What do you think?
Rate this book
Kathleen Mallory #1
Mallory's Oracle
A stunning debut novel about a web of unsolved murders in New York's Gramercy Park and the singular woman who makes them her obsession.
At its center is Kathleen Mallory, an extraordinary wild child turned New York City policewoman. Adopted off the streets as a little girl by a police inspector and his wife, she is still not altogether civilized now that she is a sergeant in the Special Crimes section. With her ferocious intelligence and green gunslinger eyes, Mallory (never Kathleen, never Kathy) operates by her own inner compass of right and wrong, a sense of justice that drives her in unpredictable ways. She is a thing apart.
And today, she is a thing possessed. Although more at home in the company of computers than in the company of men, Mallory is propelled onto the street when the body of her adoptive father, Louis Markowitz, is found stabbed in a tenement next to the body of a wealthy Gramercy Park woman. The murders are clearly linked to two other Gramercy Park homicides Markowitz had been investigating, and now his cases become Mallory's, his death her cause. Prowling the streets, sifting through his clues, drawing on his circle of friends and colleagues, she plunges into a netherworld of light and shadow, where people are not what they seem and truth shifts without warning. And a murderer waits who is every bit as wild and unpredictable as she....
Filled with deep, seductive atmosphere and razor-sharp prose, Mallory's Oracle is gripping, resonant suspense of tantalizing complexity—a genuinely unforgettable novel.
At its center is Kathleen Mallory, an extraordinary wild child turned New York City policewoman. Adopted off the streets as a little girl by a police inspector and his wife, she is still not altogether civilized now that she is a sergeant in the Special Crimes section. With her ferocious intelligence and green gunslinger eyes, Mallory (never Kathleen, never Kathy) operates by her own inner compass of right and wrong, a sense of justice that drives her in unpredictable ways. She is a thing apart.
And today, she is a thing possessed. Although more at home in the company of computers than in the company of men, Mallory is propelled onto the street when the body of her adoptive father, Louis Markowitz, is found stabbed in a tenement next to the body of a wealthy Gramercy Park woman. The murders are clearly linked to two other Gramercy Park homicides Markowitz had been investigating, and now his cases become Mallory's, his death her cause. Prowling the streets, sifting through his clues, drawing on his circle of friends and colleagues, she plunges into a netherworld of light and shadow, where people are not what they seem and truth shifts without warning. And a murderer waits who is every bit as wild and unpredictable as she....
Filled with deep, seductive atmosphere and razor-sharp prose, Mallory's Oracle is gripping, resonant suspense of tantalizing complexity—a genuinely unforgettable novel.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Carol O'Connell
36 books661 followersBorn in 1947, Carol O'Connell studied at the California Institute or Arts/Chouinard and the Arizona State University. She lives in New York City.
Series:
* Kathleen Mallory
Series:
* Kathleen Mallory
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews
January 20, 2018
Well, this 1995 thriller is a real breath of fresh air! This year my biggest goal is to back up and read a lot of books from “the old days” of the 1990s and early 2000s. It’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement of new releases, but there is also plenty of gold ready to mine gathering dust in the library.
For some reason I have shied away from this series, probably because the title of book 1 scared me off with it’s supernatural feel. But after having so many Goodreads friends sing its praises I finally just had to see for myself.
This book focuses quite a bit on characterization. Kathleen Mallory, a former child street thief, rescued and adopted by a cop and now a cop herself, is an intriguing protagonist. Her forte is computers. She is a master hacker and her work has helped solve a number of cases. But Mallory has been sitting behind a desk; she is totally inexperienced in being a field investigator, something she is determined to do in order to find the murderer of her adopted father, the man who took her in and changed her life. Mallory also has an unconventional mindset shaped by her early years on her own. We get a large array of quirky characters most of which get their time in the spotlight. I loved the relationship between Mallory and Charles (with his eidetic memory) and Charles’ introduction to the Tuesday night poker game with the dead cop’s friends.
The plot is intricate and mystifying, involving the serial killings of several old ladies (nice touch, don’t you think?) along with the policeman. During the course of the investigation we are exposed to some old-fashioned police work (remember pens, paper, bulletin boards, and brains?), some old time magic, and a creep-out séance scene. There is some great twisty action towards the end.
The novel is a bit of a slow burner because of the attention to detail with regards to the cast and the New York City setting. Also the chapters are long—only eleven in this over 300-page book. These factors actually did not bother me that much as the author had me captivated. I did however get a little confused at times with the baffling plot and large number of characters, but the search button was there to save the day.
I thought this was a very good start to what is now a 13-book series. I recommend Mallory’s Oracle to all crime fiction fans interested in something a little different. I look forward to book 2.
For some reason I have shied away from this series, probably because the title of book 1 scared me off with it’s supernatural feel. But after having so many Goodreads friends sing its praises I finally just had to see for myself.
This book focuses quite a bit on characterization. Kathleen Mallory, a former child street thief, rescued and adopted by a cop and now a cop herself, is an intriguing protagonist. Her forte is computers. She is a master hacker and her work has helped solve a number of cases. But Mallory has been sitting behind a desk; she is totally inexperienced in being a field investigator, something she is determined to do in order to find the murderer of her adopted father, the man who took her in and changed her life. Mallory also has an unconventional mindset shaped by her early years on her own. We get a large array of quirky characters most of which get their time in the spotlight. I loved the relationship between Mallory and Charles (with his eidetic memory) and Charles’ introduction to the Tuesday night poker game with the dead cop’s friends.
The plot is intricate and mystifying, involving the serial killings of several old ladies (nice touch, don’t you think?) along with the policeman. During the course of the investigation we are exposed to some old-fashioned police work (remember pens, paper, bulletin boards, and brains?), some old time magic, and a creep-out séance scene. There is some great twisty action towards the end.
The novel is a bit of a slow burner because of the attention to detail with regards to the cast and the New York City setting. Also the chapters are long—only eleven in this over 300-page book. These factors actually did not bother me that much as the author had me captivated. I did however get a little confused at times with the baffling plot and large number of characters, but the search button was there to save the day.
I thought this was a very good start to what is now a 13-book series. I recommend Mallory’s Oracle to all crime fiction fans interested in something a little different. I look forward to book 2.
