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The Cradle Will Fall
This hospital-based horror tale features abduction and a research project that violates every principle of modern medicine. This is a reissue of a novel by a popular author often described as the 'Queen of Suspense'.
314 pages
First published January 1, 1980
471 people are currently reading
5,227 people want to read
About the author
Mary Higgins Clark
501books13.1kfollowersThe #1 New York Times bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark has written thirty-eight suspense novels, four collections of short stories, a historical novel, a memoir, and two children’s books. With bestselling author Alafair Burke she wrote the Under Suspicion series. With her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, she has coauthored five more suspense novels. Her sister-in-law is the also author Mary Jane Clark.
Clark’s books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone. Her books are beloved around the world and made her an international bestseller many times over.
Clark’s books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone. Her books are beloved around the world and made her an international bestseller many times over.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 633 reviews
August 11, 2021
Prosecutor Katie DeMaio has a car accident and ends up in the hospital. Tired, drugged, and groggy, she looks out the window of her hospital room and thinks she sees a man putting a dead lady in a trunk in the parking lot outside. Weak and weary, she thinks she dreamed or imagined this, and she tries to forget it. When Katie gets out of the hospital and goes back to work, her office is investigating a supposed suicide of a pregnant lady (Vangie Lewis). Remembering what she saw from her hospital window, she thinks the dead woman she thought she saw could have been Vangie. But thinking it was a dream, she is unsure. Along the way, there are more suicides, deaths, and murders. And they all seem to be connected to Westlake Hospital�
I really enjoyed this book, I had a hard time putting it down. The story was very captivating and I liked the large cast of characters. The villain was cold, sinister, and creepy, and I was looking forward to them being caught. I enjoyed the suspenseful moments at the hospital towards the end of the book.
An exciting read by Mary Higgins Clark.
I really enjoyed this book, I had a hard time putting it down. The story was very captivating and I liked the large cast of characters. The villain was cold, sinister, and creepy, and I was looking forward to them being caught. I enjoyed the suspenseful moments at the hospital towards the end of the book.
An exciting read by Mary Higgins Clark.
March 25, 2022
Die Staatsanwältin Katie DeMaio hat einen Autounfall und wird ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert. Nachts sieht sie vom Krankenhausfenster aus, wie ein Arzt eine Leiche heimlich beseitigt. Später denkt sie, sie habe den Vorfall nur geträumt. Doch der Arzt hat gemerkt, dass er von Katie beobachtet wurde, und Katie stellt nun eine Gefahr für ihn dar und muss beseitigt werden...
* Meine Meinung *
Der Roman liest sich leicht und flüssig und ist in viele kurze Kapitel unterteilt, was das Lesen zusätzlich erleichtert. Obwohl man schon von Beginn an weiß, wer der Täter ist, ist das Buch doch spannend und fesselnd zu lesen.
ABER: Letztendlich konnte mich "Wo waren Sie, Dr. Highley" nicht vollkommen überzeugen. Die ganze Geschichte ist mir irgendwie zu unglaubwürdig. Dass die ermittelnden Beamten nicht schon viel früher auf den Täter kommen, ist mir irgendwie unbegreiflich, und auch die Experimente kaum vorstellbar.
Dennoch ist es ein gutes Buch, auch wenn Mary Higgins Clark schon bessere geschrieben hat!
* Meine Meinung *
Der Roman liest sich leicht und flüssig und ist in viele kurze Kapitel unterteilt, was das Lesen zusätzlich erleichtert. Obwohl man schon von Beginn an weiß, wer der Täter ist, ist das Buch doch spannend und fesselnd zu lesen.
ABER: Letztendlich konnte mich "Wo waren Sie, Dr. Highley" nicht vollkommen überzeugen. Die ganze Geschichte ist mir irgendwie zu unglaubwürdig. Dass die ermittelnden Beamten nicht schon viel früher auf den Täter kommen, ist mir irgendwie unbegreiflich, und auch die Experimente kaum vorstellbar.
Dennoch ist es ein gutes Buch, auch wenn Mary Higgins Clark schon bessere geschrieben hat!
January 6, 2021
This book was like a bag of potato chips, totally non-nutritious, but highly addictive and you just gobble it all down as quickly as possible--nothing wrong with that. Four stars for great entertainment.
November 29, 2012
Oh my God! These are the best words to describe this book. The story, the characters, the twists and turns that these book presents are amazing. It was incredibly difficult to put it down once I started reading it. The most impressive thing about this book is the fact that it starts right away with action, and it got me thinking "how in the world is this author gonna 'extend' the story for another 300 pages?" But she did it. I totally recommend it to anyone who likes crime books. And I most certainly will read more books from this author.
