A Cry in the Night [Mass Market Paperback]

Her luck seems to change when she meets the charismatic Erich Krueger at an art gallery where she works. She is literally swept off her feet by Erich and subsequently marries him. They leave Manhattan for Erich's ancestral home in Granite Springs, Minnesota.

Once in Minnesota, alarming facets of Erich's personality appear. His relentless obsession with his dead mother, Caroline and his constant references to her are alarming. It is interesting that he applies no maternal name to her; she is always "Caroline." Caroline at the start of this story has been dead for over 25 years, having died in 1956 when Erich was then 10. (The story is set in 1981-83). Erich insists Jenny dress like Caroline; wear Caroline's aqua colored gown to bed; use the same pine scented soap Caroline used and in general, replace the mother he lost at 10.

More cracks appear in Erich's seemingly flawless armor. Mysterious deaths are part of the Granite Springs home. A young woman disappeared some 10 years earlier and is presumably dead; dogs also were presumably killed and Jenny and Erich's baby dies a mysterious death. Jenny's daughters say that Jenny killed their brother, that she "covered his face with a blanket."

But did she? Jenny doubts this. She also has doubts in Erich, who kidnaps the girls and hides even more terrifying secrets on and around the property. Life with Erich, as Jenny was to discover was a chilling portrait etched in terror.

Definitely worth 10 or more stars. This is my favorite book by Mary Higgins Clark.

For example, and sorry I don't have the page numbers on me. This main character could not be that naïve. I mean, come on now, she is pregnant, and has no way of knowing where her husband is when he is in the cabin. She can't call him if she were sick. She is in this house and never goes out for her own hygiene products. Get real.

In another chapter. She is so worried about someone coming in the house and taking her keys. She is horrified. Wouldn't a mother be afraid of someone coming in the house and taking her children. At one point the phone rings and she is terrified that that someone will get her. What about the kids?

Later, when she thinks she is having contractions, she rushes out house to see the doctor. No mention of a babysitter. She just leaves.

She never asked about her phone calls or her mail. No one would call? What about the w-2 form from the old place. I know I am being cynical, but I am only stating that the pictured was painted that she was in this house and everything was just that. The kids were not even being taught anything, just playing everyday

It didn't add up.

The main plot revolves around Jenny, a single mother of two, who enters a whirlwind romance with Erich Kruger, an artist, and ends up moving into his home with her children. But then Erich starts become more posessive and she notices his odd fixation on his mother, who died in an accident (or was it??).

Sure there was some deja vu for me in this book that made me immediately think of movies and books that have used similar plot twists (I won't say which or else it'll spoil the ending). But still this is a great book, but don't intend on putting it down once you start!