Willy and Alvirah: Collection of #1 Bestselling Short Stories

by Mary Higgins Clark, Carol Higgins Clark (Narrator)

4 Audio Cassettes (Approximately 6 hrs)

SOLVING CRIMES FROM COAST TO COAST!

Alvirah Meehan, the ever-resourceful former cleaning lady who struck it rich in the lottery, won the hearts of millions of readers and listeners when she narrowly survived a stalking killer in the #1 bestseller Weep No More My Lady. Now she returns with her occasionally befuddled mate Willy in this dazzling collection of interconnected stories.

From the glittering streets of New York City to the shores of both California and Cape Cod, Alvirah and Willy come to the aid of a vacationer accused of murder in "Death on the Cape," assist a fellow lottery winner in distress in "A Clean Sweep," return to the Cypress Point Spa to solve a brutal slaying among the rich and beautiful in "The Lottery 'Winner," and track down a kidnapper at Christmas time in "Bye, Baby Bunting."

Written with Mary Higgins Clark's trademark wit, romance, and keen eye for thrilling detection, and presented here in unabridged recordings, these Alvirah and Willy stories are destined to become perennial favorites.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Suspense, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Crime, Cozy Mystery

Audio Cassette

First published September 1, 1994

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

[Kathleen]

Willy and Alvirah are two of Mary Higgins Clark's recurring characters. Both were hard working members of the middle class until they won the lottery. This was a fun series of short stories which included: the couple trying to clear the name of a young woman indicted for murder, Willie getting kidnapped, and Alvirah finding a murder victim in their own apartment. This collection also includes two short stories which were the first to be published by Clark as she began her career.

[Becky]

As always, a very fun and clean mystery book.

[Tricia]

A collection of short stories where two people who are catapulted to wealth (but still keep their down to earth roots) solve crimes for fun.

Quite enjoyable.

[Tuesdayschild]

2-3 ⭐️ overall

Giving the whole collection 2⭐️ for quality writing, and 3⭐️ for bubble-gum enjoyment.
These all playout like episodes from a B-grade TV series in an audiobook format – no brainwork required 😊:

Death at the Cape (2-3*)
Plumbing for Willy (3+*) (I skipped re-listening to this as I’d just listened to it last month (April 2022) so adding the rating of that listen here anyway.)
The Body in the Closet (2*)

Two stewardess-centric short stories are (rather dated) romantic suspense/espionage toned stories:
Stowaway The lame, busted, romance ruined this story for me (2*)
and Milk Run (3*) comparing apples with apples, this story is told better than the first one.

[Clarence Reed]

ReedIII Quick Review: Fun, likable character who seems to always be in the middle of serious trouble and has a knack for solving crimes. Nice, simple, who-done-it stories with two bonus early stories from the author.

[Kristi]

This collection of the Willy and Alvirah series also includes: Stowaway and Milkrun............ I had no idea that Mary Higgins Clark was once a Pan American Airway-flight attendant. These are the first two stories that were published. I have many fond memories of Pan American. At 18 I set off to study at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and travel throughout Southeast Asia. I remember the menus - the pilot welcoming our study group aboad the plane, and actual silverware............ Ah the days when planes were not busses for those who cannot afford first class.................. Stowaway - 2 stars - would have been a fine story without the sappy romance. Milk Run was excellent - 4 stars. Small romance content, but a well-written suspense story. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Melmo2610]

I really enjoy Willy and Alvirah as characters. They are hilarious and likable, and they bring an element of fun to the mysteries they're in. This collection of short stories was a quick and good listen.

[Shireen]

I would rather read a good long book than short stories, but I have to read all of her books. Will probaly read it again.

[Kaye]

A collection of short stories featuring Willy and Alvirah. They are the cleaning woman and plumber who have won a lottery and are featured in several of Clark's books. This was a quick read, especially because two of the stories were in another short story collection I read a couple of weeks ago (published 21 years apart). Clean, quick mysteries. Alvirah the amateur detective gets in one situation and then another and Willy will be there to back her up. For me this was a happy mystery read between other books.

[David Rough]

3.5 stars

This series of short stories by Mary Higgins Clark is a nice combination of the humorous and the series sides of Ms. Clark's mysteries. Two former lottery winners, Alvirah the former cleaning lady with the deduction of a detective and her husband Willy, a plumber, solve several unrelated crimes in separate novelettes. Included in this audio-book are two of Mr. Clark's first short stories (Stowaway and Milk Run) both filled with suspense and drama.

[Debra]

Very entertaining!

[Lynn Carrigan]

Enjoyed this book but not my favorite

[Jennie]

Entertaining stories.

[G.L.]

Cute older couple!!

[Denise]

A good collection of short mysteries including some early ones from this author.

[Patty]

Meh

[Mistyblue]

Loved the stories. They’re short stories but fun to read. Some of the readers weren’t my favorite.

[Fuzzy]

3.5

[Carole Casuras]

Simply delightful.

[Steve]

Four short stories; two with Willy and Alvirah and then two early stories based upon a flight attendant.

[Robin]

Fun, but a little silly!

[Katrina D'Aquin]

This is the first book by the author I have read, although she spoke at my college graduation. I’m glad I chose to go with a collection of short stories. None were too terrible, but I get the feeling that I wouldn’t enjoy anything longer by the author. Someday, I may try another one, but I found the stories to be far too predictable and heavily dependent on the decade in which they were written.

[Susan]

I really enjoyed these fun, clean mysteries. They are well done even though short, there is enough detail to make them complete. I especially love the Willy and Alvirah stories. They are just so real and I love their relationship.

I would recommend these stories to any mystery lover.

[Linda]

Always at the end of my seat in suspense!

[Rebecca]

The Willy and Alvirah books are some of my favorites by Mary Higgins Clark. There is a fun element of humor that I really like in these books. They are fun, relaxing and enjoyable books.

[Mydanes]

I love all the stories involving these charming characters

[Chris Crawford]

Love the Willie & Alvirah stories!

[Nicole]

Good group of short stories.

[Cam]

Multiple mysteries.

[Mary Beth]

Fun read. And Mary Higgins Clark is an excellent narrator. Alviruh and Wiillie, cleaning lady and plumber, are still deeply in love after 40 years and just won the lottery.