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From the "Queen of Suspense," Mary Higgins Clark, comes a riveting tale of suspense, secrets and revenge.
Historian Jean Sheridan returns to Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, excited about her twenty-year high-school reunion at Stonecroft Academy. But a dear friend of hers soon becomes the fifth woman in the class to meet a sudden, mysterious end. Then Jean receives a taunting fax about a child she gave up for adoption, whose existence she had kept a secret but whose life may now be in danger. For present at the reunion is The Owl, a murderer on a mission of vengeance against women who once humiliated him...and Jean is his final intended victim.
— Publishers Weekly
"Creeping menace that is genuinely scary."
— The New York Times
In the early years of her marriage, Clark began writing short stories, making her first sale in 1956 to Extension Magazine. Between writing and raising a family, the decade flew by. Then, in 1964, Warren Clark suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving his young widow with five children to support. She went to work writing radio scripts; and, around this time, she decided to try her hand at writing books. Inspired by a radio series she was working on, she drafted a biographical novel about George Washington. It was published in 1969 under the title Aspire to the Heavens. (In 2002, it was re-issued as Mount Vernon Love Story.) Her first suspense novel, Where Are the Children?, appeared in print in 1975. It was a huge hit and marked a turning point in her life. Since then, she has developed a loyal fan base, and each of her novels has hit the bestseller lists. She has also co-written stories and novels with her daughter Carol, a successful author in her own right.
In the 1970s, Clark enrolled in Fordham University at Lincoln Center, graduating summa cum laude in 1979. A great supporter of education, she has served as a trustee of her alma mater and Providence College and holds numerous honorary degrees. She remains active in Catholic affairs and has been honored with many awards. Her publisher, Simon & Schuster, funds an annual award in her name to be given to authors of suspense fiction writing in the Mary Higgins Clark tradition.
Chapter One
It was the third time in a month he had come to Los Angeles to observe her daily activities. "I know your comings and goings," he whispered as he waited in the pool house. It was one minute of seven. The morning sun was filtering through the trees, causing the waterfall that spilled into the pool to sparkle and shimmer.
He wondered if Alison could sense that she had only one minute more of life on earth. Did she have an uneasy feeling, perhaps a subconscious urge to skip her swim this morning? Even if she did, it wouldn't do her any good. It was too late.
The sliding glass door opened, and she stepped onto the patio. Thirty-eight years old, she was infinitely more attractive than she had been twenty years ago. Her body, tanned and sleek, looked good in the bikini. Her hair, now honey blond, framed and softened her sharp chin.
She tossed the towel she was carrying onto a lounge chair. The blinding anger that had been simmering inside him escalated into rage, but then, just as quickly, was replaced by the satisfaction of knowing what he was about to do. He had seen an interview in which a daredevil stunt diver swore that the moment before he began to dive, knowing that he was risking his life, was an indescribable thrill, a sensation he needed to repeat over and over again.
For me it's different, he thought. The moment before I reveal myself to them is what gives me the thrill. I know they're going to die, and when they see me, they know, too. They understand what I am going to do to them.
Alison stepped onto the diving board and stretched. He watched as she bounced softly, testing the board, then positioned her arms in front of her.
He opened the door of the pool house just as her feet lifted from the board. He wanted her to see him when she was in midair. Just before she hit the water. He wanted her to understand how vulnerable she was.
In that split second, their eyes locked. He caught her expression as she plunged into the water. She was terrified, aware that she was incapable of flight.
He was in the pool before she had surfaced. He hugged her against his chest, laughing as she flailed about, kicking her feet. How foolish she was. She should simply accept the inevitable. "You're going to die," he whispered, his voice calm, even.
Her hair was in his face, blinding him. Impatiently he shook it away. He didn't want to be distracted from the pleasure of feeling her struggle.
The end was coming. In her craving for breath, she had opened her mouth and was gulping water. He felt her final frantic effort to break away from him, then the hopelessly feeble tremors as her body began to go limp. He pressed her close, wishing he could read her mind. Was she praying? Was she begging God to save her? Was she seeing the light that people who have experienced a near-death event claim to have seen?
