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Creating a truly original character/premise/plot for a mystery novel is hard enough. Maintaining the freshness/originality/interest throughout a multi-volume series is daunting, and nearly impossible.
In 1995, Carol O'Connell created a unique addition to the police procedural genre with her sociopath with a heart of gold detective Kathy Mallory, and her outlandish cast of supporting characters. There have been a few stumbles in this series, but the latest -- It Happens In the Dark -- is Mallory back at full throttle - taking on outrageous murder plots, lying cops, lying suspects, and the glitz & garbage of NYC. This is the original Mallory - at her coldest & craftiest -- still learning to play well with others, or at least to better disguise her manipulation of others.
Highly enjoyable - with tongue planted very firmly in cheek!
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