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The daughter of a successful mystery writer and a P.I. with pizzazz, Regan Reilly is attending her class reunion at St. Polycarp's England, when the long-dead body of her former roommate turns up under the bushes. It's a case Regan would love to solve, but a prior commitment puts her on a transatlantic cruise. She shouldn't have fretted. The clues to the crime are following her on the Queen Guinevere. Here, on a ship awash with secret lovers, a fortune hunter, a jewel thief and an assassin, Regan is sailing home - and into the hands of a young girl's killer.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 1992
467 people are currently reading
3562 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 307 reviews
November 4, 2017
Let me begin by saying that this book is the best 2 star book that I've ever rated. So what happened? I'll just say that there was too little plotting, and too much waffling going on. Conversely I think the book should be about as short as this review. I'm half serious.
Too many characters. That means too many characters to keep track of. Their concerns lead nowhere. Somewhere in this book there's a greater offering, waiting to pupate and gestate. The wordiness of the book is its own downfall.
I think that the author, Carol Higgins Clark, knew how flimsy her plot was and the powers that be greenlit the project anyway. That has still not dulled my appetite for the books in the series. I've hit gold before and I'll probably hit gold again.
Too many characters. That means too many characters to keep track of. Their concerns lead nowhere. Somewhere in this book there's a greater offering, waiting to pupate and gestate. The wordiness of the book is its own downfall.
I think that the author, Carol Higgins Clark, knew how flimsy her plot was and the powers that be greenlit the project anyway. That has still not dulled my appetite for the books in the series. I've hit gold before and I'll probably hit gold again.
March 5, 2021
Good old fashioned mystery set aboard a transatlantic luxury liner with strong female characters.
December 7, 2020
I thought the cover illustration on my edition of this book was really cool. But the book and the mystery itself were pretty underwhelming. I really hope that Regan Reilly's detective skills improve as the series go on. In this one she was little more than a damsel in distress.
June 26, 2020
This cozy is fun because it's on a cruise ship, primarily, and that brings back memories of our own cruises. It is fun to read, and the murder is a many-years-ago tragedy, so it's always nice to have an old mystery wrapped up. I like the writing style, and enjoyed reading this one.
May 19, 2014
This is a quick, easy, and very entertaining mystery with a lot of humor.
January 13, 2022
Such a good book! I really loved the humor!
March 23, 2018
I picked this book up right before going on a cruise, as I had just finished [Book: The Woman in Cabin 10] and quite enjoyed it! I had searched for other books that were thrillers set on cruise ships to continue the theme. I would give this book 2.5 stars for a few reasons...
The Good:
• For those that don't like violence, sex, or really anything even mildly "offensive" or gratuitous, this
is a decent read.
• The writing wasn't terrible (no grammatical errors or the like)
The Bad:
• The character development was terrible - very thin characters mostly defined by stereotypes
• The plot was laughably unbelievable! Talk about having to suspend reality
• The writing, while not technically bad, was very much geared towards older people. Think Danielle
Steele type writing almost, only minus the romance. I used to read Mary Higgins Clark books when I
was in my early teens and really enjoyed them, but that was 20-ish years ago and I've read
thousands of books since, so my expectations are much higher now.
• Similar to my last point, the book felt very old-fashioned for something that was supposed to be set in modern times. Nothing felt fresh, current, or realistic.
Overall I finished this book because I rarely leave books unfinished, and I had already downloaded it to my Kindle prior to sailing off into the Caribbean with not many other options. I wish that I'd brought [Book: The Woman in Cabin 10] along instead, because THAT would have been fun late-night balcony reading while staring out into the dark ocean with no land in sight!
The Good:
• For those that don't like violence, sex, or really anything even mildly "offensive" or gratuitous, this
is a decent read.
• The writing wasn't terrible (no grammatical errors or the like)
The Bad:
• The character development was terrible - very thin characters mostly defined by stereotypes
• The plot was laughably unbelievable! Talk about having to suspend reality
• The writing, while not technically bad, was very much geared towards older people. Think Danielle
Steele type writing almost, only minus the romance. I used to read Mary Higgins Clark books when I
was in my early teens and really enjoyed them, but that was 20-ish years ago and I've read
thousands of books since, so my expectations are much higher now.