May 3, 2016
EXPERIMENTAL READ OF THE MONTH: MAY 2016
Every month my friends and I go out of our comfort zones and embrace the world outside historical and contemporary romance. Thanks for accompanying me on this wild ride, sraxe!
DNF@24%.
Let's play a guessing game. Why do you think sraxe and I both DNF-ed this book?
A. Because it's predictable as hell, and we found out who the killer was early on in the book
B. Because the main character, Katie, was an invertebrate with a non-existent personality
C. Because the love interest, Richard, was a douchebag who kissed another woman later on in the book (granted, Richard and Katie weren't officially together, but hell, man, you were already putting the moves on her, you mofo)
D. Because the side characters were frustrating as fuck
E. Because the subject of cheating wasn't handled properly (the cheater even got a HEA with his mistress)
F. All of the above
Oh, you answered F?
Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner, folks!
Your prize is that you get to avoid wasting your 6.99 USD on this crappy story. Congratulations!
Every month my friends and I go out of our comfort zones and embrace the world outside historical and contemporary romance. Thanks for accompanying me on this wild ride, sraxe!
DNF@24%.
Let's play a guessing game. Why do you think sraxe and I both DNF-ed this book?
A. Because it's predictable as hell, and we found out who the killer was early on in the book
B. Because the main character, Katie, was an invertebrate with a non-existent personality
C. Because the love interest, Richard, was a douchebag who kissed another woman later on in the book (granted, Richard and Katie weren't officially together, but hell, man, you were already putting the moves on her, you mofo)
D. Because the side characters were frustrating as fuck
E. Because the subject of cheating wasn't handled properly (the cheater even got a HEA with his mistress)
F. All of the above
Oh, you answered F?
Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner, folks!
Your prize is that you get to avoid wasting your 6.99 USD on this crappy story. Congratulations!
March 19, 2023
As usual, Mary Higgins Clark weaves a captivating story with plenty of twists and turns.
However, as an unmarried male who has no interest in being a parent, all the talk about pregnancy and childbirth made me a bit uncomfortable. If you're in the same boat as me, then, proceed with caution.
However, as an unmarried male who has no interest in being a parent, all the talk about pregnancy and childbirth made me a bit uncomfortable. If you're in the same boat as me, then, proceed with caution.
February 12, 2023
I hadn't read Clark until recently, but I remember my mom reading her when i was little. Also, there is something enjoyable about reading books from 30/40 years ago that put me back to that time before cell phones and instant info in our hands. I like remembering those days and the books of those times puts me back there.
Another reason is that they are a quick read and the last 50 to 100 pages are very suspenseful. I like how we know who the killer is from the beginning so we are not trying to figure out who dunnit but the mind of the killer exposed and him trying to get away with it.
There are parts that I get confused, like why Richard and Katie talked about everything with the case except for Richard being suspicious of the doctor, i dont understand why. And the characters are pretty flat. But, I don't read it because I expect superior writing, I just try to enjoy the suspense and easy read of it.
Another reason is that they are a quick read and the last 50 to 100 pages are very suspenseful. I like how we know who the killer is from the beginning so we are not trying to figure out who dunnit but the mind of the killer exposed and him trying to get away with it.
There are parts that I get confused, like why Richard and Katie talked about everything with the case except for Richard being suspicious of the doctor, i dont understand why. And the characters are pretty flat. But, I don't read it because I expect superior writing, I just try to enjoy the suspense and easy read of it.
August 22, 2023
Mary Higgins Clark yra legenda. Prikepusi apie 70 knygų, ji užsitarnavo detektyvų meistrės vardą. Grynai tų atostogonių - "perskaičiau ir padėjau" trilerių autorė stengėsi išgalvoti fainus siužetus, netikėtus posūkius ir susukt veiksmą. Ne visadajod knygos būna netikėtos, ne visada skaitau max susidomėjus, dažnai būna per langva, bet esmė - jei pažįsti MHC, tai ir imi ją skaityt, kai nori ko lengvo, greit perskaitomo ir galbūt visai stipriai užsikabint. Galbūt.
