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Regan Reilly Mysteries #9
Hitched (Regan Reilly Mysteries, No. 9) by Carol Higgins Clark
The date is Saturday, April 2. Five April brides discover their wedding dresses have been stolen. One of the brides is private investigator Regan Reilly. Her wedding is in seven days. Regan Reilly and her fiance, Jack "no relation" Reilly -- head of the NYPD Major Case Squad -- are getting married! Regan had the perfect dress made by two young designers on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Arriving at the bridal salon to pick up her gown, Regan discovers the shop has been broken into, the designers bound and gagged, and wedding dresses for four of the April brides (her dress included) are missing. A fifth dress is in shreds on the floor. Even though it's a week before her wedding, Regan gets on the case, and in the process she meets an unusual mix of brides and grooms-to-be, or -- perhaps "not-to-be."
Over at One Police Plaza, Regan's bridegroom, Jack, is trying to solve a perplexing series of bank robberies. The robber, nicknamed "The Drip" by the NYPD because he always strikes during rainstorms, has been eluding the police for months. Jack is determined to crack the case before his upcoming nuptials.
Carol Higgins Clark fuses the two seemingly unrelated mysteries with an ingenious twist, taking readers from the streets of New York City, to the casinos of Atlantic City, and finally to that most popular wedding spot -- the one and only Las Vegas. She weaves a web of mystery around a charming, humorous tale of five April brides and the trials and tribulations they face planning their weddings.
Over at One Police Plaza, Regan's bridegroom, Jack, is trying to solve a perplexing series of bank robberies. The robber, nicknamed "The Drip" by the NYPD because he always strikes during rainstorms, has been eluding the police for months. Jack is determined to crack the case before his upcoming nuptials.
Carol Higgins Clark fuses the two seemingly unrelated mysteries with an ingenious twist, taking readers from the streets of New York City, to the casinos of Atlantic City, and finally to that most popular wedding spot -- the one and only Las Vegas. She weaves a web of mystery around a charming, humorous tale of five April brides and the trials and tribulations they face planning their weddings.
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First published April 4, 2006
161 people are currently reading
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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 229 reviews
September 28, 2017
How easy is it to read a book like this, yet how difficult it is to review it. Reading the book was fun. Every book aspires to offer something positive to its readers. At least the majority of them do. Some books, however aspire to give the maximum amount of fun to their readers who consume the books with eager greed.
This was one such book. A fun book. Bubbly, hilarious, peachy, direct, witty, momentous, infectious. In short, it's a cozy mystery book that had humble ambitions but transcended its limitations to excel its own potential. But if you want to conduct a more detailed analysis, you might find it hard to pinpoint what made the book tick for you.
The characters are two dimensional. Yet they work because the book wants to exude fun, not sleazy realism. The plot is engaging. You care sometimes for the victims (whose plight is serious but not life-threatening), but sometimes you care for one of the bad guys. In the end everyone gets what she deserves and others get their just desserts. I had a blast reading this book. Toodle-oo for now.
This was one such book. A fun book. Bubbly, hilarious, peachy, direct, witty, momentous, infectious. In short, it's a cozy mystery book that had humble ambitions but transcended its limitations to excel its own potential. But if you want to conduct a more detailed analysis, you might find it hard to pinpoint what made the book tick for you.
The characters are two dimensional. Yet they work because the book wants to exude fun, not sleazy realism. The plot is engaging. You care sometimes for the victims (whose plight is serious but not life-threatening), but sometimes you care for one of the bad guys. In the end everyone gets what she deserves and others get their just desserts. I had a blast reading this book. Toodle-oo for now.
January 22, 2009
I have always enjoyed books by Mary Higgins Clark and I am starting to like books by her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark as well.
"Hitched" tells about a comedy of errors which begin when 4 wedding dresses are stolen and one destroyed.
Carol weaves the lives of the five brides-to-be together with mystery and a light touch.
If you like "fun" mysteries, this one is worth reading for sure.
"Hitched" tells about a comedy of errors which begin when 4 wedding dresses are stolen and one destroyed.
Carol weaves the lives of the five brides-to-be together with mystery and a light touch.
If you like "fun" mysteries, this one is worth reading for sure.
January 6, 2009
I always enjoy this author. This book was a lot of fun, and although anything in it could have happened, taken altogether all of the events happening as they did would be highly unlikely. But that just made it more fun. I guess I like it best when no one has to get killed for there to be a mystery. And that's how it was in this book, where the crime is the theft of four wedding gowns, including Regen's, and the shredding of another along with the theft of the designer and his wife's cash and an assault on them.