• Similar to my last point, the book felt very old-fashioned for something that was supposed to be set in modern times. Nothing felt fresh, current, or realistic.
Overall I finished this book because I rarely leave books unfinished, and I had already downloaded it to my Kindle prior to sailing off into the Caribbean with not many other options. I wish that I'd brought [Book: The Woman in Cabin 10] along instead, because THAT would have been fun late-night balcony reading while staring out into the dark ocean with no land in sight!
March 31, 2018
i love this book so because has keep me guessing till the end of the book what would happen to regan reilly and her roommate . this is great book and i will be reading all the books in this series .i start reading this other day and can not put till i finished the book today . i love the mystery of this book and kept me wanting to read more of the book till i finished it .
January 17, 2021
Such a cute story. I truly enjoyed Regan's character and Veronica was an absolute trip. Ironic I would finish this on Betty White's birthday when I could picture her plain as day as Veronica Exner.
Definitely a great story. I look forward to the next mystery in the series.
Definitely a great story. I look forward to the next mystery in the series.
February 10, 2020
Pretty boring. The story was strangely organized and all the different points of view were confusing and unnecessary. Weird. Since I enjoyed the 9th book in the series, which I read first, I’ll give it one more try with the second book.
July 8, 2008
DECKED - Poor
Clark, Carol Higgins - 1st book
The daughter of a successful mystery writer and a P.I. with pizzazz, Regan Reilly is attending her class reunion at St. Polycarp's, England, when the long-dead body of her former roommate turns up under the bushes. It's a case Regan would love to solve, but a prior commitment puts her on a transatlantic cruise.
She shouldn't have fretted. The clues to the crime are following her on the Queen Guinevere. Here, on a ship awash with secret lovers, a fortune hunter, a jewel thief and an assassin, Regan is sailing home--and into the hands of a young girl's killer.
She is definitely not her mother.
Clark, Carol Higgins - 1st book
The daughter of a successful mystery writer and a P.I. with pizzazz, Regan Reilly is attending her class reunion at St. Polycarp's, England, when the long-dead body of her former roommate turns up under the bushes. It's a case Regan would love to solve, but a prior commitment puts her on a transatlantic cruise.
She shouldn't have fretted. The clues to the crime are following her on the Queen Guinevere. Here, on a ship awash with secret lovers, a fortune hunter, a jewel thief and an assassin, Regan is sailing home--and into the hands of a young girl's killer.
She is definitely not her mother.
November 29, 2018
Enjoyable read!!
August 1, 2022
4 sterren - Nederlandse hardcover
This introduces private investigator Regan Reilly. Regan is in Oxford where she is meeting up for a ten year reunion with friends from University.
Whilst there Regan studied law. However, on her return home to the United States she drifted into private investigations and now works solo from Los Angeles. During her final days at University a room mate of Regan's a Greek girl called Athena Populous went missing. It is believed that Athena ran away with a boyfriend? It is no surprise that Athena has not shown up at the reunion dinner that is being held at the home of one of the lecturer's a Professor Philip Whitcomb.
However, the function is rocked when Athena's remains are found in adjacent land. To add to the mess there is an attempted murder on the friend of Philip Whitcomb's aunt who is the elderly but very active Lady Veronica Exner.
Both of these ladies were due to travel across the Atlantic on the ocean liner the Queen Guinevere with her friend unable to travel Philip asks Regan to chaperone Lady Veronica on the voyage. She agrees to do this. This may sound so far like a Miss Marple novel. It is not.
This book was published in 1992 and set around that time. It paints Regan as being in her late twenties/early thirties an attractive independent woman. This starts off at a quick pace but slows down on the ship. This is not helped by the awful hangers on that frequent the cruising community in first class accommodation.
This makes that it is not a 5 star read.
The best parts are in Oxford and the good working relationship between Regan and the local police officer called Livingston at times he is referred as Superintendent other times it's Inspector.
Other things we find out about Regan is that her mother is a best selling writer of thrillers who would like nothing more for her daughter to settle down and start a family. But she thinks difftently.
It's an easy read.
This introduces private investigator Regan Reilly. Regan is in Oxford where she is meeting up for a ten year reunion with friends from University.