August 27, 2020
Released in 1994, Mallory’s Oracle is the first in a 12-title series last published in 2016. A serial killer preying upon rich elderly women of Gramercy Park, New York City, has struck once again in eight weeks. Only this time, a 30-year veteran police officer, Louis Markovitz, has been found dead alongside the corpse of a third victim in an abandoned tenement building.
Kathleen Mallory, a sergeant in the Police Special Crimes Unit, undertakes the investigation...unofficially. Markovitz had found the feral 10-year old Mallory in the midst of a theft and brought her home with him because he didn’t want to deal with massive paperwork for a juvenile delinquent on his wife’s birthday. Warm and loving Helen misunderstood her husband’s intent and thought that Mallory was a “birthday present” that she never wished to return. Understandably, Mallory wants to uncover her adoptive father’s killer, and quite logically, she should not because of the inherent conflict of interest.
Mallory’s Oracle has an interesting enough premise and the series was recommended by a GR friend. I really enjoyed the evocative third-person narration which revealed little snippets of the characters’ inner emotional states. I liked Markovitz and the cast of supporting characters that he ensured would surround his daughter in case of his demise - especially Charles Butler and Riker. O’Connell was a bit sly about her misdirection and sleights of hand as she incorporated magicians and toyed with stereotypes of the guileless and weak elderly in her storyline. You hear a “but” coming up, don’t you?
Ah yes, Mallory’s Oracle made an awkward first impression. In the prologue, a Doberman ran toward the window of a fifth-floor building and crashed through it to his death. As someone with experience with dogs (my own dogs plus volunteer time at an animal shelter), I read this with incredulity. Dogs do not commit suicide. The prologue hinted at some supernatural elements in order to suspend disbelief but these supernatural hints weren’t later fulfilled for the character that triggered the dog’s suicide.
My main reason for the 3-star rating though was Kathleen Mallory. Her adoptive father described her as an “amoral savage” and he regretted that Helen died before she could “finish taming” Mallory. This had been expressed with love. Helen had died two years previous when Mallory was 23, which had given the “savage” more than a decade under Helen’s tender care. I’m always open to finding strong female main protagonists in the mystery genre. But I don’t love Mallory for she’s a half-baked sociopath, terribly damaged by unknown events in the first decade of her life. She must have made a significant impression upon Stieg Larsson though because his Lisbeth Salander (first published in 2005) seemed to be from a similar mode. I can’t even say that I liked Mallory. It’s more of a case of being wary of her, which is what O’Connell wanted. Because rather than inappropriately lusting after the blonde with the “gunslinger green” eyes, her fellow police colleagues fear her. I can only infer that nepotism triumphed over the psychiatric evaluation that should have been part of her application process to the police academy.
I am ambivalent but I’m open to reading one more title in the Mallory series. Sorry, RC, but I wanted to like it more than I did.
Update - cherry picked the books with the highest ratings-
#4 Stone Angel 4 ☆
#6 Crime School 4 ☆
#9 Find Me 3.5 ☆
Kathleen Mallory, a sergeant in the Police Special Crimes Unit, undertakes the investigation...unofficially. Markovitz had found the feral 10-year old Mallory in the midst of a theft and brought her home with him because he didn’t want to deal with massive paperwork for a juvenile delinquent on his wife’s birthday. Warm and loving Helen misunderstood her husband’s intent and thought that Mallory was a “birthday present” that she never wished to return. Understandably, Mallory wants to uncover her adoptive father’s killer, and quite logically, she should not because of the inherent conflict of interest.
Mallory’s Oracle has an interesting enough premise and the series was recommended by a GR friend. I really enjoyed the evocative third-person narration which revealed little snippets of the characters’ inner emotional states. I liked Markovitz and the cast of supporting characters that he ensured would surround his daughter in case of his demise - especially Charles Butler and Riker. O’Connell was a bit sly about her misdirection and sleights of hand as she incorporated magicians and toyed with stereotypes of the guileless and weak elderly in her storyline. You hear a “but” coming up, don’t you?
Ah yes, Mallory’s Oracle made an awkward first impression. In the prologue, a Doberman ran toward the window of a fifth-floor building and crashed through it to his death. As someone with experience with dogs (my own dogs plus volunteer time at an animal shelter), I read this with incredulity. Dogs do not commit suicide. The prologue hinted at some supernatural elements in order to suspend disbelief but these supernatural hints weren’t later fulfilled for the character that triggered the dog’s suicide.
My main reason for the 3-star rating though was Kathleen Mallory. Her adoptive father described her as an “amoral savage” and he regretted that Helen died before she could “finish taming” Mallory. This had been expressed with love. Helen had died two years previous when Mallory was 23, which had given the “savage” more than a decade under Helen’s tender care. I’m always open to finding strong female main protagonists in the mystery genre. But I don’t love Mallory for she’s a half-baked sociopath, terribly damaged by unknown events in the first decade of her life. She must have made a significant impression upon Stieg Larsson though because his Lisbeth Salander (first published in 2005) seemed to be from a similar mode. I can’t even say that I liked Mallory. It’s more of a case of being wary of her, which is what O’Connell wanted. Because rather than inappropriately lusting after the blonde with the “gunslinger green” eyes, her fellow police colleagues fear her. I can only infer that nepotism triumphed over the psychiatric evaluation that should have been part of her application process to the police academy.
I am ambivalent but I’m open to reading one more title in the Mallory series. Sorry, RC, but I wanted to like it more than I did.
Update - cherry picked the books with the highest ratings-
#4 Stone Angel 4 ☆
#6 Crime School 4 ☆
#9 Find Me 3.5 ☆
September 23, 2017
4.5 rounded up
July 23, 2010
DO NOT waste your time on bad first O'Connell book...
The character of Kathy Mallory is introduced in this first of a set of (now) six stories about a NYPD detective. With these and one other hardback under her belt, one would think O'Connell must be a successful author. Not by our eyes! We have read and lectured about an extensive list of leading lady amateur sleuths, private eyes, and policewomen; and we'd have to rate Mallory as maybe the worst. While she's billed a thousand times by her author as smart, intense, gorgeous (naturally), and maybe the world's greatest computer hacker (authors always make this look so easy - it's not), she seems more like a ventriloquist's dummy -- some words come out but there's no personality, nothing in her actions to intrigue or endear her to us. Is the fact that she's an ex-thief/bad girl supposed to charm us?
