Helpful Score: 3
I read the summary in a book club flyer and thought the story sounded pretty good. I had never read any other Regan Reilly mysteries so I decided to start with Hitched, Where Regan marries Jack Reilly. Laced is the story of Regan and Jack's honeymoon. These are very dialog driven stories and are not very in depth in plot. But if you want a light and quick read, these Regan Reilly mysteries are okay.
Helpful Score: 3
This was the first Ragan Reilly Mystery I have read, and I loved it! It was simply fantastic! I will be reading more of her, that's for sure.
Carol Higgins Clark is able to add humour even to the point of mild goofiness into her story without having the storyline break down into goofiness. That is something I just can't stand in a book - I enjoy humour, but the storyline, in books I enjoy, needs to be a world I can believe in and get lost in. The humourous aspects in Clarks story never interfere with following a very real mystery. Her ending wraps everything up in a very satisfying way. I really enjoyed this book.
My only issue is, when looking for more books by her, I keep forgetting WHICH 'Higgins Clark' she IS. I wonder if the other two are good, also? I assume they are related to her?
Carol Higgins Clark is able to add humour even to the point of mild goofiness into her story without having the storyline break down into goofiness. That is something I just can't stand in a book - I enjoy humour, but the storyline, in books I enjoy, needs to be a world I can believe in and get lost in. The humourous aspects in Clarks story never interfere with following a very real mystery. Her ending wraps everything up in a very satisfying way. I really enjoyed this book.
My only issue is, when looking for more books by her, I keep forgetting WHICH 'Higgins Clark' she IS. I wonder if the other two are good, also? I assume they are related to her?
Helpful Score: 3
I thought this was a fun addition to the Regan Reilly series. I enjoyed the setting in Ireland and the twists, turns and funny connections throughout the book. I bought it for vacation and it was a perfect book for that purpose - entertaining and an easy read. I look forward to reading the next one.
To me this was not one of her better books. It took me a while to get into this book.
Helpful Score: 1
Poor Regan Reilly and Jack "no relation" Reilly her newly wedded husband! First in "Hitched" her wedding gown is stolen the week before the ceremony and now on the first full day of their honeymoon in a reputedly haunted Irish Castle they are quickly involved in a mystery.
They go for an afternoon jog and find a gravestone for May Reilly and learn at dinner from their server that it is she who is supposed to haunt Hennessy Castle. May created a beautiful lace tablecloth for the owners of the castle but wasn't paid. In fact, their waiter tells them the tablecloth is on display in the upstairs museum of the castle. That night sometime around 4am Regan jerks awake and looks out the window to see a woman in dark clothes holding something white down by the lake and shaking her fist at the castle. As Jack wakes up and asks Regan what is up, they both smell smoke and the castle fire alarms sent them hustling to the smoky lobby.
The guests all gather and the hotel managers asks them to step outside as the firemen clear the kitchen as it was a kitchen fire. Jack and Regan meet a young American couple, Sheila and Bryan O'Shea, who own a catalog business that sells Irish memorabilia emblazoned with family crests. They offer to leave a catalog for the Reillys at the hotel/castle front desk. Regan tells them she is a private investigator with her own firm and that Jack is head of the NYPD Major Case Squad. Sheila asks them if they have seen May Reilly's tablecloth yet and tells them how beautiful it is and they promise to go see it later that day.
The next morning one of Jack's co-workers calls from New York to let him know that a paid informant has left him a message that the notorious jewel thieves known as "John and Jane Doe" have said they are going to Ireland to ruin Jack's honeymoon! Jack promises to be on the alert and his co-worker, Keith, also promises to keep in touch. While Jack and Regan are in the lobby getting coffee, the housekeeper comes running to the front desk and is yelling that May Reilly's lace tablecloth has been stolen. The display cash is broken and the tablecloth gone! Jack and Regan survey the scene with the hotel/castle manager as the "garda" are called. It turns out one elderly couple left very early that morning. They also left an envelope for Jack. Guess who?
Lots of fun and excitement as the reader gets to know John and Jane Doe and many side mysteries involving others at the castle. A fun novel as always!
They go for an afternoon jog and find a gravestone for May Reilly and learn at dinner from their server that it is she who is supposed to haunt Hennessy Castle. May created a beautiful lace tablecloth for the owners of the castle but wasn't paid. In fact, their waiter tells them the tablecloth is on display in the upstairs museum of the castle. That night sometime around 4am Regan jerks awake and looks out the window to see a woman in dark clothes holding something white down by the lake and shaking her fist at the castle. As Jack wakes up and asks Regan what is up, they both smell smoke and the castle fire alarms sent them hustling to the smoky lobby.
The guests all gather and the hotel managers asks them to step outside as the firemen clear the kitchen as it was a kitchen fire. Jack and Regan meet a young American couple, Sheila and Bryan O'Shea, who own a catalog business that sells Irish memorabilia emblazoned with family crests. They offer to leave a catalog for the Reillys at the hotel/castle front desk. Regan tells them she is a private investigator with her own firm and that Jack is head of the NYPD Major Case Squad. Sheila asks them if they have seen May Reilly's tablecloth yet and tells them how beautiful it is and they promise to go see it later that day.
The next morning one of Jack's co-workers calls from New York to let him know that a paid informant has left him a message that the notorious jewel thieves known as "John and Jane Doe" have said they are going to Ireland to ruin Jack's honeymoon! Jack promises to be on the alert and his co-worker, Keith, also promises to keep in touch. While Jack and Regan are in the lobby getting coffee, the housekeeper comes running to the front desk and is yelling that May Reilly's lace tablecloth has been stolen. The display cash is broken and the tablecloth gone! Jack and Regan survey the scene with the hotel/castle manager as the "garda" are called. It turns out one elderly couple left very early that morning. They also left an envelope for Jack. Guess who?
Lots of fun and excitement as the reader gets to know John and Jane Doe and many side mysteries involving others at the castle. A fun novel as always!