Whilst there Regan studied law. However, on her return home to the United States she drifted into private investigations and now works solo from Los Angeles. During her final days at University a room mate of Regan's a Greek girl called Athena Populous went missing. It is believed that Athena ran away with a boyfriend? It is no surprise that Athena has not shown up at the reunion dinner that is being held at the home of one of the lecturer's a Professor Philip Whitcomb.
However, the function is rocked when Athena's remains are found in adjacent land. To add to the mess there is an attempted murder on the friend of Philip Whitcomb's aunt who is the elderly but very active Lady Veronica Exner.
Both of these ladies were due to travel across the Atlantic on the ocean liner the Queen Guinevere with her friend unable to travel Philip asks Regan to chaperone Lady Veronica on the voyage. She agrees to do this. This may sound so far like a Miss Marple novel. It is not.
This book was published in 1992 and set around that time. It paints Regan as being in her late twenties/early thirties an attractive independent woman. This starts off at a quick pace but slows down on the ship. This is not helped by the awful hangers on that frequent the cruising community in first class accommodation.
This makes that it is not a 5 star read.
The best parts are in Oxford and the good working relationship between Regan and the local police officer called Livingston at times he is referred as Superintendent other times it's Inspector.
Other things we find out about Regan is that her mother is a best selling writer of thrillers who would like nothing more for her daughter to settle down and start a family. But she thinks difftently.
It's an easy read.
December 7, 2023
This book was a bore.
I had high hopes for this one, especially since it took place on a cruise ship! As soon as it started I could tell it was going to be an old fashioned who dunnit. Reminded me of those mystery books I'd read as a kid from the readers digest condensed books. Alas, with the introduction of more and more characters, I could tell that somehow everything would converge at the end and there'd be wackiness and hilarity and it'd all come together.
And it did. But it wasn't nearly as entertaining as I thought it could be. I just didn't care for most of the characters and it became a slog to get through. There were some genuinely funny moments, but those were few and far between.
Apparently this is the start of a series. The protagonist of this one seemed to be a very passive character; not sure if this changes in future books in this series, I won't be reading anymore.
I had high hopes for this one, especially since it took place on a cruise ship! As soon as it started I could tell it was going to be an old fashioned who dunnit. Reminded me of those mystery books I'd read as a kid from the readers digest condensed books. Alas, with the introduction of more and more characters, I could tell that somehow everything would converge at the end and there'd be wackiness and hilarity and it'd all come together.
And it did. But it wasn't nearly as entertaining as I thought it could be. I just didn't care for most of the characters and it became a slog to get through. There were some genuinely funny moments, but those were few and far between.
Apparently this is the start of a series. The protagonist of this one seemed to be a very passive character; not sure if this changes in future books in this series, I won't be reading anymore.
April 24, 2021
This is the first of the Regan Reilly mysteries — I’ve read several of the later books in the series so it was fascinating to go back to the beginning and see where (& how) it all started!
I will say, Carol Higgins Clark (hereby referred to as CHC) has changed her writing style tremendously over the course of the series. In this book, there are some of the trademark multiple plot lines that arc and twist and weave together for a seamless conclusion. But compared to later books, this one is a walk in the park. As you progress in this series, CHC’s plots become a lot more convoluted, there’s a lot more story arcs to keep straight, a ton more characters, and there’s also typically a lot less murder.
Book one was more of a typical murder mystery. I’ll be curious to read the next books in the series to see where (& how!) things start to shift.
I will say, Carol Higgins Clark (hereby referred to as CHC) has changed her writing style tremendously over the course of the series. In this book, there are some of the trademark multiple plot lines that arc and twist and weave together for a seamless conclusion. But compared to later books, this one is a walk in the park. As you progress in this series, CHC’s plots become a lot more convoluted, there’s a lot more story arcs to keep straight, a ton more characters, and there’s also typically a lot less murder.
Book one was more of a typical murder mystery. I’ll be curious to read the next books in the series to see where (& how!) things start to shift.
December 5, 2017
I did not read any books during the month of November due to traveling and sightseeing with family. This book helped me get back in practice. The quick pace and simple plot were the perfect combination to build my confidence and renew my interest in reading.
I read the paperback format - very rare for me, I usually read hardback books.