Not only are some of the wedding gowns missing, but so are some of the grooms. The relationships between the about to be married couples get pretty complicated, and there are some hilarious plot twists that I can't give away here. Regan does, of course, find her wedding gown in time for her wedding, and we do see her happily married at the end of the book.
This is no thriller, but that's the way I like my mysteries -- light and funny.
Not only are some of the wedding gowns missing, but so are some of the grooms. The relationships between the about to be married couples get pretty complicated, and there are some hilarious plot twists that I can't give away here. Regan does, of course, find her wedding gown in time for her wedding, and we do see her happily married at the end of the book.
This is no thriller, but that's the way I like my mysteries -- light and funny.
June 16, 2018
I love book so much because the mystery of the wedding dress that was taken by two people . they sure got what was coming to them for taking the wedding dresses . i don't want to spoil the whole book but it sure was funny what happened to them in the last pages of the book . i can't wait to read the next book in the series to see what happens on jack and regan on their honeymoon to ireland . this book had a great storyline and a great mystery to it .
November 18, 2015
a great 'light crime' read with an unusual plot and great characters. Regan Reilly is a refreshing character amongst female detectives - she's tough and smart and definitely not easily intimidated, but lacks the self-righteous, preachy, I'm-so-awesome arrogance of the likes of VI Warshawski, and the ball-breaking bitchy attitude of countless other female detectives in crime fiction.
Regan's family and friends are great characters too, and I especially liked her fiancé Jack 'no relation' Reilly and her dad Luke, and her friend Kit. The 'Bridezilla' characters were funny, and like something off 'Don't Tell the Bride'. The only character I disliked was Alfred the dress designer. He was an over-dramatic, whiny little bitch. But that is recognised by the other characters, especially Regan, who often gets frustrated with Alfred's amateur dramatics. And I wouldn't be surprised if men who are 'something' in the fashion world in real life are sometimes just like Alfred!
Good plot with several twists and turns, so that I really was wondering, as one review on the book cover also wondered 'just who would make it up the aisle'.
It's like reading a combo of a good crime story (and surprisingly I didn't much mind the absence of a murder, which is the norm in crime fic) and those delightful stories from trashy mags, but given much more class because of the way the characters are written.
Is it great, award winning crime fiction? No, it's just a fun, quick little read, and certainly much better written than the tosh turned out by the likes of James Patterson and his legion of co-writers.
Jack and Regan were also nice together and their relationship and lead up to their wedding added nicely to the story without overtaking it.
Regan's family and friends are great characters too, and I especially liked her fiancé Jack 'no relation' Reilly and her dad Luke, and her friend Kit. The 'Bridezilla' characters were funny, and like something off 'Don't Tell the Bride'. The only character I disliked was Alfred the dress designer. He was an over-dramatic, whiny little bitch. But that is recognised by the other characters, especially Regan, who often gets frustrated with Alfred's amateur dramatics. And I wouldn't be surprised if men who are 'something' in the fashion world in real life are sometimes just like Alfred!
Good plot with several twists and turns, so that I really was wondering, as one review on the book cover also wondered 'just who would make it up the aisle'.
It's like reading a combo of a good crime story (and surprisingly I didn't much mind the absence of a murder, which is the norm in crime fic) and those delightful stories from trashy mags, but given much more class because of the way the characters are written.
Is it great, award winning crime fiction? No, it's just a fun, quick little read, and certainly much better written than the tosh turned out by the likes of James Patterson and his legion of co-writers.
Jack and Regan were also nice together and their relationship and lead up to their wedding added nicely to the story without overtaking it.
September 12, 2017
I really like this series and this book was very timely for me as we have a family wedding coming up in November. I'm so glad that there is another book in the works for this series.
January 5, 2018
I got this book on CD to listen to on a short trip that I took. I haven't read or listened to any other books in the series, but other than a few characters that were mentioned at the end of the book and a few previous incidents (enough detail was given for me to figure out what was going on), I didn't feel lost.
I would consider this to be light, fun read. It had an interesting group of characters, many of whom were a little quirky, and a fun mystery. The characters and the story all tied together in the end. When I'm in the mood for a light read in the future, I would definitely pick up another book in this series. Regan Reilly is a likable character.
I would consider this to be light, fun read. It had an interesting group of characters, many of whom were a little quirky, and a fun mystery. The characters and the story all tied together in the end. When I'm in the mood for a light read in the future, I would definitely pick up another book in this series. Regan Reilly is a likable character.
