Daddy's Little Girl

Rating:
Summary: A PageTurner, Yes, But Formulaic, the worst Clark I've read
Review: I pick the new Clark book each year; they're always page turners and good/trashy/suspenseful fun. However, DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL falls fall short of Clark's usual mark.

SPOILER BELOW so don't read on, if you really care:

The problem with this book is that nothing really happens. Its heroine starts out at one high leveled pitch, never doubts herself for a second, is never wrong, and indeed, everything at the end is just as hypothesized at the beginning. I kept waiting for some sort of Clark's usual twist or turn to happen, but they never do. There are the usual cast of Clark characters (the other suspect who's not all that bright with the protective mother; the spunky heroine who has at least one dead parent, etc.). That's all well and good and what we suspect. But as I read this, I kept thinking, okay, SOMEthing's got to happen here for the heroine to question herself and her motives at least for a second. But she never does (and the fact that the killer turns out exactly to be who she and most everyone expected is just plain dull). Clark wraps it all up with a silly happy ending, which reads like a chapter she tacked on just to keep with her Cinderella formula. It's all much ado about nothing, and Clark (and her editors) should force herself to take a bit more time rather than just to bring out a book each spring. How much more money does she really need?

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: I have to say that I did enjoy Daddy's Little Girl. I can't say that it had me turning pages because I was on edge. I was turning pages because I wanted to get to the end and find out if it was or wasn't Rob.

The chartacter of Ellie was very likeable but I'm not sure if she was believable. In my opinion, Ellie, a 29 year-old, had the personality of a much older woman. Did you notice how she ate? "Warm soup, grilled cheese, or how about tea? I bring this up because there were a long stream of meals throughout the book. It reminded me of eating with my mother or grandmother. Did Ellie not like "fast food?" It had to be cheaper than eating out at the Inn most of the time.

The obvious, is that her sister's murder took a toll on her and I'm sure she must have matured a lot sooner than most girls. Finding your sister dead at 7 years of age in itself would have aged anyone.

I found myself a little confused with her financial situation. On one hand we were led to beleive she had to watch her finances because she would be losing her job in Atlanta but then on the other hand ... she sure spent a lot on eating out, renting a car and staying at the Inn. That book deal must have covered a lot of her expenses ... because according to Ellie she didn't have much in her savings. Thank goodness she only had to pay Alfie $1,000.00 for his information.

I had hoped that the author would have developed the "love" relationship between her and Peter a little more. It came off as an after thought.

Maybe I'm being picky or I expected to much perfection in this book...

Because all and all the book was entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Guilt-ridden sibling vows to avenge her sister's death.
Review: In a departure for Mary Higgins Clark, "Daddy's Little Girl" is less a mystery than it is a revenge saga. It tells the story of a woman who is scarred by her sister's untimely death. She is determined that the man responsible for killing her sister remain behind bars, instead of being released on parole after spending nearly twenty-two years in prison.

Ellie Cavanaugh was a little girl of seven when her fifteen-year-old sister, Andrea, was brutally murdered. Andrea's death destroyed the Cavanaugh family. Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh separated and Mrs. Cavanaugh became an alcoholic. Ellie, who felt that she could have done more to save her sister, never overcame her feelings of guilt, grief and loss.

Ellie is now thirty years old and a successful investigative reporter. She takes a leave of absence from her job in Atlanta because she is determined that Rob Westerfield, the man convicted of her sister's murder, not be released on parole. She goes back to the town in New York where her sister died and painful old wounds are quickly reopened.

Many questions plague Ellie. First, does Rob Westerfield deserve to go free after spending over two decades in prison? Second, does startling new evidence that has come to light mean that Rob Westerfield may indeed be innocent of killing Andrea, and should he have a new trial to clear his name? Should Ellie risk her reputation and maybe even her life by digging up the past and questioning everything that occurred during that fateful night when Andrea was killed?

"Daddy's Little Girl" is among Mary Higgins Clark's most accomplished novels. After a prologue that is written in the third person, Clark wisely switches to the first person, and we experience the story through Ellie's eyes. Clark effectively explores how crime can tear families and individuals apart. She also demonstrates that the criminal justice system is fallible and often unfair to those who don't have the resources to fight for themselves. "Daddy's Little Girl" is a moving and engrossing novel of suspense.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful reading
Review: I myself am not an avid reader of any kind, but it was all I could do to not to put down this book. The suspense will kill you,and the tension and graive detail allow you to live the story yourself. This is one of her best yet. A follow up to this great story line would make a great sequel or trilogy. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Good one!
Review: A Mary Higgins Clark book is always a good read with some better than others. I really enjoyed this one - in fact I couldn't put it down. Did anyone else pick out some real life characters in the book? I did and that made it even better.

Take it home, find a comfortable chair and enjoy! But don't plan on getting any housework done until the last page is turned.

Rating:
Summary: Master Mind of Suspense
Review: Mary Higgins Clark has truely out done herself in this new book "Daddy's Little Girl". From the moment I picked up this book I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next. As always she has you changing your mind on who dunn it until the very end. The people who come to her (Ellie's) rescue will surprise you also.

I'm sure that there are many people out there that can relate to the title "Daddy's Little Girl" and how the youngest daughter (Ellie) feels. It may make you think differently about things in your own life.

Have fun reading and I can not wait for her next novel to come out.

Rating:
Summary: Can't put the book down suspense
Review: Ms Higgins keeps putting out those books that just grabs you and doesn't let go until you finish the last page. In Daddy's Little Girl, the suspense and action started on the first page. Ellie is a seven year old girl that discovers the body of her cherished older sister. Ellie faces the guilt of not telling her parents her sister's secret hideway until it was too late. Now over 20 years later the convicted killer is getting out of prison with the chance of a new trial to clear his name. Ellie now a successful reporter is going to do everything that she can possibly do to prevent that. She is in a race for time to show the world that the killer is guilty before she becomes his next victim. Awesome read...

Rating:
Summary: Another All Nighter! Mary Higgins Clark grabs you again!
Review: As a devoted fan of Mary Higgins Clark, this reader eagerly anticipated the arrival of "Daddy's Little Girl". From the first pages where we learn that Andrea Cavanaugh, a beautiful 15 year old girl has been brutally murdered, to the last dastardly act of Rob Westerfield, this page turner was a winner. The heroine, Ellie Cavanaugh, sets out to prove that the upper crust of society, here in the form of Rob Westerfield, can indeed be morally challenged and most conniving. As Mary Higgins Clark turned up the heat, quite literally burning the very "soul" of Ellie, one could only hope that Rob would be finally exposed for the monster that he is. In addition to fighting public opinion, with little tangible support, Ellie must fight her own demons in accepting her half-brother as family and reconciling herself with her estranged father. Mary Higgins Clark weaves a tale of suspense, growth and determination while showing Ellie that she, too, was indeed, "Daddy's Little Girl".

Rating:
Summary: Same story, different characters
Review: Once again, America's "Queen of Suspense" has written another best-seller with the same dependable formula. Damsel in distress, with the odds stacked against her, manages to unveil the bad guy and find love in the process. Year after year Clark churns out the same predictable plot, and while it seems monotonus, you have to hand it to her, she's created a successful market. Read this if you don't want to be surprised in the end or if you're loyal to Clark's novels.

Rating:
Summary: Diana Spencer
Review: This book was so good i loved it. It's one of those books where once you start to read it you can't put it down it just keeps you guessing untill the very end where only Mary Higgins Clark America's Queen of Suspense can take you. This is a must have book for anyone who loves a good thrill.