The Lost Years

A Novel

By: Mary Higgins Clark

Narrated by: Jan Maxwell

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

In her long career as America's most beloved suspense writer, Mary Higgins Clark's The Lost Years is her most astonishing and dramatic work to date. At its center is a discovery that, if authenticated, may be the most revered document in human history - the holiest of the holy - and certainly the most coveted and valuable object in the world.

Dr. Richard Callahan, a world-respected biblical scholar, is astonished when Mariah Lyons shows him a letter left to her by her late father, a distinguished professor of ancient history. The letter, which contains a translation from a 2,000-year-old papyrus scroll, is accompanied by a dusty clay jar and a fragile fragment of papyrus torn from a scroll. If accurate, the translation made by Mariah's father, an Arabic scholar, shows that the scroll contains a letter in Christ's own handwriting, and more than that, concerns a pivotal moment in his life.

But the rest of the scroll has vanished, and Mariah is aware that somebody else out there wants it. With Dr. Callahan's help, Mariah is drawn into the search for the scroll, the very existence of which might change the world - and for which somebody close to her would kill to possess. Step by step, Mariah's quest takes her deeper and deeper into danger.

With all the elements that have made her a worldwide best seller, Mary Higgins Clark's The Lost Years is unpausable, a thriller that is at once a breathless mystery and a hunt for the most precious religious and archeological treasure of all time.

©2012 Mary Higgins Clark (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

The lost Years: A Novel is Amazing

I never wanted this story to end! I couldn't stop listening because the story was mesmerizing and the performance was captivating! I love Elvira and Willy and can't wait until I meet them again!

And lost characters?

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Could have been ok, but "heroine" is vapid, insipid, weak, and annoying. "Please, God, I just couldn't bear it..." When she was kidnapped, I kept hoping the guy would just off her.

Any additional comments?

Clark's constant supply of 5th Avenue socialites gets pretty old. She writes a good enough story, but wish she were able to give us some normal people.

The Lost Hours

"Where are the Children" was my first MHC book and really, my first adult book. It scared the you-know-what out of me and I've devoured every MHC book since, although they are no longer so scary, are rarely truly suspenseful, and now my game is to see how early in the story I can guess "whodunit."

The Lost Years is just like MHC's other books. Damsel in some kind of distress must figure out the truth behind evidence that seems to blame someone important to here. Alvirah sweeps in and can solve things better than the police, and just at the last minute everyone is safe, the bad person (wouldn't want to imply an ending by giving away gender) is caught, love prevails, and Alvirah has been justified in her surreptitious taping of others, even though I'm pretty sure there are laws against that.

Really, the book probably deserves only 2 stars, but I love MHC, and always will. I will cherish the photo of us together from the time I met her and the autographed book I have. I will not, however, consider her writing great literature that might change the world. Leave that to many other writers, both modern and classic, who challenge our thinking and world view.

MHC will always be a good read while killing time in the airport, curled up in bed on a sick day or lazy reading on the beach.

Surprise

Enjoyed this book even the second time we went through it, and once again was surprised by the ending information.
Also really enjoy the narration by Jan Maxwell.

Engaging yet conflicted characters

Intriguing yet relaxing at the same time. Interesting characters struggle between moralistic ideals & monetary indulgence.

Great Read

What did you love best about The Lost Years?

This was a very easy listen and had a great story line. Classic Mary Higgins Clark and great story.

Predictable Mary Higgins Clark

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was a light easy read, but very predictable.

If you’ve listened to books by Mary Higgins Clark before, how does this one compare?

Her books are all easy reads- good to just enjoy during the summer. Not thought provoking or a great mystery but enjoyable.

Did Jan Maxwell do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

yes

Do you think The Lost Years needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No

Veey Nice Read

Enjoyed my time spent with this book and a veey good mystery.
i had it all wrong, maybe you can do better.

Mary delivers yet again!

What made the experience of listening to The Lost Years the most enjoyable?

I enjoy the pace of MHC's plots as they unfold with ease and give you very believable characters.

What did you like best about this story?

I think I found the threads of history very interesting, and the mystery was most tastefully done.

What about Jan Maxwell’s performance did you like?

This may seem odd; but though I like Jan's voice, sometimes when she switches to the main female character it's sweet as syrup... just sounds fake. That being said, bear in mind that this is the only negative critique of her performance that I could ever give.

Characters Not Distinctive

I absolutely love MHC, but this book was hard to enjoy because the suspects were all very similar. When the culprit is revealed my thought was, which one was that? The Jesuit guy? The rich guy? The other rich guy? I feel like I would need a character bio sheet to actually enjoy the story to its fullest.