Put this together with a complicated, difficult to follow plot, with dozens of stick characters we practically need a scorecard to keep track of, we almost broke a long-standing rule and abandoned this two-thirds of the way through. Even the ending was unsatisfying -- while it did clear up the mystery (we use the term loosely), we readers would never have arrived there with the paucity of clues and countless irrelevant side trips and diversions. That Mallory solves the case (more or less) after leaving her hospital bed, pulling out her IV after a near-fatal poisoning and charging off on her own (no backup of course) just adds to the silly unrealistic action.
We're all the more put out because one of our favorite authors, Linda Barnes, recommends O'Connoll as one of her favorites. Why?
The character of Kathy Mallory is introduced in this first of a set of (now) six stories about a NYPD detective. With these and one other hardback under her belt, one would think O'Connell must be a successful author. Not by our eyes! We have read and lectured about an extensive list of leading lady amateur sleuths, private eyes, and policewomen; and we'd have to rate Mallory as maybe the worst. While she's billed a thousand times by her author as smart, intense, gorgeous (naturally), and maybe the world's greatest computer hacker (authors always make this look so easy - it's not), she seems more like a ventriloquist's dummy -- some words come out but there's no personality, nothing in her actions to intrigue or endear her to us. Is the fact that she's an ex-thief/bad girl supposed to charm us?
Put this together with a complicated, difficult to follow plot, with dozens of stick characters we practically need a scorecard to keep track of, we almost broke a long-standing rule and abandoned this two-thirds of the way through. Even the ending was unsatisfying -- while it did clear up the mystery (we use the term loosely), we readers would never have arrived there with the paucity of clues and countless irrelevant side trips and diversions. That Mallory solves the case (more or less) after leaving her hospital bed, pulling out her IV after a near-fatal poisoning and charging off on her own (no backup of course) just adds to the silly unrealistic action.
We're all the more put out because one of our favorite authors, Linda Barnes, recommends O'Connoll as one of her favorites. Why?
September 30, 2018
3.5 stars
Mallory’s Oracle was an interesting start to Carol O’Connell’s crime-thriller series. Regarding the negative reviews, I won’t deny it suffered from the first story syndrome: covering the background of the main protagonist while making her interesting, the introduction of many secondary characters but not as to confuse you and keeping the reader engaged with the mystery itself. Because of this, it took me over a week to complete the story.
Kathy Mallory, or ‘Mallory’ as she preferred to be called, was a social misfit. She lived on the streets before she was caught by an older police detective at the age of eleven. Raised by Louis Markowitz and his wife Helen, she was a challenge. The Markowitzs appeared to be childless and, each in their own way, dished out love to the emotionally starved child.
As another reviewer pointed out, there were striking parallels between Mallory and Lisbeth Salander: the protagonist of the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson.. Like Lisbeth Salander, Mallory was brilliantly intelligent. She thought there was no one she couldn’t outsmart. Her hacking skills were par excellence. She was fearless and only trusted a few people. Those that worked with her knew not to let their guard down.
At the opening of the story, Helen had already been dead for several years and Louis was recently murdered. His work buddies thought he slipped up while trying to discover the identity of a serial killer. Mallory was angry and made it a point to uncover what happened. At any cost.
~~~~~
I have been in a reading slump as of late. Perhaps because Mallory was such an odd character, I pursued her story. Like the mystery, she was flawed. I needed to remind myself more than once of her fallibilities. A case in point was when she drank the tea. I wanted to know why she wasn’t more cautious.
If I continue with this series it will be because of my favorite character, Charles Butler. Smart, kind and gentle, I wanted to see more of him. Embrace your proboscis!
Mallory’s Oracle was an interesting start to Carol O’Connell’s crime-thriller series. Regarding the negative reviews, I won’t deny it suffered from the first story syndrome: covering the background of the main protagonist while making her interesting, the introduction of many secondary characters but not as to confuse you and keeping the reader engaged with the mystery itself. Because of this, it took me over a week to complete the story.
Kathy Mallory, or ‘Mallory’ as she preferred to be called, was a social misfit. She lived on the streets before she was caught by an older police detective at the age of eleven. Raised by Louis Markowitz and his wife Helen, she was a challenge. The Markowitzs appeared to be childless and, each in their own way, dished out love to the emotionally starved child.
As another reviewer pointed out, there were striking parallels between Mallory and Lisbeth Salander: the protagonist of the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson.. Like Lisbeth Salander, Mallory was brilliantly intelligent. She thought there was no one she couldn’t outsmart. Her hacking skills were par excellence. She was fearless and only trusted a few people. Those that worked with her knew not to let their guard down.
At the opening of the story, Helen had already been dead for several years and Louis was recently murdered. His work buddies thought he slipped up while trying to discover the identity of a serial killer. Mallory was angry and made it a point to uncover what happened. At any cost.
~~~~~
I have been in a reading slump as of late. Perhaps because Mallory was such an odd character, I pursued her story. Like the mystery, she was flawed. I needed to remind myself more than once of her fallibilities. A case in point was when she drank the tea. I wanted to know why she wasn’t more cautious.
If I continue with this series it will be because of my favorite character, Charles Butler. Smart, kind and gentle, I wanted to see more of him. Embrace your proboscis!
January 10, 2012
I needed a beach book after reading The Dream of Scipio and this book fit the bill. The rave blurbs on the back cover were by Nelson DeMille and James Patterson, two of my least favorite authors, so I approached this book with grain of salt firmly in hand.
The main character, Kathleen Mallory, was somewhat interesting, but I got tired of reading how beautiful she was, and what an effect she had on men, and her killer green eyes. Sheesh! Can we have an intelligent female detective who isn't a raving beauty? Someone along the lines of Barbara Havers?
I found Charles Butler to be much more interesting by far. I liked the eidetic memory - a nice touch. I think Carol O'Connell owes more than a nod to Sherlock Holmes in creating this character.
I also enjoyed the fact that some of the perpetrators were elderly women. As a woman of a certain age myself, I appreciated this plot twist. It's always nice to read about feisty old women.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but if I read another of this series, it will be because of Charles Butler, not Mallory.
The main character, Kathleen Mallory, was somewhat interesting, but I got tired of reading how beautiful she was, and what an effect she had on men, and her killer green eyes. Sheesh! Can we have an intelligent female detective who isn't a raving beauty? Someone along the lines of Barbara Havers?
