Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
Pocket Books (1993), Edition: Reissue, 341 pages
Description
Professor Alan Grant is found stabbed to death in his New Jersey home. All the evidence points to an obsessed student, twenty-one-year old Laurie Kenyon, who sent him passionate letters, followed him, even watched him through his study window-and awakens in her dorm room, covered with Grant's blood and clutching the knife that killed him.
User reviews
LibraryThing member The_Hibernator
All Around the Town recooked the dry and tasteless politically correct plot--young girl gets kidnapped by evil pedophile, suffers mental trauma in the form of multiple personality disorder, and undertakes therapy to purge herself of disabling memories in hopes of becoming healthy and happy once
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more. Clark adds a few twists to the story in the form of an interesting but predictable murder mystery. With superficial characters the reader can't relate to and almost no noticeable research on the topic of dissociative identity disorder, All Around the Town is disappointing, to say the least. However, if the reader is looking for a quick read to settle down for the night, the story is entertaining enough. Show Less
LibraryThing member wiggy
Amazing book! I never knew what was going to happen next. Kept me up all hours of the night. It was fabulous!
LibraryThing member willowwaw
Great mystery by Mark Higgins Clark! Fast read, quick page turning suspense. Lovely book!
LibraryThing member HollyinNNV
The story: girl has multiple personalities and did/did not commit murder. On so many levels this book is lame. I remember my high school english teacher advising that writers should never end a story by saying, "And then Mary woke up." Ending a story by finding out the whole thing is a dream is a
I think the worst thing about this novel is that MHC didn't do much research into multiple personalities. Maybe she just figured watching Sybil was enough? However, the fact that multiple personality disorder is a terribly serious disease doesn't seem to receive the literary treatment it deserves. I think this is aptly demonstrated at the very end of the book. I think that All Around the Town could have had some redeeming value had MHC done some research into multiple personality disorder. Maybe, in addition to a mystery, the reader could have learned more about this serious medical condition.
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big cop-out. I think that my english teacher would have applied the same cop-out label to Mary Higgins Clark's All Around the Town. Unless you are a very creative writer, the multiple personality conundrum is pretty boring/mundane. And MHC is not a "very creative writer" at least in this instance. Can you say, "Formulaic Writing?" I think the worst thing about this novel is that MHC didn't do much research into multiple personalities. Maybe she just figured watching Sybil was enough? However, the fact that multiple personality disorder is a terribly serious disease doesn't seem to receive the literary treatment it deserves. I think this is aptly demonstrated at the very end of the book. I think that All Around the Town could have had some redeeming value had MHC done some research into multiple personality disorder. Maybe, in addition to a mystery, the reader could have learned more about this serious medical condition.
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LibraryThing member snowgirl1194
The Story is centered around the character Laurie who was kidnapped at the age of four after watching a funeral procession pass by the front of her house. After two years of abuse Laurie is dropped off at a school after a close call at a diner. the story proceeds into the later life of Laurie and
Though the style of writing is quite old fashoined and at times grows dull from depth of description it is still an interesting book that discusses many phycological veiws, though as noted below it does not go as deeply into the subject of her illness as possible, however i feel that as it is used as an element of a storyline and not an essay it is acceptable. the mystery in this book is wonderful, I found the ending quite a suprise and was very enthused at the turn of events.
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how after her parents death she is faced with intense phycological stress. It is later revealed that she has a disorder known as MPD. A professor is then found dead after acusing Laurie of writing letters pecularly describing intimate nights alone with the Professor. Laurie is then framed for his death and as she does not know what other personalitys do, she believes she is condemned until and overlooked artifact is discovered....Though the style of writing is quite old fashoined and at times grows dull from depth of description it is still an interesting book that discusses many phycological veiws, though as noted below it does not go as deeply into the subject of her illness as possible, however i feel that as it is used as an element of a storyline and not an essay it is acceptable. the mystery in this book is wonderful, I found the ending quite a suprise and was very enthused at the turn of events.
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LibraryThing member melsbks
While I'm not a mystery fan, I found the book to be a decent read. I thought the multipal personality was used mostly as foil. I'm not up on the ethics but I think the relationship between Sarah, Laurie's sister, and Justin, Laurie's doctor is a no-no. A quick read. Not a keeper.
LibraryThing member judithrs
All around the Town. Mary Higgins Clark. 1992. Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand. Helen Simonson. 2010. What a delightful, well written novel! Recently widowed and retired Major Ernest Pettigrew, the consummate English gentlemen, becomes infatuated with Mrs. Ali, a Pakistani widow who runs a small
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store it the village. Their friendship grows as they share their mutual love for literature and their sorrow in the lost of spouses they both adored. Needless to say, the Major’s son and his friends do not approve nor does Mrs. Ali’s family Show Less
LibraryThing member midkid88
I have read this book a couple of times because I like it so much. A little girl is kidnapped for a year at the age four and during that time developed multiple personalities to cope. She never knew the others were there until she meets with a psychiatrist when she is accused with murder of her
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professor. Show Less
LibraryThing member NancyLuebke
I enjoyed this thriller. I purchased this at a library sale and I voluntarily chose to review this. The only thing that slowed me down was the voice of each character including the 4 who belonged to the main character. I've rated it a 4.7*. There certainly was a lot of action and odd things going
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on. It wrapped up very nicely at the end but I didn't guess who the real who done it was, till the very end. This was a very engageing read. Show Less
LibraryThing member LibraryCin
Laurie was only 5-years old when she was kidnapped. Two years later, she was let go, but she had blocked out everything from the time she was with her abductors. When Laurie is in the early 20s and her sister Sarah, a lawyer, now in her late 20s, their parents die. More trauma. Laurie is now in
It wasn’t fast paced, but many psychological “thrillers” aren’t. This was much about the psychology. Really interesting read; I imagine the author would have had to do a chunk of research on this. I’ve not read much about it; I think I have only one other book taggedmultiple personality disorder , which is actually surprising as I do find it fascinating.
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college and has a good relationship with one of her professors, but when he is found murdered, signs point to Laurie. She doesn’t remember. It wasn’t fast paced, but many psychological “thrillers” aren’t. This was much about the psychology. Really interesting read; I imagine the author would have had to do a chunk of research on this. I’ve not read much about it; I think I have only one other book tagged
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LibraryThing member Jfranklin592262
Its been forever since I've read a MHC novel and I found a couple in one of my book boxes that I don't remember reading, this was one of them.
I really enjoyed this. I appreciate this type of thriller, told from perspective of both the victim and the " villain". The vast majority of
A fast read, that kept my interest to the very end.
I really enjoyed this. I appreciate this type of thriller, told from perspective of both the victim and the " villain". The vast majority of
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suspense/thrillers are mystery "who done it "plots, this change of pace is always nice.A fast read, that kept my interest to the very end.
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1992-03-31
Physical description
341 p.; 4.19 inches
ISBN
0671793489 / 9780671793487