October 22, 2012
It's a cute but shallow and silly story. Just a fun light read, in the vain of Stephanie Plum, but not as good and not as racy. It would be better if there was more romance in the story.
It's hard to take a mystery story about stolen wedding dresses seriously. Too many story lines going at once and then they magically intersect and are resolved.
Dislikes:
* Regan wasn't very upset with her wedding dress being missing a week before her wedding
* The designer's voice and personality annoyed me, so I wasn't as sympathetic with his robbery and the resulting problems
* Bridezillas are not my favorite sympathetic characters, so though I wished them beautiful weddings, I couldn't relate to their tantrums and rudeness
* Jack is by far my favorite character and he is just a background character as Regan's beau. I think the book would be much better if it were about Jack and not Regan. Regan needs more depth and fire IMO.
* Sadly unromantic wedding book
I would like to know how Jack and Regan got together, so I may listen to that story. I just can't get excited about a mystery story without a body count.
It's hard to take a mystery story about stolen wedding dresses seriously. Too many story lines going at once and then they magically intersect and are resolved.
Dislikes:
* Regan wasn't very upset with her wedding dress being missing a week before her wedding
* The designer's voice and personality annoyed me, so I wasn't as sympathetic with his robbery and the resulting problems
* Bridezillas are not my favorite sympathetic characters, so though I wished them beautiful weddings, I couldn't relate to their tantrums and rudeness
* Jack is by far my favorite character and he is just a background character as Regan's beau. I think the book would be much better if it were about Jack and not Regan. Regan needs more depth and fire IMO.
* Sadly unromantic wedding book
I would like to know how Jack and Regan got together, so I may listen to that story. I just can't get excited about a mystery story without a body count.
March 19, 2015
Regan goes to pick up her wedding gown and finds the owners tied and bound. Four gowns are missing, and one is on the floor torn to shreds.
review: Very good story, but keep track of the brides. There are a lot of people to keep track of and it’s easy to forget who is who. I wish the author had mentioned what happened to Hattie. She held Joyce against her will and nothing was done about it? I know she is old, but she probably should have been placed in a facility because she was obviously not in her right mind.
review: Very good story, but keep track of the brides. There are a lot of people to keep track of and it’s easy to forget who is who. I wish the author had mentioned what happened to Hattie. She held Joyce against her will and nothing was done about it? I know she is old, but she probably should have been placed in a facility because she was obviously not in her right mind.
October 6, 2011
I loved this book....so funny...The bumbling crooks who stole the dresses are too funny. So many different twists and turns in this book. Things happened that I never expected to happen.
December 30, 2014
Intriguing
Very well done. Really like this author. Clever theme to the story and many turn of events. Nice too that someone besides Regan gets in trouble in this one.
Very well done. Really like this author. Clever theme to the story and many turn of events. Nice too that someone besides Regan gets in trouble in this one.
January 22, 2020
One week before her wedding, Regan Reilly goes to pick up her gown from the designers, only to find the loft unlocked, the designers tied and gagged in bed, one gown slashed and the remaining four missing. While the designers vow they will be able to work their magic to get the gowns remade in time for the weddings, Regan, along with her fiancé Jack, head of NYPD Major Case Squad take on the case.
At the same time, Jack has sworn to catch the bank robber, nicknamed ‘The Drip’, for his penchant to strike during rain storms, who has been eluding police for months.
The five ‘April’ Brides are the first on Regan’s list, as well as a trip to Atlantic City to check security footage at the casino from the designers visit of a week prior, where Regan suspects the designer has dropped his keys. Im the meantime, ‘The Drip’ strikes again, this time leaving a slue, a receipt from a local discount store has fallen out of his pocket.
Through false starts and a group effort, which includes three of the ‘April’ Brides, both Regan and Jack solve their cases just in time for their wedding.
Of course, it’s what happens during the investigation that makes this tale interesting.
A fun, quick read!
At the same time, Jack has sworn to catch the bank robber, nicknamed ‘The Drip’, for his penchant to strike during rain storms, who has been eluding police for months.
The five ‘April’ Brides are the first on Regan’s list, as well as a trip to Atlantic City to check security footage at the casino from the designers visit of a week prior, where Regan suspects the designer has dropped his keys. Im the meantime, ‘The Drip’ strikes again, this time leaving a slue, a receipt from a local discount store has fallen out of his pocket.
Through false starts and a group effort, which includes three of the ‘April’ Brides, both Regan and Jack solve their cases just in time for their wedding.
Of course, it’s what happens during the investigation that makes this tale interesting.
A fun, quick read!