Ši knyga buvo vien iš įdomesnių jos skaitytų. Daktaro, "gydančio" vaisingumo sutrikimus, o išties žalojančio pacientes tema buvo netikėta. Patiko ir tai, kad knygą skaitai tiek iš tiriančios, tiek iš nusikalstančio perspektyvų. Nuo pat pradžių žinai kas blogietis ir kartu su juo bandai "išsisukt" nuo pričiupimo. Aišku, MHC sunkiai išsiverčia be meilės linijos, kurios, mano galva. čia visai nereikėjo, nes pilnai pakako sudomint nusikaltimais. Jaučiasi, kad knyga rašyta 1980 metais - trūko visų tų technologijų, kuriomis esame išlepinti naujesniuose trileriuose, ir kuriomis viens du būtų galima išspręst bylą. Bet aš mylių senesnes knygas ir puikiai gebu įsijaust į auksinius 80's ar 90's ir man tai nemaišė. Knyga faina, lengva, MHC vibe'as tinka, patinka ir tikrai karštą vasaros dieną puikiai susiskaitė.
Ši knyga buvo vien iš įdomesnių jos skaitytų. Daktaro, "gydančio" vaisingumo sutrikimus, o išties žalojančio pacientes tema buvo netikėta. Patiko ir tai, kad knygą skaitai tiek iš tiriančios, tiek iš nusikalstančio perspektyvų. Nuo pat pradžių žinai kas blogietis ir kartu su juo bandai "išsisukt" nuo pričiupimo. Aišku, MHC sunkiai išsiverčia be meilės linijos, kurios, mano galva. čia visai nereikėjo, nes pilnai pakako sudomint nusikaltimais. Jaučiasi, kad knyga rašyta 1980 metais - trūko visų tų technologijų, kuriomis esame išlepinti naujesniuose trileriuose, ir kuriomis viens du būtų galima išspręst bylą. Bet aš mylių senesnes knygas ir puikiai gebu įsijaust į auksinius 80's ar 90's ir man tai nemaišė. Knyga faina, lengva, MHC vibe'as tinka, patinka ir tikrai karštą vasaros dieną puikiai susiskaitė.
June 6, 2021
Um genau zu sein, ganze 4,8 ⭐️.
Spannend von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite. 😍
Habe diesen fulminanten Knall am Ende wirklich nicht kommen sehen. 😱👌♥️ Grandios. 😃
Spannend von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite. 😍
Habe diesen fulminanten Knall am Ende wirklich nicht kommen sehen. 😱👌♥️ Grandios. 😃
May 7, 2015
As I was reading this, my first MHC novel, I was thinking to myself, "this sounds like a Lifetime movie." Imagine my chagrin when I found out it WAS made into a Lifetime movie.
We get to see the story from many points of view, including the killer's, so there is never any mystery as to whodunit. Instead we spend the novel trying to figure out why. That was an interesting angle to come at it and I was pulled in by this novel. I hardly put it down all day and read it in just a couple sittings.
Overall the quality wasn't very good, though. Why does MHC describe her characters by stating what famous actor or actress they look like? Not only does that seem monumentally lazy, it also dates the story.
There was quite a bit of cheesy dialogue. And misunderstood dialogue? Richard seemed like a total tool to me. What about that scene where he takes Kate to dinner and talks about himself the whole time? I was all, "wow. what a dirtbag." Then Katie is all, "this really made me think about my life and see Richard in a new light so now I think I love him." DO WHAT NOW? Plus, instalove. So, yeah.
Previous reviewers mentioned crazy twists and turns but I didn't see them. They weren't very crazy or very twisty because the foreshadowing was too heavy handed, I saw it all coming and seriously, I am NOT one of those people that guesses a book's ending by page twelve. Generally I'm the most gullible, oblivious reader I've ever met. You can hit me with a two by four of foreshadowing and at the end I'll still be like, "OMG SNAPE KILLED DUMBLEDORE?!"
Finally, it felt like the only plot device in this entire book was missed phone calls. Seriously missed phone calls were absolutely the cause of 100% of the mystery in The Cradle Will Fall. I guess that's the magic of the time before cell phones.
This won't stop me from attempting a more recent MHC novel but I won't go into it with very high hopes.
We get to see the story from many points of view, including the killer's, so there is never any mystery as to whodunit. Instead we spend the novel trying to figure out why. That was an interesting angle to come at it and I was pulled in by this novel. I hardly put it down all day and read it in just a couple sittings.
Overall the quality wasn't very good, though. Why does MHC describe her characters by stating what famous actor or actress they look like? Not only does that seem monumentally lazy, it also dates the story.
