ISBN: 0-515-11890-7 Order from: Amazon.com
A slick, dark, police procedural, with a melodramatically attractive and capable heroine, a twisting plot, a plethory of suspects and enough action to hold the reader's attention.
Reviewed by David on August 01, 1999
Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural)
Synopsis: This sequel to Mallory's Oracle continues the adventures of Kathy Mallory, the beautiful and ruthless NYPD detective.
A young woman resembling Kathy has been found murdered in Central Park. While quite alive, the young detective takes offense at someone bludgeoning the young and pretty victim. When the clues lead to an exclusive residence, and against the orders of her superiors, Mallory uses her private methods to gain entry to the expensive building. Unfortunately the local elite provide for all too many suspects, and Mallory and her friends have their hands full to avoid the young detective from being a real victim.
Full Review: Mallory continues her one-woman onslaught on New York crime, frequently hampered rather than helped by her fellow police. Improbably gifted and rather melodramatic in her spurning all hints of finer emotion and weakness, the plot moves quickly enough to avoid the reader's annoyance with the implausible character.
While the exasperated and captivated friends provide for a suitable entourage, her friends' constant suspicion causes some irritation as the author puts altogether unnecessary obstacles of friendly resistance to the otherwise fast and grim plot.
The essense of the crimes, as in so many real cases, is bitterly petty for all the painful tragedy they cause. All in all, this is a fast, not overly deep, entertaining and rather dark pleasure of a mystery.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5; Characters: 6; Style: 6; World-building: 5; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 1995, Berkley Publishing Group (Jove), June 1996, Mass market paperback, 322 pages
ISBN: 0-515-11890-7 Order from: Amazon.com