy bueno. Gracias Andrea!!!🌸
August 27, 2013
i loved Stillwatch and the Cradle will Fall so was really excited with this book. Unfortunately, this was a disappointment because of several things. *spoiler ahead*
I was interested with the plot even though I know from the very start that Ted is innocent - what i wanted to know was who is the real killer and how did he do it. the group of friends were interesting because they were all different and have known each other for years - the fact that one of them killed Leila (their good friend) was sickening. my first thought was why kill Leila? she wasn't a bad person like most other stories where the victim "deserved" it. instead, Leila was a good person but was very troubled - thus I thought the motive was more personal. and i think this is what pulled the whole story down. i was guessing between 2 characters - the climax of revealing the killer and the fight that went down was exciting - but the explanation on why he did it was...corny. was the killer really in a desperate situation to do it? maybe but i think it would have been more reasonable if it were an accidental killing than an intentional one.
another issue i have with the book was how the story dragged on chapter after chapter which was due to the fact that they spent the whole time in the spa. first of all, i thought it was so wrong for ted and elizabeth to be in the spa together when her testimony is key to ted's conviction. not really good with the law but isnt there like a witness protection or law that they cant see each other due to possible tampering of witness or something? i mean this is a huge murder trial and elizabeth didn't have a single bodyguard with her.
also, i didn't care what they did every single day in the spa so i skipped those parts, though i guess clark needed it so she can show us how each one thinks and see their interaction with each other.
fourth issue is how ted and elizabeth were bad characters. they had lots of monologues or chapters about them but we never really got to know them or what they were thinking. the whole time elizabeth was just walking around, avoiding ted, swimming at night, i felt like min and sammy were her only real friends there and she was awkward with everyone else. she mostly kept to herself. she wasn't even sure what to do with leila's death -- i thought she was kind of slow - she thought she heard ted kill leila but in the middle of the story she had an outburst that leila might committed suicide but then she saw the poison pen letters and didn't even think that maybe the writer killed leila. she also didn't figure out who wrote those letters until the end. and she never felt like she was in real danger (but this is because the killer was also stupid - too careful or hesitant to approach her when the killer had so many instances at night to kill her). as for the "love story" between ted and elizabeth, i thought it was more implied that shown.. it was during the second half of the story when henry started accusing elizabeth of being in love with ted but i never felt it.. maybe because we didn't get to see flashbacks or their interactions before the murder - and they barely spent minutes talking to each other in the spa. also, people were saying leila was getting psycho because she thought ted was cheating on her - yet how come she never suspected elizabeth and ted when she can clearly or keep track that ted and elizabeth's schedules always coincide with each other. also, it felt like leila loved ted so much again, how come in the epilogue elizabeth was sort of hearing leila tell her finally elizabeth had ted, as if she wanted it to happen. i think if leila were alive and found out about ted and elizabeth, she would have thrown a fit! also ted was so mysterious and tight lipped the whole time, we dont even know what he was thinking until that last scene with scott - and while he was always "concerned" with elizabeth, it never felt like love.
the mystery / suspense was always classic clark - kept me reading the book while queueing at the check-in counter, while sleepy on the plane at 2am and even while waiting for my turn in the immigration.
overall, i would rate is 3.75 stars for the suspense, the climax, the ending. i rated this below 4 because of the issues i had above with prevented me from really loving this book.
I was interested with the plot even though I know from the very start that Ted is innocent - what i wanted to know was who is the real killer and how did he do it. the group of friends were interesting because they were all different and have known each other for years - the fact that one of them killed Leila (their good friend) was sickening. my first thought was why kill Leila? she wasn't a bad person like most other stories where the victim "deserved" it. instead, Leila was a good person but was very troubled - thus I thought the motive was more personal. and i think this is what pulled the whole story down. i was guessing between 2 characters - the climax of revealing the killer and the fight that went down was exciting - but the explanation on why he did it was...corny. was the killer really in a desperate situation to do it? maybe but i think it would have been more reasonable if it were an accidental killing than an intentional one.
