Burned

Regan Reilly Mysteries #8

by Carol Higgins Clark

Regan Reilly and her best friend, Kit, are on vacation in Honolulu, intent on having a Hawaiian adventure. They won't be disappointed!
When we last saw L.A.-based private detective Regan Reilly, she'd recently become engaged, but before the big event Kit convinces her to come to Hawaii for one last girls' weekend.
At the Waikiki Waters Resort, the body of Dorinda Dawes washes ashore. Around her neck is an exquisite and historically valuable shell lei that had been stolen from the Seashell Museum in Honolulu thirty years before. Will Brown, the manager of the resort, doesn't believe that it's an accidental drowning. In the three months Dorinda had worked in Hawaii, she had become a controversial character who had a reputation for pointing out the very worst in people. Will is afraid that she was murdered and that the murderer might still be in their midst.
Lucky for Will, he meets Regan Reilly in the hotel lobby and convinces her to get on the case. Can Regan find out what really happened to Dorinda before it's too late for someone else? Before it's too late for her?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Murder Mystery, Suspense, Contemporary

Audio CD

First published March 15, 2005

About the author

Carol 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.

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow...that was published? I listened to the abridged version on CD and would never have made it through the whole book otherwise. The writing was unsophisticated, the characters were predictable... and it was really cheesy. If this "author" has writing skills they were not represented in this story. A huge publishing mistake (besides paying for this story) was to let the author narrate it. Next time, they should hire a professional, someone who knows how to do a Hawaiian accent, NY accent, etc. and stay consistent with the characters. It might have masked the story flaws better. This goes to show that good writing skills are not genetic.

and I'm usually so nice....

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it is definitely not literary gold. It is a fun, fast paced, enjoyable, read! This is great to read by the pool on a lazy afternoon. I enjoy the Reagan Reilly series because it is carefree entertainment. You know when you start any of the books from the series that the ending will be satisfying and complete.

[Tamara · Rating 1 out of 5]

One huge complaint - the cute packaged ending complete with bow (not the first I've seen for this series) was utterly ridiculous and unsatisfying. Join the real world Carol Higgins Clark! Your mother's books have twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Your books follow such a formula that even lovers of a mindless read will be annoyed. Forget Regan Reilly! My time is precious and I'll find a new author.

[Vixxi · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like this book a lot because of the ending was not what i thought would happen in the book .i can't wait to read the next book in the series . i love the storyline of this and all detail to the storyline and it makes the book hard to put down . i had to knew how the mystery would be solved and how kit would be saved from new boyfriend . i thought the twin sister would have been caught a long time ago in the book . but that was the only thing that i did not like about the book . this book makes a nice summer read that you do not have to spent to much thinking about it .

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

En esta novela la autora nos transporta hasta Hawái, una ambientación, a mi parecer, poco común en las novelas.

La historia comienza cuando aparece el cadáver de una mujer en la playa. Lo que hace el hallazgo más extraño es que la mujer lleva puesto un collar que desapareció hace 30 años. A partir de este momento, la detective Regan Reilly se verá involucrada en la resolución del caso. Detective privada que se encontraba en la isla para disfrutar de su último fin de semana de soltería con su amiga Kit.

A pesar del misterio de esta muerte, la novela está plagada de personajes muy peculiares, lo que, junto al entorno paradisíaco, hace que sea una novela fresca y, en cierta medida, divertida.
La novela se articula en 62 capítulos muy cortos, lo que hace que se lea de una forma muy ágil y rápida.

No puedo decir que sea una gran novela, porque para mí no lo es, pero está bien para pasar unas tardes de verano al sol.