There was quite a bit of cheesy dialogue. And misunderstood dialogue? Richard seemed like a total tool to me. What about that scene where he takes Kate to dinner and talks about himself the whole time? I was all, "wow. what a dirtbag." Then Katie is all, "this really made me think about my life and see Richard in a new light so now I think I love him." DO WHAT NOW? Plus, instalove. So, yeah.
Previous reviewers mentioned crazy twists and turns but I didn't see them. They weren't very crazy or very twisty because the foreshadowing was too heavy handed, I saw it all coming and seriously, I am NOT one of those people that guesses a book's ending by page twelve. Generally I'm the most gullible, oblivious reader I've ever met. You can hit me with a two by four of foreshadowing and at the end I'll still be like, "OMG SNAPE KILLED DUMBLEDORE?!"
Finally, it felt like the only plot device in this entire book was missed phone calls. Seriously missed phone calls were absolutely the cause of 100% of the mystery in The Cradle Will Fall. I guess that's the magic of the time before cell phones.
This won't stop me from attempting a more recent MHC novel but I won't go into it with very high hopes.
May 2, 2016
Well, that was quite a disappointment after the enjoyment of the last book. I even ended up DNFing this a quarter of the way in.
Although the last book, , took some time to pick up, at least it kept my interest because of the likeable characters. I found myself rooting for certain individuals and suspecting who could be up to what. This book? I didn't like any of the key players and the whodunit wasn't a whodunit at all.
First off, Katie was a very, very weak character. She didn't even have any real personality in the quarter of the book I read. She kind of just meandered through the story. Literally every other character had more of an appeal and pull than she did. And isn't that saying something considering she's the main character, right?
Another irritating part about her was her obsession with wanting to have children. She acted like it was the end of the fucking world if she couldn't have children. I know some women badly want bio kids, but it just really frustrates me having to actually read about it. There was millions of children out there who are in need of homes, and Katie here is sitting around being all woe is me! I'll never be a mother! It's not the end of the fucking world! Fucking adopt.
And then, unlike the last book, I didn't even have any couple to cheer for in the end. Yeah, yeah, I know this isn't a romance book, but it's pretty obvious that
The mystery seemed like it was going to be a whodunit mystery, but it wasn't.
And Chris
There was nothing and no one to cheer for here.
This was May's "Experimental Read of the Month" with my fellow Detective Amazing Hair, Daniella! At least we grumbled and moaned and cussed about this book together, Dani.
Although the last book, , took some time to pick up, at least it kept my interest because of the likeable characters. I found myself rooting for certain individuals and suspecting who could be up to what. This book? I didn't like any of the key players and the whodunit wasn't a whodunit at all.
First off, Katie was a very, very weak character. She didn't even have any real personality in the quarter of the book I read. She kind of just meandered through the story. Literally every other character had more of an appeal and pull than she did. And isn't that saying something considering she's the main character, right?
Another irritating part about her was her obsession with wanting to have children. She acted like it was the end of the fucking world if she couldn't have children. I know some women badly want bio kids, but it just really frustrates me having to actually read about it. There was millions of children out there who are in need of homes, and Katie here is sitting around being all woe is me! I'll never be a mother! It's not the end of the fucking world! Fucking adopt.
And then, unlike the last book, I didn't even have any couple to cheer for in the end. Yeah, yeah, I know this isn't a romance book, but it's pretty obvious that
The mystery seemed like it was going to be a whodunit mystery, but it wasn't.
And Chris
There was nothing and no one to cheer for here.
This was May's "Experimental Read of the Month" with my fellow Detective Amazing Hair, Daniella! At least we grumbled and moaned and cussed about this book together, Dani.
December 17, 2018
This was an oldie, but goodie! This book grabbed my attention from the very first and never let up. I'm definitely up for reading other works by Mary Higgins Clark that I may have missed when I was younger.
October 22, 2024
Mano “comfort� autorė. Kai apima neskaitymo jausmas ir nesinori skaityti - imu šios autorės knygą ir šoku į skaitymo kelionę. Ne pirma ir jau nežinau net kelinta šios autorės skaityta knyga, kuri tikrai patiko. Knygoje nuo pat pirmų puslapių vyksta veiksmas, kuris išlaikomas iki pat paskutinio puslapio. Istorija gana gyvenimiška, galbūt kiek viskas vietomis buvo per akivaizdu ir nu kaip nesupranta kas ir kaip, tačiau tikrai dėlto knyga netapo prasma. Dar vienas nuostabus autorės kūrinys.
December 27, 2017
Continuing my December custom of cleaning off my shelves of those books that have been languishing for years, I turned to a random Mary Higgins Clark novel that I inherited from my mother who, judging from the sheer volume of them, must have loved. I remember reading a couple many years ago and considered them OK but nothing to write home about.