another issue i have with the book was how the story dragged on chapter after chapter which was due to the fact that they spent the whole time in the spa. first of all, i thought it was so wrong for ted and elizabeth to be in the spa together when her testimony is key to ted's conviction. not really good with the law but isnt there like a witness protection or law that they cant see each other due to possible tampering of witness or something? i mean this is a huge murder trial and elizabeth didn't have a single bodyguard with her.
also, i didn't care what they did every single day in the spa so i skipped those parts, though i guess clark needed it so she can show us how each one thinks and see their interaction with each other.
fourth issue is how ted and elizabeth were bad characters. they had lots of monologues or chapters about them but we never really got to know them or what they were thinking. the whole time elizabeth was just walking around, avoiding ted, swimming at night, i felt like min and sammy were her only real friends there and she was awkward with everyone else. she mostly kept to herself. she wasn't even sure what to do with leila's death -- i thought she was kind of slow - she thought she heard ted kill leila but in the middle of the story she had an outburst that leila might committed suicide but then she saw the poison pen letters and didn't even think that maybe the writer killed leila. she also didn't figure out who wrote those letters until the end. and she never felt like she was in real danger (but this is because the killer was also stupid - too careful or hesitant to approach her when the killer had so many instances at night to kill her). as for the "love story" between ted and elizabeth, i thought it was more implied that shown.. it was during the second half of the story when henry started accusing elizabeth of being in love with ted but i never felt it.. maybe because we didn't get to see flashbacks or their interactions before the murder - and they barely spent minutes talking to each other in the spa. also, people were saying leila was getting psycho because she thought ted was cheating on her - yet how come she never suspected elizabeth and ted when she can clearly or keep track that ted and elizabeth's schedules always coincide with each other. also, it felt like leila loved ted so much again, how come in the epilogue elizabeth was sort of hearing leila tell her finally elizabeth had ted, as if she wanted it to happen. i think if leila were alive and found out about ted and elizabeth, she would have thrown a fit! also ted was so mysterious and tight lipped the whole time, we dont even know what he was thinking until that last scene with scott - and while he was always "concerned" with elizabeth, it never felt like love.
the mystery / suspense was always classic clark - kept me reading the book while queueing at the check-in counter, while sleepy on the plane at 2am and even while waiting for my turn in the immigration.
overall, i would rate is 3.75 stars for the suspense, the climax, the ending. i rated this below 4 because of the issues i had above with prevented me from really loving this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2023
I didn't love this one but I am keeping it on my shelf because I love Alivrah and Willy and would someday like to own all the books. This is about a woman named Elizabeth. Her sister and fellow actress, Leila, has recently been pushed off a building and killed and her boyfriend, Ted, is the main suspect. Elizabeth and Ted both go to their friends wellness spa while they await trial. We get to find out a little history of the group and also explore the relationships now as Elizabeth is planning to testify against Ted and the spa owners are on his side. Ted's lawyer, Henry, is also there as well as his good friend Craig. Theres also Cheryl (a rival actress), Syd (agent), and Alvirah (a lottery winner who is also doing some reporting). It got kind of boring because they're in the spa the whole time and its just a little mundane. I also thought it was super unrealistic that they'd all be there together anyway. My favorite part was Alvirah and her quirkiness. The ending was DUMB. There's a relationship that has supposedly been in the works forever and I was not on board. I thought it was dumb that Ted didnt remember if he did it and all the monologues at the end were a bit much.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
It was Craig because he loved Leila and she loved Ted. He thought others were going to find out so he was trying to kill them. Ted didnt push her because he has trauma of his mom being pushed.
Good reviews:
https://maridjss.blogspot.com/2015/02...
https://fullmoon.typepad.com/books/20...
SPOILERS AHEAD:
It was Craig because he loved Leila and she loved Ted. He thought others were going to find out so he was trying to kill them. Ted didnt push her because he has trauma of his mom being pushed.
Good reviews:
https://maridjss.blogspot.com/2015/02...
https://fullmoon.typepad.com/books/20...
November 9, 2008
There are so many reasons why I love this book, and why I've read it more than half a dozen times. I was a big MHC fan for a while, and this was my hands-down favorite.
Conflicted and grieving Elizabeth runs to her friends and the relative safety of Monterey, California before having to face in court the man she thought was going to be her brother-in-law, for the charge of murdering Elizabeth's only sister.
