First Simon and Schuster and Scribner hardcover edition.

vii, 226 pages ; 20 cm

[Alvirah and Willy] ; [7]

Clark, Mary Higgins. Alvirah and Willy ; 7.

In the picturesque village of Branscombe, New Hampshire, the townsfolk are all pitching in to prepare for the first (and many hope annual) Festival of Joy. The night before the festival begins, a group of employees at the local market learn that they have won $160 million in the lottery. One of their co-workers, Duncan, decided at the last minute, on the advice of a pair of crooks masquerading as financial advisers, not to play. Then he goes missing. A second winning lottery ticket was purchased in the next town, but the winner hasn't come forward. Could Duncan have secretly bought it? The Clarks' endearing heroes -- Alvirah Meehan, the amateur sleuth, and private investigator Regan Reilly -- have arrived in Branscombe for the festival. As they dig beneath the surface, they find that life in Branscombe is not as tranquil as it appears. So much for an old-fashioned weekend in the country.

In Branscombe, N.H., novelist Nora Regan Reilly and her PI daughter, Regan Reilly, and their close friends Alvirah and Will Meehan, track down a missing employee of Conklin's Market who is connected with a $160 million lottery and the winnings.

Accelerated Reader AR UG 4.9 7.0 130477.

Reilly, Regan (Fictitious character) -- Fiction.

Meehan, Alvirah (Fictitious character) -- Fiction.

Women private investigators -- Fiction.

Lottery winners -- Fiction.

Missing persons -- Fiction.

New Hampshire -- Fiction.

Clark, Carol Higgins.

9781439129173

1439129177