'If any writer could make me break my New Year's resolution to avoid serial killer novels, it's the brilliant Carol O'Connell.' Daily Telegraph

Ein kleines Mädchen taucht im Central Park auf, rothaarig, blauäugig, lächelnd, mit Blut an der Schulter. Sie sei vom Himmel gefallen als sie ihren Onkel suchte, sagt sie, der habe sich in einen Baum verwandelt. In dem Baum - hängt eine Leiche. Kathy Mallory vom Sondereinsatzkommando, selbst zutiefst verstört, sieht in dem kleinen Mädchen eine verwandte Seele. Sie setzt alles daran, dieses Rätsel zu lösen.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.