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February 27, 2024Regan Reilly doit se marier avec Jack, policier rencontr� lors de sa derni�re enqu�te. Mais quand elle entre chez son couturier pour essayer et ajuster sa robe une derni�re fois, celle-ci a �t� vol�e ! Toutes les robes de son styliste ont �t� d�rob�es : un cambriolage tragique et cruel pour toutes les mari�es d�s lors d�shabill�es ! Ce sera donc une nouvelle affaire � suivre pour Regan, d�tective priv�e : retrouver sa robe et accessoirement celles des autres fianc�es !Le suspens ne dure pas tr�s longtemps puisque un chapitre sur deux est consacr� aux cons�quences du cambriolage pour les deux voleurs qui ont commis cet � atroce � crime.Bon, je ne m�attendais pas � lire un chef-d��uvre, mais � me divertir ! Et pourtant, je n�ai pas eu le courage de finir For ever. Pour toujours ? Pas pour tout le monde !J��tais pourtant bien lanc�e : les deux premiers chapitres sont plut�t dr�les, mais cela s�est g�t� ensuite : je me suis trop vite ennuy�e ! J�ai eu l�impression de tourner en rond tr�s t�t ! Et le style trop "passe-partout" de l��criture ne m�a pas donn� envie de continuer le livre�
July 19, 2024
Hitched is the first book I've read by Carol Higgins Clark, so I am hoping it is the abridgement of the book that is the problem, rather than the original manuscript. One week before their weddings, someone has entered the offices of an up-and-coming designer and stolen 4 of the 5 bridal gowns needed this week. The fifth gown has been shredded and has blood all over it! The media dubs the owners of the five gowns "the April brides." One of the Brides is Regan Reily, a private investigator who proceeds to investigate and some of the other brides have suspicious reactions to the news of the loss of their dresses. Again, I suspect it is the abridgement at fault, but suddenly there are too many undeveloped characters and details that pop out of nowhere on the way to solving the crime. I was left with a feeling of incompleteness.
October 3, 2025
Private investigator Regan Reilly is at her parents house in New Jersey making last minute arrangement for her wedding to Jack. Regan, Nora, her mother and her best friend and maid of honor Kit are headed to pick up Regan's couture wedding dress. Upon arrival, Regan is aware something isn't right and finds Alfred and Charisse, the dress designers bound and gagged. They have been robbed and wedding dresses were stolen.....yep one of them happens to be Regan's. Of course Regan is now spending time looking those who are responsible for the robbery and of course to recover the wedding dresses. Again there are many amusing characters which includes the brides of the missing dresses. The author has us on a roller coaster following all the leads, This is a fast read with great humor.
January 26, 2021
J'ai trouvé que le livre For Ever était un livre réaliste car l'histoire ici décrite pourrait très bien être un fait divers qui se passerait dans la vraie vie, avec comme sujet les problèmes pouvant être rencontrés durant l'organisation d'un mariage. Mais il raconte aussi comment se déroule une enquête policière américaine. Les lieux cités existent bien dans la réalité (quartier du Queens, Central Park, quartier du Brooklyn…), les villes aussi (New York, Manhattan, Atlantic City…).
J'ai trouvé qu'il était parfois difficile de suivre toutes les histoires différentes en même temps car, par exemple, au début du livre, il y deux histoires qui alternent à chaque chapitre.
J'ai trouvé que le livre était passionnant car il y a de l'action et du suspense.
J'ai trouvé qu'il était parfois difficile de suivre toutes les histoires différentes en même temps car, par exemple, au début du livre, il y deux histoires qui alternent à chaque chapitre.
J'ai trouvé que le livre était passionnant car il y a de l'action et du suspense.
September 16, 2024
Entertaining. Read like an old romcom or Sunday afternoon movie of yesteryear. This is one that I pulled out of an old box of books. Literary genius it’s not but an escape and way to pass away the time poolside is perfection. Regan Reilly is a private detective. I’ve not read any of the others in this series. Her wedding dress and those of four other brides were vandalized and stolen from the designers home. An investigation takes place and the motley jumble of fiancés and their friends and the who done its scatter through NYC in search of the missing gowns. In the meantime, someone is robbing banks, someone is conniving an elderly couple, someone is lying, someone is kidnapped etc. There are too many hijinks to count!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2021
This is definitely a beach read. I haven’t read any others from this series, but you really can pick it up at whichever book in the series. It’s an easy read.
I did feel like their were too many POVs of different characters and it reads like a hallmark/csi mini series. It is a cute little story, and I did like Jack's character the best but I think I would have enjoyed seeing this as a movie more than a fluffy read.
