Mary Higgins Clark is a gifted suspense writer and The Shadow of Your Smile is her 29th novel. The Shadow of Your Smile was inspired by the true story of a nun who founded seven hospitals for the aged and is credited with saving the life of a child by prayer. Mary Higgins Clark bases her story on a nun who falls pregnant and secretly gives birth before dedicating her life to the church.
The Storyline of The Shadow of Your Smile
Mary Higgins Clark gathers a cast of fascinating characters in The Shadow of Your Smile. These include aged Olivia Morrow who holds letters from her deceased cousin, Sister Catherine. These letters reveal that Catherine gave birth at age seventeen and gave her son up for adoption. Two generations later, her granddaughter, Dr Monica Farrell is the rightful heir to the family fortune.
The fortune originated with Alexander Gannon, Monica’s grandfather who invented replacement parts for knees hips and ankles. In the absence of closer relatives, a foundation was set up to disperse money to good causes, and his nephews, Greg and Peter Gannon were given control of the money. Alexander was never told that Catherine had borne him a son.
Olivia knows she has two weeks left to live and deliberates over whether to reveal the truth to Monica. Her indecision leads to a web of deceit, lies, murder and greed as the Gannons and their partners scramble to protect their dwindling fortune.
Monica has no idea of what is happening but suspects an old flame when a hit man pushes her into the path of an oncoming bus. Her stress over this is compounded by her perceived rejection by Dr Ryan Jenner. The tension escalates until the story is tied together in the last few pages. Ever the Queen of Suspense, Mary Higgins Clark keeps the reader guessing right until the end.
What is the Message of The Shadow of Your Smile
As well as being an entertaining read, The Shadow of Your Smile introduces some interesting questions and thoughts. These include the following:
- The power of prayer to heal
- The results of greed, insider trading and mismanagement of funds
- The wisdom of withholding secrets from family members
- How far people will go to protect their lifestyle
Mary Higgins Clark has produced another novel with an intriguing storyline and interesting characters that keep the reader turning the pages. Chapters are short and easy to read and the story flows well. It is an enjoyable book that leaves the reader with much to think about.
Clark, Mary Higgins, The Shadow of Your Smile, Simon & Schuster, 2010
Debbie Roome - Debbie Roome is an award-winning freelance writer, journalist and novelist with over 25 years experience.
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