I don't think I'll continue with the series - the characters weren't interesting to me and there wasn't much description of the setting. The focus is on the mystery and action, and I enjoyed being swept up in the energy of the book.
I read the paperback format - very rare for me, I usually read hardback books.
I don't think I'll continue with the series - the characters weren't interesting to me and there wasn't much description of the setting. The focus is on the mystery and action, and I enjoyed being swept up in the energy of the book.
July 1, 2019
1.5
I read a book of this series years ago and thought it was good. Oh how my reading taste changed since then ! It was boring... I liked the first 80 pages of the book but the rest was very meh. I won't continue this series.
I read a book of this series years ago and thought it was good. Oh how my reading taste changed since then ! It was boring... I liked the first 80 pages of the book but the rest was very meh. I won't continue this series.
October 29, 2023
{2.5 stars} this book just had way too much going on for me for really keep track of who was who and what was going on until it was wrapped up in the end.
April 6, 2024
Typical who-dunnit with a lot of likeable characters.
July 20, 2024
3.5
Interesting mystery and storyline. This was in the Regan Reilly series, not super deep, but enjoyable.
Interesting mystery and storyline. This was in the Regan Reilly series, not super deep, but enjoyable.
June 6, 2022
A wonderful debut novel for Regan Reilly full of colorful characters and humorous moments. There wasn't much mystery since the killer was identified early to the reader, but the fun is seeing how things were pieced together.
May 23, 2021
Fun book, with no redeeming social value- neither enriching intellectually, broadening socially, nor elevating morally!
November 1, 2024
Better than I expected.
3.5 stars rounded up because I would read another book by her.
First time author for me.
3.5 stars rounded up because I would read another book by her.
First time author for me.
August 11, 2016
I have never read anything by either Mary Higgins Clark or Carol Higgins Clark and only knew of the former by reputation, so I came into this book with very little expectations. However, I still found myself a tad disappointed by Decked - there was a lot of promise of what it could have been, but the final product didn’t quite pull together. It’s not a bad read, however; merely an “all right” one.
This book felt like a combination of a modern thriller and a traditional British mystery. The opening, with a girl called Athena on the run from someone and presumably meeting a nasty end, was exactly what I’ve come to expect from a thriller novel. Most of the rest of the story, however, read like one of Conrad Allen’s luxury liner mysteries, or even a good old Agatha Christie novel. It is a familiar format where you get to know individual travelers on board the ship separately, most of them seemingly unconnected to each other and participating in their own activities, but by the end you’ll realize that they are all related to the case in some way or will at least play a supporting role somewhere. That is what I expected from the travelers of the Queen Guinevere, but where I felt it fell apart was that a lot of them ended up playing very little part whatsoever. Sylvie, for example, whom we’re told has made the Atlantic crossing several times hoping to attract a new husband with her money, was of very little consequence to the story despite the time she was allotted. Or Regan’s parents, Luke and Nora; aside from their intervention being what saved at the end, we didn’t really get to know them but were fed bits and pieces of information about their separate activities. There’s just enough dialogue to tease, but not enough to make me feel like I know these characters.
The climax was particularly disappointing; after finding out that most of these characters aren’t really that interesting and won’t play a real part in the mystery, the actual “big reveal” ended up being done by Nigel Livingston, the policeman at Oxford whom I thought was set up to be the support to Regan’s main detective role. Despite Regan being described as a sharp and experienced investigator, she didn’t really do all that much investigating at all. It seems to me that she made a few phone calls and picked up one or two pieces of key information (not through her own designs, either, but by chance), but was otherwise mostly oblivious to what was happening. The criminals themselves gave up quite quickly once everything fell into place, and so the whole murder mystery fizzled rather than making an impression.
Aside from what I mentioned previously about Regan being remarkably passive throughout the whole book, I really can’t get a sense of her character either. She’s supposed to be our detective; the Poirot of the story, so to speak, but her activities can be summarized in the following: playing the long-suffering caretaker to Veronica, briefly agonizing over the murder of Athena but doing little actual investigation because she’s unaware that there’s anyone connected to the case on the cruise, and almost . I’m curious to know more about her, but it’s really frustrating how little insight we got into her character aside from her short moments of narration where she’s mainly making wry comments about Veronica.
All that said, it’s a bit odd that I feel quite open to the thought of reading the next book in the series. Perhaps it’s because I’m hoping to know more about Regan Reilly, the main character? It’d be nice if the next book really did develop the key characters better, and I definitely won’t say no to a possible romance on the horizon for Regan. I know that the “series hunk” role is cliché, but you do learn a surprising amount about a character when you watch her interactions with someone she’s attracted to. It’d certainly spice things up, if nothing else.
This book felt like a combination of a modern thriller and a traditional British mystery. The opening, with a girl called Athena on the run from someone and presumably meeting a nasty end, was exactly what I’ve come to expect from a thriller novel. Most of the rest of the story, however, read like one of Conrad Allen’s luxury liner mysteries, or even a good old Agatha Christie novel. It is a familiar format where you get to know individual travelers on board the ship separately, most of them seemingly unconnected to each other and participating in their own activities, but by the end you’ll realize that they are all related to the case in some way or will at least play a supporting role somewhere. That is what I expected from the travelers of the Queen Guinevere, but where I felt it fell apart was that a lot of them ended up playing very little part whatsoever. Sylvie, for example, whom we’re told has made the Atlantic crossing several times hoping to attract a new husband with her money, was of very little consequence to the story despite the time she was allotted. Or Regan’s parents, Luke and Nora; aside from their intervention being what saved at the end, we didn’t really get to know them but were fed bits and pieces of information about their separate activities. There’s just enough dialogue to tease, but not enough to make me feel like I know these characters.
The climax was particularly disappointing; after finding out that most of these characters aren’t really that interesting and won’t play a real part in the mystery, the actual “big reveal” ended up being done by Nigel Livingston, the policeman at Oxford whom I thought was set up to be the support to Regan’s main detective role. Despite Regan being described as a sharp and experienced investigator, she didn’t really do all that much investigating at all. It seems to me that she made a few phone calls and picked up one or two pieces of key information (not through her own designs, either, but by chance), but was otherwise mostly oblivious to what was happening. The criminals themselves gave up quite quickly once everything fell into place, and so the whole murder mystery fizzled rather than making an impression.
Aside from what I mentioned previously about Regan being remarkably passive throughout the whole book, I really can’t get a sense of her character either. She’s supposed to be our detective; the Poirot of the story, so to speak, but her activities can be summarized in the following: playing the long-suffering caretaker to Veronica, briefly agonizing over the murder of Athena but doing little actual investigation because she’s unaware that there’s anyone connected to the case on the cruise, and almost . I’m curious to know more about her, but it’s really frustrating how little insight we got into her character aside from her short moments of narration where she’s mainly making wry comments about Veronica.
All that said, it’s a bit odd that I feel quite open to the thought of reading the next book in the series. Perhaps it’s because I’m hoping to know more about Regan Reilly, the main character? It’d be nice if the next book really did develop the key characters better, and I definitely won’t say no to a possible romance on the horizon for Regan. I know that the “series hunk” role is cliché, but you do learn a surprising amount about a character when you watch her interactions with someone she’s attracted to. It’d certainly spice things up, if nothing else.
June 2, 2012
It's your basic who-done it type mystery. It also happens to have been my first Carol Higgins Clark that I've read. I don't feel like it was very "noteworthy" so to speak. It's not something I would re-read nor is it a favorite. If you want a quick and easy read then this is what you want.
The plot wasn't to bad, had maybe one or two twists you may not expect which is always a good thing. Although it didn't hold much suspense I still enjoyed the story overall.
The characters were average, and enjoyable.
I don't regret having read it and I did go onto reading more of the series. As of now I'm on the fifth one.... somewhere in the middle. However I've gotten wrapped in another novel...
The plot wasn't to bad, had maybe one or two twists you may not expect which is always a good thing. Although it didn't hold much suspense I still enjoyed the story overall.
The characters were average, and enjoyable.
I don't regret having read it and I did go onto reading more of the series. As of now I'm on the fifth one.... somewhere in the middle. However I've gotten wrapped in another novel...
June 5, 2009
This was the first of the Regan Riley mysteries. I really enjoyed it and have enjoyed all of the others in this series.
January 30, 2013
This first in a series was a fun read. I have read many books by this author's mother (Mary Higgins Clark) and I found this series to be more lighthearted than her mother's. I liked that.
