KILLING CRITICS

Carol O'Connell's damaged heroine is an odd sort of main character. Using only her last name, "Mallory" insulates herself to shield herself against loss, but her veneer seems always about to crack. Performer Laural Merlington portrays the icy police detective who is trying desperately to live up to the reputation of her legendary stepfather, a detective in the same New York precinct. The bizarre murder of an avant-garde artist reminds her of one of his biggest cases; could the two cases be related? Merlington expresses Mallory's repressed pain and passion, while also giving listeners subtle audio clues to the character's inner workings. Through her solid performance, she carries listeners through the twists and turns of a sordid killing. M.S. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2009]