I found Charles Butler to be much more interesting by far. I liked the eidetic memory - a nice touch. I think Carol O'Connell owes more than a nod to Sherlock Holmes in creating this character.
I also enjoyed the fact that some of the perpetrators were elderly women. As a woman of a certain age myself, I appreciated this plot twist. It's always nice to read about feisty old women.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but if I read another of this series, it will be because of Charles Butler, not Mallory.
September 29, 2012
Now this is a crime novel. Or a police un-procedural. The set-up is marvelous. Wild child survivalist snatched off the streets by a smart cop and taken home to a June Cleaver mom whose first response was to hug the future hacker. Present day. Special Crimes Unit is stalking the Invisible Man serial killer. Getting nowhere slowly. Then the killer makes it personal for Mallory, our wild child grown. She abandons the modem for the street. Tech geekdom is not a qualification for surveillance and somebody is going to get hurt. Hiding in plain sight are an old ladies' investment club, a consultant with a big nose and a bigger brain, a starving heiress, one prodigy chess player, a gawky sociology professor, a black Lab on crack, a seance medium and a yellow-eyed boy, and the usual cast of helpful if bumbling cops. The smart writing has the magical gift to rub out weaker elements. This novel is a gobbler from the prologue. Just downloaded the second book, and I'm in. I'll break to catch the second half of the MSU vs OSU football game, and I'm glad I made dinner for tonight yesterday.
Read
March 19, 2008Unfortunately, not for me.
I gave this book a chance as it's been acclaimed by some as a crime thriller with compelling characters, and I love crime thrillers with compelling characters--Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander series being my personal favorite example--but I just couldn't get into it. The writing strikes me as cliche, and too often the lines seem overwrought to me, as in, describing a dog running, "paws touching lightly to the ground in the perfect poetry of a beautiful animal in motion..." There's lots of stuff like that, and it reminds me of how I wrote in middle school, overdescribing everything in an attempt to be a better writer. I guess as a reader I'm just of the "less is more" mindset. (Or, if you're gonna give me more, it had better be drenched in razor-sharp style like the outstanding crime novels of James Ellroy.) Also, twice within the first few pages, minds break! On page two, "The dog's mind was breaking." And on page four, "Jack Coffey's mind was breaking with the exhaustion of nights without sleep." I thought that was kinda silly.
I gave this book a chance as it's been acclaimed by some as a crime thriller with compelling characters, and I love crime thrillers with compelling characters--Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander series being my personal favorite example--but I just couldn't get into it. The writing strikes me as cliche, and too often the lines seem overwrought to me, as in, describing a dog running, "paws touching lightly to the ground in the perfect poetry of a beautiful animal in motion..." There's lots of stuff like that, and it reminds me of how I wrote in middle school, overdescribing everything in an attempt to be a better writer. I guess as a reader I'm just of the "less is more" mindset. (Or, if you're gonna give me more, it had better be drenched in razor-sharp style like the outstanding crime novels of James Ellroy.) Also, twice within the first few pages, minds break! On page two, "The dog's mind was breaking." And on page four, "Jack Coffey's mind was breaking with the exhaustion of nights without sleep." I thought that was kinda silly.
January 19, 2020
I’ve read several of the later books in this series and thought they were terrific. This one, the opener, didn’t work so well for me.
Carol O’Connell’s excellent prose style is already there, but I found the narrative a bit cumbersome and opaque. The plot is scattered with characters and is pretty hard to follow in places, and even by the end I wasn’t sure exactly what had happened in some places. More importantly, Mallory worked brilliantly for me in the later books as a fully formed character – beautiful, extremely intelligent and bordering on psychopathic. In Mallory’s Oracle we get a lengthy explanation of her origins and the development of her character which I found a little laboured.
On the whole I’m glad I didn’t start with this; I might not have read more and I would have missed out on some excellent books. I’ll be catching up on the rest of my unread books in the series, but this wasn’t a favourite by any means.
Carol O’Connell’s excellent prose style is already there, but I found the narrative a bit cumbersome and opaque. The plot is scattered with characters and is pretty hard to follow in places, and even by the end I wasn’t sure exactly what had happened in some places. More importantly, Mallory worked brilliantly for me in the later books as a fully formed character – beautiful, extremely intelligent and bordering on psychopathic. In Mallory’s Oracle we get a lengthy explanation of her origins and the development of her character which I found a little laboured.
On the whole I’m glad I didn’t start with this; I might not have read more and I would have missed out on some excellent books. I’ll be catching up on the rest of my unread books in the series, but this wasn’t a favourite by any means.
April 6, 2018
Mallory's Oracle was such a good thriller! I was so happy that I randomly came across this and zoomed right through it! I was definitely hanging on to the edge of my seat while at work today.
Okay, so this book is about Kathleen Mallory, who is a former child street thief! She was rescued by a cop and later became adopted by that same cop. Now she is all grown up annnddd A COP HERSELF! Her forte is computers.. I can basically turn my on, type some shit, print stuff, and turn off the computer. I used to be okay with them and now I feel like those super old people who can't see the screen and asking on the internet works. I'M ONLY 26 AND I FEEL LIKE 2,000 YEARS OLD ALREADY!
Okay, maybe I'm being dramatic.. but that's just how I feel.
Back to Mallory, well she feels stuck at her job because she just sits a computer and a desk all day. Tell me about it Mallory.. I'm a freaking biller. I stare at computers screens all freaking day .. and then come home to stare at another screen to type away reviews.
Well Mallory wants to get more experience as a field investigator and she is highly determined to solve the murder of her adoptive father. DAMN GIRL - me too! Throughout the investigation and this book Mallory was adorable and highly entertaining. I loved her relationship with Charles and the whole poker games just made me smile.
I loved the whole mystery throughout the book as well. The serial killings gave me the chills and laughed so hard when they went to some of the old-fashioned police work. You don't see that happening too often so it's always nice to have it sprung up on you from time to time.
Overall, it was an interesting book. The pacing was slow in some places but that damn mystery throughout the book was the one thing that kept me hooked. I enjoyed it. I loved Mallory and I definitely want to read the second book.