January 28, 2020
Mother and daughter are always good reads. Such a delight to be able to read alllll day ... and at the beach!
July 16, 2023
In light of her recent passing I decided to purchase and read all of Carol Higgins Clark’s books in the Regan Reilly series. I’ve read the ones she collaborated with her mother (author Mary Higgins Clark) and have thoroughly enjoyed them so I figured her solo novels would be equally as enjoyable.
This book introduces us to Regan Reilly. A young woman with good looks and intellect who works in the field of investigation. She agrees to accompany an older woman aboard a cruise ship, while also trying to solve the mystery of a schoolmate whose body had recently been discovered.
The book proceeds at a quick pace, introducing the reader to a slew of extra characters including a jewel thief, a man who has been hired to kill off our heroine and her companion, and a few other guests one may run into on a cruise (including Regans novelist mom and mortuary owning father). All the while that Regan is playing babysitter for her elderly companion, she is also in touch with the investigator who is in charge of finding out what happened to her schoolmate. Does it have anything to do with the lively cast of characters on the cruise ship, or are we keeping track of multiple crimes that aren’t connected in any way?
The book was entertaining, although I did spend the entire time I was reading wondering if the author had maybe spent too much time indulging in reruns of The Love Boat. I kept waiting for Julie the cruise director, or Isaac the friendly bartender to make an appearance. Having said that, I did enjoy the book. I like the main character and her parents and I look forward to reading more in the series. It’s evident she learned quite a bit from her own novelist mom, as I see quite a few similarities in their writing styles.
This book introduces us to Regan Reilly. A young woman with good looks and intellect who works in the field of investigation. She agrees to accompany an older woman aboard a cruise ship, while also trying to solve the mystery of a schoolmate whose body had recently been discovered.
The book proceeds at a quick pace, introducing the reader to a slew of extra characters including a jewel thief, a man who has been hired to kill off our heroine and her companion, and a few other guests one may run into on a cruise (including Regans novelist mom and mortuary owning father). All the while that Regan is playing babysitter for her elderly companion, she is also in touch with the investigator who is in charge of finding out what happened to her schoolmate. Does it have anything to do with the lively cast of characters on the cruise ship, or are we keeping track of multiple crimes that aren’t connected in any way?
The book was entertaining, although I did spend the entire time I was reading wondering if the author had maybe spent too much time indulging in reruns of The Love Boat. I kept waiting for Julie the cruise director, or Isaac the friendly bartender to make an appearance. Having said that, I did enjoy the book. I like the main character and her parents and I look forward to reading more in the series. It’s evident she learned quite a bit from her own novelist mom, as I see quite a few similarities in their writing styles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2023
This was an odd one. I picked it up for 97 cents at a used bookstore, and while I have read and enjoyed many mysteries, I hadn't read anything from the early 90s before. I think the biggest difference was that Decked made zero effort to be atmospheric compared to modern mysteries. Characters were also very brash and mean-spirited for no reason, which coupled with how gratuitously ugly most characters were physically and the author's lingering descriptions thereof, made for kind of a gross/squeamish read. Descriptions of Penelope and her bowel illnesses were over the top. Also, very little mystery solving, it would seem. You knew who the culprits were almost immediately, just the why was unraveled as the novel progressed.
I also feel like no attempt at verisimilitude was attempted. Private investigator heroine with crime novelist mother and funeral director father, the incredible stereotyping of the Italian-American couple, the convoluted machinations of the two culprits that don't make any sense from the perspective of someone actually trying to get away with a crime.
That said, it went by quiet quickly, with an accessible and smooth writing style. I read this exclusively on an outbound and return flight, yet I have clear and concise impressions of the characters despite not being 100% attentive. I don't regret reading it.
I also feel like no attempt at verisimilitude was attempted. Private investigator heroine with crime novelist mother and funeral director father, the incredible stereotyping of the Italian-American couple, the convoluted machinations of the two culprits that don't make any sense from the perspective of someone actually trying to get away with a crime.
That said, it went by quiet quickly, with an accessible and smooth writing style. I read this exclusively on an outbound and return flight, yet I have clear and concise impressions of the characters despite not being 100% attentive. I don't regret reading it.
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