The Christmas Thief

The book was a quick and easy read. Light on the thrills, but very well-paced and entertaining enough to finish in one go. Definitely recommend for a cozy night or by the poolside. Really enjoyable.

All Mary Higgins Clark books are a delight to read. When a book is written not only by her but also by her daughter Carol I know it will be a quick easy-read of a light mystery with funny parts to it. I was not disappointed this time either!

Patrick Coogan Noonan, known as Packy to his friends and cohorts, scammed helpless people out of millions of dollars years ago, and hid it in a place no one would ever find. That was twelve years ago. Today, Packy is a free man, and plans to head back to the place in Stowe, Virginia to retrieve his well-deserved treasure. The only thing this scam-artist doesn't know is that the tree holding his flask of diamonds has been chosen to stand in Rockefeller Center this holiday season, and is about to be cut down and brought to New York City. When Packy learns the news, he decides that he has to take matters into his own hands, and, with the help of his two numbskull accomplices - Jo-Jo and Benny - he plans to cut down the eighty-foot blue spruce before it's rigged up for the holidays. What Packy doesn't know is that one of the women he scammed, Opal, is in Stowe, Virginia, vacationing with Alvirah and Willy Meehan, as well as Luke, Nora, Regan, and Jack (no relation) Reilly. When Opal ends up disappearing, and the Meehan's and Reilly's learn that Packy is in town, Alvirah is convinced that Opal has had a run-in with the strapping young scam-artist, and believes that she's in terrible danger. Now, with the help of New York Detective Jack, along with private investigator Reilly, amateur detective Alvirah plans on investigating Opal's disappearance, in an attempt to locate her missing pal, as well as the beautiful Christmas tree, before the holidays are ruined for everyone, and Packy Noonan, The Christmas Thief, escapes with all of his unsuspecting investors millions. I have read only two other books by Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter Carol - both holiday novels - and I have to admit right off the bat that THE CHRISTMAS THIEF has been my favorite - hands down. The plot of THE CHRISTMAS THIEF is so original and refreshing that it truly makes the reader feel as if they have been given a wonderful holiday gift this season. While the dialogue is oft-times a bit choppy, and the appearances by the Reilly's and Meehan's seem to be dispersed in very small intervals, the characters of Packy Noonan and his cronies make the tale delightful - in a suspenseful way. Readers will find it quite easy to sympathize with characters such as Milo and Opal. However, they will also find their ability to be taken advantage of, and lured away on their own to be somewhat strange - given their ages. Overall, though, THE CHRISTMAS THIEF is a refreshing holiday mystery that takes the reader on a sleigh ride from New York City to Stowe, Virginia, and back again, and leaves them with a satisfied taste in their mouth. Erika Sorocco

I just thought this was great reading! I've read every Mary Higgins Clark book - sadly none of Carol's yet but I'll get to them. Have also read each of their teamwork books - thought this was just as good as any of them! It's lighter reading than Mary's "serious" mysteries - but that's the idea - just a fun Christmas-themed book. Such a fast read and it's still a mystery but not SCARY - just fun to follow along. This was set in Stowe, Vermont, primarily, at or near the Trapp Family Lodge (think von Trapp family from Sound of Music) and since I'm a fan of that film it was extra fun. If you want blood and gore from a mystery, this isn't it. If you want a quick read that has some heart-pounding moments - go for it!

I really enjoyed the book and found it exciting and fast paced as all of there books are. The timing is perfect stealing the Christmas Tree that is to be taken to NY and decorated at Rockefeller Center who would do such a thing? Well read the book and find out. A great gift for fans and a wonderful book for people who have not read there combined efforts a very worthwhile and enjoyable read.

Packy Noonan is a natural born con artist who is able to talk people into investing over 100 million in his phony shipping company. He and his two confederates were about to cash out and leave the country when the scam was revealed. His two confederates escaped but Packy was caught and sent to jail. After serving twelve years he is freed and heads to Stowe, Vermont to get the diamonds that are hidden in an eighty foot blue spruce tree belonging to his one time employees Lenny & Viddy. He doesn't know that the tree is due to be cut down and taken to Rockefeller Center where it will be seen by millions of people. Opal, one of the people who lost money in Packy's scam, is also going to Stowe for the weekend, along with Alviah Meshim and her husband, Megan Reilly, her fiancée and her parents. Opal spots Packy's cohort Benny and winds up kidnapped. When Packy and company go to cut down the spruce they don't realize that Lenny's neighbor Wayne already found the diamonds. Packy is determined to get his jewels or die trying while Opal's friends search for her before something dreadful happens. Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter Carol Higgins Clark have written a holiday mystery that is entertaining and at times funny in a sardonic way. The Clarks put the readers in the holiday spirit with THE CHRISTMAS THIEF, a novel that stars characters from other books written by these talented authors. Readers will feel sorry for Packy who sees his dreams of getting rich slowly evaporate forcing a final Hail Mary. Harriet Klausner