Okay, so this book is about Kathleen Mallory, who is a former child street thief! She was rescued by a cop and later became adopted by that same cop. Now she is all grown up annnddd A COP HERSELF! Her forte is computers.. I can basically turn my on, type some shit, print stuff, and turn off the computer. I used to be okay with them and now I feel like those super old people who can't see the screen and asking on the internet works. I'M ONLY 26 AND I FEEL LIKE 2,000 YEARS OLD ALREADY!
Okay, maybe I'm being dramatic.. but that's just how I feel.
Back to Mallory, well she feels stuck at her job because she just sits a computer and a desk all day. Tell me about it Mallory.. I'm a freaking biller. I stare at computers screens all freaking day .. and then come home to stare at another screen to type away reviews.
Well Mallory wants to get more experience as a field investigator and she is highly determined to solve the murder of her adoptive father. DAMN GIRL - me too! Throughout the investigation and this book Mallory was adorable and highly entertaining. I loved her relationship with Charles and the whole poker games just made me smile.
I loved the whole mystery throughout the book as well. The serial killings gave me the chills and laughed so hard when they went to some of the old-fashioned police work. You don't see that happening too often so it's always nice to have it sprung up on you from time to time.
Overall, it was an interesting book. The pacing was slow in some places but that damn mystery throughout the book was the one thing that kept me hooked. I enjoyed it. I loved Mallory and I definitely want to read the second book.
November 23, 2016
I know that what you like to read is subjective. And I have certain deal breakers. This author hit a hot button for me and I won't be continuing her series. Here's why: Now there's a book by Blake Snyder called "Save the Cat" that tells authors how to make a hero heroic by having him or her do something like save a cat to make the reader bond with that person. I get it. And I'm such an animal lover that it's a device that makes complete sense to me. On the other hand, using animals to make a villain worse or to make a horror story more horrific is definitely not in my wheelhouse. O'Connor killed two dogs and tortured another one. The first killing was in the prologue. You can imagine I almost threw the book down. Should have done it. Anyway, this author might have won me over if these scenes were integral to the story, made me think they HAD to be there. Not so. And then there are all the weird characters, none of which I could bond with except poor Charles, who for some reason wants to love Mallory, the heroine?. Anyway, even Charles looks weird and is unable to relate like a normal person. I know some readers will love this series. i was suckered in by raves by all the greats in mystery writing on the cover--Sandford, Kellerman, Patterson. So if you like dark, dark, mysteries with strange characters and gratuitous animal violence, get on board with Carol O'Connor. She's got a whole series of Kathy Mallory books. I won't be joining you.
February 10, 2015
MALLORY'S ORACLE
Carol O'Connell
This is Ms. O'Connell's debut novel in her fantastic series featuring the marvelous character, Kathleen Mallory. This is far and away my favorite mystery series. Kathleen is a homeless wild child on the streets of New York where the police chief finds her and he and his wife adopt her. Kathleen grows up to be an independent strong willed computer hacker who is a sergeant in the Special Crimes Unit. She is a detective with a ferocious intelligence, green gun slinger eyes and a take no prisoners attitude who dresses all in black. Remember this is all before Lisbeth Salander.
When her adoptive father, Louis Markowitz and two others are found stabbed in a Gramercy Park tenement she become possessed and determined to solve the case.
Highly Recommended
November 2, 2021
I would like Mallory a lot more if the author didn’t keep telling me how beautiful she is.
Also: the writing had moments of being incredibly compelling, but it’s obscured by a somewhat jumbled plot and a not-great whodunit. And I would’ve had more respect if one of the few threads that felt genuinely a bit emotional had stuck its landing.
Also: the writing had moments of being incredibly compelling, but it’s obscured by a somewhat jumbled plot and a not-great whodunit. And I would’ve had more respect if one of the few threads that felt genuinely a bit emotional had stuck its landing.
December 20, 2008
Sergeant Kathleen Mallory, of the New York City Police Department - but don't ever call her Kathy or Kathleen - was picked up off the streets by detective Louis Markowitz when she was an abandoned street-child of eleven caught stealing .. It was his wife's birthday, and the thought of all the juvenile department paperwork loomed too daunting, so he took the girl home where she was enveloped by his wife's love and became their daughter. She quit stealing because it made Helen., Louis's wife, cry .. She never lost the thrill of pilfering and turned her considerable investigative and computer skills to purloining evidence from cyberspace for the police department.
When Louis is killed by a serial killer, Mallory abandons the sterility of the police computer room to investigate the crime. All of her analytical skills and knowledge of the streets serve her well. Mallory's Oracle by Carol O'Connell is a first-rate first novel. It's almost impossible to classify as to genre for it contains more than a hint of horror, police procedural, suggestions of surrealism, and magic lore. The author has a way with description and images. We never learn anything of Mallory's past, yet its consequences are clear: "That was the sad way of damaged kids. They grew up with distorted mirrors." She is unaware of her beauty's full impact, yet not afraid to manipulate those it hypnotizes. Mallory is an unusual character, strange, yet appealing. I hope O'Connell follows with many sequels
When Louis is killed by a serial killer, Mallory abandons the sterility of the police computer room to investigate the crime. All of her analytical skills and knowledge of the streets serve her well. Mallory's Oracle by Carol O'Connell is a first-rate first novel. It's almost impossible to classify as to genre for it contains more than a hint of horror, police procedural, suggestions of surrealism, and magic lore. The author has a way with description and images. We never learn anything of Mallory's past, yet its consequences are clear: "That was the sad way of damaged kids. They grew up with distorted mirrors." She is unaware of her beauty's full impact, yet not afraid to manipulate those it hypnotizes. Mallory is an unusual character, strange, yet appealing. I hope O'Connell follows with many sequels
May 27, 2014
Reading this was sorta like listening to my 6 year old tell me a story. A re-telling in which I'm constantly saying (or thinking), "Wait, what? Slow down, I have no clue what you're saying".
Except this experience was more satisfying than hearing about the size of the bug (orgin unknown) that is crawling on the side of the house.
I had no idea what was going on half the time in this book. Fortunately, it doesn't matter that much because it happens so often that you quit caring. I was really just along for the ride anyway.
Kathleen Mallory, a probable sociopath (don't they just make the BEST characters!?), is investigating the murder of her adoptive father. She is clumsy, arrogant, intelligent, funny (although, not intentionally), and apparently, beautiful. We rarely are treated with the story from her PoV, which makes her all the more intriguing. Instead, we read from a wide range of co-horts, from business partners to suspects of the crime itself.
