Play Audiobook Sample
The Lost Years: A Novel Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.00) - 3,151 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Now in mass market, the latest suspense from #1 New York Times bestselling author and Queen of Suspense Mary Higgins Clark, where a biblical scholar is found murdered shortly after discovering the most revered and holy document in human history, which has now gone missing...
Dr. Jonathan Lyons, a seventy-year-old biblical scholar, believes he has found the rarest of parchments—a letter that may have been written by Jesus Christ. Stolen from the Vatican library in the fifteenth century, it was assumed to be lost forever.
Under the promise of secrecy, Jonathan attempts to confirm his findings with several other biblical experts. But on the eve before his own murder, he confides to Father Aiden O’Brien, a family friend, that one of those whom he trusted most is determined to keep it from being returned to the Vatican.
The next evening Jonathan Lyons is found shot to death in his New Jersey home. His daughter, twenty-seven year old Mariah, finds her father’s body sprawled over his desk in his study, a fatal bullet wound in the back of his neck, and her mother, Kathleen, an Alzheimer’s victim, hiding in the study closet, incoherent and clutching the murder weapon. The police suspect that Kathleen, who in her lucid moments knows that Jonathan was involved with a much younger woman Lily Stewart, has committed the murder.
But Mariah believes that the key to her father’s death is tied to another question: Where is the missing parchment? Whom, among his close circle of friends, might he have consulted? And did one of them kill to keep possession of the letter?
What Mariah doesn’t know is that there was an eyewitness to the murder, someone whose unwise attempt to blackmail the killer begins a new circle of death, with Mariah as the ultimate target of one person’s obsession with a priceless historical treasure.
With all the elements that have made her a worldwide bestseller, Mary Higgins Clark’s The Lost Years is at once a breathless murder mystery and a hunt for what may be the most precious religious and archeological treasure of all time.
Download and start listening now!
"It's been quite a while since I read a MHC book, but the style remains the same. She always brings you along on the journey quite nicely with an interesting cast of characters, locations, suspenseful situations, and a murder mystery. I appreciate the fact that you always know what the main character is thinking, and feeling, and the writing will leave you wanting to know more at the end of each chapter. Of course, she brought in Alvirah and Willy, the amateur detectives, to help solve the crime. Since I have become accustomed to her writing style, I figured out the murderer about halfway through. That does not take away from the fact that her story was well written and suspenseful. Just what we've come to expect from Mary Higgins Clark."
— Penelope (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“Clark has always had a way of grabbing the most interesting bits of the story and jamming it all together for the reader, then slowly unfolding the backstory until readers realize they’ve always known whodunit. Her clever sleight-of-hand tricks include a blooming romance, slyly interwoven secondary storylines, and just enough history to keep boredom at bay. She’s done another fine job with The Lost Years, and her legions of fans will count this one among her best work to date.”
— RT Book Reviews (4½ stars) -
“Clark, known rightly as the queen of suspense, performs her usual magic…An intriguing blend of religious history and contemporary mystery, The Lost Years confirms Clark’s status as a writer who is willing and able to bend her formula—and to do so successfully—to address topics not often found in the genre.
— Richmond Times Dispatch -
“If you’re someone who enjoys sharing novels with others, though, beware: lend this book and you may never get it back. That’s because, for mystery fans, The Lost Years is truly a keeper.
— Pittsburgh Tribune -
“At once a breathless murder mystery and a hunt for what may be the most precious religious and archeological treasure of all time.”
— BookReporter.com -
“Once again Mary Higgins Clark affirms why she is the ‘Queen of Suspense’… Ms. Clark has another winner for her readers to enjoy getting us there with this entertaining taut tale in which the suspense spins from family violence to biblical archeological violence.”