This one was only the third suspense novel published by the prolific Ms. Clark, first published in 1980. The plot was pretty straight-forward and concerns a rather diabolical OBGYN doctor who liked to experiment with fetuses. The news of the first in vitro fertilization (test-tube baby) in 1978 was still fresh in reader’s minds so I suppose the plot was timely. I actually enjoyed this one more than I expected, even though there were a lot of extraneous scenes with characters that didn’t seem to directly relate to the plot. The antagonist is known to the reader almost immediately but nevertheless, the story remained interesting and moved along at a fairly quick page-turning pace. The end was somewhat predictable but still satisfying.
3.5 stars
This one was only the third suspense novel published by the prolific Ms. Clark, first published in 1980. The plot was pretty straight-forward and concerns a rather diabolical OBGYN doctor who liked to experiment with fetuses. The news of the first in vitro fertilization (test-tube baby) in 1978 was still fresh in reader’s minds so I suppose the plot was timely. I actually enjoyed this one more than I expected, even though there were a lot of extraneous scenes with characters that didn’t seem to directly relate to the plot. The antagonist is known to the reader almost immediately but nevertheless, the story remained interesting and moved along at a fairly quick page-turning pace. The end was somewhat predictable but still satisfying.
3.5 stars
April 29, 2019
DNF.
I love Clark's books but I attempted to read this and just did not like the subject matter.
I also do not like books involving abducted children and hospitals. To close to a medical thriller for me and that is not a genre I like. I did not even love "Coma" the giant of all medical thrillers.
I still love her mysteries but the subject matter was not for me and I realized that pretty early on.
I love Clark's books but I attempted to read this and just did not like the subject matter.
I also do not like books involving abducted children and hospitals. To close to a medical thriller for me and that is not a genre I like. I did not even love "Coma" the giant of all medical thrillers.
I still love her mysteries but the subject matter was not for me and I realized that pretty early on.
August 25, 2015
Adorei! MHC continua a surpreender-me pela positiva. É das melhores escolhas para mim, quando quero ler um policial mais "soft".Este livro, recordou-me o quanto eu gosto dos livros de Robin Cook. Aconselho é mesmo muito bom!!!
April 27, 2019
MHC seems to be confused about which pieces of the CJS complete which parts of the investigative process. I'm also concerned about meats and cheeses being left out of the refrigerator for undisclosed lengths of time before being consumed.
July 20, 2023
Mary Higgins Clark, prieš gerus 5-6 metus, buvo skaitomiausia mano autorė. Nors jos knygos įvardijamos kaip romanai, man jie turi ir detektyvo prieskonio. Taip ir vis dar kyla man klausimas, kokia riba skiria detektyvų ir romanų žanrus?
Autorės knygų esu perskaičiusi nemažai, tad jau plius minus žinojau, ko tikėtis ir iš šios knygos, tačiau šįkart knyga manęs taip nesužavėjo, kaip žavėdavo prieš 5-6 metus.
Po eismo įvykio, apygardos prokurorė Keitė patenka į ligoninę, kur nesudėdama bluosto, pro langą pamato keistą reginį � negyvą moterį į bagažinę keliantį vyrą. Keitė įsitikinusi, kad jai tiesiog pasivaideno, tačiau jau kitą dieną Keitė ima tirti naują bylą � jaunos nėščios moters savižudybę.. ir koks sutapimas � būtent tos pro langą matytos moters..
Štai čia ir prasidėjo mano „akių vartymas�, kai tą ką matei ir tai, kad kitą dieną tiri to paties žmogaus savižudybę, bet apie tai niekam nesakai, nes manai, kad „prisisapnavo�.. Tai taip kvaila, kad net skaitymo malonumą gadina.
Istorija daugiasluoksnė ir tikrai nenuobodi: visada vyksta veiksmas, užuominos, paslaptys ir kaip ir daugumoje detektyvų/romanų � vienas pagrindinis veikėjas, kuris viską daro slapta, pagal save ir lenda liūtui į nasrus.
Tačiau jei esate būtent tokio vyksmo mėgėjai � knyga jums patiks. O aš kartais „varčiau akis� ir piktinausi veikėjų „aklumu� ar naivumu, prieš atrodo akivaizdžius dalykus.
Deja, knygą įvertinau kaip vidutinio įdomumo, nes man pritrūko jaudulio skaitant ir kartais paprastos logikos kai kurių veikėjų veiksmuose.