I ended up getting kind of bored with it after about chapter 6 or 7 and kind of skimmed the rest. Their was a lot of cheesy dialog at times and formulaic moments that seemed cliche.
I did feel like their were too many POVs of different characters and it reads like a hallmark/csi mini series. It is a cute little story, and I did like Jack's character the best but I think I would have enjoyed seeing this as a movie more than a fluffy read.
I ended up getting kind of bored with it after about chapter 6 or 7 and kind of skimmed the rest. Their was a lot of cheesy dialog at times and formulaic moments that seemed cliche.
May 5, 2018
Another fun mystery with Regan Reilly. I so enjoy these books, because it is a good mystery with a good clean story. My granddaughter who is 14 reads them too. This time Regan and Jack are busy planning their wedding when her wedding dress gets stolen among others from an exclusive bridal shop in New York. Well anyone who has read her books knows the Regan even though she has a week to her wedding has to solve the mystery. It has some twists and turns which makes for a fun read with a good ending.
September 11, 2022
Intended for general fiction (adult) audience, but written with more simplistic elements (perhaps more befitting not-quite-current young YA tone, patterns, etc.). An almost farcical mash up of wedding woes and serious (but not graphic) & varied illegal shenanigans. Lots of familiar tropes. Hooray for crime-fighting fiances who enjoy all the cliches as they nab the bad guys in record time. A bit more voice and it could be Nick & Nora-esque, but... nope. It was (is still?) a successful series, so let the fans enjoy!
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September 21, 2025Regan goes to pick up her wedding dress & finds the designers robbed & tied up. There are 4 weddings dresses missing & one shredded! Money & jewelry are also missing. Regan agrees to take the case to find the dresses. Jack wants to solve the Drip bank robber case before the wedding on Saturday. One bride is jilted, another is arrested for stealing from wealthy sponers, & the third is finally arrested for robbing banks! New boyfriends are found for the jilted & dress thief. Jack & Regan get married!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2017
Private Investigator Regan Reilly is getting married to her soulmate Jack Reilly, a NYC cop. When her fancy bridal gown is stolen, along with several others from the same designer, Regan is on the tail of the thieves. Several subplots add to the action. Jack’s squad is after a bank robber – The Drip (so named because the heavily disguised crook always hits during rain, stormy weather). The book ends with their wedding party.
October 7, 2018
I did not enjoy the writing style of the author. I will not be reading anymore books from her. The story line was over the top and you find out "who did it" very early. The rest of the book seems extreme to keep the reader interested. It felt like the author tried too hard to make sure the book was exciting. The links between characters became ridiculous. Then the book seemed very rushed at the end. I would not reccomend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2018
This book made me regret not getting married and I never thought anything would do that to me. It’s a perfect wedding read. Designer dresses. All kinds of brides. Everyone is on the whodunnit list because everyone is a little bad like real ppl. I was so impressed by this book. I couldn’t remember why I didn’t read this author. I would gift this book to anyone in my life getting married.
October 1, 2020
This is not a series anymore reads because it is great literature or even an “ edge of your seat” mystery. Nope, people (like me) read CHC and her mom Mary Higgins Clark because they are quick reads with sweet characters. Just right to fill the hours waiting at appointments or late at night when people can’t sleep. Don’t knock them as. Being beneath you until you’ve read them.
December 27, 2025
Thought I'd give Ms. Higgins-Clark another try. After the last one I read "Popped", I wasn't sure I'd want to read any more of her novels. But this one was Much better than the last one I read. It was about Regan and Jack's wedding plans and all the mishaps that happen before it. It was a quick read and I thought it was okay.....
October 21, 2017
A romantic/comic-crime caper is probably the nearest I can get to describing this book's style. It's an amusing enough read full of quirky characters but while it was a fun-enough at the time sadly it was also pretty much instantly forgettable...
October 27, 2017
Fun, fast read. Have enjoyed the Regan Reilly series. This was no exception. April Brides, stolen dresses. Was interesting the different reactions to their lost dresses. Good cast of characters and how they interacted throughout the book.
May 14, 2019
I think of the Regan Reilly Mystery books as quick and easy reads. I've enjoyed most of them in the form of audiobooks. Fast paced and exciting. Very convenient that these novels can be read out of order!
November 22, 2019
Mon premier livre de cette auteure. J'aime beaucoup les livres de sa mère, Mary Higgins Clark et j'avais envie voir si elle avait hérité du talent. Un mélange de suspense, humour et d'action, j'ai beaucoup aimé!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews