From Publishers Weekly
Los Angeles PI Regan Reilly crosses the continent to visit Manhattan, her parents, and lover (New York cop Jack "no relation" Reilly), but ends up with almost all of her time consumed by a murder mystery. Clark's breezy, choppy style she crams 81 chapters into a page count achieved with generous amounts of white space and cavalcade of eccentric characters are the sum of the book. Dithering friend Thomas Pilsner, president of the Settlers' Club in Gramercy Park, calls Regan when two of the club's oldest and wealthiest members die just before they were to give the club four diamonds valued at more than $4 million. The money would have allowed Pilsner to save the venerable but deteriorating club but, alas, the diamonds have disappeared. Convinced that the "accidental" deaths were nothing of the sort, Pilsner wants Regan to prove it and recover the missing diamonds. A nascent butlering school, a dating service, a histrionic movie director, a pair of grasping con men and a couple of stuffed sheep figure prominently in the cast. A strange collection of oddballs and schemers have made the Settlers' Club the focus of their attentions, and the author rapidly switches her attentions from one to another till they collide in a climactic scene in which the killer stands revealed. Clark's light touch can be entertaining, but those expecting a real solution to the murder might be disappointed. (Oct. 23)Forecast: With a nine-city author tour and foreign rights already sold in France and Germany, plus the high name recognition, this title seems destined for generous sales.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
P.I. Regan Reilly is helping Thomas Pilsner, president of the Settlers' Club. It seems that two of the club's oldest and wealthiest members, who were about to give the club millions in diamonds, were murdered. The money would have saved the club, but now the diamonds have disappeared, and Pilsner wants Regan to investigate and recover the missing gems. A strange collection of eccentric oddballs reside at the Settlers' Club, and the focus of the book switches from one to another as Regan involves herself in their lives. Eventually, the killer stands revealed in this light-hearted tale. Laura Hicks provides an easy-listening experience for an at times sophomoric whodunit. Recommended for larger collections only. Denise A. Garofalo, Astor Home for Children, Rhinebeck, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.