Autorės knygų esu perskaičiusi nemažai, tad jau plius minus žinojau, ko tikėtis ir iš šios knygos, tačiau šįkart knyga manęs taip nesužavėjo, kaip žavėdavo prieš 5-6 metus.
Po eismo įvykio, apygardos prokurorė Keitė patenka į ligoninę, kur nesudėdama bluosto, pro langą pamato keistą reginį � negyvą moterį į bagažinę keliantį vyrą. Keitė įsitikinusi, kad jai tiesiog pasivaideno, tačiau jau kitą dieną Keitė ima tirti naują bylą � jaunos nėščios moters savižudybę.. ir koks sutapimas � būtent tos pro langą matytos moters..
Štai čia ir prasidėjo mano „akių vartymas�, kai tą ką matei ir tai, kad kitą dieną tiri to paties žmogaus savižudybę, bet apie tai niekam nesakai, nes manai, kad „prisisapnavo�.. Tai taip kvaila, kad net skaitymo malonumą gadina.
Istorija daugiasluoksnė ir tikrai nenuobodi: visada vyksta veiksmas, užuominos, paslaptys ir kaip ir daugumoje detektyvų/romanų � vienas pagrindinis veikėjas, kuris viską daro slapta, pagal save ir lenda liūtui į nasrus.
Tačiau jei esate būtent tokio vyksmo mėgėjai � knyga jums patiks. O aš kartais „varčiau akis� ir piktinausi veikėjų „aklumu� ar naivumu, prieš atrodo akivaizdžius dalykus.
Deja, knygą įvertinau kaip vidutinio įdomumo, nes man pritrūko jaudulio skaitant ir kartais paprastos logikos kai kurių veikėjų veiksmuose.
June 17, 2022
I dont know if this book had any chance of success for me because I really dont like thrillers where you know the whodunnit from the very beginning. In this story, our main character, Katie, is in the hospital after a minor car crash and she sees someone carrying a body out of the hospital and putting it in a trunk. We also get the perspective of Dr Highley, an OBGYN, and know that it was him and he killed one of his patients (though he's killed many others). The rest of the book is figuring out what exactly he was doing. However theres also a storyline of Katie's personal life and relationship with another doctor that I cared zero about. I also just felt like there was no tension because we already knew what happened, we just had to wait to hear why and if he got caught. I ended up skim reading the last half of this book because it just felt slow and boring for me, but like I said, I really hate knowing what happened from the very beginning. I felt like the whole thing he was doing was really far fetched and the ease with which he killed people was also really unbelievable. This just wasn't the book for me.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
He was taking the babies out of women who were going to abort and he was putting them in women who couldn't conceive. The science behind this seems impossible, but even if I could buy into it, I just didn't care by the time of the reveal. Katie is going to have a DNC for a non pregnancy condition and he plans to kill her, but he commits suicide and Katie is saved. Furthermore they figure out the whodunnit in the very end.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
He was taking the babies out of women who were going to abort and he was putting them in women who couldn't conceive. The science behind this seems impossible, but even if I could buy into it, I just didn't care by the time of the reveal. Katie is going to have a DNC for a non pregnancy condition and he plans to kill her, but he commits suicide and Katie is saved. Furthermore they figure out the whodunnit in the very end.
October 24, 2017
I think this was my first MHC read (may have read one or two decades ago), and I was quite disappointed. Considering it was only her fourth novel, I expected a much higher quality of prose than I received. The dialogue was stiff and lame. Characters lacked any likeability. First names were overused in dialogue to the point of annoyance in places. Knowing early on who the bad guy was eliminated most of the tension and suspense. As others have said in their reviews, if only all the players had gotten together and shared what they knew with each other, the case would have been solved in five minutes.
More importantly, I couldn't tell who the protagonist was. It should have been Katie DeMaio, but she played this limp, helpless character whose primary concern was getting her D and C done so she could get on with her life. Richard Carroll was by default the protagonist because he at least tried to solve the question of who killed Vangie Lewis, but he was only the medical examiner. The police characters were mere shells of characters and didn't seem to have much of a plan or care much whether or not they solved the murder. And Dr. Highley, the antagonist, was merely psychotically annoying, although he at least had a strong motivation for his actions.
My overall assessment of this book is that MHC broke through with her first bestseller, signed a contract for two or three more books (of which this was #2) and cranked it out under considerable pressure to meet a publishing deadline. Very disappointing.