[Marie🌟 · Rating 3 out of 5]

L’ambiance du livre est sympa, c’est assez tranquille et rapide à lire mais j’ai pas été particulièrement happé par le mystère, l’intrigue stagne pendant un moment et d’un coup on nous dévoile tout

[Ellen Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book set in Hawaii. One thing I enjoyed is that many of the places mentioned in the novel were sites I had visited on a trip there several years ago. The mystery was appealing, and there were a number of quirky characters as is usual in Carol Higgins Clark's books. This involved a hotel, a special event which involved an auction of 2 historical leis (one of which had been stolen 30 years ago,) a murder, a kidnapping, and suspected misuse of funds by twin leaders of a group visiting Hawaii. Regan visits her friend Kit in Hawaii and gets hired by the hotel manager to investigate the murder and a series of bizarre events which had been occurring at the hotel. No dull moments in this book.

[Wanda Hartzenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, good old fashioned cosy mystery. I really enjoyed the laid back who-dunnit aspect and the characters in the book is easy to relate to.

If you are in the mood not to burn brain cells this is most definitely the book for you.
WaAR

[Peggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is another Regan Reilly, private detective, story that is an enjoyable read but a typically shallow Carol Higgins Clark book. It follows the same format she uses in most of her books and is very predictable. The story line is enjoyable but nothing spectacular.

[Teresa]

Bored before I was 100 pages. I struggled to make it that far and just gave up.

[Jelínková Kamca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tuhle knížku mi přivezl brácha z autobusové zastávky, a kdyby nebyla zadarmo, tak bych ji udělila možná i menší hodnocení, z čehož je mi trosku smutno, protože to na začátku vypadalo tak nadějné.
Má začátku se seznamujeme s hlavní detektivkou, o které je celá tato série, na pláž vyplouvá mrtvé tělo, které má na sobě kradených náhrdelník, který pochází z dávných dob, v hodnotě nemálo penez.
Všechno to má takový rázný a zajímavý rozjezd, což se ale postupem knížky ztrácí.
Upřímně, ani nevím, jak vlastně ta žena zemřela, kdo ji zabil, a jaký tam měl ten náhrdelník vlastně význam.
Čekala jsem, že ta žena bude třeba jedna z předků dávných králů, proto má ten náhrdelník, někdo to zjistil, a proto ji zabil.
Ale ona si ten náhrdelník proste jen pujcila od nejake ženy, která měla ten náhrdelník od rodičů, kteří ho koupili od zloděje, který ho ukradl z muzea.
Takže ano, žádný hluboký význam nemá, a já proto uděluji 3/5

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Private Investigator Regan Reilly is packed to go see her fiancé, Jack in NYC to plan their wedding but a snowstorm closes all the airports on the east coast. Kit, Regan's best friend calls her to join her in Hawaii for the weekend so Regan decides to go. A publicist recently hired by a prestigious beach hotel turns up dead, apparently an accidental drowning, and wearing a necklace that used to belong to the Hawaiian royal family. This shell lei had been missing for thirty years, and it shows up on this dead woman the same week that a small local museum is auctioning off its mate. Will, the hotel manager, ends up hiring Regan to look into Dorinda the publicist’s death. Burned is a fast-paced, feel-good kind of mystery, with quirky, funny characters.

[Lauren Cantley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely awful book. I read this in hopes to find another great author; her mother is fantastic. The book moved so slowly, considering the plot covered not even a week's time. Realistically too much was thrown into the book that didn't fit into the timeline of the story. The characters were described so poorly and we did not find out much about any of them until the end of the book when all these weird plot decisions popped up. The ending felt incredibly rushed and thrown together at the last minute. There was not a lot of thought or care put into this book and it was very sad.

[ROSEANN SMITRESKI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Entertaining

It's a fast-moving and lively mystery story. I had to keep reading it. It made me laugh quite a few times. The characters were logical, and I appreciate that.

I'm a Jackie Collins fan, and I thought of her while reading this, because the writing style and chapter breakdown was strikingly similar to a Jackie Collins book. There were different character groups at the beginning of the story, and they all became associated later in the book; they all came together at the end of the book for a memorable blast and spectacular chain of events!