He waited a full three minutes before he released her. With a satisfied smile he watched as her body sank to the bottom of the pool.
It was five minutes after seven when he climbed out of the pool, pulled on a sweatshirt, shorts, sneakers, a cap, and dark glasses. He had already chosen the spot where he would leave the silent reminder of his visit, the calling card that everybody always missed.
At six minutes past seven he began to jog down the quiet street, another early morning fitness buff in a city of fitness buffs.
Copyright © 2004 by Mary Higgins Clark
Anonymous
Posted November 25, 2007
I'm such a Mary Higgins Clark fan. I have read each and every book she has written and have not been disappointed with any of them! NIGHTTIME IS MY TIME, is a wonderful story that kept me in one spot throughout the entire book! I loved this story and believe you will like it as well.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 21, 2012
I am fourteen years old and the biggest fan of clark
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 2, 2013
PERMISSIONS: DO NOT WAR WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE OTHER COVEN AND FROM ME, YOUR CHARACTERS DO NOT NEED TO BE APPROVED BY ME,. WHAT NOT TO DO: SPAM, START OOC FIGHTS, START COVEN WARS WITHOUT PERMISSION, SWEAR, HAVE RP S?X, ICLY KILL WITHOUT OOC PERMISSION, BE INTENTIONALLY RUDE OOCLY. COVEN WARS: TO START A COVEN WAR POST ON NIGHTTIME RES THREE, THE OTHER COVEN WILL BE NOTIFIED, THIS IS A RP BATTLE SO WHICHEVER CLAN RPS BETTER ON AVERAGE WILL WIN, YOUR COVEN IS LIMITED TO ONE WAR PER RL MONTH WHICH ALLOWS FOR IC HEALING AND PREPARATION FOR WAR. TERMINOLOGY: IC=IN CHARACTER OOC=OUT OF CHARACTER IRL/RL=IN REAL LIFE. to be continued at the next res.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Another suspense filled novel by Mary Higgins Clark! I have thus far only read two books by this author, and I am very impressed by each one. The plot in this book keeps you on the edge of your seat! Readers are constantly wondering who is "The Owl" and you will be SUPER surprised when you find out who it is! Another hit that I highly recommend.
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Posted May 28, 2012
We aren't ignoring you! Why are you so mad at me? Go to german shepherds result one. That's the new camp. Please tell me why you're mad at me at the old camp.~Snowy
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 11, 2012
I Love this book its bloody brilliant. Normally I can solve a mystery book before the end this on and all of Mary higgins clark keep me stumped always :)
Anonymous
Posted December 2, 2011
Nighttime is My Time is a wonderful book about a woman detective, by the name of Molly, who goes to a high school reunion of hers. There she meets an old love, and sparks start to fly. Charlie is a man in his mid thrities, but he is also a man with the mind of a five year old. events like this are what causes this story to be teeth chattering, and tear jerking.
Moly sparks an old flame with her high school sweet heart, which causes her to become sidetracked very easily. charlie is not himself for part of this book; Charlie has experienced troub;e, and confusion. Charlie has a hope of getting people to listen, but as he does this they laugh, and say that he needs a "powernap."
It seems almost impossible to some that an object could determine the fate of so many people at such a fast time.
I see this novel as teeth chattering, a spine chilling tale, that has been wonderfully written and thought out. Clark finds the ability ti connect with her readers through the story, making it more addictiong as you go along.
I would recommend this novel to any reader who enjoys mysteries. I also recommend it to readers who enjoy a thrill ride, and love the feeling of addiction to the book. clark has a magnificent giftm which she chooses to share with her readers.
Anonymous
Posted September 29, 2011
This is a fast paced action book. The path the mystery takes winds back and forth and takes you with it. Great read, but beware--you won't be able to put it down.