I thought this was very enjoyable, but I can see why others would find the pacing slow. The gem of it is the sly humor in the details and Mallory's dry-wit. The mystery is pretty good too.
Except this experience was more satisfying than hearing about the size of the bug (orgin unknown) that is crawling on the side of the house.
I had no idea what was going on half the time in this book. Fortunately, it doesn't matter that much because it happens so often that you quit caring. I was really just along for the ride anyway.
Kathleen Mallory, a probable sociopath (don't they just make the BEST characters!?), is investigating the murder of her adoptive father. She is clumsy, arrogant, intelligent, funny (although, not intentionally), and apparently, beautiful. We rarely are treated with the story from her PoV, which makes her all the more intriguing. Instead, we read from a wide range of co-horts, from business partners to suspects of the crime itself.
I thought this was very enjoyable, but I can see why others would find the pacing slow. The gem of it is the sly humor in the details and Mallory's dry-wit. The mystery is pretty good too.
May 7, 2010
I'm glad I bought this at a bargain price. I was lured by the reviews at the back, even my favorite suspense author James Patterson said this book was "so good it will launch her career in one bold stroke". With those words, I was sold. I was really excited to read this thinking it's one of those gripping novels with a masterful writing style, but I was disappointed.
The pace was slow, I don't get what's what most of the time, or maybe I'm not used to the too-suggestive writing style. Mallory's character wasn't really solid, she's still an enigma after everything, all I know is she's a damn good thief. The investigation she conducted about the insider trading angle as motive for murders didn't really appeal to me, add to Charles's familial ties with Edith.
Because of the mix of paranormal activities like seances, the mediums, the old ladies being killed, the story just dragged and when it came to the climax, I wasn't really hyped. I don't know about the others but I just wasn't able to appreciate the book because of the writing style.
The pace was slow, I don't get what's what most of the time, or maybe I'm not used to the too-suggestive writing style. Mallory's character wasn't really solid, she's still an enigma after everything, all I know is she's a damn good thief. The investigation she conducted about the insider trading angle as motive for murders didn't really appeal to me, add to Charles's familial ties with Edith.
Because of the mix of paranormal activities like seances, the mediums, the old ladies being killed, the story just dragged and when it came to the climax, I wasn't really hyped. I don't know about the others but I just wasn't able to appreciate the book because of the writing style.
August 13, 2008
MALLORY'S ORACLE - Ex
O'Connell, Carol - 1st in series
Kathy Mallory was saved from the streets and adopted by Louis Markowitz, a New York detective. Now Markowitz is dead, and his killer may be responsible for a number of other deaths. Kathy, now a police officer herself, begins a search for his killer, and an investigation into her own psyche.
1995 Top Read - Every now and then, a new author's first book will make you stop and say "wow!". This did that for me. Mallory is a fascinating protagonist and is supported by an equally interesting cast of characters. I have definitely found a new series to read.
O'Connell, Carol - 1st in series
Kathy Mallory was saved from the streets and adopted by Louis Markowitz, a New York detective. Now Markowitz is dead, and his killer may be responsible for a number of other deaths. Kathy, now a police officer herself, begins a search for his killer, and an investigation into her own psyche.
1995 Top Read - Every now and then, a new author's first book will make you stop and say "wow!". This did that for me. Mallory is a fascinating protagonist and is supported by an equally interesting cast of characters. I have definitely found a new series to read.
Read
December 7, 2010(spoiler alert i wrote this for a discussion on a mailing list at a point in the discussion where spoilers were fair play. so as well as being lengthy it rather gives the plot away. you have been warned.)
Mallory is definitely a totally unreal and completely unique character. I haven't come across a character like her and though I couldn't say that I liked her that didn't affect my enjoyment of the book at all. I liked the technique of having the main character being the loopy one.
What did bug me was that the main characters seemed like caricatures because they all had one feature too many. Mallory has her green eyes and stunning beauty, her lost childhood and her computer skills; Charles has his enormous nose, magical relatives and his eid-whatsit memory. Take one feature away from each character and they'd begin to be manageable. Both Markowitzes seemed similarly over the top. It felt to me as if the author didn't know where to stop when she was trying to create unique characters.
I thought the secondary characters were better thought out, maybe because we only saw bits of them it was easier for my mind to make them into real people. Even the ones who were clearly not well balanced personalities, like the boy who played chess in the park or the minimalist living in Charles' building, seemed that they would find a place in the real world. My favourites were the old ladies, I don't care if it was unreal that they wouldn't be scared of a serial killer, I liked their spirit.
There were parallels between the lives of Mallory and Charles in the book both being, in summary, weird kids with strange technical skills; I especially liked the way that both their childhood experiences came into the plot. Charles' experiences with Max and Edith being part of the main plot and Mallory's street life and subsequent upbringing by Louis and Helen setting up her strange ethical code. I can't see them as a couple, I think Charles is good for Mallory but I don't think Mallory is good for Charles.
I think Mallory was a thoroughly rubbish investigator and I loved the fact that she screwed stuff up. I don't think she'd have made it into a police force in the real world. It kind of compensated for all the cops being in awe of her beauty that they were better at the job than her. I think she homed in on Gaynor so fast simply because he got the most money from the killings and that's what Louis had said to look for and she was rather lacking in independent thought on the subject, the same kind of training that led her not to do things that would make Helen cry.
I was more interested in the old lady killings than the Markowitz one. I got a bit tired of Mallory and the Markowitzes and found Charles and the serial killings more interesting. I was convinced it was all going to end up having something to do with Max, mainly because I also found the death of the magician more intriguing than the other killings.The magic stuff was definitely one of my favourite parts of the book. I like the psychology of woo-woo stuff and how it affects people. Mallory's reaction to the seance and Edith's guillotine trick were two of the best bits in the book. These themes definitely enhanced the book for me. I hate it when books are about the genuine supernatural; I don't believe in it and it's one thing I can't suspend my non belief in for fiction. So, conversely, when a book turns out to be about the non-genuine supernatural and its affect on people's minds I love it. As a result I was sure Edith was up to some sort of tricks with her trance writing simply because I couldn't take it as the real thing.
