Rating: 
Summary: Magic and Murder Anyone?
Review: The author has given us another Mallory mystery, set in Manhattan just before Thanksgiving, as the retired master magicians gather to preform in the Holiday of Magic celebration. Someone in this group of eccentric magicians has murder on their mind.Malackhai is back, bringing the phantom Louisa with him. If possible he is even more eccentric then when we met him in 'The Man Who Casts Two Shadows'. Is her presence just a part of his act or is he really crazy. (And who is always drinking her drinks and smoking those cigarettes without anyone noticing.) Like the game it is named after we get tantalizing glimpses into the past of Uncle Max, Charles, and the other characters. Did the magicians die due to "misadventure" or murder? What does a bunch of older magicians, and the French Underground have in common? Mallory even has trouble figuring it out. And you'll have to read it if you want to know. This author is a master at creating beliveable personalities, illusion, and misdirection. You will be guessing all the way to the end.
Rating: 
Summary: Loved it!
Review: After buying Shell Game, I told myself to re-read the entire series to get me back into that fevered pitch stage that came after reading Stone Angel. But, of course, I started reading Shell Game and couldn't put it down! It was a one-weekend read for me, and I loved every page. I didn't have any trouble getting back into the groove of Mallory and her unique personality, as well as Charles and his goofy grin. I look forward to more works, Mallory-driven or not, as Judas Child was also a GREAT work of fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointed
Review: I was disappointed in this book. It was like an earlier novel rather than a continuation. Carol O'connell is my one of my favorite authors, but this book was hard to finish. I'm looking forward to more, though.
Rating: 
Summary: Not an auspicious introduction to this series
Review: I hadn't read any of this series (or even the author) before, however, I love magic and mysteries, so it sounded like a winner. Unfortunately, this is an exceptionally slooooow read. Our "heroine" is constantly spinning new explanations and accusations, most of which turn out to be mistaken. I can't even figure out which ones she believed, and which ones were bluffs. Basically, her strategy seems to be accuse everyone of everything, and eventually someone will confess. Maybe if I had read the earlier books the Mallory character would have made more sense to me, but I don't think that should have been a requirement.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: I have read all the Mallory books and loved them but I had to put this one down and come back to it after many weeks. Even though the ending was typically smart and cruel, something was missing. I'd like much more of the Mallory/Charles relationship. Talk about Scully and Muldur!
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing after reading Judas Child
Review: Like other best seller authors, not enough meat in the book, relying on previous books.
Rating:
Summary: Knowing When to Leave
Review: I haven't read Shell Game (just giving it 4 stars so as not to skew the average rating; about 4.5 right now). But I have read all the other Mallory books. At the end of Stone Angel, I was convinced (no, I KNEW) that the series was complete. The narrative arc of Mallory's personal mystery which O'Connell had carefully constructed and which spanned the books, had come to rest. I was devastated at the thought that there would be no more Mallaries but entirely satisfied at the resolution. Sometimes authors should know when to leave.
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as I expected
Review: I really like this series and was disappointed in this book. The mystery never captured my interest in the way that her other books have. If I were not interested in the characters, I may have put the book down.
Rating:
Summary: One of her best!
Review: Regardless of what other reviewers have noted, I felt that this book was one of her best!!! It was very intense and I found that for a few brief moments there were some chinks in Mallory's thick shell. I found some of the story confusing but Mallory's relationship with Malachi was incredibly satisfying.
Rating:
Summary: A bit disappointing. Seems like a crossroad for Mallory
Review: I'm new to the series and I loved the first three. But I was disappointed with this one. I can see that we finally get some insight into what mallory thinks rather than what others thinks she thinks,but I don't see why so many bridges had to burned in the process, especially Mallory & Charles. This book didn't altogether fit the progression of stone angel and killing the critics. If future books are going to take mallory in a new direction ok but I'm not sure the shell game puts her on the right track. Still I thought it was worth reading and I'm waiting for the next one
| 
