Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Simon & Schuster (2014), Edition: First Edition, 320 pages
Description
"In a first-time collaboration, "Queen of Suspense" Mary Higgins Clark partners with bestselling author Alafair Burke to deliver a brand new suspense series about a television program featuring cold case murders. Television producer Laurie Moran is delighted when the pilot for her reality drama, Under Suspicion, is a success. Even more, the program--a cold case series that revisits unsolved crimes by recreating them with those affected--is off to a fantastic start when it helps solve an infamous murder in the very first episode. Now Laurie has the ideal case to feature in the next episode of Under Suspicion: the Cinderella Murder. When Susan Dempsey, a beautiful and multi-talented UCLA student, was found dead, her murder raised numerous questions. Why was her car parked miles from her body? Had she ever shown up for the acting audition she was due to attend at the home of an up-and-coming director? Why does Susan's boyfriend want to avoid questions about their relationship? Was her disappearance connected to a controversial church that was active on campus? Was she close to her computer science professor because of her technological brilliance, or something more? And why was Susan missing one of her shoes when her body was discovered? With the help of lawyer and Under Suspicion host Alex Buckley, Laurie knows the case will attract great ratings, especially when the former suspects include Hollywood's elite and tech billionaires. The suspense and drama are perfect for the silver screen--but is Cinderella's murderer ready for a close-up? Together Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke deliver an exciting publishing event: the start of a thrilling new series guaranteed to keep you guessing until the last suspenseful page"--… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member thehistorychic
Listened for Review (Simon & Schuster)
Overall Rating: 3.50
Story Rating: 3.50
Character Rating: 3.50
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark/Alafair Burke had a strong second half that I really enjoyed. For fans of
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Jan Maxwell / Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
Jan Maxwell is one of those narrators that I can count on to deliver a solid performance and keep me entertained for a whole story. She does a good job at making each character unique.
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! reviews
Overall Rating: 3.50
Story Rating: 3.50
Character Rating: 3.50
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark/Alafair Burke had a strong second half that I really enjoyed. For fans of
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true case murder TV Shows (like me), you will enjoy how that part of the story is told. I felt like I got an inside view of what it takes for that type of show to come together. I felt some of the beginning was a little melodramatic but otherwise this was an enjoyable listen.Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Jan Maxwell / Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
Jan Maxwell is one of those narrators that I can count on to deliver a solid performance and keep me entertained for a whole story. She does a good job at making each character unique.
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! reviews
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LibraryThing member jfe16
As in the earlier “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” Laurie Moran is the producer of the “Under Suspicion” television specials. In this outing, Laurie sets out to solve the two decades-old cold case of the murder of Susan Dempsey, dubbed the Cinderella Murder by the media. Her pre-production
A solid start for a new series, the quick pacing and the story’s ever-building suspense make this a page-turner that readers will find hard to put down.
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interviews and background investigations reveal clues to the identity of the killer and ultimately put her life in jeopardy. A solid start for a new series, the quick pacing and the story’s ever-building suspense make this a page-turner that readers will find hard to put down.
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LibraryThing member busyreadin
Interesting 2nd installment in this new series.
LibraryThing member gpangel
The Cinderella Murders is a 2014 Simon and Schuster publication.
I have been super excited about finally getting to read this book because I am such a big fan of both authors- Alafair Burke and Mary Higgins Clark. With these two at the helm, I knew this would be a great mystery and so it was.
Television producer, Laurie Moran, desperately needs a hit. With her career on the line, she pitches “The Cinderella Murder” to showcase on her new reality TV show “ Under Suspicion”. Once she begins looking up all the 'usual suspects', she soon discovers someone wants to shut down the renewed interest in the case and Laurie herself could be the next victim.
Years ago, a talented young UCLA student was murdered on her way to an audition. The case was never solved, but a cloud of suspicion still hangs over the director she was on her way to meet. But, it seems many others have been harboring secrets in regards to this case and now the truth is beginning to seep out little by little, casting doubts over all those involved. Was it a jealous roommate? Someone involved in a cult like church on campus? Susan's boyfriend? The director?
This is a classic whodunit, cleverly plotted, with precision timing and pacing. I love cold case stories that blend the past with the present, as long buried and dark secrets come bubbling to the surface and of course after all this time has passed, the murderer is finally brought to justice.
Because I read so much, and am usually called upon to scrutinize a book with a critical eye, I have become jaded over the years. However, I chose this book as a pleasure read, and only had a few very minor complaints, which I can't expound on without hinting at the outcome, but, I must say I found this mystery very entertaining. It kept me guessing, had likeable and realistic characters in the lead, and just a tiny bit of romance to cap it all off.
There is very little detailed violence, the language is mild and while there are adult situations, there is no explicit sex. This is just an all around solid mystery that everyone can enjoy.
I have been super excited about finally getting to read this book because I am such a big fan of both authors- Alafair Burke and Mary Higgins Clark. With these two at the helm, I knew this would be a great mystery and so it was.
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Television producer, Laurie Moran, desperately needs a hit. With her career on the line, she pitches “The Cinderella Murder” to showcase on her new reality TV show “ Under Suspicion”. Once she begins looking up all the 'usual suspects', she soon discovers someone wants to shut down the renewed interest in the case and Laurie herself could be the next victim.
Years ago, a talented young UCLA student was murdered on her way to an audition. The case was never solved, but a cloud of suspicion still hangs over the director she was on her way to meet. But, it seems many others have been harboring secrets in regards to this case and now the truth is beginning to seep out little by little, casting doubts over all those involved. Was it a jealous roommate? Someone involved in a cult like church on campus? Susan's boyfriend? The director?
This is a classic whodunit, cleverly plotted, with precision timing and pacing. I love cold case stories that blend the past with the present, as long buried and dark secrets come bubbling to the surface and of course after all this time has passed, the murderer is finally brought to justice.
Because I read so much, and am usually called upon to scrutinize a book with a critical eye, I have become jaded over the years. However, I chose this book as a pleasure read, and only had a few very minor complaints, which I can't expound on without hinting at the outcome, but, I must say I found this mystery very entertaining. It kept me guessing, had likeable and realistic characters in the lead, and just a tiny bit of romance to cap it all off.
There is very little detailed violence, the language is mild and while there are adult situations, there is no explicit sex. This is just an all around solid mystery that everyone can enjoy.
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LibraryThing member skinglist
Brain candy. Exactly what I needed. I hate reading series out of order, but in this case it ended up OK since these function as standalones in some respect. As a reader of Alafair Burke's series, I loved seeing JJ Rogan pop up and found myself looking for Harry Bosch since they were in LA. I love
The plot itself was kind of crazy. I didn't suspect Hathaway, but nor did it surprise me. The whole Steve Roman/Lydia piece though seemed completely unnecessary. In reading these out of order I have more context on Alex/Laurie and while I don't like that much, I'm happy that at least it doesn't distract completely from the main cases.
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inclusion of Leo & Timmy, although I think Timmy is written much younger than his 9 years. Daily naps?The plot itself was kind of crazy. I didn't suspect Hathaway, but nor did it surprise me. The whole Steve Roman/Lydia piece though seemed completely unnecessary. In reading these out of order I have more context on Alex/Laurie and while I don't like that much, I'm happy that at least it doesn't distract completely from the main cases.
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LibraryThing member Linda.Bass
I requested this book from the library when I realized that All Dressed in White was the sequel, but missed reading the first book that started it all! Take a twenty year old murder of a college student that lost one shoe and her murder was dubbed "The Cinderella Murder", but there were no
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witnesses and a whole lot of suspects and the case went cold. When television producer, Laurie Moran agreed to take on Susan Dempsey's cold case to air on her reality show, Under Suspicion she couldn't foresee that she'd stirred up a hornet's nest and more people would be murdered and her fighting for her life! Show Less
LibraryThing member Becky_McKenna
This was a decent murder mystery and started out very strong. I was intrigued as the story began, but then I was introduced to a huge cast of suspects and the story lost it's spark. To be honest, I was bored with it and spent most of the time trying to keep my characters straight. There is just
I'll probably give the next book in the series a try, just to see if things improve.
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"something" missing that could've made this wonderful idea stand apart from the typical murder mystery. I'll probably give the next book in the series a try, just to see if things improve.
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LibraryThing member Lizdugan
I couldn't put it down! I enjoyed how the three storylines were intertwined as one complex mystery. Even better was looking back and seeing the clues once you knew who did what.
Mystery lovers - this is a book for you. I cannot wait for the chance to read the next in the "Under Suspicion" series.
Mystery lovers - this is a book for you. I cannot wait for the chance to read the next in the "Under Suspicion" series.
LibraryThing member dazedbybooks
The Cinderella Murder was much improved from the first Under Suspicion novel. Mary Higgins Clark hit the nail on the head with this one. I found the characters very endearing and challenging at the same time. This book kept me guessing until the end, and the suspense was fulfilling. I will
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definitely read the next book in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
This is the first book in a new series by two of the best suspense authors I read, Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. Laurie Moran is a television producer of a new series called Under Suspicion. Her husband was killed a couple of years prior and this inspired her to showcase unsolved murders on
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her show to help bring closure to loved ones. In this installment of her show, she is showcasing a crime from twenty years prior known as "The Cinderella Murder". This mystery involves a famous movie director, a cult-like church and it's leader, a computer geek and a college professor. Several murders later and some embezzlement thrown in, the original crime is solved. As is usual in Mary Higgins Clark books, there are several suspects and the one that eventually turns out to be the murderer is not the one that is the most obvious. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ameise1
This was a very exciting introduction to a series that was new to me.
Laurie Moran and her team are preparing a reality show. It's about an unsolved old case where a young student was found dead in a park years ago. During the investigation, one witness after the other was murdered. Laurie
It was an exciting listening and kept me captivated until the end. I will read the rest of the books too.
Laurie Moran and her team are preparing a reality show. It's about an unsolved old case where a young student was found dead in a park years ago. During the investigation, one witness after the other was murdered. Laurie
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discovered that everyone involved was in danger. She also found that it was all about money, power, envy and child pornography.It was an exciting listening and kept me captivated until the end. I will read the rest of the books too.
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LibraryThing member ElizabethCromb
Written with Alasdair Burke
Another good tight story-line set around a tv show researching a coldcase that brings together all the players with violent results; ultimately solving the case.
Another good tight story-line set around a tv show researching a coldcase that brings together all the players with violent results; ultimately solving the case.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2014-11-18
Physical description
9 inches
ISBN
1476763127 / 9781476763125