I loved Jon's idea that the women could have arranged a suicide pact that would make them go down in history as the victims of a serial killer. A wonderful idea and what a pity it wasn't the way the story worked out!
I thought all the stuff about the knife girl was good to start with but I got tired of it. She was so obvious a red herring that I thought she had to not be a red herring for a while. The same with Redwing, she wasn't interesting enough for the part she had to play, there were too many details (dog, boy, hideouts, seances, etc) and not enough character.
The ending all got a bit convoluted and I couldn't keep track of who was shooting who or what was going on and what all the motives were. The all action, all shooting, all racing to the scene bit seemed to be the wrong finale for the book. I didn't think it was resolved very satisfactorily. Edith stood out to me as being mainly to blame, but I haven't reread that bit to see if I can make sense of it.
I enjoyed the book on the whole and I'll read another. Was this Carol O'Connell's first book or just the first in this series? It seemed well written but I found many things over done, the plot was too complicated, there were too many characters, the main characters all had too many features. I want people to act and talk their way off the page, not just waggle their props at me to show me what they are like. I felt like the author was trying to impress me too much. It was a good book, it just could have been better.
July 1, 2012
Mallory's Oracle is the first book of the Kathleen Mallory mystery series by Carol O'Connell, set in 1990s New York City.
Kathleen "Kathy" Mallory was a street child caught thieving by NYPD detective Louis Markowitz. Louis and his wife Helen adopted and raised Kathy as a daughter. Now an NYPD officer herself, she specializes in computer work for the Special Crimes unit. When Markowitz is killed while investigating a serial killer, Mallory is placed on bereavement leave from NYPD, and she begins her own investigation. Markowitz's close friend Charles Butler and NYPD Detective Riker both attempt to protect Kathy from being another victim of the killer.
There are striking parallels between Kathy and Lisbeth Salander, the protagonist of the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. Both women are fiercely independent, each with her own unique code of honor and vigilante spirit, preferring to operate outside conventional rules as a matter of course, brilliant computer hackers, loyal only to the few they trust, coming from troubled childhoods.
As Kathy investigates the murders of elderly women, she considers more potential suspects than the police investigation, and she digs deeper into every detail of the victim's and suspects lives, finding links to magic, seances, and insider trading. The plot contains red herrings galore, straightforward at first, but more complex near the final suspenseful scene. No worries: the final shootout scene is thrilling even if you skim over the intricacies of the solution.
Kathy's relationship with Charles Butler is an interesting one: friendship and trust on Kathy's part, sheer love on Charles'. Kathy bullies Charles into being partners in his consulting firm, but he enjoys closely working with her. Detective Riker earns Kathy's trust by providing her information from the NYPD murder investigation while she is officially on leave.
The supporting characters (Kathy's suspects) provide interesting background stories and side plots. The eerie prologue scene seems unrelated to the story until a Santeria connection is revealed, but it is never quite explained, and lingers after the story is complete.
I recommend Mallory's Oracle to mystery fans who enjoy detailed police procedurals. I look forward to reading more of the series, which currently (July 2012) contains 10 books. The next book in the series is The Man Who Cast Two Shadows.
Kathleen "Kathy" Mallory was a street child caught thieving by NYPD detective Louis Markowitz. Louis and his wife Helen adopted and raised Kathy as a daughter. Now an NYPD officer herself, she specializes in computer work for the Special Crimes unit. When Markowitz is killed while investigating a serial killer, Mallory is placed on bereavement leave from NYPD, and she begins her own investigation. Markowitz's close friend Charles Butler and NYPD Detective Riker both attempt to protect Kathy from being another victim of the killer.
There are striking parallels between Kathy and Lisbeth Salander, the protagonist of the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. Both women are fiercely independent, each with her own unique code of honor and vigilante spirit, preferring to operate outside conventional rules as a matter of course, brilliant computer hackers, loyal only to the few they trust, coming from troubled childhoods.
As Kathy investigates the murders of elderly women, she considers more potential suspects than the police investigation, and she digs deeper into every detail of the victim's and suspects lives, finding links to magic, seances, and insider trading. The plot contains red herrings galore, straightforward at first, but more complex near the final suspenseful scene. No worries: the final shootout scene is thrilling even if you skim over the intricacies of the solution.
Kathy's relationship with Charles Butler is an interesting one: friendship and trust on Kathy's part, sheer love on Charles'. Kathy bullies Charles into being partners in his consulting firm, but he enjoys closely working with her. Detective Riker earns Kathy's trust by providing her information from the NYPD murder investigation while she is officially on leave.
The supporting characters (Kathy's suspects) provide interesting background stories and side plots. The eerie prologue scene seems unrelated to the story until a Santeria connection is revealed, but it is never quite explained, and lingers after the story is complete.
I recommend Mallory's Oracle to mystery fans who enjoy detailed police procedurals. I look forward to reading more of the series, which currently (July 2012) contains 10 books. The next book in the series is The Man Who Cast Two Shadows.
July 11, 2021
The idea behind the character of Kathleen Mallory is perhaps better than how Mallory is portrayed in Mallory's Oracle. I'd rate this a 3.5 stars.
I will continue to read more titles in the series, hoping author O'Connell will do a better job at creating and fleshing out characters that readers can care about, root for, or wonder about.
I will continue to read more titles in the series, hoping author O'Connell will do a better job at creating and fleshing out characters that readers can care about, root for, or wonder about.
November 11, 2011
Mallory's Oracle
2 Stars
Synopsis:
Kathleen Mallory began life as a thief on the streets of New York City until she was taken in my detective Louis Mankowitz and his wife. Now a police sergeant with an expertise in computer crimes, Mallory must investigate a particularly difficult homicide – the murder of her adoptive father – which is linked to the deaths of several elderly and wealthy women.
Review:
I really wanted to like this book but failed in almost every respect. The writing is elliptical and convoluted with too many narrative threads that are difficult to follow and never seem to form a cohesive whole.
None of the characters is particularly likeable, especially the heroine who is a borderline sociopath. Her characterization is too reminiscent of the hero in the television show Dexter, which I stopped watching after three episodes because it is impossible for me to identify with a serial killer no matter how noble his intentions.
