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Title: Crime School by Carol O'Connell ISBN: 0-399-14928-7 Publisher: Putnam Pub Group Pub. Date: 12 September, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.23
Rating: 3
Summary: Once more to the well, old chum
Comment: This, the latest entry in the Mallory series, is also the weakest. Not that first time readers would notice -- O'Connell is so darn good at her craft that even less-than-her-best beats most of the competition. Problem is, she was written a novel that "fills in the gaps" for her Mallory character while FORGETTING what made the character great in the first place. The ultimate peccadillo, even for one of O'Connell's rank, is to write a book that resonates only with those who have already fallen in love with the character because of earlier books. And that's what this is. Mallory is, as always, arrogant, dry and aloof. In this book, however, no one really cares...
Rating: 4
Summary: Both engaging and frustrating.
Comment: It's engaging because "Crime School" has a mystery that kept me guessing right up until the end of the book. I didn't know the red herring wasn't the killer until almost the final page. It's frustrating because I keep waiting for Mallory to display some real growth or affection for the worshipful Charles or her partner Ryker and, even after her experiences in past books, she seems unable to. Carol O'Connell mentions in passing here, as I think in other books, that the forty-something, unmarried and childless Charles will live a long life and will keep a journal to pass on to his children and grandchildren. I can only hope that in some future book he will get his heart's desire: Mallory. In this book, there are no real developments. I'll add another brief caution. Readers who haven't read the previous Mallory books may find themselves bewildered. There's a lot of discussion about her childhood, but nothing about why she's in New York City alone at age 10. If you want to know the back story, go back and read "Stone Angel."
Rating: 4
Summary: It's time for there to be some movement now.
Comment: I really enjoyed reading Crime School, but this is the last Mallory novel I think I'm going to be able to read without her showing some signs of personal growth. I understand O'Connell's desire not to compromise this winning character, but she can't just remain a charming sociopath who happens to be on the right side of the law.
For the last few books we've seen more and more of Mallory, exploring her limited nature in various ways. She's by turns magical and frightening and the things that made her that way are gradually being exposed. In Stone Angel we had a sense of her past, and I'm glad that she didn't melt into a big softie in Shell Game. I don't want her to turn into a character from a cozy, but I either want her to go darker and show she can't let somebody in or I want her to start to come to terms with herself.
O'Connell has a significant challenge now. We're the real detectives where these books are concerned and it's going to be a delicate game from here on in to decide how much to reveal.
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Title: Dead Famous by Carol O'Connell ISBN: 0399150846 Publisher: Putnam Pub Group Pub. Date: 11 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Killing Critics by Carol O'Connell ISBN: 0515120863 Publisher: Jove Pubns Pub. Date: July, 1997 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Shell Game by Carol O'Connell ISBN: 0425176037 Publisher: Berkley Pub Group Pub. Date: 08 August, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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Title: Stone Angel by Carol O'Connell ISBN: 051512298X Publisher: Jove Pubns Pub. Date: July, 1998 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Man Who Cast Two Shadows (U.K. title: The Man Who Lied to Women) by Carol O'Connell ISBN: 0515118907 Publisher: Jove Pubns Pub. Date: July, 1996 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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