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Alexandra Cooper #2
Likely To Die
The real-life work of sex-crimes prosecutor Linda Fairstein brought "riveting authenticity" (Vanity Fair) to her bestselling debut novel, Final Jeopardy. Now Fairstein's fictional counterpart -- smart and savvy assistant D.A. Alexandra Cooper -- returns in "[a] Grisham-esque page turner" (Time) that puts Alex in the line of fire.
New York City's oldest and largest medical center is the scene of a ghastly attack: top neurosurgeon Gemma Dogen is found in her blood-soaked office, where she has been sexually assaulted, stabbed, and designated by the cops as a "likely to die." By the time Alex has plunged into the case, it's a high-profile, media-infested murder investigation with a growing list of suspects from among those who roam the hospital's labyrinthine halls. As Alex's passion to find the killer intensifies, she discovers this hospital is not a place of healing but of deadly peril -- and that she is the next target for lethal violence.
A high-style thriller that sweeps from Manhattan to London to Martha's Vineyard, Likely to Die is an exhilarating tale from a justice system insider and provocative novelist.
418 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
229 people are currently reading
1834 people want to read
About the author
Linda Fairstein
100 books1,608 followersLinda Fairstein (born 1947) is one of America's foremost legal experts on crimes of violence against women and children. She served as head of the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's office from 1976 until 2002 and is the author of a series of novels featuring Manhattan prosecutor Alexandra Cooper.
Like Fairstein, Alex ('Coop') Cooper is in charge of the Special Victims Unit of the Office. She works closely with NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace. The 17th book in her best-selling series - DEVIL'S BRIDGE - launches in paperback in June, 2016. The 18th novel - KILLER LOOK - debuts on July 26th.
This year, Fairstein will debut a new series for Middle Grade readers - 8-12 years old. Her kid sleuth, Devlin Quick, appears in INTO THE LION'S DEN in November, 2016. The series is an homage to Nancy Drew, whose books inspired Linda's two careers - in crime fiction and in the law.
Ms. Fairstein is an honors graduate of Vassar College (1969) and the University of Virginia School of Law (1972). She joined the Manhattan District Attorney's office in 1972 as an Assistant District Attorney. She was promoted to the head of the sex crimes unit in 1976. During her tenure, she prosecuted several highly publicized cases, including the "Preppy Murder" case against Robert Chambers in 1986.
Linda Fairstein left the District Attorney's office in 2002, and has continued to consult, write, lecture and serve as a sex crimes expert for a wide variety of print and television media outlets, including the major networks, CNN, MSNBC among others. Ms. Fairstein is often called to provide her opinion on high profile prosecutions including: Michael Jackson's molestation charges in 2004, Kobe Bryant's sexual assault charges, and Scott Peterson's trial. She is also a frequent speaker on issues surrounding domestic abuse.
Ms. Fairstein lives in Manhattan and on Martha's Vineyard with her husband, Michael Goldberg. Her novels draw on Ms. Fairstein's legal expertise as well as her knowledge of and affection for the rich history of the city of New York.
Series:
* Alexandra Cooper Mystery
Like Fairstein, Alex ('Coop') Cooper is in charge of the Special Victims Unit of the Office. She works closely with NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace. The 17th book in her best-selling series - DEVIL'S BRIDGE - launches in paperback in June, 2016. The 18th novel - KILLER LOOK - debuts on July 26th.
This year, Fairstein will debut a new series for Middle Grade readers - 8-12 years old. Her kid sleuth, Devlin Quick, appears in INTO THE LION'S DEN in November, 2016. The series is an homage to Nancy Drew, whose books inspired Linda's two careers - in crime fiction and in the law.
Ms. Fairstein is an honors graduate of Vassar College (1969) and the University of Virginia School of Law (1972). She joined the Manhattan District Attorney's office in 1972 as an Assistant District Attorney. She was promoted to the head of the sex crimes unit in 1976. During her tenure, she prosecuted several highly publicized cases, including the "Preppy Murder" case against Robert Chambers in 1986.
Linda Fairstein left the District Attorney's office in 2002, and has continued to consult, write, lecture and serve as a sex crimes expert for a wide variety of print and television media outlets, including the major networks, CNN, MSNBC among others. Ms. Fairstein is often called to provide her opinion on high profile prosecutions including: Michael Jackson's molestation charges in 2004, Kobe Bryant's sexual assault charges, and Scott Peterson's trial. She is also a frequent speaker on issues surrounding domestic abuse.
