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The New York Times bestseller that Nelson DeMille said "will keep...readers entranced and entertained from cover to cover."
Savvy young Los Angeles P.I. Regan Reilly faces an unusual challenge when she gets an urgent call from Lilac Weldon, owner -- with her two hippie brothers -- of the run-down California winery Altered States. Lilac asks Regan to find her actress daughter, Whitney, AKA "Freshness," in time to attend the wedding of Lilac's wealthy aunt Lucretia Standish, a 93-year-old silent-film star. The Weldons have learned from a secret source that each family member will receive a gift of $2 million from Lucretia -- but only if they all attend.
Lucretia's bridegroom, a 46-year-old con man and former actor, knows he must keep Whitney away; they have met before and she is wise to his game. How Regan foils his plot makes for an exciting climax to this comic suspense novel, filled with Carol Higgins Clark's inimitable characters.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 27, 2002
162 people are currently reading
1389 people want to read
About the author
Carol Higgins Clark
68 books835 followersCarol Higgins Clark was an American mystery author. She was the daughter of author Mary Higgins Clark , with whom she co-authored novels, and the former sister-in-law of author Mary Jane Clark.
Born in New York City, Clark received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College in 1978 and then studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. She was the author of the Regan Reilly mystery series. She also acted in several films.
Clark's New York apartment building, The Belaire, was hit by a small plane flown by New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle on October 11, 2006. Her 38th floor condominium was just a floor below the main impact zone. She was not injured in the accident.
She appeared on the game show, To Tell The Truth.
Carol died at the age of 66 on June 12, 2023 of appendix cancer.
Born in New York City, Clark received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College in 1978 and then studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. She was the author of the Regan Reilly mystery series. She also acted in several films.
Clark's New York apartment building, The Belaire, was hit by a small plane flown by New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle on October 11, 2006. Her 38th floor condominium was just a floor below the main impact zone. She was not injured in the accident.
She appeared on the game show, To Tell The Truth.
Carol died at the age of 66 on June 12, 2023 of appendix cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
December 11, 2011
The Regan Reilly books get a little better each time. I don't like the reviews that compare her books to her mother's work, criticizing it as not as suspenseful. Of course it's not as suspenseful! Mary writes suspense novels, Carol writes mysteries. That's like hating the movie Philadelphia because Tom Hanks wasn't as endearing in that as he was in Forrest Gump. Same general genre, different subgenre.
This definitely falls in the cozy mystery category. Great for a rainy day or an extra long bus ride while your car is in the shop. A feel good mystery with a happy ending. I liked it. The character, Regan gets a little more human and likable with every book.
This definitely falls in the cozy mystery category. Great for a rainy day or an extra long bus ride while your car is in the shop. A feel good mystery with a happy ending. I liked it. The character, Regan gets a little more human and likable with every book.
August 16, 2012
What a charming story with lots of quirky characters. Even the bad guys were inept, bumbling idiots so this was a mystery without a grusome mudrer to solve.
August 9, 2021
We have a private detective who is hired by this family of hippies who need to find their daughter so they can all attend to the wedding of a 93 year old millionairess actress who happens to be marrying for the 6th time and who's 5th husband used to be their uncle. If they attend to this wedding, they get 2 million dollars each just for being there because this old lady is kind and giving I guess. The lady of course is marrying a younger guy who only wants her for the money. And our lovely detective has to find the girl and of course find out who this guy is because "she feels something wrong about him".
The plot is WAY TOO PREDICTABLE, and also non believable. The coincidences had me rolling my eyes during the whole book saying: "Oh but of course that is going to happen! So so real! *rolls eyes*
Also, way too many characters, like for real, WAY TOO MANY! It was hard to keep up with who is who and just when I thought I had it all on my mind buuum! 5 more characters. Just, nope, please stop.
I didn't completely hate it, but Carol Higgins Clark, dear, your mother's books are better.
