Warner, July 2001, 23.95, 354 pp.
ISBN: 044652753X
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.
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
Spying/Terrorism Thriller
Yes
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 50%
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Legal Thriller
Yes
Legal Plotlets
- finding out whether someone is really guilty
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
General Crime (including known murderer)
Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here?
- finding a known killer
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- a lawyer creature
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an above average amount
Motive of antagonist
- revenge
The antagonists are:
- big business leader(s)
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Mid-Atlantic states
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