— Mystery Gazette
Awards
-
A New York Times bestseller
-
A USA Today bestseller
The Lost Years Listener Reviews
-
" This book was ok - a lot of jumping around with the characters. Didn't love it, but it didn't have a predictable ending, so that was good for me. I usually have it figured out before the book ends. "
— Judi, 2/17/2014 -
" Does not read as smoothly as I have come to expect from Ms Clark's books in the past. The writing is awkward and stilted. Potential for this plot was not realized. "
— Denise, 2/16/2014 -
" Really enjoyed this story. Differently worth the read. Very relaxing and easy to read. Not her best work . "
— Karolyn, 2/10/2014 -
" If I did not know the author I never would have guessed Mary Higgins Clark. "
— Lori, 2/9/2014 -
" I'm still waiting for a MHC book that will be equal or better than "Where are the children" and "A stranger is watching". This is not it and I'm still waiting. "
— Eliana, 2/1/2014 -
" Mary Higgins Clark just churns out the same plot again and again.. this amounted to a way to pass time on another flight. "
— Belinda, 1/25/2014 -
" Minimal plot development. Minimal character development. Predictable ending...the murderer is the only character who isn't suspected. "
— Tamara, 1/20/2014 -
" I enjoy Mary Higgins Clark's mysteries. This was as expected, a good plot, with many characters. It took me a while to figure out who was the villian but that is the fun of a good mystery. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for light reading and interesting topic. "
— Renie, 1/15/2014 -
" pretty predictable but an ok mystery "
— Autumn, 1/8/2014 -
" Mary Higgins Clark writes predictable, easy to read mysteries. Her style is like that of the author(s) who wrote Nancy Drew books. She always explains what people are wearing (so stylish) and there is always a lame love story. With that being said, this was a fine read while I was on the treadmill. "
— elliereads, 1/1/2014 -
" hadn't read her in about 5 years. I had forgottem how catholic her books are. Read this one in 12 hours. Pretty good plot, but how does a lettter written by Christ end up in a churchin America. that is never explained, but otherwise enjoyable. "
— Marilyn, 12/30/2013 -
" I didn't feel this was as well written as some of the other Mary Higgins Clark books I have read. I enjoyed reading it however. "
— Pam, 12/20/2013 -
" Really enjoyed this... she is such a great storyteller. "
— Nancy, 12/19/2013 -
" I have always loved Mary Higgins Clark's books. This book did not live up to my expectations. It was a good read but that is all. This book pales in comparison to Clark's other writing. "
— Harriet, 12/14/2013 -
" Author grabs you on the first page and holds your interest to the last. She keeps you in suspense, just when you think you have everything figured out it takes a turn you didn't expect. "
— Irene, 12/4/2013 -
" When I want an easy, entertaining read, I turn to Mary Higgins Clark. This book was mildly entertaining, but wasn't up to par with some of her other books. "
— Christy, 11/8/2013 -
" Usually I can hardly put a Mary Higgins Clark book down. Not this time. I'm not quite sure why, but I wasn't drawn in by the story. "
— Loriann, 11/5/2013 -
" Read the book in one day...perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. "
— Heather, 9/28/2013 -
" I think this is only the second book I have read by this author, but I found it a good read and will look into others by her as well. The mystery kept me turning pages and it read quite fast. "
— Susan, 9/24/2013 -
" Not one of her best, "
— P.a., 9/9/2013 -
" Always pulled in from the first page. "
— Judy, 3/6/2013 -
" This MIGHT be my favorite Mary Higgins Clark book yet. She never lets me down. What an awesome book. It's a must read "
— Sherrie, 12/28/2012 -
" Her books are always good, fast reads. However lately they are a bit predictable. I figured it out on page 71 but still was intrigued reading the rest of the book. Read it in one day and don't regret it. "
— Miranda, 12/23/2012 -
" Good book. A bit of a twist with the main character's Mother having dementia. "
— Babs, 9/20/2012 -
" The plot was quite thin which is a shame - I had high hopes for it. I also just can't get into her style of writing and she uses too many names. It's just not natural and it disturbs the flow of the reading. I'm officially giving up on MHC's books! "
— Lotte_ladybird, 9/16/2012 -
" I always enjoy reading Mary Higgins Clark work. This book has a lot of twists and turns. Currently on page 218/292 pages. "
— Phyllis, 9/3/2012 -
" So disappointed! MHC is my fave suspense writer. This book dragged on and on. Too many characters. "
— ShaRhonda, 8/17/2012 -
" Good story but the "bad guy" was obvious very early on. Still liked it a lot. "
— Chris, 6/19/2012 -
" This book was typical of Mary Higgins Clark: a great storyline with cheesy/fluffy writing. I keep coming back and will continue to come back because she's a "clean" author. This one was a great vacation kind of read. Fun and not too thought provoking. "
— Sigrid, 5/18/2012 -
" Really had a tough time getting through this one & I am a huge fan of MHC. "
— Cathy, 3/23/2012
About Mary Higgins Clark
Mary Higgins Clark (1927–2020) was the author of worldwide bestsellers that sold more than one hundred million copies in the United States alone. Twenty-one of her books reached the #1 spot on the New York Times bestsellers list. She was chosen by Mystery Writers of America as Grand Master of the 2000 Edgar Awards. An annual Mary Higgins Clark Award sponsored by Simon & Schuster, to be given to authors of suspense fiction writing in the Mary Higgins Clark tradition, was launched by Mystery Writers of America in 2001. She was the 1987 president of Mystery Writers of America and, for many years, served on their board of directors. In 1988, she served as chairperson of the International Crime Congress.
About Jan Maxwell
Jan Maxwell is an American stage and television actress. She made her Broadway debut in the musical City of Angels and has been nominated for two Tony Awards and two Drama Desk Awards. She won the 2005 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Her Broadway credits include Sixteen Wounded, Match, and The Dinner Party. She is the sister of Obie Award–winning playwright Richard Maxwell.