The plot is WAY TOO PREDICTABLE, and also non believable. The coincidences had me rolling my eyes during the whole book saying: "Oh but of course that is going to happen! So so real! *rolls eyes*
Also, way too many characters, like for real, WAY TOO MANY! It was hard to keep up with who is who and just when I thought I had it all on my mind buuum! 5 more characters. Just, nope, please stop.
I didn't completely hate it, but Carol Higgins Clark, dear, your mother's books are better.
April 28, 2018
i love this book so much it has very good storyline and a great ending to the book . i started reading 9:30 and had to keep reading till i finished the book . this by far the best book that she has written so far . i can't wait to read the next book in the series .
August 21, 2025
Another cozy read in a series that I am enjoying thoroughly.
March 12, 2022
It was very “eh” in my opinion. It’s such a silly, predictable, and cheesy mystery story, definitely not one of my favorites.
January 26, 2021
This is a fun series, you are never quite sure how the "bad guy" is going to get caught until the end. Knowing who actually makes it very suspenseful because you keep waiting for the how. The sub plots added to the overall mystery as well.
June 7, 2017
Boring.
December 31, 2014
In the 6th installment of Carol Higgins Clark's Regan Reilly PI series, Jinxed, Regan returned in this new cozy mystery to solve another puzzling mystery. This time, we found her in Los Angeles, when Lilac Weldon requested her to find her daughter, Whitney, to attend her aunt's wedding. If she did, she would inherit a boatload of money. But Lilac's soon-to-be-uncle-in-law is a con artist, who would do anything to prevent Whitney from showing up in the wedding. It was now up to Regan to foil the plans and to stop the wedding from happening.
June 2, 2017
Regan Reilly is off on a rollicking romp through California wine country trying to track down a missing actress. The crazy cast of characters includes a former movie star from the silent film era, her much (MUCH) younger and suspiciously shady husband-to- be, hippie winery owners, and a motorcycle gang (The Road’s Scholars). Hilarious, sometimes almost slapsticky, antics keep our attention to the exciting end amid wildfires and buried treasure.
January 17, 2012
Waaaay too many characters for me! I'm not sure what is going on when you have blow by blow details about where people are walking, what they are thinking, what they are eating.... come on. Tell the story we can infer, and we are smart enough to know how some things work without being told it in such great detail!
November 14, 2008
This was another great book in the Regan Reilly series. I enjoyed this story with Higgins Clark's humor & quirky characters.
November 25, 2008
I adore the entire Regan Reilly series. They read so quickly. I don't think it's taken me a day to read any of them.
March 23, 2019
The plot was good but quite a bit like her other books. The writing was kind of simple. But you did want to read to the end to see if the bad guy got what he deserved. It is made to seem like Regan Reilly saves the day, when actually she didn't do that much to reach the conclusion.
93-year old former silent screen actress Lucretia Standish is about to be married to decades-younger Edward Fields, who helped Lucretia hit the jackpot in the stock market. This will be her 6th marriage, and Lucretia's maid Phyllis tells the family of Lucretia's 5th husband that they will each receive $2 million if the entire family shows up for the wedding of this woman whom they have never met. Daughter Lilac now runs Altered States, an up-and-coming California winery, with her brothers, so the only one missing is her daughter Freshness (now Whitney), an actress who has gone off on a retreat weekend. Regan is hired to find her. Meanwhile, Lucretia travels with Edward and they befriend a motorcycle group whose leader suspects Edward is up to no good. Edward's friend is told to make sure Whitney (and perhaps Regan herself) does not get there for the wedding whether it involves kidnap or murder, since he wants to inherit her millions after he marries Lucretia and outlives her. How will it all turn out?
93-year old former silent screen actress Lucretia Standish is about to be married to decades-younger Edward Fields, who helped Lucretia hit the jackpot in the stock market. This will be her 6th marriage, and Lucretia's maid Phyllis tells the family of Lucretia's 5th husband that they will each receive $2 million if the entire family shows up for the wedding of this woman whom they have never met. Daughter Lilac now runs Altered States, an up-and-coming California winery, with her brothers, so the only one missing is her daughter Freshness (now Whitney), an actress who has gone off on a retreat weekend. Regan is hired to find her. Meanwhile, Lucretia travels with Edward and they befriend a motorcycle group whose leader suspects Edward is up to no good. Edward's friend is told to make sure Whitney (and perhaps Regan herself) does not get there for the wedding whether it involves kidnap or murder, since he wants to inherit her millions after he marries Lucretia and outlives her. How will it all turn out?
