Lights Out Tonight

KEY News #9

by Mary Jane Clark

In Mary Jane Clark's latest blockbuster novel, you will enter the mind of a sociopath. It's a place where the rules don't apply. Where anything is fair game. And where murder is the ultimate means to an end.
What kind of person…
Gets what they want
Takes without asking
Kills without remorse
LIGHTS…
Key News film and theatre critic Caroline Enright thinks her trip to a theatre festival in the beautiful Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts will be as easy as a summer breeze…until her complicated relationship with her stepdaughter, Meg, grows even more tense, and two of Meg's friends are killed in what looks to be a tragic accident.
OUT…
Soon a world-famous actress goes missing. An actress who has been the obsession of millions. Or maybe just the true obsession of one?
TONIGHT…
As Caroline gets drawn into a web of madness, deception, and insanity, she finds she can trust no one. Not even those closest to her. Because a sociopath will stop at nothing. And they wear the mask of a friend, a lover, a husband, or a wife…

Lights Out Tonight is the ultimate mind game and proves why Mary Jane Clark is a master at the game of suspense.

With a Mary Jane Clark novel, every word is a clue.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Fiction, Crime

421 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Mary Jane Elizabeth Behrends Clark (1954-) is the author of thirteen novels, including 12 in the KEY News media thriller series, and one in her new Wedding Cake mystery series. A veteran writer and producer for CBS News, Clark worked for almost three decades at the network’s New York City headquarters. Her books are published in twenty-three languages. She lives in New Jersey and Florida.

Clark's former mother-in-law and sister-in-law are the authors Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark, respectively.

Reviews

[Mary JL · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fast, light suspense novel. Nothing really too bad about, but nothing yelled "KeepMe".

It takes places at a summer theater production where a serial killer is at work. Parts were okay, but a couple places were really weak and unbelievable.

It the sort of book where it was a pleasant way to kill a couple of hours, but in two weeks, I won't recall if I have even read it--nothing memorable sticks about about this book.

Recommended for fans of light, easy mysteris, especially if you have any interest in mysteries set in the theatrical world.

[Claudiu · Rating 3 out of 5]

in Romania nu se scriu si nici nu exista genul acesta de romane (si as indrazni sa zic ca nici in Europa nu prea exista) adica romane de suspans, scrise cinematografic, pentru entertainment pe care le termini in doua-trei ore. genul de lectura de sambata dimineata la cafea. sau de o duminica dupa-amiaza cand vrei sa te relaxezi.
Lights Out Tonight mi-a placut. mi-a placut pentru ca nu promite mai mult decat livreaza si mi-a placut ca este foarte cinematografic scris, pentru ca ma facea sa dau pagina si pentru ca ma atragea in lumea personajelor.
probabil o sa uit curand de romanul acesta, nu o sa mai stiu actiunea si nici alte detalii, dar nu asta a fost, oricum, scopul lecturii. mi-am dorit sa beau o cafea si sa citesc un roman usurel in engleza. si asta am facut.
(ca o paranteza, desi Mary Higgins Clark este fosta soacra a autoarei, MHC este mult peste)

[C Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in 3 hours. Mary Jane Clark just keeps the suspense going, like watching a movie you'll be on the edge of your seat waiting what happens next. This is the first MJC book I've read and it made me want to read more of her books. Her writing style is compelling and fast-paced. I was really mislead, I thought I got the villain right since the perspectives change from the protagonist's to the antagonist's point of view. The story really captured my interest because of the main characters and how they developed. The plot was very good and I found myself reading from one page to another. MJC puts a lot of characters in the mystery pool until she's satisfied you'll drown because you won't have a solid grasp on the suspect. I liked the way she heightens the thrill with a good climax and tie loose ends with a happy ending.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Mary Jane Clark's Lights Out Tonight, the 9th installment in the KEY News thriller series, this fast-paced novel takes center stage of an off-Broadway local play. For Caroline Enright, newly married and dealing with her step-daughter's issue, she worked for the local Key News in the Boston area, trying to get her leg up to advance her career. When Belinda Winthrop, a well-known actress to take the stage in a pivotal role for the play goes missing, everyone's a suspect. It's up to the people to know her best a person of interest. The director? The understudy? Her caretaker? Or an reclusive artist? Or others? As Caroline looked for clues, Meg's life became periled with the killer, it became clearer why she would do it or why, before it would be lights out tonight for them.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars!!
Review:
This was my first time reading a book by this author so i wasnt sure what to expect. I did think that the book started off slow but did pick up as each chapter ended which i thought was good but came across as more of a Hallmark Channel Movies and Mysteries Aurora Teagarden Murder Mystery than it did a regular Mystery book.

The Characters seemed interesting and The Setting was so so not really interesting.

Overall a good Comfort Mystery Read but not a Wow'd one!!

[Hristina Tserovska · Rating 2 out of 5]

Книгата има интересен замисъл, но слаба реализация. Не знам дали проблемът е в превода или стилът на авторката си е такъв, но не ми хареса....Имах чувството,че чета някакъв разказ без да се влагат никакви емоции в него, с постоянно прескачане от сцена на сцена и от гледна точка на всеки герой. Единственият плюс е самоличността на убиеца и неговите мотиви, които си останаха загадка до самия край.

[Carol Fellenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reading

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Mary Jane Clark but I will be looking for more.

[Sandrine Novembre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Après s’être disputé avec un inconnu sur un parking un couple de jeunes acteurs meurt dans un étrange accident de voiture.

Caroline Enright chroniqueuse de cinéma et théâtre pour une chaîne de télé New-new-yorkaise part dans le Massachusetts assister à un festival de théâtre. Sa belle fille Meg y effectue un stage de comédienne, et a été désignée pour assister la célèbre actrice Belinda Winthrop dans son habillage.

Une bibliothécaire est assassinée peut de temps après c’est Belinda qui disparaît étrangement. Caroline décide de fouiner un peu afin de comprendre se qui se passe…

Avec des chapitres court, l’auteur nous entraîne facilement dans son histoire, à chaque pages nous offrant un nouveau suspect potentiel. J’ai lu très rapidement ce roman sans temps morts ni passage superflu. Même si l’historie n’a rien d’extraordinaire et si j’ai deviné rapidement qui était le coupable, j’ai beaucoup apprécié cette histoire. Cela m’a permis de faire un break après la lecture de romans bien plus noir.

[Sheila Guevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upstate NY in the heart of the art culture. Where privileged kids go to work in theatre and stars go to support the arts.

Belinda is a star. Remington is an artist who has been in love with her for 20 years and paints portraits based on the characters she plays. Belinda seems a lot like Meryl Streep, so you easily connect with how talented she must be.

Other characters include Caroline a critic and new stepmom to Meg. Gus the grounds keeper. Nick the playwright and husband to Caroline. There are writers, actors, and TV people.

When Belinda goes missing everyone joins in the hunt to find her. Is she alive? Is she dead? Did her understudy have anything to do with this?

Clever book about what happens when things don't go the way a sociopath would like!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars is generous, and I only give it because around Chapter 90 (not joking) it began to be interesting. I just honestly could not bring myself to care that much for any of the boring, one dimensional characters in this book. Meanwhile, we have a "Reefer Madness" subplot of the main character's college age step-daughter smoking weed, which seems dated even for a book published 15 years ago. I'm not saying smoking pot to dull your woes is healthy, but you'd think she was caught with bindles of heroin.

Also, heads up, the sociopathic killer, has the dumbest motivations for knocking people off in literary history.

The book was slightly more thrilling than watching my cat use the litter box.