Ms. Fairstein lives in Manhattan and on Martha's Vineyard with her husband, Michael Goldberg. Her novels draw on Ms. Fairstein's legal expertise as well as her knowledge of and affection for the rich history of the city of New York.
Series:
* Alexandra Cooper Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
February 5, 2017
An excellent book with some minor flaws. The main plot is complex and exciting, with surprises, and the characters, especially those that recur throughout Fairstein's series, are interesting and well-portrayed. The major objection I had, and many may not see this as a negative, is an excess of pointless chit-chat that, IMO, got in the way of the primary focus.
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April 5, 2020
Linda Fairstein Sues Netflix for Defamation in ‘When They See Us’
Ms. Fairstein, a former prosecutor, claims the series about the Central Park jogger case portrayed her as a “racist, unethical villain.” Netflix said the lawsuit was “without merit.”
March 18, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/us...
Ms. Fairstein, a former prosecutor, claims the series about the Central Park jogger case portrayed her as a “racist, unethical villain.” Netflix said the lawsuit was “without merit.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/us...
April 28, 2015
Read the first 30 pages, skip 300 pages, then read the remaining, and you'll be fine. Instead, skip reading this book altogether, and you'll still be fine, may be even better!
May 31, 2019
Im case any of you aren’t educated on Linda’s past, let me enlighten you. This woman sent 5 innocent young black males to jail and tortured them throughout investigations and interrogations. If you choose to support this woman in any way, you are just as disgraceful as she is. I hope your writing career rots just like you will after judgment day.
June 4, 2019
#whentheyseeus
July 19, 2018
The second book in this series got a bit off track (when Mike and Alex fly to England for a two day conference) but for the most part this was an interesting read.
Alex is called into a case where a world renowned neurosurgeon, Gemma Dogen, is found murdered. The police believe that Gemma was also raped, so Mike calls Alex to come to the scene with the hope this new case will get her out of her exile since the events in book #1.
Alex is feeling gloomy and honestly you may want to smother her a bit in this one. I liked that Fairstein's secondary character who is friends with Alex even blew up at her. Alex still feels raw and betrayed after realizing her ex-boyfriend was cheating on her. She sits around a lot of the book wondering why is she alone. She does meet someone in this one, but starts to question things way too early after only meeting this guy twice and having just a handful of phone conversations.
I still find it weird that Alex's parents and siblings are missing in action. I do love that her close friends check in and call and leave each other messages. My friends and I do the same so that seems realistic to me.
We get some more details about Mercer in this one (thank goodness) but I started to feel that this book and book #3 which I am in the middle of are repetitive. I already know Alex's, Mercer's, and now Mike's backstory. We don't need to get into it every time. I know that Alex and Mike like to bet on final jeopardy questions. Let us not go into the backstory on every little thing. The only reason why I say this is because this case was so good. Fairstein does a great job with not showing her hand until you realize what is going on. Honestly though if I were Mercer, I would start calling out Mike for never seeming to be involved with police work, but is there to go to England with Alex (which I still called BS on by the way).
Mike. Still an ass.
The book's setting is mostly the hospitals in the New York area. We read a lot about the differences between neurosurgeons and other doctors.
The ending was really good and I didn't see it coming. I do hope though this doesn't mean that Alex is going to be in peril in every book. It doesn't seem that realistic to me. There is a dangling loose thread after we get to the end of this book, so that did surprise me. I wonder if we will see this character again.
Alex is called into a case where a world renowned neurosurgeon, Gemma Dogen, is found murdered. The police believe that Gemma was also raped, so Mike calls Alex to come to the scene with the hope this new case will get her out of her exile since the events in book #1.
Alex is feeling gloomy and honestly you may want to smother her a bit in this one. I liked that Fairstein's secondary character who is friends with Alex even blew up at her. Alex still feels raw and betrayed after realizing her ex-boyfriend was cheating on her. She sits around a lot of the book wondering why is she alone. She does meet someone in this one, but starts to question things way too early after only meeting this guy twice and having just a handful of phone conversations.
I still find it weird that Alex's parents and siblings are missing in action. I do love that her close friends check in and call and leave each other messages. My friends and I do the same so that seems realistic to me.
We get some more details about Mercer in this one (thank goodness) but I started to feel that this book and book #3 which I am in the middle of are repetitive. I already know Alex's, Mercer's, and now Mike's backstory. We don't need to get into it every time. I know that Alex and Mike like to bet on final jeopardy questions. Let us not go into the backstory on every little thing. The only reason why I say this is because this case was so good. Fairstein does a great job with not showing her hand until you realize what is going on. Honestly though if I were Mercer, I would start calling out Mike for never seeming to be involved with police work, but is there to go to England with Alex (which I still called BS on by the way).