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Posted January 10, 2011
love love love this was my first mary higgins clark book and i wil forever be a fan now!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.good !
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Melmar29
Posted January 22, 2009
This is one of the best I have read from Ms. Clark! I could not put this book down and it kept me on the edge of my seat right up until the end. Once again she had me guessing who and proving I was wrong once again. What a great book, and would make a great movie!
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Posted January 25, 2008
Like many of the others reviewing this, I too have read several other Clark books over the years, always finding them gripping and engaging while somehow telling tales of horror in the same oddly reassuring vein 'Law and Order' consistently nails (apparently something we need or like in tails of mayhem)................Surprisingly, I think this one I found more suspenseful than some of the others, but I will admit that I had a stronger than usual emotional engagement with the main character throughout (due to one or her losses), which probably somewhat changed my involvement with the story. I must have read the whole thing in 3-4 hours, and I positively raced through the last several chapters, even gasping at one revelation (though, again, this probably stemmed from my especially keen emotional connection to the main character).................All this being said, I do agree with the reviewers complaining about the number of characters in the story, and there were certainly moments where the scenes seemed as if they were plotted on some grand master chart for the stock 'compelling suspense novel' ('introduce red herring #3 here'). Upon reflection, it's also true that her heroine is fairly one-dimensional, with Clark showing a shocking disregard for even what simple things might have been mined from the woman's profession. Likewise, nothing whatsoever accounts for her transformation into an 'elegant,' polished intellectual, despite the scars of her childhood...............On the whole, although Clark does a commendable job of pulling you into the story sufficiently well that you don't really notice the shortcomings, this does read as a bit of a rush job -- long on plot and suspense, short on the eloquence, richness of detail and thought-provoking insights another writer could have found in this eerie tale. For what it is, it succeeds, and that's no small credit to Clark's writing. In the end, however, each component of this book winds up much like the identical, mass-produced owls left with each victim -- a far cry from Hitchcock's haunting, complex use of avian imagery in 'The Birds.'
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Posted January 17, 2008
I just picked up this book a half hour ago and i can't put it down. She has definately perfected exileration!
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Posted July 9, 2007
I was kind of dissapointed with this book. I have read most of her books and am constantly surprised by the endings. This one was very predictable and lacks the surprise twist that most of her books contain.
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Posted July 22, 2007
I thought this book was very good. I didn t think it was predictable at all. I even went back to try and see if I missed something and could have figured it out but I didn't. I thought it was very worth time invested to read it. Reminded me of 'Loves Music, Loves to Dance' which I loved!!!!
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Posted July 2, 2007
This book is indeed a page turner. Jean attends her high school reunion only to find out that someone going by the name of the owl, is looking to kill her and others from her graduation class. The owl will stop at nothing to seek revenge on his classmates. Mary higgins clark has done it again.
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Posted June 20, 2007
OMG!! This a good book. It kept me turning the pages. I had to know who the owl was and when i found out i was shocked!I wouldnt have guessed. One Of her best books
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Posted April 5, 2006
I have read most of her books and think they are becoming very predictable. This book does not give me any surprise and most of the characters do not stand out. It might be time for her to do more research before writing again.
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Posted May 17, 2006
This novel was exhilirating. It was not at all a boring book. Better yet, it is a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. There were many different characters that could have been the killer, but it was not at all confusing. The characters were easy to keep track of. It was a very smooth read, no stumbles at all. MHC is still flawless in her novels, and this one is no exception.
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Posted March 3, 2006
This was the first book I read by MHC & I will read more from her! This book had me guessing who the killer was. The ending shocked me!
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Overview
From the "Queen of Suspense," Mary Higgins Clark, comes a riveting tale of suspense, secrets and revenge.
Historian Jean Sheridan returns to Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, excited about her twenty-year high-school reunion at Stonecroft Academy. But a dear friend of hers soon becomes the fifth woman in the class to meet a sudden, mysterious end. Then Jean receives a taunting fax about a child she gave up for adoption, whose existence she had kept a secret but whose life may now ...