More importantly, I couldn't tell who the protagonist was. It should have been Katie DeMaio, but she played this limp, helpless character whose primary concern was getting her D and C done so she could get on with her life. Richard Carroll was by default the protagonist because he at least tried to solve the question of who killed Vangie Lewis, but he was only the medical examiner. The police characters were mere shells of characters and didn't seem to have much of a plan or care much whether or not they solved the murder. And Dr. Highley, the antagonist, was merely psychotically annoying, although he at least had a strong motivation for his actions.
My overall assessment of this book is that MHC broke through with her first bestseller, signed a contract for two or three more books (of which this was #2) and cranked it out under considerable pressure to meet a publishing deadline. Very disappointing.
August 18, 2017
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This is your basic medical suspense thriller novel. In this one, Katie and her office is investigating the apparent suicide of a pregnant woman. Katie was in the hospital when she saw this dead woman being loaded into a trunk of a car. There is something fishy going on at the hospital.
I am sucker for a medical thriller and this one did not disappoint. This was pretty much straight forward as we knew the identity of the killer from the start. We did not know why he was doing it. The thing with a medical thriller is the belief of the pseudo science and I bought into it here. I liked the characters and I especially liked their interactions with each other. I did have one little problem with this book. It seemed like every character in the book had a connection with every character or the happenings of the book. It did extend the laws of plausibility. Or it really is a small world a everyone is connected to everyone. It didn't take away my enjoyment but I did question it.
This is a simple medical thriller book that is a prime example of a beach read. I held my interest throughout and there were a couple of twists that did catch me by surprise.
This is your basic medical suspense thriller novel. In this one, Katie and her office is investigating the apparent suicide of a pregnant woman. Katie was in the hospital when she saw this dead woman being loaded into a trunk of a car. There is something fishy going on at the hospital.
I am sucker for a medical thriller and this one did not disappoint. This was pretty much straight forward as we knew the identity of the killer from the start. We did not know why he was doing it. The thing with a medical thriller is the belief of the pseudo science and I bought into it here. I liked the characters and I especially liked their interactions with each other. I did have one little problem with this book. It seemed like every character in the book had a connection with every character or the happenings of the book. It did extend the laws of plausibility. Or it really is a small world a everyone is connected to everyone. It didn't take away my enjoyment but I did question it.
This is a simple medical thriller book that is a prime example of a beach read. I held my interest throughout and there were a couple of twists that did catch me by surprise.
March 23, 2023
My fourth novel by MHC - she has quickly become a favourite.
'The cradle will fall' is a fast paced murder mystery. Falling victim to a minor road accident, the main protagonist, prosecutor Katie DeMaio is forced to stay overnight at the hospital. Under the influence of sedatives, she glimpsed a man loading a woman in the back of a car. But she is unsure if it's real. The main antagonist Dr. Edgar Highley suspected that someone saw him and he went on a murder spree to protect his secrets and reputation.
This book is a page-turner and full of suspense. All the characters had bits of clues which in the end came together to expose the killer.
As for the other characters, medical examiner Richard Carroll knew the suicide was odd and followed a trail which ultimately exposed the killer, his relationships with Katie though felt a bit forced. Airline captain Chris Lewis was having an extramarital affair but you can't really blame him as his wife Vangie was an insufferable brat. Edna was fine but she loves gossiping and alcohol a bit too much. Molly and Bill was the comfort duo and last but not least Maureen and Anna's tale was heartbreaking.
The story is captivating even when the concept of abortion to forced fertility was creepy.
'The cradle will fall' is a fast paced murder mystery. Falling victim to a minor road accident, the main protagonist, prosecutor Katie DeMaio is forced to stay overnight at the hospital. Under the influence of sedatives, she glimpsed a man loading a woman in the back of a car. But she is unsure if it's real. The main antagonist Dr. Edgar Highley suspected that someone saw him and he went on a murder spree to protect his secrets and reputation.
This book is a page-turner and full of suspense. All the characters had bits of clues which in the end came together to expose the killer.
As for the other characters, medical examiner Richard Carroll knew the suicide was odd and followed a trail which ultimately exposed the killer, his relationships with Katie though felt a bit forced. Airline captain Chris Lewis was having an extramarital affair but you can't really blame him as his wife Vangie was an insufferable brat. Edna was fine but she loves gossiping and alcohol a bit too much. Molly and Bill was the comfort duo and last but not least Maureen and Anna's tale was heartbreaking.
The story is captivating even when the concept of abortion to forced fertility was creepy.
