I've Got You Under My Skin: A Novel (An Under Suspicion Novel)

I am going to take a minute and go in the "way back" machine. When I was young I hated reading. *GASP* ....I know. When we had to read in school I would buy "cliff notes" because I refused to read a whole book. THEN, when I got married (which was a loooong time ago...hehe) I had a friend who had always loved reading. We had been friends since we were six, and she was always trying to get me to read a book. ONE day, my husband was working late and going to school and I thought "I want to read a book". I almost thought I was having an out of body experience, because I had never uttered those words before. My friend immediately said, "I have just the book for you. You like mysteries, so let me bring this book to you.". I finally agreed, and picked up my very first MARY HIGGINS CLARK book, and never looked back. So why the "way back" machine. It was a MARRY HIGGINS CLARK book that got me to read, and I loved the book so much I read every single one of hers that had been released. She will probably always be one of my favorite authors, because in my head she is the one who brought me to the realization that reading is FANTABULOUS..(it's a word, because I like it..heheh). Okay, now back to reality...What I love most about Higgins books are that she has so many characters. It makes me have to really keep my thinking cap on the whole time, which I love. I have learned that it is easier to write the names down on a piece of paper now, so that I don't have to go back and try to remember who they were. I am getting smarter...hehehe Her books are always full of mystery, and excitement. Whenever I start one of Higgin's books it's very hard to put it down. This one was no exception. Laurie suffered a terrible loss. Her husband was murdered and the murderer threatened to come after her and her son next. She lived in constant fear of her and her sons lives. Her father a retired cop vowed to protect his daughter and his grandson with everything he had. Laurie's son was a witness to the murder when he was 3 and had to live with the memory of seeing his father gunned down. Laurie is a producer of reality TV, and decides to try and launch a new reality show about a murder that had happened 20 years ago. She got all of the former people involved to participate in a reenactment, and the story really gets interesting then. I love how Higgins connects all of her characters. It's always mind blowing to me. You know that they have a little connection but when the story unfolds you realize every one has a secret and they all share part of the same secret. It's amazing. Her characters are always so great. I always, and I mean always think I know who the killer is, and EVERY TIME, I am wrong. Every single time. Dang she is good. hehehe. In this book there happen to be two bad guys, and one was obvious and the other wasn't. There were two stories going on at the same time, which made it even more exciting for me. One story was about Powell and the murder of his wife Betsy. That is the premise behind the show that Laurie is doing, called Under Suspicion. While uncovering the facts that went along with the murder, there is also the story of Laurie's husbands murder. Like I said, there was a lot going on. I loved this story. It was exciting, and the characters were great, and complex. Some of them were just down right nasty human beings, and Higgins does a great job of writing a villain! Some of them were sweet, and kind, and I felt their struggles along with them. It's amazing to see the story, and the characters come together. There are twists and turns, that kept me wondering who the "real" murderer was and who the victims were. It's just so great :)! I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give anything away, but if you like mystery, and suspense...you will like this book. This may be one of my favorites of Higgins. I think I might say that after every book though...hehehe. Source: I bought this book for myself off Amazon. I am not affiliated with Amazon in anyway and was not compensated for this review. These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

I have had a love/hate relationship with Mary Higgins Clark as of late, but I’ve Got You Under My Skin was a return to the MHC I’ve always enjoyed. Her style of short chapters with viewpoints from a number of characters works better some times than others. Here, it played well because it was clear how the characters were intertwined. Some of her more recent efforts involve an eclectic bunch with no rhyme or reason, and even when things come together, you have a feeling of dissatisfaction because it seems forced. The protagonist was unsurprisingly a 30-something woman with a painful history, but it was a nice touch that there was a parallel mystery. My only complaint is that both mysteries when solved were a bit unsatisfactory. It is one thing to want to surprise your audience, but to end up with culprints for whom there was very little foreshadowing feels lazy. I always think of the movie The Sixth Sense – all of the clues were there, but it was well done so that the vast majority of folks were surprised. It is never as satisfying when there were not many clues. I did enjoy this book, however, and I read it fast. I will remember very little of it in about a week, but that’s okay – other than a few of MHC earlier books, that is what you are getting yourself into! If you want some classic MHC, I’d recommend Where are the Children?, Loves Music, Loves to Dance and Remember Me.

