Gypped

Written by Carol Higgins Clark

Narrated by Michele Pawk

Now in mass market, the fifteenth Regan Reilly mystery from New York Times bestselling author Carol Higgins Clark finds Regan in the middle of an inheritance intrigue turned dangerous, in an installment Book Reporter called “an entertaining lighthearted read.”

When Regan Reilly returned to the West Coast, where she began her career as a PI, she never imagined that her unsuccessful appearance on a game show seven years earlier would throw her trip totally off course!

Regan Reilly is in Los Angeles with her husband, Jack, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad. After Jack finishes his meetings with the LAPD, the couple may head north to the wine country, or may head south to Baja. Their only plan is to see which way the wind blows.

The first day back, Regan goes shopping at an upscale new mall in West Hollywood. To her surprise, she runs into Zelda, a woman she’d become friendly with seven years before at a television studio in Burbank, when they were waiting to appear on the game show Puzzling Words. They haven’t seen each other since.

Zelda and Regan didn’t win much money, but Zelda made up for it! A year ago an elderly neighbor she barely knew left Zelda eight million dollars. She has been enjoying her newfound wealth but is aware of the need to give back. At a recent fundraiser, she bid on a week’s stay in an old Hollywood Hills estate and was the lucky winner. She’s currently in residence there and invites Regan to a party at the mansion.

While Jack attends a business dinner, Regan goes to Zelda’s by herself, unaware that she is being followed. Regan is more than surprised at the run-down condition of the house and grounds. People should be paid to stay here, she thinks. Zelda introduces Regan to a colorful cast of characters, including her old neighbors, friends from her yoga class, a filmmaker, Zelda’s financial adviser, her bookkeeper, and her personal assistant. It’s all good fun. As the guests are leaving, Zelda asks Regan to stay for a cup of tea. They’ve barely sat down to chat when Zelda falls ill. A worried Regan doesn’t want to leave Zelda alone and decides to spend the night at the isolated, aging estate. It’s not long before Zelda asks Regan to investigate people in her life, starting with her father’s new wife, Bobby Jo. The couple said “I do” in the back of a cab at a drive-through chapel in Las Vegas after only three months of togetherness.

Has Zelda’s windfall put her in danger? Regan is determined to find out, not knowing that she’s a target herself!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Apr 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781442346321

Carol Higgins Clark

Carol Higgins Clark (1956–2023) was the bestselling author of the Regan Reilly mysteries. She was the daughter of suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark, with whom she coauthored a bestselling holiday suspense series. Also an actress, Carol Higgins Clark studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and recorded several novels. She received AudioFile’s Earphones Award of Excellence for her reading of Jinxed.   

Reviews for Gypped

[jfe16 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Private investigator Regan Reilly and her husband, Jack, are in Los Angeles where Regan began her private investigator career. Jack, head of the New York Police Department’s major case squad, has come here to attend a series of meetings with the Los Angeles Police Department. After the meetings conclude, the couple plans to spend a few days traveling in the area.Regan bumps into Zelda, a friend from some seven years ago when they both appeared on the television game show “Puzzling Words.” Zelda invites Regan to a party at a Hollywood Hills estate where she’s staying for a week, thanks to a successful bid at a charity fundraiser. When Zelda suddenly falls ill, Regan stays with her friend and Zelda reveals her concerns about her father’s new wife. The two, it seems, got married in the back of a cab at a drive-through church in Las Vegas after knowing each other for only three months and Zelda is concerned about her father. But other unknown dangers lurk and both women soon find themselves in danger. Fifteenth in the Regan Reilly series, this is a lighthearted, quick read. Populated by a group of quirky characters, the book is light on both plot and character development. The escapist tale has enough backstory for readers new to the series, but the novella-length narrative lacks depth and, for a mystery, is short on suspense. The elephant in the room, as far as this book is concerned, has nothing to do with the story. Instead, it’s the use of a cruel racial slur for the title. About a year after its initial publication, the book title became “Scammed,” but that did little to lessen the sting of the original choice.

[diananagy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First book by Carol, I love her Mom's Books and this one was pretty good actually. Will try another one of hers in the future.

[rhonda1111 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4 STARSI really like Regan Reilly P.I. who married Jack Reilly no relation except by now being married.Jack is a police Detective in New York where they now live. He is in LA for a conference. Regan had lived for years in L.A. but moved back to New York after they got married. Regan wants to show Jack some places and meet some of her friends after his conference is over.Regan out shopping while Jack is busy with the conference runs into an old friend she made while they were on a game show together. They both lost.Her friend tells her that she was now rich a neighbor who lived in her apartment that she sometimes walked her dog when she was sick left her to her surprise 8 million dollars.Regan was invited to a party she was having this evening in a rundown mansion she bid on a charity auction and won for a week. After the party she asks Regan to help her find out about her father's new wife when she finds out they eloped.Before Regan finds out much her friend gets really sick so she stays the night to keep watch and help her.Earlier in the day Regan saw a suspious guy trying to get into multiple cars and reports it to security at the mall. She doesn't realized that she is followed to her hotel or the party.I liked the story it was not her best but it was good. She usually comes out in the spring with her books. I read some of others reviews until then I did not realize that Gypped was a racist title until it was pointed out. Maybe they did not realize or think of it in that context either. Sorry some people got hurt I will try not to use it now that I know.04/03/2012 PUB Scribner

[thehistorychic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Received for ReviewOverall Rating: 3.50Story Rating: 3.25Character Rating: 3.75Audio Rating: 4.00 (Not part of the overall rating)First thought when finished: This was a perfect summer afternoon mystery--not to complicated but very fun!What I Loved: Characters! Seriously, I just about loved every character in Gypped. I am not saying who was my favorite or who was just seriously bad but they all packed quite a wallop. I will say that a "certain someone" at the end with his "I don't want to read it" cracked me up! I loved the letter that he received and I thought it was a perfect ending to this story. I would hang out with everyone in this story---well except for the bad guys :)What I Liked: The mystery was not overly complicated but it was fun. Reagen did a fantastic job of sifting through the information, getting a little in over her head, and most of all reconnecting with her friend Zelda (whom I loved)! I just thought it was downright fun.Audio Review: Took me a bit to warm up to Michele Pawk but in the end she was perfect for Regan Reilly. I would listen to her again!Final Thought when finished: I think fans of Carol Higgins Clark will love this entry into the series.