The Readers' Advisory Interest Group

Beyond Mary Higgins Clark

Mary Higgins Clark, one of the most popular suspense writers of today, has created a niche for herself in the publishing industry by incorporating a unique combination of qualities: strong, believable female characters in their everyday lives, not too much violence or sex, and a suspenseful story that builds to an often shattering conclusion. Each novel stands alone with new characters, and usually includes short chapters that portray different viewpoints. Said Clark, "I write for the mainstream. I write about nice people not looking for trouble. They find evil in their own car, home, everyday life." While doing so, she manages to create new and fresh plots each time. She has published close to 20 suspense novels since 1975, as well as some short story collections. Her current rate of approximately one novel per year keeps thousands of readers anticipating the latest.

Additional authors who write in the style of Mary Higgins Clark:

Iris Johansen
Barbara Michaels
Joy Fielding
Carolyn Coker
Catherine Coulter (some - mostly newer, not romance pbs)
Marjorie Dorner
Caroline Llewellyn
Patricia MacDonald
Marilyn Wallace
Mary Stewart
Jane Hitchcock
Karen Robards (suspense - may be too sexually graphic for Clark fans)
Mary Jane Clark
Kate Green
Nancy Baker Jacobs
Judith Kelman

	Joy Fielding. See Jane Run. 1991. A Boston housewife finds herself on the streets of her city with no memory of who she is. It's not long before she is reunited with her husband, a prominent pediatric surgeon, and she begins to sense that there's something he doesn't want her to remember.
	Jane Stanton Hitchcock. Trick of the Eye. 1992. Faith Crowell is an artist of illusionary art, or trompe l'oeil. She has made a name for herself in the art world of New York and is commissioned by Frances Griffin, a very wealth widow. As each gets to know the other, Faith learns of the unsolved murder of Cassandra, Frances' daughter, years ago. As Faith attempts to solve the murder, she finds that Frances Griffin wants something from her, but what? Faith learns that all is not what it appears to be.
	Barbara Michaels. Other Worlds. 1999. Is there a poltergeist or spirit haunting these two houses? What is plaguing the residents? The most famous crime specialists in the world meet in an exclusive club to discuss unsolved cases. Once one of the members present the facts, they each take turns explaining what they think happened offering their opinions about who the perpetrators of the deeds are. Two houses that have been described as "haunted" are discussed in this book. The famous crime specialists include Harry Houdini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dr. Nandor Fodor, a psychoanalyst of international acclaim, and an elegant writer who rivals them all with her sleuthing talent. See who you agree with!!
	Nora Roberts. Sanctuary. 1997. Successful photographer, Jo Ellen Hathaway, returns to Sanctuary, her childhood home on a small barrier island off the coast of Georgia. In Sanctuary Jo Ellen hopes for reconciliation with her family. She hopes, also, to elude the mysterious stream of photographs of herself that she has been receiving from an unknown stalker. Evil follows.