Mary Higgins Clark and Just Take My Heart
By mcrowl
@mcrowl (1050)
New Zealand
September 10, 2009 3:00am CST
Mary Higgins Clark, who’s now in her 80s, has been a successful author for decades, and has written at least two dozen mystery novels as well as several other books. Her latest book is Just Take My Heart, and I will no doubt upset her myriad fans when I say that her latest book just doesn’t make the cut.
I found it written in such a basic style it was as if someone who'd only just started writing had put it together. 
http://bookstove.com/book-talk/please-just-leave-my-heart-alone/
http://bookstove.com/book-talk/please-just-leave-my-heart-alone/1 response
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
10 Sep 09
Hi Mcrowl, hopefully not as bad as Patricia Cornwell. Her recent books are worst than new writers.
Actually I enjoy Carol Hinggins Clark books more than her mother. I find that Carol has a very unique way of creating characters. All those people in her books are so funny.
I think it's time for Mary Higgins Clark to retire if she cannot maintain the writing standard. I find many books by Mary Higgins Clark revolve round the same theme, except for those Alvirah series.
Another author in her 80s is PD James. Her writing never deterioriate, just hope she got enough energy to produce another book. I find her writing has a kind of soul in it.
1 person likes this
@mcrowl (1050)
• New Zealand
10 Sep 09
I heard on the grapevine that Mary Higgins Clark isn't actually writing her books anymore, but that they're being ghost written. This may of course be entirely untrue, so I'd wait until I hear proof before believing it. The same may be the case with Patricia Cornwell. However, I think part of the problem is that these people write too much to a formula - something that PD James can't be accused of. On the other hand, the last P D James I read told us in the first line that the character we were being introduced to would be murdered before long, and that made it rather hard to sympathise with her in any way!
@mcrowl (1050)
• New Zealand
10 Sep 09
Just remembered that I'd written a blog post about that P D James book. It's called The Private Patient, and I think it's her latest.
http://mikecrowlsscribblepad.blogspot.com/2008/11/private-patient.html
The writing is very stylish (something that can't be said for either M H Clark, or Patricia Cornwell, in spite of all their experience) but I felt there was something lacking in the writing of the book: a kind of tiredness. And it was almost as if there had to be a number of red herrings set up just to hide the fact that the plot wasn't up to scratch!
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
10 Sep 09
Hi Mcrowl, I understand what you mean by a kind of tiredness in The Private Patient. It makes me think that PD James intend The Private Patient to be the last book. In a way, it's a great book.
Many writers collaborate with younger and lesser known writers, so that they can maintain the standard of writing. John Sandford did that for Heating Lighting and the other book. WEB Griffins has a few books written with his son.
Tom Clancy has a few series which he doesn't write, but he gives his ideas. I think those writers know how to protect their reputations. It is much better than using ghost writers and destroy their reputation. Readers can always see a difference in the writing standard.
