Silent Night/All Through the Night: Two Christmas Novels

by Mary Higgins Clark

Mary Higgins Clark, for several years, has given her readers a very special holiday gift -- short novels celebrating the Christmas season with tales of suspense and cheer. Now two of her most beloved stories are combined in one special volume -- a welcome gift for readers in all seasons. In Silent Night, Brian, a seven-year-old boy, is in New York City at Christmas with his mother and ten-year-old brother to visit his father, critically ill in the hospital. They plan to give him a St. Christopher medal, in the belief that it will make him well. When Brian sees a woman steal his mother's wallet, with the medal in it, he embarks on a dangerous journey that changes the life of his mother and that of the thief. With All Through the Night, two of Mary Higgins Clark's most endearing characters -- Alvirah, the lottery winner turned amateur sleuth, and her husband, Willy -- are caught up in a Christmas mystery that begins when a young mother leaves her newborn child on the doorstep of a church rectory on Manhattan's Upper West Side, and continues with the theft of a precious chalice from the church. It is a captivating tale of false identities and old wrongs made right, as well as a mystery that calls for all of Alvirah's deductive powers and Willy's world-class common sense. Even one story by America's Queen of Suspense is cause for cheer, but this single-volume edition of Silent Night and All Through the Night is a treat for all of Mary Higgins Clark's devoted fans at any time of the

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Fiction, Suspense, Anthologies, Contemporary, Adult

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 14, 2000

About the author

The #1 New York Times bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark has written thirty-eight suspense novels, four collections of short stories, a his­torical novel, a memoir, and two children’s books. With bestselling author Alafair Burke she wrote the Under Suspicion series. With her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, she has coauthored five more suspense novels. Her sister-in-law is the also author Mary Jane Clark.

Clark’s books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone. Her books are beloved around the world and made her an international bestseller many times over.

Reviews

[Kimberly Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this one. I'm not super into the "feel-good" Christmas stories, but I did enjoy the little bit of a thriller twist thrown into each story.

[Veronica F · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say?! Mary Higgins Clark always has a decent flow to her writing. She gives you enough that you can picture a scene but not so much that your imagination is not needed.

Both stories were well executed and I enjoyed both. My only disappointment is they were short stories. I truly feel she could have made both of them full novels.

This is definitely a good read!

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I forgot to go into goodreads and say I started this novel. I finished it 3 days ago and I'm already half way through another book. I need to get better at this, I've been slacking lately.

Silent Night and All Through the Night are two Christmas stories in one book. I was on a Mary Higgins Clark kick a number of years ago and read everything I could find of hers, but took a cooling off period for probably the last 2 or so years. Returning to her, I'd forgotten how much I enjoy her easy reads.

All along while I was reading both stories, I could had sworn I'd read both before; it all seemed so familiar. Not sure why I didn't think to check each story individually. Turns out I'd read the second one 8 years ago, and this was my review from October 15th, 2011:

A quick and easy read, though quite predictable, but entertaining all the same.

It's January 3rd, 2019 and I'll go with it again.

The second story, All Through the Night seemed more familiar to me than Silent Night. I'm pretty sure I've also read it, quite possibly before I became a goodread member? I think this is the third story with the characters, Alvirah, the lottery winner turned amateur sleuth and her husband, Willy. I remember them. Though I don't know which novels they are in, but I do remember adoring them before, and I found myself adoring them all over again. They had two mysteries to solve, but I was really disappointed that they let Linda and Vic Baker off and not be arrested. I remember feeling this same disappointment before, so I know I'd read this one too.

Both stories, the last lines were great! Smart lines on behalf of characters to make the reader laugh, and feel good to end each story.

[Deborah D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome short read! Should have started reading it in December instead of using book as Christmas decoration!!

[Brenda Fronsee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful and quick read with Christmas theme

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 Christmas who-done-it stories. Well written, but of course, predictable.

[Mary Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both stories were light and endearing. The characters were so engaging. It was a wonderful Christmas read.

[Jacy Carroll-Bussman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two "feel good" Christmas stories which I thoroughly enjoyed. I haven't read many of Ms. Higgins Clark novels, but the few I have read made me enjoy her writing. I will be reading a few more!!!

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

She even does Christmas.

[Jessica Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 short stories, both relating/ taking place around Christmas time. The second story is another adventure of Alvirah & Willy, which I always enjoy.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal collection hardcover book

[Dale Safford · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK for Christmas stories with a little mystery.

SILENT NIGHT: While their doctor father is in New York City having surgery, 7-year old Brian Dornan wanders away from his mother and brother when he sees a woman take his mother's wallet. He follows her to her apartment, where her escaped convict brother conveniently kidnaps the boy and attempts to drive off with him to Canada. A St. Christopher's Medal that Brian wants to give to his father becomes an important item in keeping him safe.
HOLY NIGHT: A promising musician leaves her newborn daughter outside the church rectory, but a amn who robs the church finds the infant and claims her as his own. Being raised by the man's aged mother, Star is a sweet girl who will play Jesus's mother Mary in a Christmas production. Now the musician mother is looking for her daughter. Also an aged spinster is being swindled out of the house her sister owned after the sister's death, and the house was to be donated to the church to continue the after-school program for children. Can Alvira and Willy make everything turn out the way it should?

[Leane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of several Christmas stories written by Mary Higgins Clark, the first I have ever read myself. There are two stories within this book. The first, "Silent Night" was my favorite. I found the characters enjoyable and realistic, plus the action was more intriguing as well. This story involves family issues including sickness, as well as strange connections between characters and even a kidnapping/murder mystery.
The second story "All Through the Night" was not as enjoyable because I felt as though there were a) too many characters and b) the main characters had already been established in other book Clark has written. The story was anticlimactic and not as engaging as the previous story. Both stories do have happy endings with family and friends surrounding the main characters.

[Fallon Perrault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout this book it has been an interesting journey, a very sad one. A woman named Catherine had a horrible life. Her husband ends up being diagnosed with Leukemia, he and Catherine have two young sons. I can connect to this feeling because i knew of someone who was diagnosed with the same illness. It was very sad and painful and what gets you the most is when you think of all the fun and exciting times you had with this person and to think that they will never be alive again for you to experience it is very heart breaking. This is a good book for anyone who just want to sit down and relax and enjoy the things that you do get in life rather than complaining all your life and getting no where and you end up depressed for life. This was a very good book!!

[Carynpayzant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always try to read a Christmas book during the season. This was one of the books I chose. I generally like Mary Higgins Clark. Her books are no nonsense, easy to read.

This book actually had two stories. The first one, "Silent Night," was a cute but predictable story. It was O.K..

I liked the second story, "All Through the Night," a lot more. The characters were easy to follow and drew me in. It was a holiday story that kept my interest more than the first one.

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Silent Night last year (I think my review is on here), now I have read All Through the Night and I enjoyed it as much as her other Christmas stories. They are predictable but fun, and you always want to know how Alvirah is going to solve the mysteries! Great, fun, quick reading!

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all throught the night not silent night but al through the night was great. Its was very addicting cuz i wouldnt stop reading it. this was a great book and an adventure.

[Ginger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A suspence book, but I didn't find it as compelling a read as I thought it would be.
It's only 154 pages, so good to read in one sitting. The ending is the best.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Higgins Clark writes a good, clean mystery. I like to read her Christmas books around that time each year.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

No surprises here -- obvious from the beginning how it will end.

[Guylene Milner · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 in 1. Very Good

[Marjorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and fun to read

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

set in NY, 7 yr old boy taken hostage

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved both stories; very fast reads.