In her latest novel, Mary Higgins Clark has managed to do it again -- and I mean that quite literally. The plot of "You Belong to Me" is predictable and stale, although admittedly entertaining. Clark once again rolls out her stock formula for creating a "suspenseful" novel, in which beautiful women are pursued by handsome men, with the crazed-yet-controlled maniac lurking in the shadows.
The heroine this time is Dr. Susan Chandler, a psychologist and daily talk show host. One day she begins a series on women who have disappeared, and soon finds herself in the center of a bizarre and strained web of coincidences that would make any other person believe they had arrived at the vortex of the Twilight Zone. This, however, does not phase the beautiful, intelligent, brave and sympathetic Dr. Chandler (as Clark repeatedly emphasizes).
She cavalierly takes it upon herself to solve the strange disappearance of lonely women from luxury cruise ships. (One can't help but wonder what box-office hit Clark may be trying to cash in with this idea...) In the course of her efforts, Dr. Chandler naturally attracts not one, but two handsome, charming and intelligent men to her side, who make condescending and over-protective statements to her as she follows lead upon lead.
Anyone who has previously read a novel by Higgins Clark surely knows the rest of the plot from here on. The disappearance is not an isolated incident; indeed, several women have been abducted around the world. Luckily, however, all the clues and the killer just happen to be in New York, along with Dr. Chandler. As more pieces of the puzzle are brought forward, the mystery deepens, as the reader's incredulity is stretched hopelessly.
There is nothing more disappointing than knowing the identity of a "mystery" killer in the first third of the novel, but by recycling her storylines so often, Clark makes it possible to determine the killer too quickly, without much deductive effort. Hint: cross off any prominent male who makes a suspicious remark. The only one left will be the killer.
Invariably, this also happens to be the most attractive and sympathetic character in the novel; the one every woman wants to bring home and keep. But never fear! The second runner-up is ever-ready to gallantly rush from the wings at the crucial moment, and walks away with the eternally grateful woman on his arm.
Clark does not completely fail us, however. Despite the many flaws of this novel, she has managed to get something right. I have to confess that I am a sucker for these stories, and finished reading this one the first day I had it. Although the plot is wearing thin, and her characters act like marionette puppets set upon a stage, Mary Higgins Clark manages to hit upon the human gossip in all of us, which yearns for such fluffy stuff to fill the mind for a short time.
On top of this, Clark has some of the most delicious scenes of any novel I've read. She never fails to describe exactly what her characters are eating, and spares no details. It is not advisable to read this book while hungry, or you too will enviously drool while reading passages about the hearty pasta dinners with the light basil and garlic sauce that the heroine whips up between leads, or the espresso and fresh pastries eaten at that beautiful sidewalk cafe -- the passages are endless. And so will be your trips to the kitchens.
If you are looking for a worthwhile book to bring meaning to your summer, look elsewhere. But if you are in the mood for some light, enjoyable reading for the beach, Mary Higgins Clark just may do the trick. As far as pop thriller fiction goes, Clark is among the most appealing, and still manages to capture interest in her fifteenth novel. So pick up a package of cookies and a copy of this book, and give your mind a well-deserved vacation.
