Customer Reviews

The Jury Must Die

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Amazon has begun showing international titles on the American site, and while this is a pleasant convenience, it can create some confusion and even a bit of bad will. Why?

It's easy enough for most of us to figure out that *L'homme qui mentait aux femmes* and *Das Judaskind* are not going to be in English and perhaps that they are translations of O'Connell books. But with not a word of explanation, we might be uncertain whether *The Jury Must Die* is a new Mallory novel. Given the pub date, I think it's safe to assume that this is the British printing of *Dead Famous.*

It's probably not widely known that the British press often renames American books. O'Connell has always been popular in Great Britain, so the Mallory books are all available in British editions, usually with alternative titles. For example, I obtained a paperback copy of *Stone Angel* before it was issued in the US by purchasing *Flight of the Stone Angel* in a Gatwick WH Smith's. *The Man Who Lied to Women* is the same novel as *The Man Who Cast Two Shadows* (neither title has ever made much sense to me).

That said, it would be a courtesy for Amazon to flag such books, by a device as simple as stating the country of origin for the title. I came dangerously close to ordering this "new" Mallory title, but fortunately I remembered the plot of *Dead Famous.* I read a review recently alerting readers that what appeared to be a new Andrew Vachss novel was a renamed British reprint.

If you are a collector, the British editions are a nice nuance to your collection. But if you are looking for a new Mallory (as all Mallory followers have been for about six months), I'm willing to bet that *The Jury Must Die* isn't it.

I read the title of this "new Mallory book" and got very excited. Been a long time since we've had a new Kathy Mallory story. Thank you for the information about the change of title from Great Britan as it is a remake of Dead Famous? Too bad, I am really looking forward to a new story. Where are you Carol O'Connell?