The “Queen of Suspense,” Mary Higgins Clark, has teamed up with bestselling thriller writer Alafair Burke (ALL DAY AND A NIGHT) to bring us a layered mystery that is sure to keep readers guessing until the end. Using a creative storyline premise reminiscent of the TV show “Unsolved Mysteries,” THE CINDERELLA MURDER is the first book in a collaborative series featuring characters from Clark’s previous bestselling novel, I’VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN.

Laurie Moran is a television producer whose pilot reality drama, “Under Suspicion,” was a runaway hit. The show examines an unsolved cold case by re-enacting the crime using those originally involved rather than actors. Laurie, unfortunately, knows all too well the pain of having a loved one murdered and not knowing who committed the crime --- her husband Greg’s murder went unsolved for five years. After researching many unsolved cold cases, Laurie believes she has found the perfect case to delve into for the next episode: The Cinderella Murder.

"Clark and Burke each bring her own style of success to the story; it will be interesting to see what intriguing cold cases they have Laurie and her team feature in future installments of the series. The possibilities are endless and should make for satisfying reading for mystery and thriller fans alike."

When Susan Dempsey, a beautiful and talented UCLA student, was found dead 20 years ago wearing only one silver high-heeled shoe, the media dubbed her case “The Cinderella Murder.” After speaking with Susan’s mom, Rosemary, Laurie is convinced that Susan’s case would make for great TV. Not only were there multiple former suspects willing to participate in the show, some of them included tech billionaires and an award-winning Hollywood director.

With the assistance of charismatic and attractive criminal defense lawyer and “Under Suspicion” host Alex Buckley, Laurie and her team travel to California to begin answering the multitude of questions surrounding Susan’s murder. Did Susan ever make it to the home of Frank Parker, the up-and-coming director for whom she was supposed to be auditioning? How and why was her car parked miles away on campus? What was her boyfriend, Keith Ratner’s, involvement? Did she have more than just a student-teacher relationship with one of her professors? And what secrets were her best friends (and roommates) trying to hide? Therearealso additional developments involving a controversial megachurch that may or may not tie in with Susan’s murder.

These are but a few pieces of the puzzle that seems to become more intricate the deeper Laurie and her team digs. Consequently, someone is not happy with all their digging, and it’s not long before there’s a new murder, followed by a brutal assault on someone close to Laurie. She quickly realizes that continuing to shed new light on Susan’s murder may  put them all in grave danger.

THE CINDERELLA MURDER is a surefire puzzle. Clark and Burke have put so many possible (i.e. legitimate) suspects in the mix that just when one leaps off the page and we think Okay, it HAS to be this person, another rises to the surface to compete for attention. To me, this is the fun of deciphering a good mystery. And while I enjoyed being stumped while trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, there were parts of the story that felt slightly forced, namely the (somewhat) romantic interest between Laurie and Alex.

In the end, those who like having their mysteries neatly come together in the final pages will enjoy this novel. Clark and Burke each bring her own style of success to the story; it will be interesting to see what intriguing cold cases they have Laurie and her team feature in future installments of the series. The possibilities are endless and should make for satisfying reading for mystery and thriller fans alike.