It Happens in the Dark

A Broadway play becomes the focus of an investigation when a woman is found dead in the theater on opening night. Detective Mallory of the NYPD Special Crimes Unit takes on the case as more deaths follow and strange events plague the production. The theater's dark corridors and shadowy spaces create a backdrop for Mallory's hunt, as she works to uncover connections between the victims and the play itself. The investigation leads her through the complex relationships of the theater world, from stagehands to critics to the mysterious playwright who remains unseen. Technical police work intersects with theatrical drama as Mallory navigates both worlds in pursuit of the truth. The novel explores themes of performance versus reality, and questions what truly happens when the lights go down in a darkened theater.

Readers commend the complex mystery plot and the return of Detective Mallory's cold, calculated investigation style. Many note this book maintains the quality of previous entries in the series despite being the 11th installment. Fans highlight O'Connell's sharp dialogue and detailed descriptions of New York City theater life. Multiple reviews praise how the theater setting adds tension to the murder investigation. Several readers point to Chapter 13 as particularly gripping. Common criticisms focus on the large cast of characters being difficult to track and some plot threads left unresolved. A few readers found the pacing slow in the middle sections. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,127 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (156 reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (89 reviews) One frequent comment from long-time series readers is that while enjoyable, this entry doesn't quite reach the heights of earlier Mallory books like "Shell Game" or "Find Me."

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The Broken Girls by Simone St. James A journalist investigates interconnected murders at an abandoned boarding school across two timelines.

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🎭 "It Happens in the Dark" is part of the Mallory series—the 11th book featuring NYPD Detective Kathleen Mallory, a sociopathic yet brilliant detective known for her icy demeanor and computer expertise. 🖋️ Author Carol O'Connell worked as a freelance proofreader before becoming a novelist, and she wrote her first Mallory novel, "Mallory's Oracle," while working at this job. 🎪 The book's plot revolves around mysterious deaths connected to a Broadway play, drawing on New York City's rich theater culture and the superstitions that have long haunted the theater world. 🗽 Like many of O'Connell's works, the novel showcases detailed knowledge of New York City's geography and culture, particularly the Theater District and Hell's Kitchen neighborhoods. 📚 The protagonist, Kathleen Mallory, was created by O'Connell as an antihero who challenges traditional female detective stereotypes—she's often described as more similar to Sherlock Holmes than to typical female sleuths.