The Woman Who Slept Through Murder

Casey Carter has served fifteen years in prison for killing her fiancé, Hunter Raleigh III - wealthy philanthropist, heir to the Raleigh Foundation fortune, and by all accounts a man everyone loved. The prosecution's case was straightforward: Casey shot Hunter in a drunken rage after he ended their engagement, then claimed she slept through the whole thing after being drugged.

The media dubbed her "the Sleeping Beauty Killer," and the nickname stuck. The evidence seemed damning: only Casey's fingerprints on the murder weapon - Hunter's own handgun. Rohypnol tablets found in her purse. No sign of forced entry beyond an unlocked door. The jury deliberated for less than a day.

Now Casey's out, but freedom isn't what she imagined. She can't get a job. Strangers whisper at grocery stores. Even her own mother treats her like she's guilty. When Laurie Moran's Under Suspicion television show offers to investigate her case, it's Casey's last chance to clear her name.

The Under Suspicion Team

Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke's series follows television producer Laurie Moran, who creates a true-crime show investigating cold cases. In this installment, the team faces complications beyond the case itself. Alex Buckley, the show's host and Laurie's potential romantic interest, has taken a break, leaving the show in need of new on-air talent.

Enter Ryan Nichols - Harvard Law degree, Supreme Court clerkship, experience as a federal prosecutor, and an ego to match. Ryan's convinced Casey is guilty and doesn't hesitate to steer the show accordingly. He's everything Alex wasn't: ambitious, abrasive, and certain he knows better than Laurie about her own production.

The workplace tension adds another layer to the investigation. Laurie believes in Casey's innocence, Ryan thinks she's wasting everyone's time, and the truth lies somewhere neither of them expects.

A Gala Full of Suspects

Casey provides Laurie with a list of alternative suspects, all present at the gala the night Hunter died. Jason Gardner, Casey's ex-boyfriend, wanted to rekindle their relationship and later wrote a successful memoir about the case - profiting from Hunter's death. Gabrielle Lawson, Hunter's former flame, never got over losing him to Casey. Mary Jane Finder, the scheming secretary to Hunter's father, was someone Hunter never trusted.

Mark Templeton, Hunter's best friend and the former CFO of the Raleigh Foundation, faced rumors of embezzlement - did Hunter discover something he shouldn't have? And Andrew Raleigh, Hunter's younger brother, grew up perpetually in Hunter's shadow, always second best, always overlooked.

Each suspect has motive. Each has secrets. The investigation peels back layers of Raleigh family dysfunction, revealing that the golden philanthropist may have been less perfect than his reputation suggested.

Twists and Revelations

The Under Suspicion format - reenactments, interviews, investigation footage - provides structure for the unfolding mystery. Clark and Burke use the television production elements to create natural chapter breaks and cliffhangers, keeping the pacing brisk.

The solution, when it comes, involves someone closer to Casey than any of the gala suspects. Angela, Casey's own cousin, is revealed as Hunter's murderer. The betrayal runs deep - family protecting family, or family destroying family, depending on how you look at it.

Casey isn't formally exonerated by the novel's end, but everyone who matters now knows the truth. After fifteen years of living under suspicion, she can finally begin to move on.

Comfort Food with Complications

This is Mary Higgins Clark at her most reliable - smooth prose, adequate pacing, enough suspects to maintain interest. The co-authorship with Alafair Burke adds slightly sharper edges to the legal elements. It won't revolutionize the genre, but it delivers exactly what longtime fans expect.

Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐

Perfect for: Mary Higgins Clark fans, readers who enjoy cold-case investigations, those who like television production settings in their mysteries.

Skip if: You want mysteries that deeply surprise, or procedural formats feel formulaic to you.