Mike. Still an ass.
The book's setting is mostly the hospitals in the New York area. We read a lot about the differences between neurosurgeons and other doctors.
The ending was really good and I didn't see it coming. I do hope though this doesn't mean that Alex is going to be in peril in every book. It doesn't seem that realistic to me. There is a dangling loose thread after we get to the end of this book, so that did surprise me. I wonder if we will see this character again.
March 29, 2014
I'm not sure why I'm reading this author's series of novels. I read the first book, "Final Jeopardy" and was really bored by the main character's pretentiousness. Then this book, with the same main character, goes to England to ostensibly represent her boss at a seminar but to also question a witness. Uh, there is such a thing as a telephone and a transAtlantic call is way cheaper. Then I'm supposed to believe that she and her male (platonic) partner share the same room? Huh? With all the money she has, why share a room with anyone? All the chapters about her stay in England were unnecessary and unimaginative. And pretentious.
June 3, 2019
Fairstein still stands behind her prosecution of the Central Park 5. They were exonerated. She feels their convictions shouldn’t have been overturned AND you’re supporting a woman who destroyed the lives of young black and brown men.
November 21, 2024
Manhattan DA Alexandra Cooper gets a high-profile case when a leading neurosurgeon is brutally murdered in her office at a major medical center. It appears to have been an attempted rape, but things don’t quite add up. With thousands of people coming in and out of the medical center each day, including numerous homeless vagrants who make themselves at home in the center’s tunnels, Alex and her team have their work cut out for them.
I really like that Fairstein has given us such a strong female heroine. Alexandra is an independent, intelligent, strong (physically and mentally) woman who excels at her job and has a wide range of colleagues and friends who support and admire her. I particularly like her relationship with detective Mike Chapman. Their banter shows the deep affection and regard they have for one another. What an excellent team!
While this takes place almost exclusively in Manhattan, the two do have a chance to take a trip across the pond to London for a conference, where they come across some important information for their case.
Fairstein gives us a number of plausible suspects. I was sure I had it figured out, then second-guessed my original assumption, then was certain that I was right from the beginning … only to be completely surprised at the reveal. Good job!
I really like that Fairstein has given us such a strong female heroine. Alexandra is an independent, intelligent, strong (physically and mentally) woman who excels at her job and has a wide range of colleagues and friends who support and admire her. I particularly like her relationship with detective Mike Chapman. Their banter shows the deep affection and regard they have for one another. What an excellent team!
While this takes place almost exclusively in Manhattan, the two do have a chance to take a trip across the pond to London for a conference, where they come across some important information for their case.
Fairstein gives us a number of plausible suspects. I was sure I had it figured out, then second-guessed my original assumption, then was certain that I was right from the beginning … only to be completely surprised at the reveal. Good job!
May 25, 2014
Didn't quite finish. I had about 10 pages left and I just couldn't torture myself anymore. Boring, boring, boring. Easily could have been a 100 page book, if she'd left out all the frivolous fluff. Will not read another one of her books.
August 23, 2008
2nd in the Alex Cooper series. Not great. 1st one was better. "A prominent woman neurosurgeon is sexually assaulted and stabbed in her own mid-Manhattan medical center office. Heroine Alexandra Cooper, who heads the Manhattan D.A.'s sex crimes unit, and her team of homicide detectives banter comically to cheer themselves as they winnow through witnesses, including transients who swarm the tunnels beneath the hospital and roam hospital corridors, snatching lab coats and trays of food."
March 4, 2019
After reading the first in this series, I said I wouldn’t read another—but I did. This is a very good mystery with interesting characters. I like Alexandra Cooper, and the audio version is very well done. I just can’t figure out the shortness. I’ve complained recently of books being over-long, but this seems to be a series of extremely short books. I’ll probably listen to more of them because they are so good.
June 2, 2019
Central Park 5
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June 4, 2019DO THE MAIN CHARACTER LIE AS MUCH AS THE AUTHOR DID ON THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE... Asking for a friend named Real Justice!
August 16, 2021
An early, but very good Alexandra Cooper book as she, Mike & Mercer must investigate the murder of a prominent female neurosurgeon. There are plenty of plot twists (some of them feel real) and lots of heartstrings tugged. Recommended.
