Ep 606 - Where Are The Children? by Mary Higgins Clark
Aug 28, 2023
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In this podcast, the hosts discuss the life and career of Mary Higgins Clark, a popular writer of suspense novels. They also explore the absence of moral complexity in a thriller novel being discussed. The chapter highlights various characters and their connections in the book, as well as the protagonist's heroic mission to save her children. They also discuss the effectiveness of character sketches and pacing in creating suspense. In addition, they talk about commercials, phone companies, the band Weezer, and the film Popeye. Finally, they discuss their upcoming bonus episode on 'Moneyball' and reflect on their podcasting skills.
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Quick takeaways
The protagonist, Nancy, is revealed to be innocent of the murders she was accused of.
The book explores the dynamics between characters and the genre conventions of 1970s suspense thrillers.
The lack of complex portrayal of the justice system and the role of the media is highlighted in the book.
Deep dives
Courtney Parrish kidnaps Nancy's children
Courtney Parrish, a creeper living in Cape Cod, kidnaps Nancy's two children and takes them to his apartment.
Various characters suspect Nancy's past
People in the community discover Nancy's past as the woman involved in a murder trial and become suspicious of her, including Chief Jed Coffin and lawyer Jonathan Knolls.
Rob Legler, the key witness, resurfaces
Rob Legler, a key witness in Nancy's trial who disappeared, resurfaces and attempts to extort money from her in exchange for disappearing forever. However, he gets caught up in the search for the missing children.
Nancy confronts Courtney Parrish
Nancy eventually confronts Courtney Parrish, the kidnapper, and engages in a fight to save her children. He ultimately falls off a balcony but survives, confesses, and dies from his injuries.
Summary of Episode
This podcast episode is a review and discussion of a book titled 'Where Are the Children?' by Mary Higgins Clark. The episode provides a detailed breakdown of the plot, characters, and themes in the book. The hosts discuss the main twist in the story, where the protagonist, Nancy, is revealed to be innocent of the murders she was accused of. They also explore the dynamics between the characters and the genre conventions of the 1970s suspense thriller genre. The episode offers a mixed review of the book, highlighting its effective pacing and tension, but also noting some problematic elements.
Analysis of the Characters
The hosts discuss and analyze several key characters in the book, including Ray Eldridge (Clay in the film adaptation), Nancy's husband who wants her to be more involved in the community; Dorothy, a friend and coworker of Ray's who knows about Nancy's past; Jonathan Noles (not a doctor in the book), a retired lawyer who becomes involved in Nancy's case; and Jed Coffin, a policeman who plays a crucial role in the story. The hosts comment on the character sketches and archetypes present in the book, noting that some characters fulfill expected roles while others subvert expectations. They also discuss how the author focuses on the good versus evil dynamic and the lack of a complex portrayal of the justice system or the role of the media.
It's time to meet the Queen of Suspense! To kick off her reign, Mary Higgins Clark spins a tale about a wrongfully accused women trying to reinvent herself -- only to be nearly caught by the monster she thought she'd left behind. It's more thrilling than mysterious, so it shouldn't be a surprise that we DO get an answer to the novel's titular question.