The New York Times–bestselling author discusses her crime-solving hacker heroine, "surely one of the genre's oddest and most interesting creations" (Chicago Tribune).

When the NYPD detective and sociopath known simply as Mallory made her series debut, John Sandford called her "one of the most interesting new characters to come along in years." A homeless wild child who was taken in by a New York City cop and grew up to follow in his footsteps, she possesses a skill set—including a talent for computer hacking—that allows her to track down her prey like no one else. In this insightful essay, author Carol O'Connell shares fascinating insights about her origins, her psychology, and her strikingly different sense of right and wrong.

"Mallory is not your usual plucky and generally wholesome mystery solver. Jane Marple would probably cross the street to avoid making eye contact with her." —The Washington Post Book World

"Mallory is a marvelous creation." —Jonathan Kellerman, New York Times–bestselling author of the Alex Hunter novels