August 25, 2021
I have been a fan of the Regan Reilly series for many years after I read several books CHC write with her mom, Mary Higgins Clark. Over the years my mom tried getting me the entire series. I'm missing three.
In Jinxed, Regan and her boyfriend had to cut their vacation short as soon as they got to the winery in Napa Valley. The next day Regan gets a call from one of the owners asking her to find her daughter or they will lose millions in inheritance. The case goes from missing daughter, to found daughter, to missing daughter again, possible art thief, and an aging actress getting married to a much, much younger man. Can Regan solve this star-studded case before the fire burns them all?
I altered between listening and reading this book. The author is the narrator herself, which I thought was neat but I preferred reading over listening.
The story moves nicely but isn't as light and airy as some newer cozy mysteries. For some reason I felt I should read the book under the cover of darkness. Not much suspense. I don't remember any cursing. No sex scenes. Not a hug "aha" moment.
I will continue the series.
In Jinxed, Regan and her boyfriend had to cut their vacation short as soon as they got to the winery in Napa Valley. The next day Regan gets a call from one of the owners asking her to find her daughter or they will lose millions in inheritance. The case goes from missing daughter, to found daughter, to missing daughter again, possible art thief, and an aging actress getting married to a much, much younger man. Can Regan solve this star-studded case before the fire burns them all?
I altered between listening and reading this book. The author is the narrator herself, which I thought was neat but I preferred reading over listening.
The story moves nicely but isn't as light and airy as some newer cozy mysteries. For some reason I felt I should read the book under the cover of darkness. Not much suspense. I don't remember any cursing. No sex scenes. Not a hug "aha" moment.
I will continue the series.
April 8, 2023
The details of this story begin kind of slow. It gets interesting when a man tries to marry a wealthy, old actress. His dream comes true when she finally accepts his proposal, but she wants to invite all her relatives for a quick wedding, where she plans to give them the money they should’ve inherited from her late husband. But this guy wanted all the money. There was only one person he didn’t want at the wedding—an actress working on a movie called “Jinxed.”
Reagan Reilly, P.I., was off to find the missing actress. Can the groom find her before Reagan does? And will he have two people to take care of?
This was a decent read for about a quarter of the book. Most of the time, Reagan is just running around looking for the actress. It sure made her job easy when the girl comes home on her own.
Story was all-around slow and mediocre. It just seemed like I was waiting for something exciting and different to happen. The mystery sounded interesting at first, but it sure didn’t develop to my expectations.
Eh, an okay read.
Reagan Reilly, P.I., was off to find the missing actress. Can the groom find her before Reagan does? And will he have two people to take care of?
This was a decent read for about a quarter of the book. Most of the time, Reagan is just running around looking for the actress. It sure made her job easy when the girl comes home on her own.
Story was all-around slow and mediocre. It just seemed like I was waiting for something exciting and different to happen. The mystery sounded interesting at first, but it sure didn’t develop to my expectations.
Eh, an okay read.
December 18, 2017
Regan Reilly è un'investigatrice privata che, durante una vacanza, si trova per caso in una cantina, trasformata in locanda, in una località della California.
Il giorno successivo riceve una telefonata dalla proprietaria che la ingaggia per ritrovare la figlia Witney. La ragazza è un'attrice, ma è sparita per due giorni per uno di quei fine settimana che lei stessa definisce via-col-vento, cioè lontana da tutti e con cellulare staccato. Ma Witney deve assolutamente essere rintracciata e partecipare al matrimonio della zia ultranovantenne per ricevere 2 milioni di dollari.
Inizino le ricerche, mentre intanto scopriamo che zia Lucretia sta per sposare un uomo di 46 anni più giovane, per di più delinquente.
Tra imprevisti, coincidenze, cattive azioni e quant'altro, arriviamo al lieto fine per tutti. o quasi...
Un libro scorrevole, ma niente di particolarmente rilevante. Un modo per trascorrere qualche ora senza alcuna pretesa.
Il giorno successivo riceve una telefonata dalla proprietaria che la ingaggia per ritrovare la figlia Witney. La ragazza è un'attrice, ma è sparita per due giorni per uno di quei fine settimana che lei stessa definisce via-col-vento, cioè lontana da tutti e con cellulare staccato. Ma Witney deve assolutamente essere rintracciata e partecipare al matrimonio della zia ultranovantenne per ricevere 2 milioni di dollari.
Inizino le ricerche, mentre intanto scopriamo che zia Lucretia sta per sposare un uomo di 46 anni più giovane, per di più delinquente.
Tra imprevisti, coincidenze, cattive azioni e quant'altro, arriviamo al lieto fine per tutti. o quasi...
Un libro scorrevole, ma niente di particolarmente rilevante. Un modo per trascorrere qualche ora senza alcuna pretesa.
August 3, 2017
. A good mystery. Regan Reilly is a private detective based in Los Angeles. Her new boyfriend (Reilly) is a member of New York’s Major Case police team. They are on a trip to the Calif. wine country and have just stopped at a new winery near San Louis Obispo, when Reilly is called back to NY. Meanwhile, a 93 year old former silent screen star (Lucretia) has just decided to marry her business manager (47 yrs younger – and actually a scam artist). Lucretia decides to give several million dollars she inherited recently from her 5th husband to his family. His family just happens to own the winery Regan and Reilly were visiting. When the youngest daughter, an up and coming actress, goes missing the family is afraid they will loose out on the inheritance and call on Regan to help find Whitney. Of course, things get complicated.
September 28, 2022
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Another Good Mystery Book in this series by Carol Higgins Clark even tho it'd been awhile since i last read a book in this series!!
The Characters were still enjoyable to read about. Regan and Jack Reilly are still my favorites. I didnt care much for Phyllis and Lilac even tho i was shocked at the ending of who saved Whitney "Freshness"'s life cause i did not expect it to be said character.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was really in California especially when Beverly Hills and the surrounding areas were mentioned.
Overall another Good Mystery Book in this series!! Can't wait to read more in this series and by Carol in the future!!
Review:
Another Good Mystery Book in this series by Carol Higgins Clark even tho it'd been awhile since i last read a book in this series!!
The Characters were still enjoyable to read about. Regan and Jack Reilly are still my favorites. I didnt care much for Phyllis and Lilac even tho i was shocked at the ending of who saved Whitney "Freshness"'s life cause i did not expect it to be said character.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was really in California especially when Beverly Hills and the surrounding areas were mentioned.
Overall another Good Mystery Book in this series!! Can't wait to read more in this series and by Carol in the future!!
September 29, 2025
Regan Reilly and her boyfriend, Jack cut their vacation short as soon as they got to the winery in Napa Valley. An aging film star, Lucretia, is about to marry a much younger man. Regan, a private investigator, is hired to locate the niece, Whitney who must attend the wedding to receive two million dollars. Lucretia's young fiancé is wanting to prevent Whitney from attending the wedding as if even one fails to show up they receive zero. As always, can Regan find Whitney before everything goes up in flames. I enjoy the characters in this series. There is always a mystery but filled with humor. These books are a fast read.
January 19, 2021
Out of all the Carol Higgins Clark books, I think this is the best.
Regan and Jack are about to check into a B&B at a California winery when Jack gets called back to NY. Regan had left a business card with the winery owner and the next morning she receives a call from them. Lilac's daughter is on a getaway weekend and out of touch with everyone, but the family has been notified that they will each receive $2 million dollars if they attend the wedding of their late uncle's wife. Now Regan must track down the young actress.
Strange characters and a great deal of fun.....
