Rating: Summary: My Thoughts on Daddy's Little Girl Review: "My sister, Andrea, was murdered nearly twenty three years ago, yet it seems as though it was just yesterday." Mary Higgins Clark's Daddy's Little Girl, centers around just that; the murder of a loved one. Clark displays the obsessions of one woman, and the lengths and risks she goes to in order to uncover a mystery. With a constant change of setting and a never ending list of characters, this book becomes a journey through one's life and emotions. Through just the right amount of suspense and thrill, Clark achieves a frightening, and greatly anticipated ending to her story.Beginning in the childhood of a seven-year-old, Ellie Cavanaugh faces the tragedy of her sister Andrea's murder. Rob Westerfield, Andrea's teenage sweetheart, comes from one of the most powerful and prominent families of Westchester County. Following an agonizing trial, he gets charged with the murder and put behind bars. As a successful investigative reporter twenty-three years later, Ellie is still not satisfied. After moving back to Westchester County, she contacts many relatives and friends in search of valuable information for the website she builds. Her goal is to prove Rob's guilt to the public, and stop his release from jail. As suspected, the Westerfield family discovers Ellie and her plans, and with all of their power refuse to rest until she gets "taken care of." With impact, the setting of this book plays a considerable role in Ellie's investigation. She returns to her home town, where the murder took place, in order to dig up old information, not earlier discovered. Her childhood, along with other countless memories continually come up, which make Ellie only more eager to incriminate Westerfield. Rob's grandmother's garage, the murder site, was also the secret meeting place of Andrea and Rob. Ellie visits this crime scene and almost relives the day she discovered Andrea's body. "Even though the garage was filled with shadows, I could still see Andrea's long hair trailing out from under the blankets, surrounded by a pool of blood." The garage reminds her of that horrifying part of her life, which significantly displays her obsession with Andrea's murder. The places Ellie visits help to portray the character's personality and willingness to do just about anything for her research. Most of the information Ellie receives is from the different acquaintances from her youth, which makes the characterization of this book equally effective. For very valuable sources, she tracks down old friends, who supply her with interesting stories about her sister and Rob. Along with those, some unhelpful and disturbing people contact Ellie through her website, with terrorization and threats. "Why are you picking on Westerfield? You better watch your back lady." Several times Ellie receives phone calls or e-mails from anonymous people, which eventually force her to move with regards to her own safety. Westerfield and his family have certain people constantly watch Ellie, in order to track her down and stop her plan to bring down Westerfield. She remains in continual contact with various people throughout the book, without whom her investigation is possible. Next in relevance, the plot of the book and the events that take place have a vast effect. Clark centers her story on one woman who fails in getting over the murder of her sister, which took place over twenty-three years ago. Even though someone has served time for the crime, Ellie's obsession will not go to rest. Her fixation and infatuation drives her to investigate and search intensively in order to prove her point. That same obsession, in contrast, also puts her and other's lives on the line, which is a risk she is willing to take. Important, but not a major factor in the book, the language goes right along with the plot. The first section, written when Ellie was a little girl, consists of a seven year old's diction. That detail helps in explaining her mind-set and reaction to her sister's murder. Because the whole book is written from Ellie's point of view, the fact that she puts a lot of blame on herself proves evident; this contributes to her enthusiasm later in life. The second part switches to her adult hood, twenty-three years later, and includes a more mature choice of diction. With the language style used, all of Ellie's thoughts and emotions show, which helps to better the understanding of the book and its numerous characters. Daddy's Little Girl is a superb choice for a reader who enjoys suspense and mystery, in that every detail plays a significant part in leading up to the climax of the story. Mary Higgins Clark does a wonderful job of keeping the reader interested and eager for more. With a very in depth and textured plot, the book never fails in being effortless to follow. Each character stays recognizable, and key in making the story come together. With its strong theme and intense story line, it is easily to read and understand. Along with all of Mary Higgins Clark's books, this "must-read" is recommended to everyone for its well-sketched characters and strong pace. It contains the perfect mix of suspense and heroism.