March 28, 2016
Linda Fairstein books are like episodes of Law & Order: SVU, and I think they're meant to be that way. They follow a predictable pattern of crime discovery, solving, attack and resolution, and you're supposed to care about Alexandra Cabot Cooper and her friendships with the two detectives. At some point Alex will make a rash decision necessary for the final piece of the puzzle to fall in place, and the villain will attack her, forcing her to call on all her reserves of plucky strength to escape and wrap up the case. So she's kind of Benson-like in that way.
But in these books all Cooper's co-workers think she walks on water, determinedly crude Brooklyn Homicide Chapman needs to be fed into a wood chipper already and OY, the label names. That said, it's hard to turn off an episode of SVU if that's the only thing going on a Sunday afternoon.
Also, and this is a personal thing, but: Dear Non-British Authors, if you set part of your book in Great Britain, you need someone to edit your British dialogue as if it truly was a foreign language. Otherwise British people such as myself will read:
And want to set you on fire*.
*Especially if four pages earlier the same character says, "I assure you, Alex is right. If you don't think these are your problems yet -- and I can't believe there's one of you in this room who hasn't had some exposure to them in your criminal justice systems at home -- they're coming in your direction." Like, did he have a stroke somewhere in those four pages, Author?
But in these books all Cooper's co-workers think she walks on water, determinedly crude Brooklyn Homicide Chapman needs to be fed into a wood chipper already and OY, the label names. That said, it's hard to turn off an episode of SVU if that's the only thing going on a Sunday afternoon.
Also, and this is a personal thing, but: Dear Non-British Authors, if you set part of your book in Great Britain, you need someone to edit your British dialogue as if it truly was a foreign language. Otherwise British people such as myself will read:
"You Yanks are a bit too young to remember, but it's a good one for that quizzer you watch on the telly. Sir Francis Chichester sailed 'round the world on a little yacht by the name of Gypsy Moth IV. Took a year, and when 'e got home they opened the bascules -- the arms of the bridge -- so 'e could sail into the city. And the Queen 'herself got on board to make him a knight."
And want to set you on fire*.
*Especially if four pages earlier the same character says, "I assure you, Alex is right. If you don't think these are your problems yet -- and I can't believe there's one of you in this room who hasn't had some exposure to them in your criminal justice systems at home -- they're coming in your direction." Like, did he have a stroke somewhere in those four pages, Author?
February 22, 2017
For years I wouldn't read a book by Linda Fairstein because of my dislike of how she managed the Sex Crimes unit at the Manhattan DA's office. I felt -- and still feel -- that she often short-changed sexual assault survivors by choosing not to prosecute cases that weren't cut and dried (mostly date rape cases). While I can understand making the best use of your available resources, my impression (based on discussions with those who knew her/her office) was that that wasn't the motivating reason: politics was. Going for a better win/loss record at trial. That sickened me then and it sickens me now.
I'm not sure, then, why I picked up Fairstein's first book, Final Jeopardy a couple of years ago. I suspect it was because I had an advance readers' copy collecting dust on my shelves and I needed something at least a little challenging to read. No matter the reason, I very much liked what I read. When several of her later books were on sale for Kindle last year I bought them, committing myself to reading more of her series about NYC Sex Crimes ADA Alex Cooper.
This is the second book in the series and while I can't compare it to the first with any precision -- I read that all the way back in 2011 -- I loved it. I loved the nuances, the characters, the unexpected bits, the plot and, most of all, the author's voice. Fairstein is a brilliant writer, no question about it. I'm looking forward to reaching for the next book in the series in far less than 6 years.
I'm not sure, then, why I picked up Fairstein's first book, Final Jeopardy a couple of years ago. I suspect it was because I had an advance readers' copy collecting dust on my shelves and I needed something at least a little challenging to read. No matter the reason, I very much liked what I read. When several of her later books were on sale for Kindle last year I bought them, committing myself to reading more of her series about NYC Sex Crimes ADA Alex Cooper.
This is the second book in the series and while I can't compare it to the first with any precision -- I read that all the way back in 2011 -- I loved it. I loved the nuances, the characters, the unexpected bits, the plot and, most of all, the author's voice. Fairstein is a brilliant writer, no question about it. I'm looking forward to reaching for the next book in the series in far less than 6 years.
June 5, 2019
If I could give this (or any book written by this dispicable human being) less than one star, I would. Don’t even have to read them to know that they are terrible, fictional, and full of lies just as she is. If you are unaware of who she is and what she has done, educate yourself immediately. Kevin Richardson. Antron McCray. Korey Wise. Yusef Salaam. Raymond Santana Jr. Know their names. Watch #WhenTheySeeUs on Netflix now.
