Carol Higgins Clark Books in Order: The Complete Regan Reilly Mystery Guide
Some mystery detectives work quietly behind the scenes. Regan Reilly has a knack for finding herself in the middle of unexpected trouble, whether she’s attending a wedding, taking a vacation, investigating a theft, or helping someone she knows.
Carol Higgins Clark built her best-known series around Regan’s lively personality and knack for uncovering secrets. The mysteries are generally lighter in tone than traditional psychological suspense, with a mix of crime-solving, colorful characters, and comic complications.
The series spans two decades, so publication order offers a useful way to follow Regan’s changing circumstances. Her personal life develops along the way, too, particularly in the later books.
The Regan Reilly Mysteries in Publication Order
There are 15 main Regan Reilly novels. The list below follows the publication sequence, with the year based on commonly cataloged original releases.
1. Decked (1992)
Regan Reilly is attending a school reunion in England when a former roommate’s body is discovered. What should have been a nostalgic gathering becomes a murder investigation, giving Regan an early opportunity to demonstrate her instincts as a private investigator.
This is the best starting point because it introduces Regan’s personality and the kind of lively, character-driven mysteries that define the series.
2. Snagged (1993)
A wedding trip to Miami puts Regan in contact with an unusual group of people, including an elderly relative whose circumstances attract her attention. The gathering takes a dangerous turn, and Regan must sort through the clues to uncover what’s really happening.
The second novel keeps the series’ light tone while giving Regan another case filled with suspicious behavior and unexpected connections.
3. Iced (1995)
Regan heads to Aspen hoping for a relaxing ski vacation and perhaps a little romance. Instead, the disappearance of valuable paintings draws her into an investigation that takes precedence over her plans.
The snowy resort setting gives this installment a different atmosphere, while the stolen artwork provides a mystery that keeps Regan busy.
4. Twanged (1998)
A Fourth of July visit to the Hamptons should be a chance for Regan to relax with family and friends. A phone call changes those plans, leading her into another investigation involving people whose outward appearances conceal more than they reveal.
The novel continues to build Regan’s world while delivering the mix of social situations and criminal intrigue that readers expect from the series.
5. Fleeced (2001)
Regan attends a crime conference in New York, where the gathering of mystery writers and other personalities provides plenty of possible suspects. A new romantic interest adds another complication to her life as she works through the case.
The book brings together the professional and personal sides of Regan’s life, making it a natural continuation of the earlier novels.
6. Jinxed (2002)
Regan is asked to investigate a situation involving a California winery and a missing actress. The request brings her into a world of family tensions, unusual personalities, and secrets that are difficult to separate from the facts.
The winery setting provides a fresh backdrop for another case in which Regan must work out which clues matter and which people are hiding something.
7. Popped (2003)
Regan travels to Las Vegas to help an old school friend connected to a reality television production. The show revolves around married couples facing relationship problems, but the entertainment business becomes much more dangerous than expected.
The Las Vegas setting gives the mystery a lively, high-energy atmosphere, with plenty of opportunities for deception and comic misunderstandings.
8. Burned (2005)
A Hawaiian vacation is supposed to be a final getaway before Regan’s wedding plans move forward. Instead, a death interrupts the trip and turns the resort into the setting for another investigation.
The novel combines a tropical location with the personal milestones beginning to shape Regan’s life.
9. Hitched (2006)
Regan’s wedding is just days away when several brides discover that their wedding dresses have been stolen. With her own plans threatened, Regan starts investigating the strange thefts.
This installment puts Regan’s personal life at the center of the story. Readers who have followed her from the beginning will appreciate seeing her relationship with Jack Reilly develop into a major life event.
10. Laced (2007)
Regan and Jack head off on their honeymoon, but the trip quickly becomes more complicated than a newly married couple might hope. An Irish castle, jewel thieves, and a hotel fire combine to create a mystery that follows them into married life.
The book marks a new stage for Regan while preserving the adventurous, humorous style of the earlier novels.
11. Zapped (2008)
A citywide blackout disrupts life in Manhattan, and the resulting confusion brings multiple problems into view. Jack is drawn into a major investigation, while Regan becomes involved in a separate situation affecting a close friend.
The simultaneous problems give the story a wider scope and show how Regan and Jack’s professional lives can overlap even when they’re pursuing different leads.
12. Cursed (2009)
Regan returns to familiar territory to help a friend with a case that begins with suspicious circumstances and grows more complicated as she investigates. The snowy New York setting adds to the atmosphere, while the title hints at the misfortunes surrounding the people involved.
By this stage, Regan is balancing her work as a private investigator with her life in New York and her marriage to Jack.
13. Wrecked (2010)
Regan and Jack arrive at his parents’ Cape Cod home just as a powerful storm begins to affect the area. Their visit becomes entangled with a dangerous situation, turning what should be a family stay into a tense investigation.
The coastal setting and storm conditions add urgency to a story that brings family relationships and criminal trouble together.
14. Mobbed (2011)
Regan and her mother, Nora, head to the Jersey Shore, where a new case involves murder, suspicious characters, and secrets that emerge as the investigation progresses.
The familiar setting gives the story a strong sense of place, while Regan’s relationship with her mother adds another dimension to the mystery.
15. Gypped (2012)
Regan returns to Los Angeles, where her private-investigation career began. A past appearance on a game show unexpectedly becomes relevant to her current trip, and what initially seems like an unrelated visit turns into another investigation.
Gypped is the final numbered Regan Reilly novel in the established series. It brings the sequence to a natural stopping point for readers who want to follow the character through all 15 books.
Regan Reilly Reading Order at a Glance
| Order | Book | Publication year |
| 1 | Decked | 1992 |
| 2 | Snagged | 1993 |
| 3 | Iced | 1995 |
| 4 | Twanged | 1998 |
| 5 | Fleeced | 2001 |
| 6 | Jinxed | 2002 |
| 7 | Popped | 2003 |
| 8 | Burned | 2005 |
| 9 | Hitched | 2006 |
| 10 | Laced | 2007 |
| 11 | Zapped | 2008 |
| 12 | Cursed | 2009 |
| 13 | Wrecked | 2010 |
| 14 | Mobbed | 2011 |
| 15 | Gypped | 2012 |
Some bibliographies give slightly different early publication years, particularly for the first four novels. The titles and overall reading sequence remain consistent.
The Holiday Mysteries Carol Higgins Clark Wrote With Mary Higgins Clark
Carol also collaborated with her mother, bestselling suspense novelist Mary Higgins Clark, on holiday mysteries that bring characters from their respective series together. These are worth exploring if you want more of the family connection, but they should be distinguished from Carol’s solo Regan Reilly novels.
Deck the Halls (2000)
A Christmas mystery that brings Regan Reilly together with Alvirah Meehan and Willy Meehan, characters from Mary Higgins Clark’s fiction. The story combines a missing-person case, family concerns, and the seasonal setting.
Because the novel crosses between the two authors’ fictional worlds, it is a useful addition after the early Regan Reilly books. You can also read it as a standalone holiday mystery.
The Christmas Thief (2004)
Another collaboration featuring Regan Reilly and the Alvirah and Willy characters. The plot revolves around a Christmas-time theft and the suspicious circumstances surrounding it.
Readers who enjoyed Deck the Halls will recognize the appeal of the shared cast and the blend of suspense with a festive atmosphere.
Santa Cruise (2006)
Mary and Carol Higgins Clark continued their holiday-mystery collaborations with a story set aboard a cruise ship. The setting creates opportunities for secrets, suspicious passengers, and an investigation that unfolds while the characters are away from home.
This is part of their shared holiday-mystery work, rather than a numbered solo Regan Reilly novel.
Dashing Through the Snow (2008)
This Christmas mystery continues the mother-daughter collaboration, mixing seasonal travel, suspicious circumstances, and the authors’ familiar characters. It can be read independently, though readers who enjoy the earlier holiday books may appreciate the recurring fictional connections.
Recommended approach: Read the holiday collaborations after you’ve met Regan in the main series. They are not required to understand the 15 numbered novels, but they offer a fun extension of Carol and Mary’s mystery worlds.
Is There a Standalone Carol Higgins Clark Novel?
Yes. Carol Higgins Clark co-wrote He Sees You When You’re Sleeping (2001) with Mary Higgins Clark. It is a separate holiday-themed novel rather than one of the numbered Regan Reilly books.
The story follows a man given an unusual chance to help a family in need. Its premise and tone differ from the private-investigator series, making it an option for readers who want something seasonal and self-contained.
Short Stories and Anthology Contributions
Carol Higgins Clark also contributed stories to multi-author mystery collections. These works are separate from her full-length novels, so they don’t need to be inserted into the main Regan Reilly reading sequence.
Two examples are:
- “For Whom the Beep Tolls” in Murder for Love (1996), a mystery anthology featuring stories by several writers.
- “Too Many Cooks” in The Plot Thickens (1997), another multi-author collection.
If you’re collecting her complete bibliography, these stories are worth noting. If your goal is simply to read the Regan Reilly novels, you can treat them as optional extras.
Do You Need to Read the Regan Reilly Books in Order?
The mysteries can generally be enjoyed individually because each novel has its own case. Still, publication order is the best route if you want to follow Regan’s personal life, especially her relationship with Jack and her transition from a Los Angeles investigator to married life in New York.
A first-time reader should begin with Decked. Readers who mainly want a holiday mystery can start with Deck the Halls or The Christmas Thief, though the shared-character references will make more sense after meeting Regan.
About Carol Higgins Clark
Carol Higgins Clark was an American mystery novelist and actress, and the daughter of celebrated suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark. She built her own readership with the Regan Reilly series, which stands out for its humor, energetic heroine, and lighter approach to crime fiction.
Her writing career also included collaborations with her mother, particularly holiday mysteries that brought their characters together. Carol died in June 2023 at age 66. Her published books remain a good fit for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, private investigators, and crime stories with a playful tone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Regan Reilly books are there?
There are 15 main Regan Reilly novels by Carol Higgins Clark, beginning with Decked and ending with Gypped.
What is the first Carol Higgins Clark book?
Decked is the first Regan Reilly novel and the best place to begin. Catalogs sometimes differ on its original publication year, listing 1991 or 1992.
What is the last Regan Reilly book?
Gypped, published in 2012, is the final numbered Regan Reilly novel in the established series.
Did Carol Higgins Clark write books with Mary Higgins Clark?
Yes. They co-wrote several holiday mysteries, including Deck the Halls, The Christmas Thief, Santa Cruise, and Dashing Through the Snow. Carol also co-wrote the standalone novel He Sees You When You’re Sleeping with her mother.
Is Deck the Halls part of the Regan Reilly series?
It is a crossover holiday mystery featuring Regan Reilly alongside Alvirah and Willy Meehan from Mary Higgins Clark’s books. It is often listed separately from Carol’s 15 solo Regan Reilly novels, so readers should treat it as a companion crossover rather than a regular numbered entry.
Can I read Carol Higgins Clark’s books out of order?
Yes, most of the mysteries have self-contained cases. However, reading the Regan Reilly novels in publication order gives you a clearer sense of her relationships and personal milestones.
Are there more Regan Reilly books after Gypped?
Gypped (2012) is the latest of the 15 established Regan Reilly novels. Some online lists include additional or differently titled entries, but they are not consistently recognized as part of the main series.
Final Note
Carol Higgins Clark’s books are a good choice if you want a private investigator with a sense of humor and mysteries that don’t take themselves too seriously. Start with Decked, follow Regan through the 15 novels, and then try the holiday collaborations with Mary Higgins Clark for a different kind of seasonal mystery.
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