Misfortune

Rating:
Summary: A pleaseant read
Review: Clio Pratt made sure the membership committee of the Fair Lawn Country Club of Southampton, Long Island rejected the application of cardiologist Dr. Henry Lewis because he is black. She follows that friendly gesture by refusing to lend any money to her stepdaughter Suffolk County prosecutor Frances Pratt. Other individuals also suffer from Clio's cantankerous clout.

Someone finally decides that they have suffered enough from this nasty person. That individual kills Clio. Though a potential conflict of interest, Frances leads the investigation into the murder of her stepmother starting at the country club where the body was found. Frances soon finds a plethora of suspects all with motives and opportunities as numerous people were negatively impacted by Clio's ugliness.

MISFORTUNE is an entertaining who-done-it that cleverly sets up the reader with numerous suspects who fell victim to Clio's sting. When the story line follows Clio around and subsequently Frances making inquiries, the plot works like magic. When the tale focuses on life in Southampton it seems too shallow and out of focus. Nancy Geary's debut tale is fortunate for those readers who enjoy a pleasurable regional mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A Clunky First Effort
Review: I enjoyed Misfortune and thought it was so wonderfully written with a host of exciting characters.
Cleo Pratt was an obnoxious woman who was not liked by many in South Hampton, Long Island. She did not hide her racial prejudice or the pride she seemed to exhibit to those not as wealthy as she was. She was selfish and thought only about her comforts and her husband's.
It is no wonder when she is found dead in the powder room at the Fair Lawn Country Club, it becomes an extremely difficult task trying to seek out her murderer, for Cleo Pratt has made so many enemies for herself.
You will meet Beverly Winters whom she gossiped about after her husband's suicide; Henry Lewis a surgeon whom she was instrumental in blocking from becoming a member of the Country Club because of his race ; her stepdaughters Blair and Frances whom she treated like second class citizens when they were in her habitation; a partner in their firm Pratt Capital who she wants to squeeze out, and many many more of the high society you will encounter.
Be prepared to have at least a day to two for this page turner. When all is revealed you will see how well written and how cleverly concealed is the murderer ... Happy reading! I loved it!

Nutface
May30th, 2002

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully Written With Perfect Characterization
Review: I enjoyed Misfortune and thought it was so wonderfully written with a host of exciting characters.
Cleo Pratt was an obnoxious woman who was not liked by many in South Hampton, Long Island. She did not hide her racial prejudice or the pride she seemed to exhibit to those not as wealthy as she was. She was selfish and thought only about her comforts and her husband's.
It is no wonder when she is found dead in the powder room at the Fair Lawn Country Club, it becomes an extremely difficult task trying to seek out her murderer, for Cleo Pratt has made so many enemies for herself.
You will meet Beverly Winters whom she gossiped about after her husband's suicide; Henry Lewis a surgeon whom she was instrumental in blocking from becoming a member of the Country Club because of his race ; her stepdaughters Blair and Frances whom she treated like second class citizens when they were in her habitation; a partner in their firm Pratt Capital who she wants to squeeze out, and many many more of the high society you will encounter.
Be prepared to have at least a day to two for this page turner. When all is revealed you will see how well written and how cleverly concealed is the murderer ... Happy reading! I loved it!

Nutface
May30th, 2002

Rating:
Summary: Surprise Twist
Review: I have almost two separate reviews of this book. The first is of interest to all the mystery readers...this is a good mystery, reads fast and almost any of the suspects could have been the murderer.The author did a good job of making the suspects the sympathetic characters.Although at the end, maybe some readers would have felt a little sympathy for the victim which leads me to my second review. I had a stepmother like Clio. Over the years, I have tried to explain this person to others, and no one could or would believe that this woman existed.They always assummed I was just the jealous stepdaughter. Well, Ms. Geary,(the author), must have been a fly on the wall during my life. My stepmother was like Clio except my story did not have such a satisfying ending. So Ms. Geary, wherever you are, I hope Clio is a figment of your imagination because I hate to think you experienced first hand what my sisters and I did, and of course are still dealing with everyday. People don't realize how damaging emotional abuse can be, and how alone children can feel when they can't reach out for help. Even though this is a mystery, I can see myself rereading this book, just for the emotional expressions of the grown stepchildren. So now you understand why I have given this two separate reviews, one that interests the regular readers, and another for those who have had a Clio in their lives.

