Plumbing For Willy

Alvirah & Willy #1.75

by Mary Higgins Clark

PLUMBING FOR WILLY Winning the lottery has made Willy and Alvirah Meehan famous. Now that she sports a stylish hairdo and knows how to dress like the wealthy lady she is, Alvirah quite enjoys being a guest on a talk show. But fame has its down three ex-cons in the viewing audience choose Willy as a kidnapping target. Unfortunately for the criminals, the Meehans haven't forgotten their old Alvirah can become a cleaning woman at a moment's notice, and Willy still loves plumbing. And the experience Alvirah's had pursuing her interest in sleuthing doesn't hurt either. Bad news for the bad guys is good news for Alvirah's growing number of fans -another story rich in suspense and good humor.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Short Stories, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary, Suspense

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1993

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

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

PLUMBING FOR WILLIE
Mary Higgins Clark

I really enjoy books about older characters who have strength and intelligence. As I age, I see how invisible I have become and I find this book sort of uplifting. It was short, sweet and often funny.
Lottery winners are targeted because they still have money by a band of kidnappers who are not that bright.

3 stars

Happy Reading!

[Zai Zai · Rating 2 out of 5]

November 2022 is the first time for me to read a
Mary Higgins Clark work (Plumbing for Willy). It reminded of
Janet Evanovich so much. It has a strong female lead, bloodless violence, a non gritty mystery to solve, plenty of comedy and a cheesy conclusion where the good guys win and the bad guys get put behind bars.

There is a huge market for books like these, given the massive bibliography of Mary and Janet. For me, it's like a slightly adult version of Nancy Drew. But then again, I found the Nancy Drew novels, though made for older kids, to be much more serious in tone. Granted, I did not read Mary's magnum opus, I got the sense that this is one of her less inspired work. (2 stars)

If you are a fan of Mary, I'd like to know what book made you stan, and what do you think is her best work? She is one of the authors that is very easy to collect because of the huge availability in the Philippine secondary book market.

I will be reading more Mary this month.

[Linda Munro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Alvirah and Willie series. They are simply fun, quick reads; or, in this case quick listens.

When three ex-cons sitting in a seedy hotel room see Alvirah and Willie featured on the Phil Donahue show, they formulate a plan to kidnap Willie for ransom.

Of course, the villains did no research and had not expected to be thwarted by Alvirak and a bunch of old Nuns.

Just a fun book!

[Sandra Keller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet

[Joan Salvaggio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any Mary Higgin

[Elizabeth Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, easy read. I'm reading another, heavier book and needed a brief reprieve. This did the trick!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Alvirah and Willie. They are such a fun couple and are the founding reason why this story made a great read. Is this a basic mastery, sure, but these two characters are the reason to pick up this book. It will make you laugh.

Alvirah are from the poor side of town, have all the tastes of uncultured persons ( I tend to be this way at times myself) until one day when they win the lottery. Just like that they have money to live near Central Park, but things...and what they choose to buy. But kind hearted Willie, who is a plumber, has a skill that will always needed, and Clark took that concept to the bank.

Two thumbs up. A delightful read.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet. I’ve read a few Alvirah and Willy detective/suspense novels and they don’t disappoint. The Flushing NY plumber and his wife of more than 40 years make an appearance on The Phil Donahue Show about lottery winners and become the target of a kidnapping scheme. Best moment: when Alvirah shows up for her undercover job at a seedy hotel by the Lincoln Tunnel wearing an “I Spent the Night with Burt Reynolds” sweatshirt. The sweatshirt had been purchased as a souvenir after visiting the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theater in Jupiter Florida. Wow. Such a specific time and feeling evoked.

[David Rough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willy and Alvirah Meehan won the lottery and are now quite famous. Three ex-cons decide to kidnap Willy for ransom in order to share in the wealth. They snatch Willy and contact Alvirah with their demands. Alvirah goes into action to find her husband. I had read this story before in a collection of MHC short stories, but it was rather quaint, so I listened to it a second time.

[Kaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

A novella featuring Willy and Alvirah (the lottery winners). Willy is kidnapped and Alvirah is out to save the day. Kind of a silly and unbelievable plot (written in 1993). Worth listening to if you enjoyed the characters.

[Tuesdayschild · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was like a B-grade mystery film in an audiobook format: bubble gum that ends with the good guys triumphing over the crooks makes for a pleasant brain-rest sometimes.
This is a gentler mystery, nothing extreme, suspense filled, or violent happens; and, I can't recall any swearing.

[Loraine · Rating 1 out of 5]

So stupid. Short so doesn’t give any time to develop anything. Plot, story line, characters…
I have read this author before. I might attempt a difference series. But I’m not sure I’ve had great luck with her books.

[les lectures de silja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une petite nouvelle d'un kidnapping d'un plombier. La nouvelle est très courte donc l'histoire est rapide mais claire et sympa. Ça se lit hyper facilement, ça m'a permis de passer 45 min de lecture tranquillement. Il faudra vraiment que je découvre Mary Higgins Clark avec un de ses romans

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This short story is a very poor representation of this series and the author. Since reading most of this series, I wanted to see what this story would be like. I also needed something light since the novel I'm reading is so heavy. It was 🧀 cheesy.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little short story.

[Nancy Hollingsworth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Read if you like absurd plots.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of her greatest works

[Readstoomuch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of Mary Higgins Clark’s books. I may have read all of them except for this tiny One. A fun little read if you are a Willie and Alvina fan! They are quiet the fabulous team! 😊

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy the characters Willy and Alvirah Meehan, you will enjoy this short story.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprising read for me! I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It was a quick but fun read.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not a fan of this book...Usually love this author

[Yesenia Cruz Espinoza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the author. Cute short story that was very predictable.

[Jovdb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute short, very short, story about Willy’s kidnapping and Elvira’s rescue.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet.

[Clara Weinberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute short story. I love how bad guys get caught.

[Heather Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It kept me going because of the witty jokes within the story. It had a good narrator plus the characters voices changed well thoroughly with the story.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was short.

[Vittoria Vespoli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sure

[Erin Grigson Baylis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for a short story.

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick fun audiobook, introducing Elvira and Willy who just won lottery and became amateur detectives. Good plot interesting characters without a lot of depth, short and sweet.