What a fast-paced and thrilling read The Sleeping Beauty Killer is. From the very first moment, you are in the middle of a drama that contains many twists and turns, surprises and the main character who knows how to do what she does best. I literally read The Sleeping Beauty Killer overnight. There was no chance to put it aside, even for one minute. And despite the feeling that this story wasn´t new to me, I was absolutely haunted by it.


Schlafe Für Immer*
by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke
Under Suspicion Series #4
Translation Karl-Heinz Ebnet
Original Title The Sleeping Beauty Killer
Publisher Heyne on May 14, 2018
Genre Thriller
Pages 382
Format Hardcover
Source Publisher
✶✶✶✶½

It´s been fifteen years since Casey Carter´s fiancé was murdered. Casey was behind bars for fifteen years. Innocent, as she always claimed. Only that did not even believe her own mother. Now, after her release, she finally wants to cleanse her name. In desperation, she turns to Laurie Moran, who treats uncleared criminal cases in her TV show Under Suspicion. Laurie hesitates initially because the evidence clearly speaks against Casey. But then she takes on the case – unaware of the misfortune she conjures up with it. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary). 
Story
Laurie is in an awkward position. On one hand, she has to find a new moderator for her show but doesn´t want to make a final decision, on the other she just lost a possible case for the show and needs another one. And that fast. Her boss is sitting on her neck and the desperate woman in her office is eager to convince her that she is really innocent and in need of her help. A help that soon turns into a dangerous situation for Laurie and the team.

Style
I am thrilled. This thriller is one of the books you can´t put down because of the haunting plot, the fascinating characters, and the perfect writing style. You feel it in every page, that the team Higgins Clark-Burke is absolutely worth your time. What reading pleasure. In a simple to read, a clear language you can see that this is a Mary Higgins Clark book. Her elegant choice of words always with a hint of humor and the carefully designed figures prove it from start to finish, that you can count on a surprise at the end.

What I love about Mary Higgins Clark is, that she doesn´t need loud tones or an erotic undertone to get the reader´s attention. All she uses is a brilliant created psychological plot and a few great characters to excite her fans.

Characters
Not everything is as it seems and the different figures in this thriller are as opposite as you can imagine. Good, during some pages I couldn´t get rid of the feeling that I´ve read that before, but still, you see the brilliance Mary Higgins Clark has when it comes to her leading lady. 

And Laurie is one hell of a leading lady. She knows exactly what she wants. At least when it comes to her show Under Suspicion. Her private life is one big building site. Yes, she loves Alex, but she can´t commit to him entirely. Her late husband and the vow she gave him are a big obstacle. 

But Alex isn´t willing anymore to wait until she comes along. And he is more involved in the case as Laurie knows or the reader. But on the last page of this thriller, he even surprised me with his thoughts and actions.


Conclusion
There are not many books in this world, that make me read them in one single swoop literally overnight. This one is one of those few. The light but exciting style, the well thought-through plot and the fantastic created figures let you dig deep into a bold world where the rich and powerful pull strings to protect their own from harm. 



Happy reading







*This book was kindly provided to me by Heyne in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.









*The title was originally published The Sleeping Beauty Killer by Simon & Schuster on November 15, 2016.


Mary Higgins Clark
Mary Higgins Clark ©Gunther Glücklich



Mary Higgins Clark, born in 1928 in New York, lived and worked in Saddle River, New Jersey. She sold her first story in 1956 for $100 to a magazine. After the sudden death of her husband in 1964 she wrote her first book, a biographical novel about George Washington. Her first suspense novel Where are the Children from 1975 meant a turning point in her life and career: He became a bestseller. She is #1 international and New York Times bestselling author, has written thirty-four suspense novels; three collections of short stories; a historical novel; two children´s books; and a memoir, Kitchen Privileges. With her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, she has coauthored five more suspense novels. Her books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone. She is the most successful thriller author worldwide.

Alafair Burke
Alafair Burke ©Deborah Copaken




Alafair Burke is the daughter of James Lee Burke and the youngest of four children. She is a graduate of Stanford Law School and a former Deputy District Attorney in Portland, Oregon. Now she works as a Professor of Law at Hofstra Law School, where she teaches criminal law and procedure. She lives with Sean and their dogs in Manhattan. 

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