September 28, 2022 - Staff Review

 

You Don't Own Me

By Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke

Release Date: November 6, 2018

Audiobook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/wvreads-wvlc/content/media/3830013

3 Stars - Another suspenseful tale from this talented writing duo. Laurie was easy to like though, a widow whose a smart investigator and single mom. On the flip side, we had Kendra who was much more of a mystery of course. Is she or is she not a victim? 

I hadn't been reading this series but Laurie's character makes this a formidable standalone. My biggest issue here was a lot of repeated information. This wasn't quite a quick, sharp story. Laurie's got a fascinating backstory, willing to stand her ground and tossing a few quips. Laurie's fiancee and family were fun too. Kendra was harder to like, seeming nearly impossibly naive. But she's definitely relatable for any woman who has struggled with the balance of marriage, children, and a career.

So, Clark's trademark on and off screen villians were great here. And Burke seems to contribute a modern touch to the writing. This felt very true to Clark's old form and format, moving her very 90s heroines into today's world with emojis and such. For me, the story dragged in places though. Alex was a very intriguing character who wasn't well used in the beginning. A former defense attorney turning judge could be a book itself. Also, the "stalker" element wasn't used to its potential. The full explanation of the term Gaslighting was a perfect example of a useless and boring info dump. If you haven't seen the movie, you still know the term. And if the book had actually started out and hit a fast-pace, moments like that wouldn't have come off so dull. Suspension of disbelief I think is required involving Kendra as well. Is she clueless? Is she lying to us and herself? I suppose it all added to the mystery. This was a quick though slightly less intense story better suited to casual reading than high thrills.

(NS)