Iced suffers from some of the same things the previous two books did, including little character development, the sometimes useless/unnecessary multiple point of views and of course being set while Regan is on 'vacation'. I will say that Regan did more investigating in this book in the previous two - though still not enough for me to accept her as a good P.I. We're told she's experienced but she still comes off as being more amateur - she asks questions, but at times didn't pursue what even I could see were very clear leads - like why Bessie called her (and didn't call back when she couldn't be reached). Given Bessie's personality when they met that should've tipped her off something was wrong. tRegan - she still has a way to go before I really like her. She's self-assured, a little pushy, and comes off like she does care for the characters (some of the time), other time's I think she cares but only while their in front of her (as her mind wanders away - sometimes to I don't know what). But that's all I really get of her personality, we don't get to know her more through the series - so far she's stayed flat and two-dimensional. I really want to like her, but I can't because I still don't feel we've really gotten to know her. And when are we going to see her in her every day life (when she's not on vacation - with her parents, either purposely, or coincidently). tThe mystery was interesting enough, Geraldine is a character, so is Ida, I wouldn't have minded getting to know them more. There were several going on, with Geraldine Spoonfellow, the missing paintings and the art thieves (the Coyote, and the couple, Judd and Willeen), not to mention the "missing" Eben and Bessie. I'm going to be truthful and say, I did not see that coming - not Geraldine's quest, or who Coyote was. I'm not going to reveal it but I was surprised with how that part of the mystery wrapped up - I'm not entirely sure I bought the scene of their reunion (and the easy acceptance). Once again when it came time to deal with the bad guys - other reinforcements had to take care of them. I'd like Regan to at least once, figure it out and live up to her reputation - and show me she's a competent P.I. I don't mind that she's not a badass that can save the innocent and catch the bad guys tying them up neatly for the authorities but I would like her to do more.tOverall, slightly better than the first two, but still a long way to go before I'm really happy with the series, I liked it well enough. There was one or two funny parts that amused me, and while there were still unanswered questions - the investigation was slightly better. 2.5 stars.
ok for YA. Fun, fast.This is what I think about Carol Higgins Clark: Her plots are great. Her characters are quirky or smart alecks or self-obsessed, but not well rounded. There is plenty of action, but no drama, nothing tense, emotional, and nobody that I really care about. Regan Reilly (the private investigator star of this series) is arrogant and annoying. Carol does have some writing potential, but she is NOT her mother. If you want to read a mystery that will have lots of characters that you don't care about and may not keep straight, and a plot where everything winds up all nice and neat and sweet with a little bit of tongue in cheek humor and a few good one liners, then read Carol Higgins Clark. If you want to be grabbed by the throat, totally invested, worried, tense, and perhaps shed a tear, read Mary Higgins Clark. I have been only been reading this series because it was preloaded on my replacement Kindle that I received from the school district when my orignal one crashed. Two more Regan Reilly mysteries to go. They are readable, which is better than having books on my Kindle that I just won't read.
What do You think about Iced (1996)?
Iced will melt any qualms you may have about mysteries! As I am reading Carol Higgins Clark's Regan Reilly books in order I find they keep getting better. Humor, danger, romance (between characters you would not expect!) and many hidden twists come together in the telling of this tale.Set in Aspen, Iced tells the story behind a series of high profile art heists, while introducing the reader to a cast full of characters whose motives are not all that they seem.Next stop for me: Twanged (book 4 in the series)
—Teresa B
I bought this book for our family's recent trip to Washington State. I didn't have time to read it during our trip, and afterward I had a hard time getting into it.When I finally had the time to read it, the book really whizzed by. It was a really interesting read with a couple of surprising twists. Having read a lot of books, I'm not easily surprised, or rather, not easily majorly surprised, but this book did just that.The only thing I'd wish the author would do is go into more depth into the main character, Regan Reilly's, emotional story. The story felt like a standard old mystery, which is great, but Clark would take it to another level if she explored Regan's character more fully. I.e., go beyond the surface and explore her inner story. (Review written August 2008.)
—Heather
I forgot all about this series. I haven't read one of the Regan Reilly mysteries in years. Iced was located in Aspen just around the Christmas Holiday. Some paintings are stolen and one of the help is suspected of orchestrating the theft. He is missing and everyone assumes he left town. Regan doesn't believe that the person who everyone suspects actually heisted the paintings because of certain things that she notices, such as; freezing food, not taking all his belongings, just little things like that.I loved the ending and even laughed while reading the book. I am glad I read this book.
—Monica