Regan and Jack are about to check into a B&B at a California winery when Jack gets called back to NY. Regan had left a business card with the winery owner and the next morning she receives a call from them. Lilac's daughter is on a getaway weekend and out of touch with everyone, but the family has been notified that they will each receive $2 million dollars if they attend the wedding of their late uncle's wife. Now Regan must track down the young actress.
Strange characters and a great deal of fun.....
September 23, 2024
C’est un roman divertissant, mais sans grande profondeur. Malgré quelques moments amusants, notamment grâce au personnage de Lucretia, l’ensemble reste assez prévisible et stéréotypé. Le manque de relief des personnages et l’intrigue tirée par les cheveux empêchent ce livre de réellement se démarquer.
Ma chronique : https://mellecupofteabouquine.wordpre...
Ma chronique : https://mellecupofteabouquine.wordpre...
February 5, 2018
J'ai beaucoup aimé "pas de veine".
C'était mon premier policier.
Dans ce roman nous suivons plusieurs personnages, qui apportent chaqu'un un indice sur l'enquête mener par Regan Reilly.
Je recommande ce livre à tout ceux qui aime un bon petit policier qui ce passe dans le vignoble de Californie.
Il fait 330p il se lis très vite.
C'était mon premier policier.
Dans ce roman nous suivons plusieurs personnages, qui apportent chaqu'un un indice sur l'enquête mener par Regan Reilly.
Je recommande ce livre à tout ceux qui aime un bon petit policier qui ce passe dans le vignoble de Californie.
Il fait 330p il se lis très vite.
November 2, 2020
This book was fascinatingly complex with a diverse cast of characters and a rich plot! My only complaint was that it wrapped up a little quickly and pulled everything together a little too nicely! Other than that it was a fast paced and interesting novel, something I’ve come to expect from such an amazing author!
September 11, 2022
Friends and Family
This heading was chosen because Jinxed was about Lucretia's new family and her old friens, Polly and Sarah. Jinxed was a fun book to read and very entertaining. I have enjoyed reading the Regan Reilly mysteries. I would recommend this series to anyone who likes to read Carol Higgins Clark.
This heading was chosen because Jinxed was about Lucretia's new family and her old friens, Polly and Sarah. Jinxed was a fun book to read and very entertaining. I have enjoyed reading the Regan Reilly mysteries. I would recommend this series to anyone who likes to read Carol Higgins Clark.
Read
August 28, 2025Regan is hired to find a missing woman. If she does not attend a wedding, her family loses 8 million dollars! Regan, her parents, the wedding party, the maid, and some crooks join the missing woman's family at their vineyard. It is bedlam when you add 21 bikers to the mix. The woman is found & the wedding is cancelled due to the groom being a crook!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2020
Es más que nada el misterio y las aventuras los que te mantienen en la lectura, es buena la trama, me gusta mucho el cariño de familia que se muestra y todo lo que tienen que pasar para encontrar a una persona.
A veces me parecían largos los capítulos, pero valio la pena ese final
A veces me parecían largos los capítulos, pero valio la pena ese final
May 13, 2021
The perfect audio book to accompany busy activities like packing, cleaning and a long walk. The listener knows exactly what will happen way before it occurs, so close listening is not necessary. A definite plus is the author’ reading — she absolutely nails the voices of the characters.
abandonados
August 13, 2022Abandono en el capítulo 8.
Bastante pronto, la verdad. Habiendo leído poquito pero con la certeza de que no es para mí.
Por cierto, la traducción de esta edición es una 💩
Mala con ganas 😒
Creo que el estilo de la escritora tampoco ayuda.
Bastante pronto, la verdad. Habiendo leído poquito pero con la certeza de que no es para mí.
Por cierto, la traducción de esta edición es una 💩
Mala con ganas 😒
Creo que el estilo de la escritora tampoco ayuda.
September 6, 2024
This is a good fun read. I loved the adventure and excitement. I love how the author weaves so many people into her stories and they all end up as integral parts to the story.
Regan is supposedly having a vacation with Jack when duty calls for him and they have to cut their vacation short.
Regan is supposedly having a vacation with Jack when duty calls for him and they have to cut their vacation short.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews