Kathleen 'Kathy' Mallory is a fictional character featured in eleven mystery novels by author

Carol O'Connell Carol O'Connell (born May 26, 1947, in New YorkElizabeth Blakesley Lindsay, ''Great Women Mystery Writers'', 2nd ed., Greenwood Press, 2007, p. 192, ) is an author of crime fiction, including a series of a dozen mysteries featuring a sociopathic b ...

. The novels in the series include '' Mallory's Oracle'' (1994), '' The Man Who Cast Two Shadows'' (1995), '' Killing Critics'' (1996), ''Stone Angel'' (1997), ''Shell Game'' (1999), ''Crime School'' (2002), ''Dead Famous'' (2003), ''Winter House'' (2004), ''Find Me'' (2006 / UK edition title: ''Shark Music''), ''The Chalk Girl'' (2012), and ''It Happens In The Dark'' (2013). Mallory is described by her creator as a sociopath. Emotionally scarred as a 6-year-old after she witnessed the murder of her mother in a small

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

town, Mallory flees to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, where she lives as a street child. She is caught trying to steal by police officer Louis Markowitz, who takes her home and becomes her foster father. From age 10, Kathy, a "baby sociopath," grows up surrounded by Markowitz and his colorful circle of friends, including his partner, Sgt. Riker, who later becomes Kathy's partner and friend. As an adult, she becomes a detective in the

NYPD The City of New York Police Department, also referred to as New York City Police Department (NYPD), is the primary law enforcement agency within New York City. Established on May 23, 1845, the NYPD is the largest, and one of the oldest, munic ...

. Genius Charles Butler assists Kathy in her side computer technology business and is in love with her, though she remains oblivious. Mallory is a tall, green-eyed, curly haired blonde in her mid-twenties at the start of the series. She is often compared to a cat toying with its prey.

References

Literary characters introduced in 1994 Characters in American novels of the 20th century Characters in American novels of the 21st century Fictional adoptees Fictional New York City Police Department detectives {{novel-char-stub