Title: I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Narrator: Jan Maxwell
Published: April 2014, Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: 7 hours 44 minutes
Source: Publisher
When Laurie Moran’s
husband was brutally murdered, only three-year-old Timmy saw the face of
his father’s killer. Five years later his piercing blue eyes still
haunt Timmy’s dreams. Laurie is haunted by more—the killer’s threat to
her son as he fled the scene: “Tell your mother she’s next, then it’s
your turn . . .”Now Laurie is dealing with murder again, this
time as the producer of a true-crime, cold-case television show. The
series will launch with the twenty-year-old unsolved murder of Betsy
Powell. Betsy, a socialite, was found suffocated in her bed after a gala
celebrating the graduation of her daughter and three friends. The
sensational murder was news nationwide. Reopening the case in its lavish
setting and with the cooperation of the surviving guests that night,
Laurie is sure to have a hit on her hands. But when the estranged
friends begin filming, it becomes clear each is hiding secrets . . .
small and large.And a pair of blue eyes is watching events unfold, too . . .
My thoughts: It’s been a while since I’ve read a Mary Higgins Clark book and it’s the first time I’ve decided to listen to one and I have to say I was pleased on both accounts! Reading, or in this case, listening, to this book has reinforced my love of this author and I can’t wait to go back and pick up some of the books I’ve missed!
What I loved about this book is that as the book progressed, and the two mysteries were coming to a close, the short chapters added to the overall tension of the book, ramping up the suspense and having me sitting on the edge of my seat! Mind you, I was in the car driving down to Georgia for my brother’s wedding as I was listening to this, a 12.5 hour drive, so this was the perfect audio for a good chunk of that time! I have to say I was quite surprised with who the one murderer was – I definitely did not see that coming at all!
The stories itself were quite interesting with characters that were both really likeable as well as a few that got on my nerves. The four grads now women all had their own reasons for killing Betsey Powell and as their stories as told, it’s easy to want to think they each did it. But, as the true story-teller she is, MHC gives us enough red herrings that it’s hard to guess the identity of the actual murderer until the very end. The other story is flushed out almost from the beginning – we know who the murderer is, we just don’t know why he’s targeting Laurie’s family and what his next steps will be. This alone adds even more tension and suspense.
As I said in the beginning of this review, it’s been a while since I’ve picked up a MHC book, but it won’t be long before I pick up another one. If you’re a fan of hers, what would you suggest I start read next?
Audio Thoughts: This is the first time I’ve listened to Jan Maxwell narrate a book and I enjoyed listening to her tell this story. I don’t know if she does all of MHC’s books, but I surely wouldn’t mind if she did. She was able to give each of the characters their own unique voices, infusing just the right amount of tension into her voice when needed.
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I just reviewed this one also. I did figure out who the murderer was and enjoyed it as much as you did. I would recommend Agatha Christie's Hercule Poiret Christmas, it reminded me of that one.