The serial killer plot is intriguing and has potential but the paucity of clues makes it virtually impossible for readers to figure it out for themselves. Moreover, the irrelevant subplots involving magicians, mediums and séances add nothing to the suspense, and detract from the murder mystery. In addition, while the identity of the murderer is ultimately revealed, the explanations for his actions are vague and imprecise.
Overall, the disagreeable characters, the excessive number of superfluous conversations and the lack of action make this a difficult book to trudge through. I do, however, recommend another of O'Connell's books - The Judas Child.
2 Stars
Synopsis:
Kathleen Mallory began life as a thief on the streets of New York City until she was taken in my detective Louis Mankowitz and his wife. Now a police sergeant with an expertise in computer crimes, Mallory must investigate a particularly difficult homicide – the murder of her adoptive father – which is linked to the deaths of several elderly and wealthy women.
Review:
I really wanted to like this book but failed in almost every respect. The writing is elliptical and convoluted with too many narrative threads that are difficult to follow and never seem to form a cohesive whole.
None of the characters is particularly likeable, especially the heroine who is a borderline sociopath. Her characterization is too reminiscent of the hero in the television show Dexter, which I stopped watching after three episodes because it is impossible for me to identify with a serial killer no matter how noble his intentions.
The serial killer plot is intriguing and has potential but the paucity of clues makes it virtually impossible for readers to figure it out for themselves. Moreover, the irrelevant subplots involving magicians, mediums and séances add nothing to the suspense, and detract from the murder mystery. In addition, while the identity of the murderer is ultimately revealed, the explanations for his actions are vague and imprecise.
Overall, the disagreeable characters, the excessive number of superfluous conversations and the lack of action make this a difficult book to trudge through. I do, however, recommend another of O'Connell's books - The Judas Child.
July 13, 2022
It's extremely rare when I pull the plug on a book. No matter how bad, I try to finish what I started. This one is absolutely unreadable. Random sentences thrown in the middle of paragraphs which appear to only be for the author's amusement because they don't move the story forward.
Before you try this one, take a minute to read all the 1-star reviews on Amazon.com. They are very accurate.
Here is one sample, chosen from hundreds in the first half of the book:
While he watched Margot Siddon’s slow progress down the wide steps, he had a few spare minutes to remember he had once played lead guitar in a sixties rock band. In his wife of twenty-five years, he could find traces of the hippy girl who had sung with the band and starved with the band. But who was this unmusical man who had just given the bum’s rush to a woman who was certainly hungry?
This has NOTHING to do with the story. It's just random garbage to fill pages.
Life is too short. Read something better.
Before you try this one, take a minute to read all the 1-star reviews on Amazon.com. They are very accurate.
Here is one sample, chosen from hundreds in the first half of the book:
While he watched Margot Siddon’s slow progress down the wide steps, he had a few spare minutes to remember he had once played lead guitar in a sixties rock band. In his wife of twenty-five years, he could find traces of the hippy girl who had sung with the band and starved with the band. But who was this unmusical man who had just given the bum’s rush to a woman who was certainly hungry?
This has NOTHING to do with the story. It's just random garbage to fill pages.
Life is too short. Read something better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2012
Great introduction to what promises to be a rewarding and exciting series. Kathy Mallory moves from computer work with NYPD into fieldwork under the impetus of a quite personal tragedy: her homicide squad "father" has himself been murdered by a serial killer. The victims are old wealthy ladies from the Gramercy Park enclave who are slashed to death in daytime. Is there a financial motive or is this spree the output of a psycho? The draw for this is Kathy's background as a homeless, street-tough kid who learns what caring and loyalty are, as well as harnessing her dark skills for good, from her adoptive father and his wife, now both gone. I only came up to 3 stars for this debut novel because of an excessive complexity in the plotting.
December 6, 2009
Kathy Mallory is a finely constructed anti-hero. She is lethal, effective and psychopathic.
Saved by Detective Louis Markowitz, her adoptive father and his wife from becoming a finely honed killing machine, Mallory becomes a detective in the Special Crimes Unit in New York.
Mallory has no past - at least none she can articulate. One of the thousands of lost children, the reader is always more haunted by her hinted at past, than she is.
O'Connell expertly applies the Third Person Detached vewpoint technique to deadly effect.
This is the first in a series of classic novels.
Saved by Detective Louis Markowitz, her adoptive father and his wife from becoming a finely honed killing machine, Mallory becomes a detective in the Special Crimes Unit in New York.
Mallory has no past - at least none she can articulate. One of the thousands of lost children, the reader is always more haunted by her hinted at past, than she is.
O'Connell expertly applies the Third Person Detached vewpoint technique to deadly effect.
This is the first in a series of classic novels.
June 9, 2013
I picked up this book several years ago, and when I checked the back for whoever was writing praise, and I was astonished. Every single thriller writer I admired: Lehane, Lescroart, Connelly, every single one of them praised this debut novel lavishly. I have just finished it for the 3rd time, and again, it simply takes my breath away. Totally and completely original.
January 20, 2018
I read this back when it first launched; it's a debut crime, mystery, police procedural; it is extremely unusual, and boasts a most unique character; the first four books in this series left me in a state of complete awe; I cried after book four or five, and then suddenly stopped reading the story. Kathleen Mallory is extremely complicated.
January 15, 2021
A great mystery/thriller series
I read this book a number of years ago and remember it as one of the great mystery/thrillers that I have read. It has well developed characters, lots of action, feeling, and Mallory dealing with her emotions. I would recommend this book and the series to anyone looking for a well written mystery/thriller. Enjoy 2011
I read this book a number of years ago and remember it as one of the great mystery/thrillers that I have read. It has well developed characters, lots of action, feeling, and Mallory dealing with her emotions. I would recommend this book and the series to anyone looking for a well written mystery/thriller. Enjoy 2011
February 23, 2013
Got this as a birthday gift! And totally hated it. I tried to read at least the obligatory 60 pages that one is supposed to give a book, before you put it down as unreadable. Even that time was a complete waste, since I just couldn't gel with the storyline and characters.
January 4, 2018
What the hell was this book about? Writing not smooth, convoluted plot (I'm still trying to work out all that happened). It if wasn't for Charles, I'd give the book no stars. Not sure if I'll read the next book or not; if I do it won't be for awhile.
July 19, 2008
Fantastic 5 star rating! Love character Mallory! Eccentric, smart and edgy writing! Witty dialogue and so much more!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews