Mysterious Thoughts on a Thursday

March 06, 2013

Thursday’s Mystery Book Club discussed The Chalk Girl by Carol O’Connell. This book involves rats running through New York, an orphaned fairy-like girl in the park, dead bodies in trees, bullying at a private school, a fifteen year old murder, a cover up, all kinds of power plays, and a detective on a mission.

The complicated plot in this book is actually the chief complaint of this one. It’s more complicated than perhaps it should be. Even with characters galore and plot twists aplenty, O’Connell pulls it all together for a satisfying conclusion. This one is a challenge to read, but if you’re up for it, it’s worth the read. Those who prefer a less complicated read gave this one a 2-3 magnifying glass rating. For those who don’t mind wading through the bits and pieces to get there, they rated gave it 4-5 magnifying glasses out of 5.

Kathleen Mallory Series:

1. Mallory's Oracle (1994)
2. The Man Who Cast Two Shadows (1995)
3. Killing Critics (1996)
4. Stone Angel (1997)
5. Shell Game (1999)
6. Crime School (2002)
7. Dead Famous (2003)
8. Winter House (2004)
9. Find Me (2006)
10. The Chalk Girl (2011)

On March 14th, we will be discussing The Watchman by Robert Crais. This is the first book in the Joe Pike series. Books for the current month’s selection can be picked up at the Blue Ridge Branch.

Michelle L.
Blue Ridge Branch