How to Read the Regan Reilly Series
Carol Higgins Clark is best known for her signature creation: Regan Reilly, a sharp-witted Los Angeles-based private investigator. Unlike the dark and intense suspense novels written by her mother, Mary Higgins Clark, Carol's mysteries are celebrated for their comedic touch, eccentric side characters, and sunny, glamorous backdrops. To fully appreciate the evolution of Regan's career and personal life, the recommended reading path is to follow the series in order of publication.
While each mystery features a self-contained case that is resolved by the final page, reading in chronological publication order allows you to follow Regan's ongoing character development. Most notably, you will witness her meeting her future husband, NYPD Major Case Squad head Jack Reilly, and follow their relationship progress to their wedding in Hitched.
The Regan Reilly Reading Order
Here is the complete list of books featuring Regan Reilly in chronological order. This list includes Carol's solo novels as well as the festive crossover novels co-authored with Mary Higgins Clark, where Regan teams up with her mother's famous lottery-winning amateur sleuth, Alvirah Meehan:
- Decked (1991) – Regan travels to England for a college reunion and stumbles upon the body of her former roommate, kicking off her first major literary case.
- Snagged (1993) – Regan attends a pantyhose convention in Miami and ends up investigating a murder plot targeting the inventor of runless pantyhose.
- Iced (1994) – Set during a snowy winter in Aspen, Colorado, Regan searches for a missing ex-con and stolen art.
- Twanged (1997) – Regan travels to the Hamptons to protect a rising country music star who has received a cursed fiddle.
- Deck the Halls (2000) – (Co-authored crossover) Regan teams up with Alvirah Meehan in their first holiday adventure to rescue Regan's kidnapped father, Luke.
- Fleeced (2001) – Regan investigates a dry-cleaning crime and a missing diamond in New York City.
- Jinxed (2002) – Set in California's wine country, Regan searches for a missing wedding planner.
- Popped (2003) – Regan heads to Las Vegas to assist a friend producing a hot-air balloon festival.
- The Christmas Thief (2004) – (Co-authored crossover) Regan and Alvirah investigate the theft of a massive Rockefeller Center Christmas tree from Stowe, Vermont.
- Burned (2005) – Regan takes a resort vacation in Hawaii, only to get caught up in a mystery involving a shell collector and a missing person.
- Hitched (2006) – Regan prepares for her wedding to Jack Reilly in New York, but must track down stolen bridal gowns before walking down the aisle.
- Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea (2006) – (Co-authored crossover) Regan, Jack, Alvirah, and Willy join a festive cruise that is disrupted by uninvited criminals.
- Laced (2007) – Regan and Jack spend their honeymoon in an Irish castle, which happens to be haunted by a troublesome ghost and hidden secrets.
- Zapped (2008) – Back in Los Angeles, Regan deals with a bizarre blackout and a string of local burglaries.
- Dashing Through the Snow (2008) – (Co-authored crossover) In Branscombe, New Hampshire, Regan and Alvirah search for a missing lottery winner.
- Cursed (2009) – Regan helps a friend locate a missing tenant who claimed to be under a family curse.
- Wrecked (2010) – A storm on Cape Cod leads to a mysterious disappearance, prompting Regan to investigate.
- Mobbed (2011) – Regan goes undercover on a movie set in the Jersey Shore, where a local legend and mob ties collide.
- Gypped / Scammed (2012) – Regan investigates a fraudulent investment scheme that targets senior citizens.
Understanding the Holiday Crossovers and Spin-offs
A unique feature of Carol Higgins Clark's bibliography is her collaborative relationship with her mother, Mary Higgins Clark. Together, they co-authored five holiday-themed mystery novels. Four of these novels served as direct crossovers between Carol's Regan Reilly series and Mary's Alvirah and Willy series. The fifth collaboration, He Sees You When You're Sleeping (2001), is a standalone holiday story that does not feature either of their main series characters.
For readers who wish to focus strictly on Mary Higgins Clark's solo creations, the lottery-winning sleuth Alvirah Meehan appears in several books without Carol's involvement. These include Mary's solo novels like Weep No More, My Lady (1987), The Lottery Winner (1994), All Through the Night (1998), I'll Walk Alone (2011), The Lost Years (2012), As Time Goes by (2016), and All By Myself, Alone (2017). These books can be read completely independently of the Regan Reilly series, though they share the same cozy fictional universe.
Practical Reader Advice
Where is the best starting point?
Without a doubt, readers should start with Decked (1991). It establishes Regan Reilly’s background, her close relationship with her parents (famous mystery author Nora Reilly and funeral director Luke Reilly), and her witty investigative style. If you prefer holiday-themed mysteries, the collaborative novel Deck the Halls (2000) acts as an excellent, festive introduction to both Regan and the Alvirah and Willy series.
Can the books be read as standalones?
Yes. Carol Higgins Clark designed each mystery to be self-contained. The primary plot of each novel (such as finding a missing person or catching a thief) is fully resolved. However, because characters grow, relationships change, and marriages occur, reading them in order prevents minor spoilers regarding Regan’s personal life.
What is the tone of the series?
Expect a lighthearted, humorous, and fast-paced reading experience. While crimes and murders do occur, the books avoid graphic violence, focusing instead on quirky suspects, comical situations, and clever detective work. This makes the series perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and light beach reads.