Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Cinderella Murder  By  cover art

The Cinderella Murder

By: Alafair Burke,Mary Higgins Clark
Narrated by: Jan Maxwell
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.99

Buy for $17.99

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In a first-time collaboration, "Queen of Suspense" Mary Higgins Clark partners with best-selling author Alafair Burke to deliver a brand new suspense series about a television program featuring cold case murders.

Television producer Laurie Moran is delighted when the pilot for her reality drama, Under Suspicion, is a success. Even more, the program - a cold case series that revisits unsolved crimes by recreating them with those affected - is off to a fantastic start when it helps solve an infamous murder in the very first episode.

Now Laurie has the ideal case to feature in the next episode of Under Suspicion: the Cinderella Murder. When Susan Dempsey, a beautiful and multi-talented UCLA student, was found dead, her murder raised numerous questions. Why was her car parked miles from her body? Had she ever shown up for the acting audition she was due to attend at the home of an up-and-coming director? Why does Susan’s boyfriend want to avoid questions about their relationship? Why was Susan so concerned about her roommate’s infatuation with a new-age religious sect? Was she close to her computer science professor because of her technological brilliance, or something more? And why was Susan missing one of her shoes when her body was discovered?

With the help of lawyer and Under Suspicion host Alex Buckley, Laurie knows the case will attract great ratings, especially when the former suspects include Hollywood’s elite and tech billionaires. The suspense and drama are perfect for the silver screen - but is Cinderella’s murderer ready for a close-up?

Together Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke deliver an exciting publishing event: the start of a thrilling new series guaranteed to keep you guessing until the last suspenseful page.

©2014 Mary Higgins Clark. All rights reserved. (P)2014 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

What listeners say about The Cinderella Murder

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,666
  • 4 Stars
    795
  • 3 Stars
    351
  • 2 Stars
    80
  • 1 Stars
    53
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,576
  • 4 Stars
    650
  • 3 Stars
    240
  • 2 Stars
    74
  • 1 Stars
    39
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,429
  • 4 Stars
    676
  • 3 Stars
    332
  • 2 Stars
    85
  • 1 Stars
    50

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Engrossing

This book is written by two authors I have read over the years and enjoyed. Mary Higgins Clark has been writing stand alone novels for over forty years many which have become best sellers. Alafair Burke is the daughter of author Jamie Lee Burke. Alafair is a law professor and an author in her own right.

“The Cinderella Murder” is to be the first book in a new series. The story will continue Mary Higgins Clark’s story of television producer Laurie Moran’s investigation of cold case murders. In this book the show investigates the decades old murder of a beautiful UCLA student whose body was found in the Hollywood Hills missing a shoe. The murder was dubbed the “Cinderella Case” by the press.

I have found that both authors imbue their novels with unbelievable suspense and that follows through in this story. When I started reading the book I found I could not stop, good thing the audio book was only about 8 hours long. The book is fast moving and riveting. If you enjoy mystery stories you will love this one. Jan Maxwell narrated the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

34 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping!

This book has it all, a gripping story that grabs your attention from the first few words and keeps it throughout, well developed characters, and excellent narration.

The story has lots of twists and turns, and keeps you wondering until the very end. This is my idea of an excellent murder mystery. I especially liked the premise of a TV show re investigating cold cases.

Now that I've read this book, I'm going to read more by Alafair Burke, the co-author.

Jan Maxwell's narration is spot-on, one of the best I've heard. She can do both male and female voices, and has a good sense of pacing and emphasis. She's to be commended.

This was my first read of 2015 and it was a good way to start my reading year. I highly recommend this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Definitly on par with her previous works

Mary Higgins Clark delivers a great book. I am thrilled she is picking up where her last novel left off (I've Got You Under My Skin). Although this can be read as a stand alone I'd recommend reading the previous novel first. This novel is filled with the same great style of suspense and a great cast of characters. Its a who dun it that will keep you guessing until the end. Jan Maxwell does a fair performance Its not superb but its not bad either and I definitely prefer her to Barbara Rosenblat who also narrates several of the Mary Higgins Clark novels.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good murder mystery!

I do not believe I have read a Mary Higgins Clark novel in 15 years or more, but the old lady continues to write good suspense mysteries. Her coauthor is Alafair Burke, daughter off James Lee Burke. The Cinderella Murder is the first novel in the three novel Under Suspicion series. it is a fun and worthwhile listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Liked it a lot.

Clean, fast paced and fun. Kept me guessing almost to the end. I can't wait for the next one in the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Found it Boring

What disappointed you about The Cinderella Murder?

I used to read Mary Higgins Clark back in the day and really enjoyed her stuff so thought I would give this one a try hoping to get started with a new mystery series to enjoy....so sad that I found this on very boring. The narration didn't help the book out either. Sorry, this one did not work for me & I won't be trying another.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Awful

I was excited to find a book by 2 great authors but this was really poorly written. The story line was ok but there were so many cliches and trite remarks that at times I groaned out loud. My advice is to pass on this one.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Cliche and Stale

The characters and scenarios were all flat, cliche and uninspired. I found it cheesy as hell

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Can't Stand Jan

Jan Maxwell must think listeners are little kids because she reads like a mother reading bedtime stories. She goes at an excruciatingly slow pace and over-pronounces every syllable. Dwight becomes "Du-white" and I wanted to tear my hair out. Because of this, a lot of dialogues came off as fake and contrived because no one in real life talks like that. Character voices are not very distinct either. I have been through the Harry Potter and Jack Reacher and some Agatha Christie audiobooks--with brilliant narrators--so Jan's performance left a lot to be desired. As for the story, it was interesting to keep me going despite my issues with the narrator. So many men are portrayed as handsome/smart/hardworking/rich which made me laugh. No spoilers here but I was satisfied with the ending. Looking forward to more MHC but will probably skip the ones with Jan Maxwell.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another Hit

What did you love best about The Cinderella Murder?

It was a well written story with great characters and a well written plot.

What did you like best about this story?

The weaving of the story line and the unfolding mystery. Well written and a great story.

Which scene was your favorite?

Near the end when the parts coming together to solve the mystery.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No However, Jan Maxwell has a great voice and adds so much to the Audiobook.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful