the shadow of your smile mhclark coverIn this life there are some things capable to move the world and arrive up to the sky. The novel I read some weeks ago is one of these. This stunning work is titled The Shadow of Your Smile and was written by a very famous American novelist: Mary Higgins Clark, whose real name is Mary Theresa Eleanor Higgins Clark Conheene. The Shadow of Your Smile ( also published in German, Spanish and Italian language)  opens with the sophisticate, very sick, eighty two Olivia Morrow, who, after realizing to not have much time to live, has to make a hard choice: reveal the truth about her cousin Catherine, a nun who in the past founded seven hospitals for disabled children and that now is about to be declared a saint by the Catholic Church.

Indeed, it seems that Sister Catherine, after her death, has made a miracle by allowing the healing of a child dying from brain cancer. The miracle happened thanks to the prayers of boy’s mother, who, after learning by the doctors her son had a terminal cancer, decided to organize a series of prayers turned to Sister Catherine.  After the unexplainable healing of the child,  the Catholic Church starts the beatification process of Sister Catherine, by seeking the evidences of this miracle.

The Church, and the other people involved in the beatification process, don’t know, however, that Sister Catherine, when she was only seventeen years, had a love story with a boy, Alex Gannon. By this love story, it was born a daughter, immediately adopted by another family. Today this daughter is the thirty one Monica Farrell, a fascinating paediatrician who cared the child healed by Sister Catherine.

Monica doesn’t know to be the rightful heir an immense fortune, namely the one got by her true father Alex Gannon, who, after her birth, became a famous scientist and owner of medical patents. Olivia Morrow, instead, knows the truth about Sister Catherine and Alex Gannon, but also about Monica Farrell. This truth is contained in a letter written by Sister Catherine and delivered to Olivia. The old woman attempts more times to contact the paediatrician to reveal her to be the heir of a remarkable patrimony and the daughter of a nun.

Unfortunately, also the nephews of Alex Gannon, Greg and Peter know the truth about Sister Catherine and her daughter Monica Farrell. The two brothers are the owners of the Foundation created thanks to the medical patents of their grandfather Alex. The Foundation is used by the two brothers Gannon to cover illegal deals and to squander the donations with lovers, women and other muddy reasons.

The brothers Gannon will do anything to prevent Olivia Morrow to tell Monica Farrell the truth. Olivia is, in fact, murdered by her family doctor who is, in reality, close friend of Greg Gannon. The latter decides also to hire a hitman to stalk and kill Monica Farrell. The end of the book guarantees many surprises, because Greg Gannon, an influent financier, is accused of financial abuses, while his brother Peter, a shortly talented theatre producer, is alleged to have killed a woman who extorted money from him.

Setting the story aside, this novel is particularly focused on the eternal conflict between Science and Religion. This conflict is clear when Monica Farrell, as the doctor who cared the child healed by Sister Catherine, is called by the Church to testify the miracle. Monica shows doubts and little conviction about miracles capable to heal diseases. This reading, hence, raises a question: Can faith make miracles?

The answers are in the book, but this work is also the mirror that reflects the hypocrisy and the lies that many people chase to get money and power. The novel also launches a warning: nothing is ever as it appears, not even a beneficial foundation. At last, The Shadow of Your Smile allows readers to figure out it is better the faith than corruption. That is an excellent meaning in a book and we can’t help but thanking Mary Higgins Clark to have given us another great lesson in creative writing and life.

 

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