[Mike McCleeary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book as I never suspected the ending and who the killer was, big surprise to me. I would have given this one 3 and a half stars but don't know how to give 1/2 star. Better than the last one of hers I read (Dancing in the Dark). As per usual the chapters are short and I didn't have TOO much trouble following the number of people. Each short chapter dealt with a different character and once you know that about Ms. Clark, you get a bit more sense of the story and characters. The different employees that each KEY novel deals with are decent human beings except for a couple of those on the fringes but not dealt with in much detail, only knowing I would not want to work with that type of a person.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because you always know these books are going to have a happy ending for the central character, I become intrigued guessing what will happen to supporting characters that I like. The characterization of selling and using marijuana as criminal was dated...if that were changed cocaine or even opiates, the book would be more up to date. I found myself caring about Meg and hoping she came out ok. There are several shady characters in the book providing a number of red herrings to eliminate.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A long-time Mary Higgins Clark fan, I picked this up at the library thinking it was one of hers I had somehow missed reading. I realized when I got home that it was a different author, but found it read very much like a MHC suspense (short chapters/sections, multiple POV, multiple suspects). It was an easy, quick read and I enjoyed it. I’ll probably try another of hers.

[Sharon Gallup · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was full of mystery, and started with a mystery. A young movie star goes missing. A young woman who worked for a t.v. news station had gone to a small town that had ,had a young man and woman died
The chapters were short and easy reading. The author kept the story moving quickly which made you want to keep reading.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!!! The chapters were short, which kept me engaged. The character development was awesome and easy to keep up with. It wasn’t predictable at all. There weren’t too many plot twists but it was exciting enough to keep me reading and wanting to know more. I’d love to read more from this author! Definitely recommend. :)

[Cynthia L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for what it is-a Sunday afternoon read
The plot was good and the characters are interesting
It’s suspensful enough to make me want to finish it in one sitting. It’s not earth shattering but it’s a good read.
I would recommend it

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lethal not so accident, a disappeared actress, strange mannered artist, an anchorwoman plus all kinds of people associated in the theater. Mysteries of all sorts with a sociopath on the loose. An all together enjoyable read.

[Terri Jeker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great group of characters walked through these pages. And, I have to admit the author had me going. I kept flip-flopping from one to the other as to who-dun-it!
I have 2 more books to complete this series! On to 'When Day Breaks'.

[Lorene Plat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Jane Clark a le même style d'écriture que sa belle-mère Mary Higgins Clark. C'est fluide mais simpliste. Il y'a du suspense, l'intrigue est assez bien ficelée, mais on a rapidement des doutes au sujet du coupable.

Je recommande ce roman, il permet de se détendre sans se prendre la tête.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at a thrift store thinking it was a Mary Higgins Clark novel. It looked like the same genre so I decided to give it a shot. It's well-paced and a light read. Most of the characters felt pretty stereotyped to me. Also I don't understand why the first 2 murders were necessary except to create a personal connection to the main character. The first 2 victims logically would not have affected the killer's plan. Other than that the story was fine and entertaining.

[Terry Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of her better books. Didn't keep my interest perked and I guessed the murderer very early in the book.

But nevertheless, her short chapters work well in my life.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a well constructed mystery set in a world more glamorous than the one I live in. Well done, though not quite to my taste.

[laura harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I was never able to figure it out. Was a good book. Kept me on the edge of my seat.

[Katym521 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. I had a hard time putting it down to get anything else done.

[Ashley MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this took a bit to get into it and I met a bunch of characters quickly which was confusing. Half way thru it climaxed and had me till the end. I started and finished this in the same day.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started off with a bang and kept up the suspense! I stayed up too late finishing it!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled getting into the book, but once I did, it was an easy read. It wasnt a huge shock at the end of this whodunnit, but a good easy read nonetheless.

[Sharon Thurnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not think you can go wrong with a book my Mary Jane Clark.
I was a great, quick read. For me, a nice summer day on my front porch read.

[Cheryl Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real page turner, enjoyed it alot