Rating:
Summary: fun and satisfying read
Review: I have almost two separate reviews of this book. The first is of interest to all the mystery readers...this is a good mystery, reads fast and almost any of the suspects could have been the murderer.The author did a good job of making the suspects the sympathetic characters.Although at the end, maybe some readers would have felt a little sympathy for the victim which leads me to my second review. I had a stepmother like Clio. Over the years, I have tried to explain this person to others, and no one could or would believe that this woman existed.They always assummed I was just the jealous stepdaughter. Well, Ms. Geary,(the author), must have been a fly on the wall during my life. My stepmother was like Clio except my story did not have such a satisfying ending. So Ms. Geary, wherever you are, I hope Clio is a figment of your imagination because I hate to think you experienced first hand what my sisters and I did, and of course are still dealing with everyday. People don't realize how damaging emotional abuse can be, and how alone children can feel when they can't reach out for help. Even though this is a mystery, I can see myself rereading this book, just for the emotional expressions of the grown stepchildren. So now you understand why I have given this two separate reviews, one that interests the regular readers, and another for those who have had a Clio in their lives.

Rating:
Summary: The Unfortunate Plot of Misfortune
Review: Misfortune is a riveting family drama. This murder-mystery is psychologically suspenseful and will keep you turning the pages to discover what's next. Frances Pratt is a touching and appealing heroine. Recommended summer reading!

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Hamptons Suspense Mystery
Review: Misfortune is one of the best mysteries I've ever read. Set in the bizarre world of Long Island High Society (can it get any more bizarre?) Frances must find a deadly killer among a cast of characters rich in dollars and drama. They come from Wall Street, Board Rooms, Hospitals and Country Clubs. They each hate the same person. Each suspect has a motive and a deep secret that must not be revealed. They will stop at nothing to protect themselves and shatter their adversaries as their very lives hang in the balance. This is detective work at it's best from a great new writer.

Rating:
Summary: Murder among the rich.
Review: Things have never gone well for Frances and Blair with their stepmother Clio. Their father seems happy, but they feel shut out. Many people had reasons to dislike Clio in the exclusive upscale Long Island town where the Fair Lawn Country Club is the mecca for the rich. When Clio dies during a tennis tournament there are many suspects. Frances puts her job as a lawyer on the line when she investigates Clio's murder over the wishes of her boss. The case develops into a voyage of personal discovery as she uncovers the true lives beneath the facades of the rich neighbors. Frances comes to a new understanding of the patterns of love in her family and in her own relationships. Uncovering the killer brings Frances even more revalations about her own character. The author shows how many faceted our motives and characters are. As Nancy Geary shows us, we rarely understand what drives other people fully, even our own families.

Rating:
Summary: A good debut book.
Review: When I read, I like to learn about other places and since this subject and location were very close to the author's I found it to be enlightening. Clio was a complex character, obnoxious for sure, but also showed great strength in caring for the people she loved. Her characters were not ALL bad or ALL good. Her father who she adored certainly would have benefitted his daughters if he'd had more of a backbone. I look forward to her next book.

Rating:
Summary: A good debut book.
Review: When I read, I like to learn about other places and since this subject and location were very close to the author's I found it to be enlightening. Clio was a complex character, obnoxious for sure, but also showed great strength in caring for the people she loved. Her characters were not ALL bad or ALL good. Her father who she adored certainly would have benefitted his daughters if he'd had more of a backbone. I look forward to her next book.