Regrets Only [Hardcover]

Nancy Geary (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2004

Born in Boston and raised in the rowdy, loving atmosphere of a big Irish family, Lucy O'Malley was destined to follow in her father's footsteps and become a police officer.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Lucy O'Malley, born and raised in an Irish Boston family, became a cop just like her father, but instead of staying near home, she is starting her career in Philadelphia's homicide department. After beginning a relationship with Archer Haverill, a Philadelphia blue blood, Lucy lands her first case when her new boyfriend's estranged birth mother, Morgan Reese, now a prominent psychiatrist, is murdered. Of course, suspects abound: Dr. Reese specialized in treating children and had her share of psychotic ex-patients; her colleagues were jealous of the prestigious position to which she was about to be appointed; and she had just informed an ex-lover, who married well and would like to stay that way, that she never did have that abortion all those years ago. Lucy's investigation puts her at the center of a high-society drama, where not even her cop's instincts might be enough to save her completely. Lucy makes a likable heroine, and Geary's blending of a psychological thriller with classic police procedural produces a crime novel with appeal to fans of both subgenres. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Born in New York City, I was raised in two very different worlds. My father was the principal of a specialist firm on Wall Street. He was extremely disciplined and determined to teach his children the importance of hard work and financial self-sufficiency. He also was a man who cherished ritual and continuity. He bought a home in Southampton, New York, and joined several private country clubs there so that we could return to the same community summer after summer. My mother is a photographer. She didn't insist that I go to school and often took me to museums or the movies instead. I missed a week of fourth grade to see an entire Katherine Hepburn film festival. She and her husband entertained a constant stream of artists, actors, writers and musicians and I remember many evenings where bedtime was forgotten so that I could participate in the conversation. My mother tried to instill in me an appreciation for diversity and creativity. She urged me not to fear a lack of convention. After four years in public service as an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Bureau of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, and two years in private practice at a large Boston law firm, I abandoned my legal career. I had fantasized about being a writer for years, but was apprehensive about giving up my profession. After a number of family traumas forced me to examine my own life, I realized that I would rather be a failed author than a dreamless lawyer. I wrote most of Misfortune while living on Cape Cod. I recently moved with my son and our two dogs to a small town about an hour from New York City. My favorite childhood authors were William Steig and E.B. White. I still read E.B. White's essays whenever I feel uninspired. Some of my favorite authors now are Kazuo Ishiguro, Joyce Carol Oates, Anita Shreve, Louis Begley, David Guterson and Wally Lamb. P.D. James inspires me because of her development of rich characters within a novel of suspense framework. John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil greatly influenced me in writing Misfortune because of his skill in capturing the essence of a society. NANCY GEARY was a prosecutor for the Criminal Bureau of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, a participant in the Attorney General's Urban Violence Strike Force, and an attorney with Choate, Hall & Stewart in Boston. Her family summers in Southampton. She is completing work on her second novel.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (July 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446532177
• ISBN-13: 978-0446532174
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,300,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Regrets that it's finished, September 17, 2004

By 

reader from NC (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Regrets Only (Hardcover)

This is a reveiw of all 3 of Nancy Geary's books, MISFORTUNE,REDEMPTION & REGRETS ONLY. Well written stories, sure to keep you interested and guessing until the very end. If you like a good mystery, keep this author in mind as she is excellent.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of this year's best police procedurals, July 28, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Regrets Only (Hardcover)

The Wilder Center is going to be the most advanced mental health facility in the country with the most up to date therapy, medical practices, and cutting-edge technology. Dr. David Ellery is the leading contender to run the center, something he wants beyond measure but when his sixteen-year-old patient, Foster Merritt commits suicide, the position is offered to his co-worker Dr. Morgan Reese instead.

Nobody except Morgan knows that Foster was one of the twins she gave away at birth. She wants to meet Foster's sister Avery and the adult son she walked out on, Archer when she divorced his father Rodman. She contacts the twins' biological father so he can be there when Avery meets her but he does not want anything to ruin his society marriage. Morgan's body is found on the eighth hole at Fairmount Links; the victim of a blow to the head and a gunshot wound. Various suspects hated Morgan, but who would detest her enough to kill her? Philadelphia homicide detective, Lucy O' Malley, the girlfriend of Archer, is going to do her best to find out.

Nancy Geary has written one of this year's best police procedurals. Readers can actually visualize the investigation and wonder which one of the various suspects was pushed to the breaking point. Ironically, readers will have more sympathy for the killer than the victim because Morgan tries to undo actions by hurting people who got in her way. REGRETS ONLY is a memorable work that will long be remembered after the last page is turned.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun mystery, great characters, January 27, 2005

By 

N. Gargano "nokegchris" (Waynesville NC and Bradenton, Fl) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Regrets Only (Hardcover)

I am a fan of Ms. Geary's from her other books, and I was thrilled to see this new mystery with new characters. I had it figured out, but it was still fun to read and I enjoyed the characters so much, I look forward to seeing them again.