Jinxed (Regan Reilly Mysteries, No. 6)
Clark's sixth rollicking mystery featuring L.A. PI Regan Reilly  (Fleeced, etc.) boasts a wonderful cast: Lucretia Standish, a  wealthy 96-year-old former silent-film star (who claims to be  93); Lucretia's sneaky, fortune-hunting fianc , 40-ish Edward  Fields; as well as the old lady's late (fifth) husband's family,  a clutch of superannuated hippies who manage Altered States, a  winery/hotel near Santa Barbara. Regan must track down a missing  young actress and scion of Lucretia's late husband's family,  Whitney Weldon, aka "Freshness Lilac," the name her hippie  mother gave her. Adding to the fanciful mix are 21 tattooed  bikers who have made Lucretia their pet; Regan's mother, who,  like the author's own, is a successful novelist; television and  movie people; and a host of other amusing California types. The  redoubtable Lucretia made $60 million by being smart enough to  dump some dot.com stock that Edward had foisted on her, but  she's not smart enough to see through his schemes as their  wedding day approaches. She drags him to Altered States to meet  her eccentric family in her brand-new Rolls Royce, escorted by  her idolizing bikers. It's up to Regan to sort everything out,  and thanks to the transcontinental e-mail aid of her sweetheart,  Jack "no relation" Reilly, she's more than equal to the task. As  usual, Clark provides plenty of fast-paced fun, with all the  substance of a soap bubble, and best of all, nobody gets hurt.  (Aug. 27) FYI: Clark has coauthored two novels with her mother, Mary  Higgins Clark, He Sees You When You're Sleeping and Deck the  Halls.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.