I kind of figured out who killed Betsylong before it was confirmed but I loved the twists in who could have killed her. I couldn't put the book down. A very good read, now onto book 2

I’VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN, a novel by Mary Higgins Clark. Twenty years ago, Betsy Bonner Powell, wife of Wall Street financier, Robert Nicholas Powell, was murdered following a graduation gala at the Powell mansion for Betsy’s daughter Clair and her three closest friends and fellow graduates. Clair, her three friends and to a lesser degree the stepfather and the housekeeper have been under suspicion as persons of interest throughout this lengthy period. All suspected each other and all had personal reasons to dislike the murder victim. Lourie Moran, producer of the popular reality TV show, Under Suspicion, returned to the site of the crime to interview the suspects and others for her show with the hope of shedding light on the aging unsolved murder and possibly even flushing out the killer. Along with the graduation gala story a parallel scenario also plays out. Five years ago, Laurie Moran’s husband, Greg, a physician, was murdered in cold blood by a gunman while playing with their three-year-old son, Timmy, in a neighborhood park. The press named the killer Blue Eyes because Timmy as young as he was could only identify the gunman by the color of his eyes. Timmy did remember, however, that as the killer ran off he shouted, “Tell your mother that she’s next. Then it’s your turn.” The author does a masterful job of weaving both stories together while keeping story lines separate. Higgins Clark developed her characters well. From the very start the reader is exposed to the personal lives of each participant. As the story moves along the author gradually increases tension through the story’s fast changing scenes. Under My Skin is not a complicated “who done it” mystery; in fact, its simplicity might be one of its attractions and allows the reader to follow the logic and wily scheming of the chasers and the chased. Don’t let the simplicity of the plot fool you though; the story has as many twists and sharp turns as an Alpine slalom course right to the very end. I very much enjoyed the story and heartily recommend it. I rate the book a 5.

This book begins with the murder of Dr. Greg Moran who has just put his son Timmy on a swing. The murderer tells the boy to tell his mother that she will be his next victim followed by Timmy. Timmy calls the murderer Blue Eyes. It sounded like an exciting book. Then the book jumps forward to when Timmy is eight years old and about to leave for summer camp. His grandfather, a retired police officer, has been watching over the boy when his mother Laurie is working and is not comfortable with Timmy going away to camp. Laurie convinces her boss to let her film a reality show about unsolved murders, which seems rather a foolish move that could draw Blue Eyes' attention to her and Timmy. The first episode deals with the unsolved murder of a socialite who was found suffocated in her bed after a graduation party for her daughter and three friends 20 years ago. Thus, the book involves two unsolved murders. I didn't care for the structure. Also, I thought there were too many coincidences. In addition, I stumbled over the mixture of the story being told in both 1st and 3rd person voices. The book was not horrible and I did finish it, as I wanted to know who murdered the socialite. However, it is not memorable.

What I love most about Mary Higgins Clark, is you can read any books she writes without worrying that there’s gonna be bad language or any sex scenes. You can share your books with your teenage daughters without concern. Her books are all good, clean, entertainment, and suspense. I had a very hard time putting the book down.

This book is about tv producer Laurie Moran who's husband was murdered five years ago, in front of her than 3 year old son, and had promised to kill Laurie and then her son. Now in present time, Laurie is producing reality crime show about a 20 year old murder of a rich socialite, where all the potential suspects will be interviewed at the very house where the murder took place. I liked how fast this book moves. We get a good glimpse of not only Laurie's life, but of the potential suspects in Laurie's tv show. A who done it mystery, with each suspect having a reason to murder the socialite. This book keeps us guessing and has many twists and turns. This was my first time reading Mary Higgins Clark and I was impressed. I recommend this book to those who enjoy mystery books. You'll not be disappointed. A nice quick enjoyable read.

The book kept me guessing who killed Betsy. It was a great reading, Extra suspense was added with the guy who wanted to kill Laurie and her son.

I couldn't keep it down. Wanted to know the end. Read it with in 24 hours of the purchase. Great!

I think the plot is good. The characters are well defined. A really nice book that I enjoyed reading. I recommend it

Recuerda un poco las tramas de Agatha Christie. Mantiene el interés durante toda la lectura. Es una autora que nunca decepciona.

The reader is kept in suspense until the very end of the novel. Very interesting and well written. I would rcommend it highly.

Good book. Enjoyed it very much. Kept up the suspense!