Review: The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke

Book: The Cinderella Murder

Authors: Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke

Pages: 320

I read: The Kindle edition

I read it in: 3.5 hours

Plot Summary: 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?

What I Liked: Quick list:

• The premise of this series- a reality TV show that investigates (or at any rate interviews everyone involved in) unsolved murder cases- was very interesting. I read the first book in this series- I've Got You Under My Skin-  last year and I really liked the format and the two cases that were solved in that book. Please note that you need not have necessarily read I've Got You Under My Skin to read this book- there are no major plot connections between the two. 

• The case dealt with in this book was rather interesting- a bright, young student was murdered and the police could not figure out who did it. A cold case from 20 years ago being re-visited and new evidence coming to light was all very well done and made for an interesting read. 

• The pool of suspects, the red herrings, the possible reasons Susan was murdered are all well done and it was not very obvious who the real murderer was and what his/her intentions were. So, as a reader you keep guessing till at least 2/3rds of the book- always a good thing! 

• Laurie Moran, her father, her team and Alex Buckley are all nicely crafted characters and their approach to interviewing suspects and unearthing new evidence is very believable- as in, they are not cops but they are smart 'lay people', who ask the right questions and have the right instincts. This makes the series relatable as, possibly, you and I would have asked the same kinds of questions and had the same approach.

• The book is of the perfect length.. no time is wasted in unnecessary plot points or red herrings. This is a tight, crisp book and is a perfect murder mystery.

What I Didn't Like: Nothing much really. Like I said, you can't guess who the killer is until you are 2/3rds or more into the book, which is always a good thing! :) 

Rating: 4/5 

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