Rating: Summary: First Person is Best Review: The author's first dabble in first person writing has been successful. Twenty-three years ago, fifteen-year-old Andrea Cavanaugh was bludgeoned to death. Now the convicted killer is set free, claiming innocence, but Andrea's sister Ellie, an investigative reporter, starts to pin the blame on him once for all. (A+)
Rating: Summary: UN-suspenseful Review: I've read every book Mary Higgins Clark has written. The last few I haven't really enjoyed including this one. The other reviewers have detailed the plot. This book didn't make sense to me. Why would the villian, Rob, after just being released from prison put himself in the position to land back in prison? He was aware of the other murder he committed. It seems to me he would have tried to live his life as quietly as possible. The premise is he wanted a new trial, even though he served all his required time, to clear his name. Clearing his name was important to him because it would allow him to be reinstated in his wealthy grandmother's will. Great, but Rob WAS guilty of this murder as well as another murder that he was never even suspected of. Ellie, the heroine, became obsessed with PROVING his guilt only after Rob announced his desire for a new trial. Ellie's probing into Rob's background opened a can of worms. She discovered he committed another similar murder as well as attempted murder. Rob's purpose for wanting a new trial was to receive a $100.000 inheritance from his grandmother. He was already wealthy. His parents were wealthy. He risked his guilty neck for another $100,000. It doesn't make sense. He had much more to lose than to gain. I didn't like Ellie. She was very closed minded. Unfortunately, since the entire book was written from her perspective I couldn't like the book because I didn't like her. Finally, there was no suspense. You know early on Rob killed her sister. The rest of the book is Ellie digging up ever rotten thing Rob did as a teenager. The climax was a dud. Rob could have succeeded in hitting Ellie over the head with the tire iron and I could have cared less. Mary Higgins Clark has written some superior suspense novels. I would recommend any one of them up until she wrote "You Belong to ME" I've found in some of her recent novels I have actually liked the "bad guy", and hated to see him get caught. I'm sure that's not what the author intended.
Rating: Summary: Good- but not the Best. Review: Mary Higgins Clark is by far my favorite author, and I was excited to read her new book, and to see it from a different perspective. The book was interesting, and as usual, I wasn't able to put it down until I was finished. Although, I have to admit I was a little disapointed with the ending, it was not the usual case where there are many suspects, the book practically leads to the conclusion without having to work for it. This book is interesting, but not my favorite. Other MHC books I recommend: A Stranger is Watching Loves Music, Loves to Dance Weep No More, My Lady
Rating: Summary: FANTASTIC Review: Best book I have read in years. Suspensful, catchy, emotional all in one!
Rating: Summary: good read Review: Once you have read most of Mary Higgins-Clark books you get the idea of what most of them are going to be like. this time she tried writing from the first person which was interesting, but it didn't really affect the storyline. The plot was a bit predictable, but it was a fun read.
Rating: Summary: Well Done ! Review: This is the first time reading Mary Higgins Clark's Novels. She is a great author of suspence and well written.Daddy's Little Girl kept you guessing and unsure until the end.The details of her characters was great,they are people much like the people in real life.I will read more of Mary Higgins Clark's novels or all,if there as good as this one. I am going to buy another of her novels or even more than one of her books now. If you have not read any of Mary Higgins Clark's novels , you have to read this one. You can not put it down! It is so good that you just keep reading to the end.I have a friend that is a big fan of her novels and now I know why! Now she can one more fan of her novels to the list now. This book Was WELL DONE!
Rating: Summary: very good!! Review: the story is as exciting as always but it is too obvious who is the murderer. but at all the story is very good. I very enjoyed it. Buy it!!
Rating: Summary: Keeps you guessing... Review: This book kept me guessing to the very end. I was biting my nails and trying to figure out who killed Daddy's Little Girl. At first I thought it was the sister, because she could have been jealous...and then I thought it was the boyfriend or the dad...I just didn't know who to think. It's full of suspense and I couldn't wait to turn the next page. Just a great read for a rainy day!
Rating: Summary: Daddy's Little Girl Review: This was my first time reading any of Mary H. Clark's material. Now that I have, however, I am much more interested in buying her books. Mary H. Clark is my sister's favorite author and has read all of her books. Knowing how Daddy's Little Girl turned out, I would say I would read more of her books. Daddy's Little Girl was very suspenseful and I never wanted to put it down. If you have not read this book, I highly recommend reading it.
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