Source: LibraryCharacters:Kathy Mallory – detective (series), detective partner Riker; business partner, savant Charles Butler; vic: Willy Roy Boyd; perp Nedda Winter, (Bitty Smyth, Cleo Smyth, Lionel Winter, Sheldon Smyth).Plot: Mallory attends a crime scene--a burglar killed by old woman (Nedda). But the burglar is WRB, who Mallory incarcerated for serial killings. Although his trademark knife is strapped to his leg, and ice pick is found by his hand. Mallory is suspicious. The murder isn't what it seems. And that's true. The preliminary investigation hints at possible tie in of a 50 year-old crime--the mass murder of nine people in the very same house--done with an ice pick. As Mallory goes forward on keen detective hunches, her partner Riker has more information: His family has researched ice pick murders for three generations. Mallory suspects Nedda (age in mid 70s) of being the ice pick killer that slaughtered most of the Winter family in the 1940s. Riker isn't so sure. Butler, with advanced scholarship in psychology, is certain it's not true.What IS true is an elaborate multi-generational scheme to get hold of the Winter fortune; all the remaining family members (by blood and by marriage) are somehow involved, and Mallory's instincts once again prove true.The intrigue of the story kept me in this, enhanced by the very good writing. I wanted to find out if my hunches were correct. (I like a book where I can feel involved in solving the mystery). I doubt, however, that I'll read another "Mallory Novel". I found the self-centered, bratty, my-way-or-no-way main character (Kathy Mallory) hard to bear; she has more hang-ups than a walk-in closet. Even more obnoxious is the way the supporting players (Riker, Butler, the head of forensics, and more) make excuse or forgive her many faults, and nearly worship her. The reader is rarely in Mallory's point of view, and then its mostly as she wrangles through some segment of the mystery. The only "vision" of her as real person is through the eyes of her adorers--all of whom are male--who seem to get a kick out of watching her intimidate people. It really became tiresome. But as I stated, this is a popular series that garners great reviews. The character I frown over, someone else lauds. Which just proves out how great it is to have myriad books in the world: something for everyone.
This is a Goodreads first reads giveaway review. I have to say, although this was not my favorite plot, O'Connell's Mallory is one of my favorite characters. I recommend Mallory's Oracle often, and buy it constantly to give to people to read and pass along. That being said, this book showed a touch more humanity on Kathy's part and a little less patience from Charles. I was also disappointed with the fact that Kathy's gift to Charles was "off the mark." Mallory herself is often "off" a bit, a woman who is both superior professionally and broken spiritually, but until this title she did seem to have some understanding of what Charles wanted, even if she was unwilling to give it to him. The murder suspect's drama was indeed a revelation for Kathy and her own possible future. Although her methods so often seem cruel, Kathy is always brutal enough to make the "kindest cut" to get to the truth. I found the ice pick story line less interesting and believable. But the fact that O'Connell has gifted us with another Mallory addition to the saga is deeply rewarding.
What do You think about Winter House (2005)?
Got this from Julie as the get-away weekend was starting, and was oh so looking forward to immersing myself in a total "mind candy" release starring Kathleen Mallory (aka Malloyr), NYPD Detective and former feral child raised by now deceased NYPD police officer.The back cover describes it as "densely plotted" -- I found it so full of characters and historial detail that was supposed to fit in here, there and everywhere that I could hardly keep track. The gist of it: burglar is murdered with ice pick, ostensibly in self-defense. Murdered turns out to be child gone missing 60 years ago. You'd think it'd be at least moderately good but it wasn't even that. Even descriptions of Mallory's interactions with others seemed to lack the sensitivity of prior book to her "issues". Bummer!
—pdxmaven
This book is number eight in the Kathleen Mallory series. This is the first one I have read. The apparent regulars in this series are Mallory, Riker and Butler. Yet I had trouble understanding their relationships or conjuring up any real feeling for Mallory. Perhaps if I read the previous novels in this series, I would have more buy-in to the regulars.Nedda Winter is the real focus in this novel. Her story is the interesting one, and the author kept me guessing as to both her sanity and her guilt. Nedda's backstory is what pulled me through the book, even with the complicated plot and many characters.I would like to read another book in this series, perhaps an early one, to have a better understanding of the regular characters and determine whether it is a series I would really enjoy.I received this book free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.
—Jeannette
I loved this entry in the Mallory series. I first tried a Mallory book several years ago and didn't like it, couldn't imagine what the fuss was about. A couple of years later, after seeing repeated raves for the series on DorothyL, I decided to try it again and I was hooked. I do get annoyed with the italicized sections when her mentor is supposedly speaking to her from the beyond, but I skip those and get back to the meat of the story. I like how Mallory, Charles and Riker work together, and sometimes even more effectively apart, to solve the mystery. They are smart, talented and focused on solving the crime. This story, with the old woman and her fascinating backstory, gripped from the first page and didn't let go until I reached the end. I highly recommend it, but agree with LJ that you should start with an earlier book in the series so that you understand the key characters and their relationships.
—Julie Burns
