MHC has long been a favorite of mine but her more recent books indicate she's not quite keeping up with the times. This particular title is copyrighted 2013 but felt dated to me.
An heiress to an antique reproduction business is found in the aftermath of an explosion at the plant museum along with a former employee. The questions that immediately surface are why were they there and did they set the explosion that totaled the plant and all of the valuable antiques, worth over $20 million? The former employee, Gus, died and Kate, the heiress, is in a coma and nobody knows if she will get better and be able to tell her side of the story. As the investigation continues another body is found on the premises, a homeless man might have a part to play in murder and the explosion, and Kate while in coma is having flashback memories to when she was three and her mother died. Does any one person have culpability in any of these people and instances or is it coincidence that they all get some exposure at the same time?
One of MHC's strengths has always been her cast of characters. She has a lot of characters but she has always developed them appropriately and well to contribute rather than detract from the story. She also has a knack for having a large cast of characters that seem innocent or guilty and then switching it up when the reader least expects it or never does! That doesn't change in this title. MHC has a large cast of characters that keep the reader suspecting every single person until the real villain is exposed. As time marches on, literally, where I see MHC faltering is keeping up with the modern times. Her props and storylines feel a bit dated to me. But even with all the falterings and flaws that are popping up in more recent works MHC is still, and perhaps forever, the Queen of Suspense.