A review by happlepider
Killing Critics by Carol O'Connell

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

The book has an interesting premise and milieu - of an 'art terrorist' who commits real murders, and the art world - but doesn't really deliver in its end stages. I didn't actually know that it was book 3 of a series - this wasn't mentioned anywhere on my copy - although Mallory is clearly the lead / focus character all the same. The author's other favourite character is art dealer Quinn, who is supposedly a suspect until very late on in the book, except the author is so clearly enamoured of him too that it was obvious that him being the murderer (or murdered) was never going to happen. It was all a lead up to a 'sexy' fight between him and mallory that dragged the momentum out of the final 100 pages completely - the only character I got at all attached to is his hang-dog competitor, Charles - and then the murderer turns out to be the author's blatantly least favourite character,

Emma Sue Halloran, who is not allowed to be on the page without being described as fat, stupid, ugly, old, spoiled, desperate, delusional and / or getting rejected by a much better looking male character who both sneers at and vaguely pities her.

It's a shame, because the book has some good moments - in particular, another character who adopts the mantle of 'art terrorist' to chastise new yorkers for crimes of fashion.