It did seem that all the characters in the story were a little more dense than I'd hope most people would be, but maybe that added to the suspense. I remember figuring out the ending, knowing that Ted was not guilty before it all clicked for everyone else, but that didn't detract from the story for some reason.
Maybe it's because I'm so in love with the city of Monterey, and transported myself there each time I read it. Maybe it's because I was so fond of Elizabeth's strength and identified, on some level, with her struggle. Whatever the reason, I adored this novel, and would always go back to it when I needed something I was familiar with to read.
Conflicted and grieving Elizabeth runs to her friends and the relative safety of Monterey, California before having to face in court the man she thought was going to be her brother-in-law, for the charge of murdering Elizabeth's only sister.
It did seem that all the characters in the story were a little more dense than I'd hope most people would be, but maybe that added to the suspense. I remember figuring out the ending, knowing that Ted was not guilty before it all clicked for everyone else, but that didn't detract from the story for some reason.
Maybe it's because I'm so in love with the city of Monterey, and transported myself there each time I read it. Maybe it's because I was so fond of Elizabeth's strength and identified, on some level, with her struggle. Whatever the reason, I adored this novel, and would always go back to it when I needed something I was familiar with to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2018
Elizabeth Lange goes to Cypress Spa to prepare for the trial of her sister Leila's murderer. A trial where she is the star witness. She can testify that she heard Leila's fiance Ted in the apartment right before Leila's murder.
Coincidentally Ted has also been invited to the spa. Also coincidentally, all of Leila's close friends and people who saw her on her last night have all decided that a week at the spa would be a nice relaxer before the trial. And Elizabeth starts to learn about secrets. She learns about secrets that Leila kept from her and starts to piece things together. She starts to believe that she is at the spa with her sister's murderer...but it might not be Ted.
This is a typical whodunnit and a comfort book. We follow a character, there is the obvious suspect for the murder, and then there are the other suspects and one of them is the real killer. It's a nice cozy read. I like Mary Higgins Clark because she has good storylines and fun scenarios.
They're not great reads but it's a good comfort book for a winter's day.
Coincidentally Ted has also been invited to the spa. Also coincidentally, all of Leila's close friends and people who saw her on her last night have all decided that a week at the spa would be a nice relaxer before the trial. And Elizabeth starts to learn about secrets. She learns about secrets that Leila kept from her and starts to piece things together. She starts to believe that she is at the spa with her sister's murderer...but it might not be Ted.
This is a typical whodunnit and a comfort book. We follow a character, there is the obvious suspect for the murder, and then there are the other suspects and one of them is the real killer. It's a nice cozy read. I like Mary Higgins Clark because she has good storylines and fun scenarios.
They're not great reads but it's a good comfort book for a winter's day.
May 26, 2015
I read many books by Mary Higgins Clarck, some i liked, others not really! This one is really great!!
I enjoyed the story a lot, and it's one of her best thrillers.
Leila LaSalla, a famous actress, is murdrered and her fiancé, a rich businessman, is accused of her murder. Her sister, Elizabeth Lange, is the main witness to this accusation. She is invited to Cypress Point Spa, where she find herself surrounded by many friends that all seem to have some hidden secrets regarding her sister!
As the story goes, Elizabeth finds herself no longer sure of the accusation. I liked how everyone seemed to have some grudge against Leila, and somehow everyone has the opportunity and the motive to the killing!! All along, i kept thinking who the killer is, is he really her fiancé, or one of her so-called friends!
It's a nice story, with many twists which i enjoyed a lot :)
I enjoyed the story a lot, and it's one of her best thrillers.
Leila LaSalla, a famous actress, is murdrered and her fiancé, a rich businessman, is accused of her murder. Her sister, Elizabeth Lange, is the main witness to this accusation. She is invited to Cypress Point Spa, where she find herself surrounded by many friends that all seem to have some hidden secrets regarding her sister!
As the story goes, Elizabeth finds herself no longer sure of the accusation. I liked how everyone seemed to have some grudge against Leila, and somehow everyone has the opportunity and the motive to the killing!! All along, i kept thinking who the killer is, is he really her fiancé, or one of her so-called friends!
It's a nice story, with many twists which i enjoyed a lot :)
August 21, 2015
This was an interesting read. I had a lot of buildup to it because I'd heard about Mary Higgins Clark my whole life thanks to Gram :). I had anticipated it being a little creepier but maybe there are others that have a bit more of the scare factor to it. I guessed correctly early on, switched my answer halfway through and then about 3/4 of the way in I called it for sure. She did do a good job of making it seem like everyone was capable of it and yet not capable of it at the same time. Although I really wasn't personally connected or cared for the main character, it was a page-turner and I wanted to see whodunnit. I think it's hard to end a good mystery (one of the reasons why I love And Then There Were None so much) and this ending was particularly disappointing for me. Let's just say my eyes were rolling hardcore.
March 7, 2025
(English review below)
Mary Higgins Clark n’a jamais simplement écrit des romans, elle a tissé des toiles où chaque fil mène inexorablement à un piège. Ne pleure pas, ma belle en est l’exemple parfait. Une intrigue glaçante, un mystère implacable, et une tension qui se resserre à chaque page comme un nœud coulant. Dès les premières lignes, le lecteur est happé dans une spirale d’angoisse, oscillant entre faux-semblants et révélations assassines.
Elizabeth Lange, actrice à la beauté fragile mais au passé torturé. Sa sœur, la flamboyante Leila LaSalle, star adulée du grand écran, a trouvé la mort dans une chute inexpliquée depuis un balcon new-yorkais. Officiellement, son fiancé Ted Winters est l’assassin. Officiellement. Car dans l’univers de Mary Higgins Clark, les évidences sont souvent des leurres, et les ombres dissimulent toujours un secret plus grand encore.
L’autrice maîtrise ici l’art du huis clos psychologique, en enfermant Elizabeth et une poignée de personnages troubles dans un centre de beauté aux allures de prison dorée. Une retraite où la moindre confidence pourrait être fatale, où chaque sourire masque une menace, où les fantômes du passé rôdent entre les colonnes de marbre et les eaux tranquilles de la piscine.
Et c’est là que Mary Higgins Clark transcende le genre. Elle ne se contente pas d’un simple thriller : elle manipule le lecteur, le trompe, l’égare. Chaque page est un jeu de miroirs, où le doute s’installe, où la confiance devient un luxe. Qui manipule qui ? Qui est véritablement en danger ? Qui observe dans l’ombre, attendant le moment parfait pour frapper ?
L’atmosphère est oppressante, le suspense étouffant. Les indices disséminés avec une précision chirurgicale transforment chaque dialogue en menace latente. La Reine du thriller frappe encore une fois avec une force implacable, prouvant qu’aucun auteur contemporain ne parvient à égaler son sens du rythme, sa capacité à captiver sans jamais faiblir. Là où d’autres s’embourbent dans des intrigues surchargées ou des twists artificiels, elle distille une angoisse pure, sans artifices inutiles, rendant chaque révélation plus terrifiante que la précédente.
Il est presque ironique de voir à quel point, après toutes ces années, Mary Higgins Clark demeure inégalable. Alors que tant d’auteurs tentent d’émuler son style, aucun ne parvient à cette alchimie parfaite entre angoisse et élégance, entre noirceur et sophistication. Ne pleure pas, ma belle n’est pas simplement un roman, c’est une démonstration de force, un chef-d’œuvre du genre, une preuve éclatante qu’il existe une frontière infranchissable entre les maîtres du suspense et ceux qui ne font que les suivre de loin, trop loin.
Lire ce livre, c’est se souvenir que le thriller n’est pas juste une affaire d’intrigue : c’est un art, un talent que seule Mary Higgins Clark maîtrisait à la perfection.
Benjamin L. Urbanski – Le Parfum des Mots
7 mars 2025
---------
Mary Higgins Clark never simply wrote novels, she wove webs where each thread leads inexorably to a trap. Ne pleure pas, ma belle is a perfect example. A chilling plot, an implacable mystery, and a tension that tightens on every page like a noose. From the very first lines, the reader is drawn into a spiral of anguish, oscillating between pretense and deadly revelations.
Elizabeth Lange, a fragile actress with a tortured past. Her sister, the flamboyant Leila LaSalle, adored star of the silver screen, died in an unexplained fall from a New York balcony. Officially, her fiancé Ted Winters is the killer. Officially. Because in Mary Higgins Clark's world, the obvious is often a decoy, and the shadows always conceal an even greater secret.
Here, the author masters the art of the psychological huis clos, locking Elizabeth and a handful of troubled characters in a beauty salon that resembles a golden prison. A retreat where the slightest confidence could be fatal, where every smile masks a threat, where the ghosts of the past lurk between the marble columns and the tranquil waters of the pool.
And this is where Mary Higgins Clark transcends the genre. She's not content with a simple thriller: she manipulates, deceives and leads the reader astray. Every page is a game of mirrors, where doubt creeps in and trust becomes a luxury. Who's manipulating whom? Who is really in danger? Who is lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike?
The atmosphere is oppressive, the suspense stifling. Clues scattered with surgical precision transform every dialogue into a latent threat. The Queen of thrillers strikes again with implacable force, proving that no contemporary author can match her sense of rhythm, her ability to captivate without ever faltering. Where others get bogged down in overloaded plots or artificial twists, she distills pure anguish, without unnecessary artifice, making each revelation more terrifying than the last.
It's almost ironic how, after all these years, Mary Higgins Clark remains unsurpassed. While so many authors try to emulate her style, none has achieved that perfect alchemy between anguish and elegance, darkness and sophistication. Ne pleure pas, ma belle is not just a novel, it's a demonstration of force, a masterpiece of the genre, a shining proof that there's an unbridgeable frontier between the masters of suspense and those who merely follow them from afar, too far.
To read this book is to remember that thrillers are not just about plot: they are an art, a talent that only Mary Higgins Clark mastered to perfection.
Benjamin L. Urbanski - The Scent of Words
March 7, 2025
Mary Higgins Clark n’a jamais simplement écrit des romans, elle a tissé des toiles où chaque fil mène inexorablement à un piège. Ne pleure pas, ma belle en est l’exemple parfait. Une intrigue glaçante, un mystère implacable, et une tension qui se resserre à chaque page comme un nœud coulant. Dès les premières lignes, le lecteur est happé dans une spirale d’angoisse, oscillant entre faux-semblants et révélations assassines.
Elizabeth Lange, actrice à la beauté fragile mais au passé torturé. Sa sœur, la flamboyante Leila LaSalle, star adulée du grand écran, a trouvé la mort dans une chute inexpliquée depuis un balcon new-yorkais. Officiellement, son fiancé Ted Winters est l’assassin. Officiellement. Car dans l’univers de Mary Higgins Clark, les évidences sont souvent des leurres, et les ombres dissimulent toujours un secret plus grand encore.
L’autrice maîtrise ici l’art du huis clos psychologique, en enfermant Elizabeth et une poignée de personnages troubles dans un centre de beauté aux allures de prison dorée. Une retraite où la moindre confidence pourrait être fatale, où chaque sourire masque une menace, où les fantômes du passé rôdent entre les colonnes de marbre et les eaux tranquilles de la piscine.
Et c’est là que Mary Higgins Clark transcende le genre. Elle ne se contente pas d’un simple thriller : elle manipule le lecteur, le trompe, l’égare. Chaque page est un jeu de miroirs, où le doute s’installe, où la confiance devient un luxe. Qui manipule qui ? Qui est véritablement en danger ? Qui observe dans l’ombre, attendant le moment parfait pour frapper ?
L’atmosphère est oppressante, le suspense étouffant. Les indices disséminés avec une précision chirurgicale transforment chaque dialogue en menace latente. La Reine du thriller frappe encore une fois avec une force implacable, prouvant qu’aucun auteur contemporain ne parvient à égaler son sens du rythme, sa capacité à captiver sans jamais faiblir. Là où d’autres s’embourbent dans des intrigues surchargées ou des twists artificiels, elle distille une angoisse pure, sans artifices inutiles, rendant chaque révélation plus terrifiante que la précédente.
Il est presque ironique de voir à quel point, après toutes ces années, Mary Higgins Clark demeure inégalable. Alors que tant d’auteurs tentent d’émuler son style, aucun ne parvient à cette alchimie parfaite entre angoisse et élégance, entre noirceur et sophistication. Ne pleure pas, ma belle n’est pas simplement un roman, c’est une démonstration de force, un chef-d’œuvre du genre, une preuve éclatante qu’il existe une frontière infranchissable entre les maîtres du suspense et ceux qui ne font que les suivre de loin, trop loin.
Lire ce livre, c’est se souvenir que le thriller n’est pas juste une affaire d’intrigue : c’est un art, un talent que seule Mary Higgins Clark maîtrisait à la perfection.
Benjamin L. Urbanski – Le Parfum des Mots
7 mars 2025
---------
Mary Higgins Clark never simply wrote novels, she wove webs where each thread leads inexorably to a trap. Ne pleure pas, ma belle is a perfect example. A chilling plot, an implacable mystery, and a tension that tightens on every page like a noose. From the very first lines, the reader is drawn into a spiral of anguish, oscillating between pretense and deadly revelations.
Elizabeth Lange, a fragile actress with a tortured past. Her sister, the flamboyant Leila LaSalle, adored star of the silver screen, died in an unexplained fall from a New York balcony. Officially, her fiancé Ted Winters is the killer. Officially. Because in Mary Higgins Clark's world, the obvious is often a decoy, and the shadows always conceal an even greater secret.
Here, the author masters the art of the psychological huis clos, locking Elizabeth and a handful of troubled characters in a beauty salon that resembles a golden prison. A retreat where the slightest confidence could be fatal, where every smile masks a threat, where the ghosts of the past lurk between the marble columns and the tranquil waters of the pool.
And this is where Mary Higgins Clark transcends the genre. She's not content with a simple thriller: she manipulates, deceives and leads the reader astray. Every page is a game of mirrors, where doubt creeps in and trust becomes a luxury. Who's manipulating whom? Who is really in danger? Who is lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike?
The atmosphere is oppressive, the suspense stifling. Clues scattered with surgical precision transform every dialogue into a latent threat. The Queen of thrillers strikes again with implacable force, proving that no contemporary author can match her sense of rhythm, her ability to captivate without ever faltering. Where others get bogged down in overloaded plots or artificial twists, she distills pure anguish, without unnecessary artifice, making each revelation more terrifying than the last.
It's almost ironic how, after all these years, Mary Higgins Clark remains unsurpassed. While so many authors try to emulate her style, none has achieved that perfect alchemy between anguish and elegance, darkness and sophistication. Ne pleure pas, ma belle is not just a novel, it's a demonstration of force, a masterpiece of the genre, a shining proof that there's an unbridgeable frontier between the masters of suspense and those who merely follow them from afar, too far.
To read this book is to remember that thrillers are not just about plot: they are an art, a talent that only Mary Higgins Clark mastered to perfection.
Benjamin L. Urbanski - The Scent of Words
March 7, 2025
December 10, 2022
Eh. This wasn’t that great. It was really long. 9 hours audio. I got really bored. I finished it for the lost part. Next time, however, when I’m bored with a book, I’ll stop and try another.
I don’t get it. Some of Clark’s books are so good I can hardly put them down. Others are so predictable and boring that it doesn’t even seem like the same author.
I don’t get it. Some of Clark’s books are so good I can hardly put them down. Others are so predictable and boring that it doesn’t even seem like the same author.
February 25, 2018
Deliciosa novela policiaca, primera de la saga de Alvirah y Willi, en la que un multimillonario es acusado del asesinato de su prometida, una famosa actriz.
Ambientada al refinado estilo de Agatha Christie, la trama y los personajes hacen de esta novela una muy agradable lectura.
Ambientada al refinado estilo de Agatha Christie, la trama y los personajes hacen de esta novela una muy agradable lectura.
February 8, 2021
I was nervous that this would worry me and scare me because I worry too much, but I found that it was intriguing and I wanted to see who did it. I had my suspicions and was right but it was not creepy like I thought it could be.
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