Customer Reviews

Man Who Lied to Women (A Kathy Mallory Novel)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First off let me say that if you're looking for a touchy feely maiden in distress kind of heroine - you won't find it here! When a young woman is found murdered and mistakenly identified as Mallory, our Mallory moves in and uses her expert computer skills to try and trip up three suspects who all live in the same building. Some creepy moments ensue until all is resolved at the end. The whole gang reappears and their characters are further developed to this reader's delight. Once again the author serves up a fascinating suspense that I hated to see end. Some reviewers seem to think that Mallory is this inhuman character that makes the story and author heartless and if you have one shred of decency, you won't like this book. Ummm, what version were they reading? Mallory is a little ruthless and heartless at times (she certainly maintains a "ends justify the means" mentality) but don't mistake that for having no emotion. Knowing her background of having to survive on the streets as a very young kid, the death of her foster parents who kept her somewhat grounded, and you begin to see the tight control she maintains over her emotions as a necessary function. Mallory is so intricate a character that she seems to be a real human being, albeit a flawed one, and not on of those cookie cutter females that pass as heroines.

Kathy Mallory is an enigma! I am a big fan of the "in Death" series by Nora Roberts and this is slowly but surely becoming my next favorite female lead.

The characters are becoming familiar to me. But 'Mallory' is the puzzlement and it is fascinating to read this progress. I am reading them in order and it is hard to put the book down. Gory in spots, but always fascinating! I love 'good' bad guys and Mallory is betwixt and between. Several reactions here! This heroine is different from what we are used to. On to the next...

O'Connell knows how to write mysteries. I have found surprises and suspense galore in all of the Mallory books. But I have never understood the characterizations in these books. Everyone is basically an idiot around the amazingly beautiful, intense and threatening Kathleen Mallory whose mere stare can reduce most people to quivering jello. Only Mallory -- don't call her Kathleen if you value your life -- seems to know what's going on. Staying just inside the law, or at least not getting caught, Mallory is a very strange NY police officer with her own troubling ideas of right and wrong.

Once, just once, I would love to see a character in these books who doesn't completely wilt in Mallory's presence after meeting her. In fact, I have repeatedly resolved never to buy another Mallory book because of this quality. It's hard to get into a book when the core characters are so completely unlikeable. But, ultimately, I love mystery novels. And O'Connell knows how to churn out some deft plotting. So I return. Maybe that's why I like O'Connell's Judas Child so much. No Mallory. She's ruthless. We get it.

All in all, a solid addition to the series. If you liked the first one, Mallory's Oracle, you'll like this one. If you didn't like that one, you will definitely not like this one since Mallory is even more of a black hole in this one. Not too many happy endings in the Mallory series.

I just ran across this fascinating character last week, and completed the second novel in an incredible series. Kathleen Mallory is the most complex character in the genre. Each book makes you want to hurry to the next to gain more insight into her psyche, while at the same time wanting to re-read the book in hand.

there is just something about the character of mallory that just makes you want to know more about her, and this - the 3rd book - starts to fill you in on the mystery. carol o'connell writes in such a way that you just want the book to keep going.

FYI, this is the British edition of The Man Who Cast Two Shadows, the second Mallory book.

Carol O'Connell's The Man Who Cast Two Shadows is the second Kathleen Mallory mystery, and it's even better than the first.

Mallory is a detective in New York City's Special Crimes Unit. Her colleagues all fear she has been killed when a body is found in a park, similar in appearance and wearing a blazer embroidered with her name. Mallory quickly identifies the victim (whose fingers have been destroyed to hamper a positive ID) and she is given the case. The detectives only have three clues to work with including an unpublished manuscript, a missing computer file and a cat who knows the murderer. The clues point to three possible suspects who all live in the same building. Mallory starts baiting them with computer messages in an effort to flush out the killer. Unfortunately, Mallory herself becomes bait.

The Man Who Cast Two Shadows is interesting in that it provides more background into the lives of those characters introduced in book one including Mallory, Riker, Coffey and Charles Butler. The reader gets a better understanding of their motives and their actions. These characters all have major flaws, yet they bring a brilliance to the job of solving crimes and seeing that justice is done. Mallory always seems to be one step ahead of everyone-maybe because she has the ability to think like a criminal.

Unfortunately, as in book one, The Man Who Cast Two Shadows contains a strong subplot of magic, and I'm beginning to tire of this angle. It's not always believable. Also, I prefer books with shorter chapters, and this 278 page book only has seven. But despite the magic and the long chapters, O'Connell is a thoughtful writer and I'm definitely a fan.

Oh, how I love Kathleen Mallory. I may not like her much, and she certainly has her own set of ethics, but I love her nonetheless. O'Connell's heroine is a perfect blend of street cop and hoodlum, with some very human weaknesses. The story moves well, with good plot and great characterization.

I've read all of O'Connell's Mallory books. While they're a rock-solid series, any one of them can stand alone. This one doesn't fail to grab the reader by the throat and grip you until the last page. Charles really shines in this book, and Carol O'Connell has brought back the rest of her ensemble cast to spar with Mallory as she proves her devious, heinous brilliance yet again. The killer is approprately vicious and nearly a match for the fearsome cop. I fear, though, that Carol O'Connell's books are just too bright and she's going to get burned out before my craving for more Mallory is satisfied. Ms. O'Connell, if you, unlike Mallory, have a compassionate heart, then heed this: Knuckle down, unplug the phone, and write, write, write. I live in fear that Stone Angel was the end of the line in Mallory's journey of self-discovery. Say it ain't so. If you haven't read this book, turn off the computer and RUN TO THE NEAREST BOOKSTORE!

I am trying to read every one of Kathleen Mallory series by Carol O'Connell,I love this series. Some of her other novels, I have read are very good.