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A snowstorm prevents Reagan Reilly from traveling to New York for a weekend of wedding planning. Lucky for her, her best friend Kit invites her to come stay in her hotel room in Hawaii. Not one to pass up a relaxing weekend, Reagan agrees. However, when she arrives in paradise, her private investigator skills are needed immediately to look into the mysterious death of a hotel employee.

This is a lighthearted and tropical cozy mystery. The auctioning off of historical artifacts bugged me, and it didn’t feel like there were as many moving parts in Burned as other books in the series have had, but it was still a light, comforting read.

[Deidre · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title Burned doesn't synch up with my expectations - a fast paced, spy thriller. Instead, the cover of the book with its palm trees, sand and ocean portends the light, breezy read perfect for vacation and plane reading - not too heavy and no deep analysis required. Higgins Clark packs a lot into the weekend trip investigator Regan Reilly takes to Hawaii, which is exhausting but also predictable. The characters are superficial and their conversations full of colloquialisms. If you looking for a fast read that does not require many brain cells, this may be for you.

[Amy Phelps · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not reading another book by this author. Her books rely so much on coincidence & happenstance that there is no mystery in them. So regan can't go to New York so instead she hops a flight out to Hawaii where her best friend just happens to be and they can share a hotel room. While there she gets pulled into a mystery because the hotel manager just happens to need a detective. The whole thing just snowballs from there. Not a very good book.

[Burlington Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great mystery with a great setting...Hawaii! I love the main character, Regan Reilly, who is a private investigator and I like how she's an intelligent main character. There is a lot of suspense with this book and short chapters which I liked (it made for fast reading!) Readers who enjoy books by Mary Higgins Clark will enjoy the Regan Reilly series (Carol Higgins Clark is the daughter of Mary Higgins Clark!)

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another marvelous, mystery with plenty of fun, quirky characters. But not only do you ask, "Who done it?" but you ask, "Who did what?" So many crimes, so many possibilities!. But it ended splendidly with lots of last minute rescues and action. Regan Reilly not only saved the hotel from further problems, but she saved her friend Kit as well. Oops, was that a spoiler? Not really, because Regan Reilly always solves the problems.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly good book, although a little lame. Gave it 4 stars, not that it was that good, but it did keep me turning the page to see what ridiculous thing was going to happen next. Story line a little off-beat and unreal. But, all in all, I kept turning the page and finished the book. Not one I'd want to read again.

[Janet Balliet]

Regan can't visit Jack or her parents due to a snow storm. Kit invites her to come to HI. A body washes ashore in front of K's hotel with a lei stolen 30 yrs ago! Regan is hired to solve the problems hitting the hotel. Twin sisters are leading a tour group. They are up to no good. Regan to the rescue & saves the day!

[Jacy Carroll-Bussman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I am a big fan of Mary Higgins Clark, I thought I would try her daughter's book. Unfortunately, I should have started with the first of this series. Never the less, I did enjoy the book and felt it had a touch of her Mom's work. I'd like to try to get the whole series, as I found Regan to be a good character, especially with Jack.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a few of this series. They are a nice easy read and entertaining. However, I find that she references previous stories too much. In a way she almost gives away the endings to her other books while she's describing Kit.

[Laura Meinhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy little mystery, similar to what her mother rights. It was written in 2005 so I was surprised by some of the old fashioned references. Who is going to know who Jack LaLanne is?

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good. Surprised ending!

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just light clean murder mysteries without strong language or sex. Fun to listen to while you are doing other mindless things. There may be one or two mild expletives but I don't remember any.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

First exposure to Regan Reilly mysteries. Will certainly be reading another.

[Camila Sosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the beginning, so much mystery and excitement. But, the finale was vague, i was expecting to more mystery and action, that’s why I’m giving 3 stars. After that, this book keep you interested.

[Midge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the summary from the book jacket.
It was an easy to read mystery.