Product Description

In the short novel The Anastasia Syndrome, prominent historical writer Judith Chase is living in London and preparing for her marriage to Sir Stephen Hallett, expected to become England's next Prime Minister. Orphaned during World War II, Judith wants to trace her origins. In this quest, she goes to a renowned psychiatrist and becomes the victim of his experiments in regression. When a woman in a dark green cape sets off bombs in London, Sir Stephen and Judith are faced with an intangible, mysterious force threatening their very existence.

Obsessive love is the subject of Terror Stalks the Class Reunion; psychic contact with a dead twin sister is the only defense against a murder in Double Vision; Lucky Day, compared to O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi, begins premonition of imminent danger; in The Lost Angel, mother follows her intuition in a harrowing search for her missing child.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #202122 in Books
• Published on: 1991-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 320 pages

From Publishers Weekly
The title piece in this smoothly written collection, the first from the bestselling mystery novelist, is a novella. Judith Chase is an American historian working in London and enjoying the courtship of Sir Stephen Hallett, due to become England's next prime minister. Beset by vague fears. Judith consults Dr. Patel, famous for treating Anna Anderson, who claimed she was Anastasia of the Russian royal family. "Retrogressed" by Patel, Judith finds herself in the 17th century, during the English Civil War and Restoration, (of the monarchy), reliving horrors that the author exploits in full measure. This and the four other stories, (three of them previously published in Woman's Day magazine,) amply demonstrate Clark's skill at maintaining suspense by creating nightmarish situations that lie just beneath the surface of ordinary life. Literary Guild alternate.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Entertaining, edge-of-the-seat crowd pleasers ... They never fail to win the race."

The New York Times Book Review

"The Anastasia Syndrome and other stories amply demonstrate clark's skill at maintainingsuspense by creating nightmarish situations that lie just beneath the surface of ordinary life."

Publishers Weekly

About the Author
Mary Higgins Clark's books are world-wide bestsellers. In the U.S. alone, her books have sold over 85 million copies.

She is the author of twenty-seven previous suspense novels. Her first book, a biographical novel about George Washington, was re-issued with the title, Mount Vernon Love Story, in June 2002. Her memoir, Kitchen Privileges, was published by Simon & Schuster in November 2002. Her first children's book, Ghost Ship, illustrated by Wendell Minor, was published in April 2007 as a Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

She is co-author, with her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, of four holiday suspense novels Deck the Halls (2000), He Sees You When You're Sleeping (2001), The Christmas Thief (2004) and Santa Cruise (2006).

Mary Higgins Clark 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 during Edgars week in April 2001. She was the 1987 president of Mystery Writers of America and, for many years, served on their Board of Directors. In May 1988, she was Chairman of the International Crime Congress.

Customer Reviews

Most of the stories are very un-MHC
THE ANASTASIA SYNDROME - One Star - This story is very un-Mary Higgins Clark. It might be a good story if you believe in supernatural powers. I don't, therefore it left me disappointed. It is well-written, she created a very dark and eerie atmosphere but the whole theory of the Anastasia Syndrome seems pretty silly to me. TERROR STALKS THE CLASS REUNION - Five Stars - This is a stupid title but a great story. It makes you feel as helpless as the victim. I had a nightmare about this story the night after I finished it - and I read a lot of suspense stories but almost never dream about them! LUCKY DAY - Three Stars - A nice story about trust but not outstanding. I liked the ending, it is very good - and surprising. DOUBLE VISION - Four Stars - A very creepy story about acting and revenge. It includes another supernatural appearance but this one is easier to tolerate than "The Anastasia Syndrome". THE LOST ANGEL - Three Stars - A Christmas story with a very predictable ending. Not much suspense but okay to read.

Mary can't miss!
MAry Higgins Clark has done it again. This author just can't miss.

I have never read a book of her's that has disappointed and this is no exception. It is a little different in that instead of one story-- it is four little stories. Each one with its own little twists and turns. Perfect short story reading for a commuter or a busy parent on the run!

Miss Mary, keep 'em coming!

THE ANASTASI SYNDROME AND OTHER STORIES
The Anastasia Syndrome and Other Stories, Mary Higgins Clark

I will be writing a book report of The Anastasia Syndrome and Other Stories. It is by Mary Higgins Clark and includes four other stories besides "The Anastasia Syndrome". "The Anastasia Syndrome" is about a woman whose mind gets taken over by an evil woman from the past. When the evil woman is controlling her mind, Judith, the main character, doesn't remember anything that happened. Judith is writing a book about the time which the evil woman is from, so she is involved in the events in which the evil woman was in. It takes place in England but Judith travels around quite a bit. She is a war orphan and is searching for her lost family. She is engaged to the next prime minister, and she doesn't want the news of her search to be revealed. The evil woman in her mind is controlling her and makes her do evil things, like try to bomb a statue, and the tower of London. It is a good book, and also includes facts from the history of England. It has a great surprise ending and I loved it! The other stories are, "Terror Stalks the Class Reunion", "Lucky Day", "Double Vision", and "The Lost Angel". In "Terror Stalks", a woman gets abducted when she goes to her class reunion. "Lucky Day" is about a woman whose luck changes very dramatically in one swift move. "Double Vision" is about a jealous actor that goes back to kill the director that he believes ruined his career. "The Lost Angel" is a story about a young girl that gets lost in New York City, with her mother frantically trying to find her before other miseries come upon her. I think that it is a very good book, and I recommend any of Mary Higgins Clark's books. In my opinion, she is an excellent writer. This book is part mystery, history, and fantasy, filled with suspense.