June 5, 2019
Don't ever support this author. Wrongfully prosecuted the Central Park 5 and to this day still refuses to apologise or admit that she made a mistake. She should be charged for her crimes. I will boycott any publisher that supports her
June 9, 2019
What can I say about this book? Absolutely nothing except karma is a b1tch. The author might be writing her next book in prison for horrible crimes committed against innocent children (not ‘men’ as she puts it).
February 22, 2018
Alex Cooper seeks the killer of a highly regarded neurosurgeon.
The twists and turns takes her to London and throws a very odd light on a new beau.
The twists and turns takes her to London and throws a very odd light on a new beau.
June 2, 2019
Lying prosecutor who oversaw the coercion of five innocent minority children to plead guilty to crime they didn’t commit, knowing that she did not have adequate facts to prove that they did.
June 20, 2019
Do not support this monster (author Linda Fairstein) who ruined the lives of children for her own personal gain.
July 24, 2020
A definite page turner. I wasn't too impressed with book 1, Final Jeopardy and only finished it because it was a book club read. This one was as well and if it hadn't been I wouldn't have picked it up. Glad it was because it was a super read. Attention grabbing story line with right amount of suspects. Final Jeopardy read like Fairstein copied her day planner with an itemization of her days hour by hour. In this one the story flowed and there was some terrific character development. I enjoy the camaraderie between Alex, Chapman and Mercer.
March 12, 2023
Ein zweiter, spannender Fall für Alex Cooper. Sie und ihre Kollegen wachsen mir langsam ans Herz, die Fälle an sich sind nichts für schwache Nerven und der Schreibstil ist auch gut, stellenweise hakt es aber leider leicht. Außerdem schleichen sich immer wieder Schreibfehler ein, wobei ich nicht weiß, ob es an meinem eBook liegt, gerade auf dem Tolino habe ich das leider öfter... Insgesamt durchaus ein solides Lesevergnügen, ich habe Band 3 schon bereit liegen.
May 9, 2021
Enjoyable. Will continue to listen to this series. Barbara Rosenblat narrates which makes it a win regardless.
June 5, 2024
A good easy read..
June 2, 2019
The second book in this series had me confused with too many characters and references to things I didn't understand (ie. what happened to her fiancé?)
Not a terrible story, as Alex tries to find out who killed a brilliant neurosurgeon and why.
Many false leads to confuse the reader, but everything came to a satisfying conclusion, except for the “supposed” love interest. What happened to him???
Not a terrible story, as Alex tries to find out who killed a brilliant neurosurgeon and why.
Many false leads to confuse the reader, but everything came to a satisfying conclusion, except for the “supposed” love interest. What happened to him???
June 3, 2019
Central Park Five
April 24, 2013
UPDATE: April 21, 2013
I recently learned about Linda Fairstein's involvement in the Central Park Five case (in which five innocent teenagers were convicted of the 1989 rape of a jogger based on forced confessions). Hearing of her complete refusal to acknowledge their innocence in the face of clear evidence that the crime was committed by a single offender (whose DNA was the only DNA found at the crime scene) has made me realize that I cannot in good conscience read anything this woman has written, unless and until she apologizes to the young men whose lives she helped to destroy.
I have not changed my rating from the three stars I originally gave it.
* * * * *
I'm not appreciating this series very much. There was so much to this one that seemed so obvious to me that I have to wonder: Was the "mystery" supposed to be easy to figure out? If so, why wasn't there any suspense built into the story? And if not, then why make it so easy to figure out?
I might return to this series if people i know say it gets better. Otherwise, I think probably not.
I recently learned about Linda Fairstein's involvement in the Central Park Five case (in which five innocent teenagers were convicted of the 1989 rape of a jogger based on forced confessions). Hearing of her complete refusal to acknowledge their innocence in the face of clear evidence that the crime was committed by a single offender (whose DNA was the only DNA found at the crime scene) has made me realize that I cannot in good conscience read anything this woman has written, unless and until she apologizes to the young men whose lives she helped to destroy.
I have not changed my rating from the three stars I originally gave it.
* * * * *
I'm not appreciating this series very much. There was so much to this one that seemed so obvious to me that I have to wonder: Was the "mystery" supposed to be easy to figure out? If so, why wasn't there any suspense built into the story? And if not, then why make it so easy to figure out?
I might return to this series if people i know say it gets better. Otherwise, I think probably not.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews