The Chalk Girl
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4.3 • 126 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
The eight-year-old girl appeared in New York’s Central Park one day: red-haired, blue-eyed, dirty-faced, smiling widely. She looked perfect, like a porcelain fairy—except for the blood on her shoulders. It fell from the sky, she told the police. It happened while she was looking for her Uncle Red, who had turned into a tree. Right, they thought, poor child. And then they found the body in the tree.
For Mallory, newly returned to the Special Crimes Unit after three months’ lost time, spent she will not say where, there is something about the girl that she understands. Mallory is damaged, they say, dangerously unstable, but she can tell a kindred spirit when she sees one. And this one will ultimately lead her to a story of extraordinary crimes, to murders stretching back fifteen years, to blackmail and complicity and a particular cruelty that perhaps only someone with Mallory’s history could fully recognize. In the next few weeks, she will deal with them all…in her own way.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Near the start of bestseller O'Connell outstanding 10th novel featuring New York City cop Kathy Mallory (after 2006's Find Me), the enigmatic Mallory, despite having been declared mentally unfit to return to duty following an unexplained three month long absence, nonchalantly reclaims her desk in the Special Crimes Unit. Nobody questions "Mallory the Machine," especially after she connects with a savantlike child found wandering alone in Central Park. Eight-year-old Coco has witnessed a kidnapping and murder, but the girl is incapable of describing the killer. The murder of Coco's uncle is one of three similar crimes that Mallory begins to suspect are linked to a couple of cold cases as well as to pervasive corruption among the city's elite. O'Connell's awesome ability to weave a taut, complex plot works with Mallory's equally awesome detective skills as she unearths each crystalline facet of crimes both past and present. Author tour.
Customer Reviews
Welcome back, Mallory & Co.!
I am beyond thrilled that the Mallory series is back from what O'Connell fans around the world (me, included) thought was its certain and permanent retirement. THE CHALK GIRL was true to the formula, so to speak, that O'Connell has developed for each main character and the rhythm of the overall storytelling. Mallory is still an enigma to all who love her, Riker is still Riker, Charles is still a Luddite and in love with Mallory, and so on. It's truly a joy to welcome them back and I am excited to see what comes next.
Inventive Thriller
This is a face-paced, and highly imaginative thriller. The characters are wholly original. This is definitely a cut above the rest.
Amazing
It had me from start to finish. Wow!