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- Verified Buyer
Carol O'Connell's novels operate on two levels, at least. On the one hand, they are cleverly crafted mysteries that leave us guessing up to almost the final pages. On the other, they are explorations of the exceptional mind and, in the case of the Mallory novels, the spiritual biography of a sociopath.Looking back over the eight Mallory novels, typically the real murderer, and the real crime, usually turn out to be much less interesting than any number of other elements. So here. The center of *Winter House* is Kathy's confrontation with a doppelganger, Nedda Winter, a woman she could become. Is Nedda insane? Did she kill her entire family in a childhood rampage? Is she killing now? As these questions are answered, questions about Kathy Mallory are answered.Kathy's had a free ride for seven novels, with Riker, Charles, and the poker club making excuses for her while the reader looks on, titillated and aghast. Things changed in *Dead Famous* when Johanna Apollo said to Charles, "You know what she is?" and he nodded. Here, at last, he closes a door in her face, refuses to allow her to bully a victim, and says "No" when any sane person would. Riker and Charles have begun to demand that Kathy grow up. Whether she will, we'll see in another novel, I think.The first four novels were a set that appeared to complete Kathy's story. The next three took us from where she came from to who she is. *Winter House* begins to explore who she can become. Of the eight books, one of the best.
