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After a several-year hiatus from Shell Game, Mallory is back stronger than ever, kicking butt, and taking names. She is a police detective at the New York Police Department who has no time for fools, idiots or morons. She will do whatever it takes to solve her cases with dogged determination and a lot of street smarts. There are few people she respects whom she has no qualms to cut off should they ever cross her. Mallory is an independent loose cannon that does what she wants, when she wants, and always gets results. You do not want to mess with her. In Stone Angel, the reader learns what happened to Mallory's mother before she started living in the street. Crime School shows Mallory's life in the streets when she was still a wild child and the circumstances involving her adoption to her foster parents, the Markowitz. This novel starts with an attack of Sparrow, a prostitute. Sparrow has been trying to get her life in order and has recently had plastic surgery and a part in a Chekhov play. She was found hanging from a ceiling surrounded by a circle of candles. Everyone is ready to pronounce her dead until Mallory's partner; Detective Sergeant Riker performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the victim and reviving her. Everyone is made to look like a fool while Mallory and Riker start the investigation. They both share an interest in Sparrow's welfare. Riker has used her as a confidential informant while Mallory saw her as a mother figure many years ago until Sparrow betrayed her. There is a serial killer working in New York that is targeting young, blonde, struggling actresses and putting a noose around their neck not caring whether they live or die. He hunts them, he stalks them, he tags them, and then he hurts them. Mallory fans will rejoice at the grand return of Mallory after her absence. They get to see the impact she had as a kid on the prostitutes and petty crooks. We get to see the entire police procedural and enjoy the ride. The humor is dark and classic including a laugh out loud showdown between Mallory and Zappata, a disgraced cop working now for the fire department. It is a precious moment. It is not necessary to have read any previous Mallory novel in order to enjoy Crime School. You will see that if you like this book, you will enjoy reading the others. Do that, however avoid Shell Game, read O'Connell stand-alone novel, The Judas Child for one heck of a twist.
Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, November 2002
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