February 19, 2025
On re-read (2025), my opinion still stands. It would'be been a good story if so much of it didn't depend on missed chances, missed calls, missed meetings etc. It frustrated the heck outta me.
Original read (2017): I don't like it when the murderer keeps getting away with stuff because of the stupidity of other people. And in this book, everyone behaved like a brainless dodo. They didn't tell, they lied, they didn't think it important, they hid stuff, they left it for later... If it happened once or twice, fine. That does happen. But it was everyone, all the time, from investigators to witnesses. And then suddenly, everybody decided to tell the truth about everything, at once. I mean, seriously?
Original read (2017): I don't like it when the murderer keeps getting away with stuff because of the stupidity of other people. And in this book, everyone behaved like a brainless dodo. They didn't tell, they lied, they didn't think it important, they hid stuff, they left it for later... If it happened once or twice, fine. That does happen. But it was everyone, all the time, from investigators to witnesses. And then suddenly, everybody decided to tell the truth about everything, at once. I mean, seriously?
August 15, 2020
No me ha gustado nada. Mañana habrá reseña.
March 23, 2017
Read for my lifetime challenge (1980). This book was a bestseller in 1980 but I've never read it. I like medical thrillers, and thought the blurb sounded interesting.
This is quite a page-turner and a fun medical thriller. The medical component of the story revolves around a fertility doctor who is doing some unethical, and secret, procedures on his patients. I'm not going to get into the details of his procedures, since that's part of the mystery, but I'm not sure the science portion of the story would hold up today. Still, if you are willing to accept that part of it, the story is a lot of fun.
The plot is a long cat-and-mouse chase. The reader is informed right up front that the doctor is a murderer, willing to kill to protect his reputation and practice. But the police in the story have no idea, including the main character, Katie, who works for the prosecutor's office. She also happens to be a patient of the main nefarious doctor and is in direct danger from him throughout the book. But everyone thinks this doctor is just wonderful. There are a handful of murders in the book, starting with the kick-off scene and continuing through the plot as the doctor is forced to go further to guard his secrets.
There are a number of convenient coincidences in the plot, such as Katie, one of the investigators, being the doctor's patient, and also a number of moments that go something like this: one character is about to tell another character a critical piece of info that will unravel the case and/or save Katie, but at the last second there's an interruption like someone walks in or there's a phone call, and that important info is never given. It happens so often it begins to strain credulity like hot taffy.
Despite the eye-rolling this induces, it certainly effective at keeping the tension high and the pages turning. I was anxious for the bad guy to get caught and the heroine to be saved. Played like a fiddle: me. Twenty-seven years after this was a bestseller, it's still a super fun read.
Recommended.
This is quite a page-turner and a fun medical thriller. The medical component of the story revolves around a fertility doctor who is doing some unethical, and secret, procedures on his patients. I'm not going to get into the details of his procedures, since that's part of the mystery, but I'm not sure the science portion of the story would hold up today. Still, if you are willing to accept that part of it, the story is a lot of fun.
The plot is a long cat-and-mouse chase. The reader is informed right up front that the doctor is a murderer, willing to kill to protect his reputation and practice. But the police in the story have no idea, including the main character, Katie, who works for the prosecutor's office. She also happens to be a patient of the main nefarious doctor and is in direct danger from him throughout the book. But everyone thinks this doctor is just wonderful. There are a handful of murders in the book, starting with the kick-off scene and continuing through the plot as the doctor is forced to go further to guard his secrets.
There are a number of convenient coincidences in the plot, such as Katie, one of the investigators, being the doctor's patient, and also a number of moments that go something like this: one character is about to tell another character a critical piece of info that will unravel the case and/or save Katie, but at the last second there's an interruption like someone walks in or there's a phone call, and that important info is never given. It happens so often it begins to strain credulity like hot taffy.
Despite the eye-rolling this induces, it certainly effective at keeping the tension high and the pages turning. I was anxious for the bad guy to get caught and the heroine to be saved. Played like a fiddle: me. Twenty-seven years after this was a bestseller, it's still a super fun read.
Recommended.
June 13, 2020
This was a quick summer read which I enjoyed. There were many characters involved and the story revolved and intertwined at a good pace. The main character, Katie DeMaio, has a car accident and ends up in the hospital over night; sees a man put a body in a car trunk, but isn’t sure if she really sees this or dreams this. From there the story evolves. It was worth the read!
October 10, 2023
4.9 ⭐️ I couldn’t put it down.
Not a 5 star bc of minimal language
Not a 5 star bc of minimal language
January 30, 2025
thats so messed up
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