Carol O'Connell: The Chalk Girl (USA 2012)

From the Publisher:
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.

Carol O'Connell: The Chalk Girl. A Mallory Novel. Berkley Books, ISBN: 9780425250303 (July, 2012), 513 p., $9.99.

Carol O'Connell: The Chalk Girl (UK 2012)

From the Publisher:
Carol O'Connell is one of the finest writers of contemporary thrillers, with her intoxicating mix of rich prose, resonant characters and knife-edge suspense. Her books featuring NYPD detective Kathy Mallory, and the stand-alone novels, JUDAS CHILD and BONE BY BONE, have garnered widespread critical acclaim and have appeared on bestseller lists across America.

Before Lisbeth Salander, there was Kathy Mallory.

The little girl appeared in Central Park: red-haired, blue-eyed, smiling, perfect - except for the blood on her shoulder. It fell from the sky, she said, while she was looking for her uncle, who turned into a tree. Poor child, people thought. And then they found the body in the tree.

For NYPD detective, Kathy Mallory, there is something about the girl that she understands. Mallory is damaged, they say, but she can tell a kindred spirit. And this one will lead her to a story of extraordinary crimes; murders stretching back fifteen years, blackmail and complicity and a particular cruelty that only someone with Mallory's history could fully recognise. In the next few weeks, Kathy Mallory will deal with them all... in her own way.

Carol O'Connell: The Chalk Girl. Before Lisbeth Salander, there was Kathy Mallory. Headline, ISBN: 9780755385393 (July, 2012), 435 p., £6.99.

Carol O'Connell: The Chalk Girl (UK 2012)

From the Publisher:
From this acclaimed writer a new thriller of knife-edge suspense and masterful plotting...
The little girl appeared in Central Park: red-haired, blue-eyed, smiling, perfect - except for the blood on her shoulder. It fell from the sky, she said, while she was looking for her uncle, who turned into a tree. Poor child, people thought. And then they found the body in the tree.

For NYPD detective, Kathy Mallory, there is something about the girl that she understands. Mallory is damaged, they say, but she can tell a kindred spirit. And this one will lead her to a story of extraordinary crimes; murders stretching back fifteen years, blackmail and complicity and a particular cruelty that only someone with Mallory's history could fully recognise. In the next few weeks, Kathy Mallory will deal with them all... in her own way.

Carol O'Connell: The Chalk Girl. Before Lisbeth Salander, there was Kathy Mallory. Headline, ISBN: 9780755385379 (January, 2012), 382 p., £19.99.

Carol O'Connell: The Chalk Girl (USA 2012)

From the Publisher:
The astonishing new Mallory novel from the New York Times- bestselling author.
The little girl appeared in Central Park: red-haired, blue-eyed, smiling, perfect-except for the blood on her shoulder. It fell from the sky, she said, while she was looking for her uncle, who turned into a tree. Poor child, people thought. And then they found the body in the tree.

For Mallory, newly returned to the Special Crimes Unit after three months' lost time, there is something about the girl that she understands. Mallory is damaged, they say, but she can tell a kindred spirit. And this one will lead her to a story of extraordinary crimes: murders stretching back fifteen years, blackmail and complicity and a particular cruelty that only someone with Mallory's history could fully recognize. In the next few weeks, she will deal with them all... in her own way.

Carol O'Connell: The Chalk Girl. A Mallory Novel. Putnam's, ISBN: 9780399157745 (January, 2012), 373 p., $25.95, eBook $9.99.