What do you think?
Rate this book
Alexandra Cooper #15
Death Angel
Perennial New York Times bestselling crime novelist Linda Fairstein explores the rich—and little-known—history of New York’s City’s Central Park in her latest Alexandra Cooper novel, Death Angel .
When the body of a young woman is discovered in Central Park, the clock begins ticking for Assistant DA Alex Cooper and Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace to find the killer who has breached this haven in the middle of New York City. Is the body found in the lake, under the unseeing gaze of the Bethesda angel, the first victim of a deranged psychopath, or is the case connected to other missing girls and women in years past whose remains have never been found? Just as the trio gets their first lead, the investigation is almost derailed when Mike and Alex become embroiled in a scandal.
As Alex attempts to fight the accusations leveled against her and Mike, she follows clues that range from the park’s most buried — literally — secrets all the way to the majestic Dakota, which has experienced its own share of tragedies. When another young woman is attacked in the park, a new question is this enormous urban park a sanctuary—as it seems to the thousands of New Yorkers and tourists who fill it every day—or is it a hunting ground for a killer with a twisted mind?
Once again, Linda Fairstein will thrill both longtime fans and new readers with an explosive page-turner filled with a shocking realism that only she can deliver.
When the body of a young woman is discovered in Central Park, the clock begins ticking for Assistant DA Alex Cooper and Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace to find the killer who has breached this haven in the middle of New York City. Is the body found in the lake, under the unseeing gaze of the Bethesda angel, the first victim of a deranged psychopath, or is the case connected to other missing girls and women in years past whose remains have never been found? Just as the trio gets their first lead, the investigation is almost derailed when Mike and Alex become embroiled in a scandal.
As Alex attempts to fight the accusations leveled against her and Mike, she follows clues that range from the park’s most buried — literally — secrets all the way to the majestic Dakota, which has experienced its own share of tragedies. When another young woman is attacked in the park, a new question is this enormous urban park a sanctuary—as it seems to the thousands of New Yorkers and tourists who fill it every day—or is it a hunting ground for a killer with a twisted mind?
Once again, Linda Fairstein will thrill both longtime fans and new readers with an explosive page-turner filled with a shocking realism that only she can deliver.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
162 people are currently reading
1901 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews
December 1, 2021
In this 15th book in the 'Alexandra Cooper' series, Assistant District Attorney Cooper and her colleagues, Detectives Chapman and Wallace, investigate the murder of a homeless girl. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
A young homeless girl, dubbed "Angel", is found dead in Central Park and the trio of Assistant District Attorney Alex Cooper,
Detective Mike Chapman,
and Detective Mercer Wallace investigate.
The three professionals are friends as well as colleagues and enjoy joking, dining, and playing "Final Jeopardy." In addtion - being free of other romantic entanglements - Alex and Mike allow their long-simmering, low-key attraction to take a tiny step forward. Though the familiar characters in the series are fun to visit, the book is not a success.
Linda Fairstein's crime novels always involve murder at iconic locations in New York City. Thus the reader is treated to a healthy dose of the architecture and history of the site(s) along with an interesting investigation, good detective work, and a satisfactory resolution. Not so in this book. It seems like about 90% of the book is devoted to discussing the geography, history, structure, fountain, and uses of Central Park....
and about 10% to a disjointed, sprawling, almost incomprehensible mystery novel.
As the story proceeds Angel's death somehow leads investigators to the Dakota, a super-ritzy apartment building next to Central Park.
In the past, the wealthy Dalton family bought up the 8th floor of the Dakota for themselves and housed their servants on the 9th floor. The family also experienced a terrible tragedy, the disappearance of a 3-year-old Dalton child.
Meanwhile - in the present - as Angel's killer is being sought a rapist with the words "Kill Coop" tattooed on his hand is attacking women and another death occurs. Are these events all connected somehow?
To top it all off, Mike Chapman has gotten himself into hot water by having an affair with - and dumping - a disturbed lady judge who's out for revenge.
This causes trouble all around. Other characters in the story include an elderly Dalton, Dalton family servants, homeless people, mental patients, and more.
Eventually, Angel's killer is uncovered in a resolution that seems almost disconnected from the rest of the story. Moreover, some plot points seem to go unresolved - but by the end I didn't care. If this book was billed as a story about Central Park it would be a success. If you're looking for a good mystery, skip this book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
May 9, 2025
Did you forget that Alex Cooper is a lawyer?
If one were a serial rapist or a pervert inclined to sexual assault, there’s no question that night-time Central Park would be prime hunting territory. So Linda Fairstein’s DEATH ANGEL, #15 in her extraordinarily long-running and immensely successful Alexandra Cooper series, starts off like the proverbial house on fire, when a young woman is found dead in a secluded lake located in a particularly densely wooded section of the park. But that spark fails to ignite the novel into the expected inferno because of a number of problems.
First and foremost is that the plot is not particularly unique or interesting. After all, serial rapists and murderers in New York City?? Ho hum! Been there, done that! The second problem is that what should have been a barn-burning legal thriller simply wasn’t. And, by that, I mean it wasn’t even a legal thriller. Ms Fairstein seems to have completely forgotten that her protagonist, Alexandra Cooper, is not a police detective. She’s a lawyer, for goodness’ sake. As a prosecutor, an assistant district attorney and the head honcho in New York’s sex crimes unit, you’d think that every once in a while she ought to get involved with legal issues and the inside of a court room. Third, Ms Fairstein has chosen to clutter the plot line with problems of professional misbehavior related to who police, judges and lawyers are allowed to sleep with. Uninteresting, Ms Fairstein … just uninteresting.
On the plus side, DEATH ANGEL presents an absolutely fascinating history of Central Park and uptown Manhattan, in particular, the Dakota apartments on the upper west side and the little known community of free blacks known as Seneca Village. Although I’ve been admittedly critical of the story in DEATH ANGEL, I have to give full marks to Linda Fairstein for her ability to present an absolute ton of historical tidbits and information without disrupting the flow of the story … such as it is!
I’ve still got a couple of Alex Cooper entries on my unread bookshelf and I’ll certainly read them but I hope that my next choice returns to the legal stomping ground that I was hoping for.
Paul Weiss
If one were a serial rapist or a pervert inclined to sexual assault, there’s no question that night-time Central Park would be prime hunting territory. So Linda Fairstein’s DEATH ANGEL, #15 in her extraordinarily long-running and immensely successful Alexandra Cooper series, starts off like the proverbial house on fire, when a young woman is found dead in a secluded lake located in a particularly densely wooded section of the park. But that spark fails to ignite the novel into the expected inferno because of a number of problems.
First and foremost is that the plot is not particularly unique or interesting. After all, serial rapists and murderers in New York City?? Ho hum! Been there, done that! The second problem is that what should have been a barn-burning legal thriller simply wasn’t. And, by that, I mean it wasn’t even a legal thriller. Ms Fairstein seems to have completely forgotten that her protagonist, Alexandra Cooper, is not a police detective. She’s a lawyer, for goodness’ sake. As a prosecutor, an assistant district attorney and the head honcho in New York’s sex crimes unit, you’d think that every once in a while she ought to get involved with legal issues and the inside of a court room. Third, Ms Fairstein has chosen to clutter the plot line with problems of professional misbehavior related to who police, judges and lawyers are allowed to sleep with. Uninteresting, Ms Fairstein … just uninteresting.
On the plus side, DEATH ANGEL presents an absolutely fascinating history of Central Park and uptown Manhattan, in particular, the Dakota apartments on the upper west side and the little known community of free blacks known as Seneca Village. Although I’ve been admittedly critical of the story in DEATH ANGEL, I have to give full marks to Linda Fairstein for her ability to present an absolute ton of historical tidbits and information without disrupting the flow of the story … such as it is!
I’ve still got a couple of Alex Cooper entries on my unread bookshelf and I’ll certainly read them but I hope that my next choice returns to the legal stomping ground that I was hoping for.
Paul Weiss
July 31, 2013
I have finished reading the fast-paced Death Angel by Linda Fairstein. This is the first novel I have read by her but this isn't the first novel she's written. Death Angel is 15th in the Alexandra Cooper series. Alexandra is an Assistant DA for the Manhattan Special Victims Unit (yes like Alex Cabot on Law and Order). The latest case she's been called in on involves a girl found dead in Central Park in one of their ponds/lakes under the watchful eye of the Bethesda Angel.
Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace help to investigate the murder along with Alexandra. Before long, a second attack makes the trio think that they may have a serial killer on their hands similar to a past offender that Alexandra helped to put away. Then Fairstein introduces a few other red herrings to keep the reader guessing. I had no clue who was the killer. I appreciate that deeply. There's also a simmering scandal in the background that seemed like it could be more interesting than the actual initial murder... but maybe there will be more there in future Cooper novels.
What I loved most about this novel is the plethora of information that Fairstein gives in reference to one of the most famous parks in the world. I had no idea that Central Park had such a jaded history and I can't thank Fairstein enough for bringing that information to me in the form of educational entertainment. What's also great about Death Angel is that it feels like she gave a lot of information about the characters. Usually by a series 3rd installment, let alone a 15th, authors get a little lazy with the character development or providing background info.
My one gripe about this novel is that Alexandra's voice was very bland and absent of emotion. I didn't find her to be that interesting. Although I wasn't too impressed with Alexandra Cooper, I will read more by this author. Once I have the chance I will definitely go to book one and catch up on anything I missed, and didn't catch up on in Death Angel.
In conclusion, my first experience reading Death Angel by Linda Fairstein has me interested in reading more in this series. Existing fans of this series will be happy with this addition. I recommend this novel to fans of suspense mystery lovers.
Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace help to investigate the murder along with Alexandra. Before long, a second attack makes the trio think that they may have a serial killer on their hands similar to a past offender that Alexandra helped to put away. Then Fairstein introduces a few other red herrings to keep the reader guessing. I had no clue who was the killer. I appreciate that deeply. There's also a simmering scandal in the background that seemed like it could be more interesting than the actual initial murder... but maybe there will be more there in future Cooper novels.
What I loved most about this novel is the plethora of information that Fairstein gives in reference to one of the most famous parks in the world. I had no idea that Central Park had such a jaded history and I can't thank Fairstein enough for bringing that information to me in the form of educational entertainment. What's also great about Death Angel is that it feels like she gave a lot of information about the characters. Usually by a series 3rd installment, let alone a 15th, authors get a little lazy with the character development or providing background info.
My one gripe about this novel is that Alexandra's voice was very bland and absent of emotion. I didn't find her to be that interesting. Although I wasn't too impressed with Alexandra Cooper, I will read more by this author. Once I have the chance I will definitely go to book one and catch up on anything I missed, and didn't catch up on in Death Angel.
In conclusion, my first experience reading Death Angel by Linda Fairstein has me interested in reading more in this series. Existing fans of this series will be happy with this addition. I recommend this novel to fans of suspense mystery lovers.
September 12, 2013
Right off the bat, please note, I am a fan of Linda Fairstein's books/novels.
I know a lot of reviews have mentioned the story line between Alex and Mike, being too much in this book. However, I disagree. After reading all the Alex Cooper books, it is about time Linda plays a little more deeply between Alex and Mike. This doesn't mean things will work for them, but it is fun to finally see the two of them "admit, flirt" a little bit more to their true feelings.
The story line with a death in Central Park was fascinating. Enjoyed very much learning the history of the Park and how "Angel" fits into the title of the book. Linda is able to seemlessly weave several story lines together and have them wrap up nicely at the end. The amount of research that goes into her books is amazing.
I know a lot of reviews have mentioned the story line between Alex and Mike, being too much in this book. However, I disagree. After reading all the Alex Cooper books, it is about time Linda plays a little more deeply between Alex and Mike. This doesn't mean things will work for them, but it is fun to finally see the two of them "admit, flirt" a little bit more to their true feelings.
The story line with a death in Central Park was fascinating. Enjoyed very much learning the history of the Park and how "Angel" fits into the title of the book. Linda is able to seemlessly weave several story lines together and have them wrap up nicely at the end. The amount of research that goes into her books is amazing.
October 16, 2013
This is a fine book. Although I have a few critical comments, they are in the context of a strong series written by a professional--Ms. Fairstein is professional both as an author and as a sex crimes prosecutor.
That said, this book veers hard toward a regional cozy. Lots of romantic tension. The setting is Central Park, a New York landmark, so the book should appeal to New Yorkers. For the rest of us, the writing sounds like research download about the Dakota, the Ravine, Sheep's Meadow, and the Ramble. There's the occasional dismissive mention of tourists.
The shout-out to John Paulson is sweet. The dialogue, as in all of Fairstein's books, crackles. It can be at or above the level of that written by Elmore Leonard.
Two of the homeless female victims are like Simone de Beauvoir's "other". In this case that means they are not in the NY club and work to characterize entire non-New York regions--one is southern and the other is from an abusive Arizona family. The victims are more cardboard than real, perhaps a result of Ms. Fairstein's legal experience with so much real-life abuse & sexual violence.
Again, these points are small ones within the landscape of a well-written series by a disciplined author.
That said, this book veers hard toward a regional cozy. Lots of romantic tension. The setting is Central Park, a New York landmark, so the book should appeal to New Yorkers. For the rest of us, the writing sounds like research download about the Dakota, the Ravine, Sheep's Meadow, and the Ramble. There's the occasional dismissive mention of tourists.
The shout-out to John Paulson is sweet. The dialogue, as in all of Fairstein's books, crackles. It can be at or above the level of that written by Elmore Leonard.
Two of the homeless female victims are like Simone de Beauvoir's "other". In this case that means they are not in the NY club and work to characterize entire non-New York regions--one is southern and the other is from an abusive Arizona family. The victims are more cardboard than real, perhaps a result of Ms. Fairstein's legal experience with so much real-life abuse & sexual violence.
Again, these points are small ones within the landscape of a well-written series by a disciplined author.
October 18, 2013
I might have given this one 2 1/2 stars but couldn't quite bring it up to three stars.
It's been awhile since I read an Alexandra Cooper/Mike Chapman/Wallace Mercer book. So I can't speak to what I remember of the characters from before. But, frankly, with "Coop" being the central character in the book I found her to be pretty vague. I got no sense from this novel of her personality, she was just someone who acted at times in one way and then in other times unexpected ways. I couldn't define her - as apparently neither did/would/could Ms. Fairstein.
The history of Central Park was a bit prolonged for a novel where that history really had little or nothing to add to the plot. Thus, in my mind, it was filler, and too much filler.
I felt like there were several loose strings that also added nothing and weren't tied up. One of the subplots was actually (for me) most interesting but then it just fizzled out like the author thought, "my gosh, I'm into this book over 300 pages I'd better wrap things up".
All in all, a book that took longer to read than it should have - and held my interest less than it should have. It was borderline soapbox on the issue of homeless people, those with mental health issues and the subject of sexual abuse - all those things combined to make this much darker than it needed to be to be enjoyable. And I wasn't really enjoying it all that much. To be fair, though, the language was clean, and for that I might be tempted by Ms. Fairstein's next writing.
It's been awhile since I read an Alexandra Cooper/Mike Chapman/Wallace Mercer book. So I can't speak to what I remember of the characters from before. But, frankly, with "Coop" being the central character in the book I found her to be pretty vague. I got no sense from this novel of her personality, she was just someone who acted at times in one way and then in other times unexpected ways. I couldn't define her - as apparently neither did/would/could Ms. Fairstein.
The history of Central Park was a bit prolonged for a novel where that history really had little or nothing to add to the plot. Thus, in my mind, it was filler, and too much filler.
I felt like there were several loose strings that also added nothing and weren't tied up. One of the subplots was actually (for me) most interesting but then it just fizzled out like the author thought, "my gosh, I'm into this book over 300 pages I'd better wrap things up".
All in all, a book that took longer to read than it should have - and held my interest less than it should have. It was borderline soapbox on the issue of homeless people, those with mental health issues and the subject of sexual abuse - all those things combined to make this much darker than it needed to be to be enjoyable. And I wasn't really enjoying it all that much. To be fair, though, the language was clean, and for that I might be tempted by Ms. Fairstein's next writing.
November 2, 2015
A lot going on in Linda Fairstein's Death Angel. A young girl's nude body is found in the Ramble. She's probably homeless, since many youngsters live in that part of Central Park. It's a "dog" of a case, and Alexandra Cooper is surprised that the DA and her boss, Pat McKinney allow her to keep it. That is until she learns that her best friend, Det. Mike Chapman has a stalker.
A high powered one at that. A batshatty judge that he'd been assigned to as a part of a protective detail. Judge Pell wants both Chapman and Cooper's heads. This case becomes more important to solve. Worried that an escaped rapist is the culprit, Mercer, Alex, and Mike try to find the escapee; especially since he has "KILL COOP" tattooed on his fingers. But the case turns toward the Dakota and to an old unsolved kidnapping.
I love how Fairstein brings NYC history into her books and it was a treat to learn about Central Park and the Dakota (where John Lennon was shot). However, there were slightly to many story lines in this one. Still a solid read though.
A high powered one at that. A batshatty judge that he'd been assigned to as a part of a protective detail. Judge Pell wants both Chapman and Cooper's heads. This case becomes more important to solve. Worried that an escaped rapist is the culprit, Mercer, Alex, and Mike try to find the escapee; especially since he has "KILL COOP" tattooed on his fingers. But the case turns toward the Dakota and to an old unsolved kidnapping.
I love how Fairstein brings NYC history into her books and it was a treat to learn about Central Park and the Dakota (where John Lennon was shot). However, there were slightly to many story lines in this one. Still a solid read though.
April 12, 2017
A very good read and mystery although not one of those big surprises as I got closer to the conclusion, I could almost guess what would be happening but it was a fun read and kept me interested straight through.
Linda Fairstein's main character, prosecutor Alex Cooper, is a tough, gutsy gal and while I like her a lot, she could easily become too much and behave in a manner that I wouldn't have expected of someone of her experience (and before anyone says it, yes, I realize that even supposedly smart people can do stupid things but I get tired of main female characters doing so with regularity).
In this book, I thought she was on that cusp: she is coming out of a broken relationship and is attracted to one of the detectives that she works with; meanwhile, he's crossed the line and slept with a female judge that he was guarding. Now that he wants out of that entanglement, the judge is out for blood and Cooper is temped to jump in to a new relationship that would possibly sever the working relationship. And this is all happening during the investigation into a homeless woman found murdered in Central Park.
Linda Fairstein's main character, prosecutor Alex Cooper, is a tough, gutsy gal and while I like her a lot, she could easily become too much and behave in a manner that I wouldn't have expected of someone of her experience (and before anyone says it, yes, I realize that even supposedly smart people can do stupid things but I get tired of main female characters doing so with regularity).
In this book, I thought she was on that cusp: she is coming out of a broken relationship and is attracted to one of the detectives that she works with; meanwhile, he's crossed the line and slept with a female judge that he was guarding. Now that he wants out of that entanglement, the judge is out for blood and Cooper is temped to jump in to a new relationship that would possibly sever the working relationship. And this is all happening during the investigation into a homeless woman found murdered in Central Park.
August 16, 2017
After a body is pulled from a pool in New York's Central Park, ADA Alex Cooper must overcome personal problems to catch a sexual predator. Meanwhile, Detective Mike Chapman has to deal with a jealous female judge that he had a brief affair with. The two also deal with a decade old cold case involving the disappearance of a rich three year old girl.
October 25, 2013
Another mystery that I’ve read in the last two weeks that had two different major plots and would have been SO much better if they hadn’t. At book 15, Fairstein’s series is starting to show its age. I really haven’t enjoyed it like I used to for at least a couple years and honestly this one almost went back to the library unread several times.
Plot one – a murdered young girl found in a lake in Central Park. This was actually good up until the end.
Plot two – Mike’s being stalked by a judge he had a short relationship with and she’s out to ruin him and Alex because she thinks Alex is sleeping with Mike. There is NOTHING good about this. Honestly it felt like it was written by a seventeen year old fan ficcer (no offense to them, I was one once myself). Seriously, this has all the maturity of a high schooler. It’s simply that bad (assume spoilers for both plots).
The young murdered girl in the park is perfect fodder for Fairstein’s love of NYC. She enjoys filling the book with obscure details about the city. I usually like that even though she often goes overboard (she does a little here too). Along with the murdered homeless teen, they find two very expensive silver pieces and a Black angel. These odd pieces lead two places, one to Seneca Village which had been founded in the area of Central Park by free African Americans back in the early 1800s and is now more or less gone. It is the source of the angel. The silver pieces resemble statues in the park and lead to the Dalton family living the storied Dakota apartment complex. Only Lavinia is left and she has Alzheimer’s. Years before this her granddaughter, Lucy, was kidnapped and never found (with many similarities drawn to the Lindbergh case).
This was interesting. I liked learning about Central Park, I liked the way the new mystery lead back to the old one and then…. SPOILERS START NOW. The ONLY way Fairstein would make this work was to have her characters lose 100 IQ points. As Alex and Mike are searching the park, Alex finds a cave that the killer has been squatting in. But rather than just her and Mike walk in and maybe have the killer knock Mike out cold, she has Alex, knowing this might be the killer’s hide out, go blundering in without Mike even knowing where she is because he’s somewhere behind her (and later he said, he thought she was hiding from him because of the whole thing with stalker judge). For that matter we could only get Mercer out of the picture by having stalker judge go off the rails. And the killer, who could have been a relatively sympathetic victim of mental illness gets tarnished as Alex plays the blame game with him (yes what he did was wrong and foolish but one of the deaths was an accident that shattered his mind for life). She ought to know how to handle human nature better. She deals with it daily. So it was about a three star mystery up until this rotten egg of an ending.
As for the second plot, it’s a hot mess. The story opens with Mike being an absolute ass to Alex. Her friends try to pass it off as him being worried about her after her romance with that French chef died out. No, you don’t say the things he did and be a friend. And after Vickee says Mike is secretly harboring feelings for Alex, she naturally goes ‘no no, oh wait, maybe. Let me act on this thing I didn’t even notice before.’ Head desk. I could handle that. But it goes much further. Mike has had a short term relationship with Jessica Pell a judge who didn’t take the break up well and is out to ruin both Mike and Alex by claiming their sexual relationship (non-existent) is a professional conflict of interest and has given Mike’s bosses an ultimatum to get him out of homicide or else.
Is Alex supportive of Mike? No, our famed sex crimes prosecutor BLAMES the victim. Not once, but several times, she blames Mike. As does Mercer. As far as I could tell, Mike had no idea Pell was nutso before getting involved with her or maybe he did and I was too bored to notice. Alex acts like a complete juvenile moron. At one point in a joint task force meeting someone joked about them being an old married couple and she actually says, no they’re just having sex. What woman would ever say this in a professional setting knowing her friend is under the gun? She tells off her boss and the mayor at least twice. The way she handled it, she shouldn’t even have a job at the end of this book, she’s so unprofessional. And for some reason, rather than call her in and talk to her about what’s going on her boss sets her up with an impossible crime to solve (homeless girl) with an eye to ruining her career. Why in the name of God would he do that? Maybe he would believe the rumor and think badly of her (I had that happen once with one of my bosses.) but to purposely sabotage one of his best prosecutors? Is everyone a sulky teenager in this book? This plot was pure one star and nearly turned this book into a DNF for me. I’m going to have to seriously rethink getting another of these books (and I get them from the library for free so that should tell you something).
Plot one – a murdered young girl found in a lake in Central Park. This was actually good up until the end.
Plot two – Mike’s being stalked by a judge he had a short relationship with and she’s out to ruin him and Alex because she thinks Alex is sleeping with Mike. There is NOTHING good about this. Honestly it felt like it was written by a seventeen year old fan ficcer (no offense to them, I was one once myself). Seriously, this has all the maturity of a high schooler. It’s simply that bad (assume spoilers for both plots).
The young murdered girl in the park is perfect fodder for Fairstein’s love of NYC. She enjoys filling the book with obscure details about the city. I usually like that even though she often goes overboard (she does a little here too). Along with the murdered homeless teen, they find two very expensive silver pieces and a Black angel. These odd pieces lead two places, one to Seneca Village which had been founded in the area of Central Park by free African Americans back in the early 1800s and is now more or less gone. It is the source of the angel. The silver pieces resemble statues in the park and lead to the Dalton family living the storied Dakota apartment complex. Only Lavinia is left and she has Alzheimer’s. Years before this her granddaughter, Lucy, was kidnapped and never found (with many similarities drawn to the Lindbergh case).
This was interesting. I liked learning about Central Park, I liked the way the new mystery lead back to the old one and then…. SPOILERS START NOW. The ONLY way Fairstein would make this work was to have her characters lose 100 IQ points. As Alex and Mike are searching the park, Alex finds a cave that the killer has been squatting in. But rather than just her and Mike walk in and maybe have the killer knock Mike out cold, she has Alex, knowing this might be the killer’s hide out, go blundering in without Mike even knowing where she is because he’s somewhere behind her (and later he said, he thought she was hiding from him because of the whole thing with stalker judge). For that matter we could only get Mercer out of the picture by having stalker judge go off the rails. And the killer, who could have been a relatively sympathetic victim of mental illness gets tarnished as Alex plays the blame game with him (yes what he did was wrong and foolish but one of the deaths was an accident that shattered his mind for life). She ought to know how to handle human nature better. She deals with it daily. So it was about a three star mystery up until this rotten egg of an ending.
As for the second plot, it’s a hot mess. The story opens with Mike being an absolute ass to Alex. Her friends try to pass it off as him being worried about her after her romance with that French chef died out. No, you don’t say the things he did and be a friend. And after Vickee says Mike is secretly harboring feelings for Alex, she naturally goes ‘no no, oh wait, maybe. Let me act on this thing I didn’t even notice before.’ Head desk. I could handle that. But it goes much further. Mike has had a short term relationship with Jessica Pell a judge who didn’t take the break up well and is out to ruin both Mike and Alex by claiming their sexual relationship (non-existent) is a professional conflict of interest and has given Mike’s bosses an ultimatum to get him out of homicide or else.
Is Alex supportive of Mike? No, our famed sex crimes prosecutor BLAMES the victim. Not once, but several times, she blames Mike. As does Mercer. As far as I could tell, Mike had no idea Pell was nutso before getting involved with her or maybe he did and I was too bored to notice. Alex acts like a complete juvenile moron. At one point in a joint task force meeting someone joked about them being an old married couple and she actually says, no they’re just having sex. What woman would ever say this in a professional setting knowing her friend is under the gun? She tells off her boss and the mayor at least twice. The way she handled it, she shouldn’t even have a job at the end of this book, she’s so unprofessional. And for some reason, rather than call her in and talk to her about what’s going on her boss sets her up with an impossible crime to solve (homeless girl) with an eye to ruining her career. Why in the name of God would he do that? Maybe he would believe the rumor and think badly of her (I had that happen once with one of my bosses.) but to purposely sabotage one of his best prosecutors? Is everyone a sulky teenager in this book? This plot was pure one star and nearly turned this book into a DNF for me. I’m going to have to seriously rethink getting another of these books (and I get them from the library for free so that should tell you something).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2013
More than anything else, I love Linda Fairstein's books for the in-depth information she gives about Manhattan. I could plan a trip around her books alone.
This outing finds the characters combing through Central Park for clues in the death of a young woman whose body is found in a body of water under the statue of an angel. The information about the park is wonderfully intriguing and I have to admit to looking some of these things up later!
Linda Fairstein is not the best technical writer, but she has very engaging characters, a great sense of space and an intimacy with the legal aspects surrounding sexual violence that make the crimes and acts in her books very timely and compelling.
All the old familiar characters are in this book and Alex's love life is once again on the skid, but that is nothing new. There is some potential development in that area that you'll have to read to find out! But it will be interesting to see where Fairstein takes it.
Most books I "read" are actually audiobooks and I have to give a shout-out to the great Barbara Rosenblat, who narrates this book. It is unbelievable the difference a good narrator can make to a book (and likewise what a bad one can do to it). I have listened to a number of books narrated by Barbara and they are ALWAYS excellently done. I have had to listen to a couple of books in this series narrated by someone else and they are never quite as good. If you are listening to these, I HIGHLY recommend that you find Barbara's version.
This outing finds the characters combing through Central Park for clues in the death of a young woman whose body is found in a body of water under the statue of an angel. The information about the park is wonderfully intriguing and I have to admit to looking some of these things up later!
Linda Fairstein is not the best technical writer, but she has very engaging characters, a great sense of space and an intimacy with the legal aspects surrounding sexual violence that make the crimes and acts in her books very timely and compelling.
All the old familiar characters are in this book and Alex's love life is once again on the skid, but that is nothing new. There is some potential development in that area that you'll have to read to find out! But it will be interesting to see where Fairstein takes it.
Most books I "read" are actually audiobooks and I have to give a shout-out to the great Barbara Rosenblat, who narrates this book. It is unbelievable the difference a good narrator can make to a book (and likewise what a bad one can do to it). I have listened to a number of books narrated by Barbara and they are ALWAYS excellently done. I have had to listen to a couple of books in this series narrated by someone else and they are never quite as good. If you are listening to these, I HIGHLY recommend that you find Barbara's version.
October 4, 2013
There are authors whose fictional works are some of the best trip guides and historical background guides to the settings of which they write, and Linda Fairstein never fails in he presentation of fascinating facts about New York City. Each book in the Alex Cooper series opens up an area or landmark of NYC to the reader, revealing secret tidbits that somehow become integral parts of the story. And, there is always great story to unfold and enjoy.
In her fifteenth novel in this series, the area of interest is Central Park, where the body of a young woman turns up in a lake with no identification and no clues to who murdered her. Alex is called in, along with detectives and friends Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace. Pressure is particularly heavy on Alex and Mike, who are dealing with false accusations of romantic involvement from a former fling of Mike's, an unstable judge. They must be at the top of their game to solve an ever-puzzling crime, the present-day murder that seems to have mysterious ties to the Dakota luxury apartment building and a child that went missing there in the 1970s. To complicate matters further, the rape of another young woman and attempted rape of yet another has the threesome wondering if the popular park is safe for young women anymore. History of Central Park and the Dakota Building is simply captivating and provides connections to the story throughout the book. Another engaging read from Fairstein.
In her fifteenth novel in this series, the area of interest is Central Park, where the body of a young woman turns up in a lake with no identification and no clues to who murdered her. Alex is called in, along with detectives and friends Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace. Pressure is particularly heavy on Alex and Mike, who are dealing with false accusations of romantic involvement from a former fling of Mike's, an unstable judge. They must be at the top of their game to solve an ever-puzzling crime, the present-day murder that seems to have mysterious ties to the Dakota luxury apartment building and a child that went missing there in the 1970s. To complicate matters further, the rape of another young woman and attempted rape of yet another has the threesome wondering if the popular park is safe for young women anymore. History of Central Park and the Dakota Building is simply captivating and provides connections to the story throughout the book. Another engaging read from Fairstein.
January 1, 2016
Well as always I've learned a LOT and in depth about NYC as well as being taken on a unique murder mystery. This time it was about Central Park. I had NO IDEA that it is TOTALLY man made!! /And/ that there is a buried village under it!! An act of imminent domain it seems. And we learn a little more about how the Rich and Famous (Robin Cooke anyone?) live. Keep up the good work Ms. Fairstein and most of all thank you again for your career as the ADA Sex Crimes Division though I do not live there. But as we know....we are ALL connected.
December 26, 2013
This is a very pleading return to form for Fairstein after her previous book Night Watch , was OK but not one of her better works. In Death Angel she gives us all our favourite characters doing what they do best. Although you do have to wonder at times how with two of New Yorks best cops looking out for how Alexandra Copper gets herself into and usually out of so many life threatening situations.
June 17, 2019
Predictable plot, two-dimensional characters bordering on caricature, a protagonist who seemingly can do no wrong and who faces no real challenges--people seem to give her whatever she wants without putting up much of an argument, let alone fight--and who seems to be able to get away with things no one would get away with in real life, like mouthing off to her boss and starting an affair with a cop she might some day have to call to testify in a case she prosecutes. Can't call.it a thriller because it wasn't thrilling. Guess it's a procedural. I'll stick to Ed McBain.
August 5, 2022
Interesting style and hard to put down. I don’t know much of the history of Central Park, I found it very informative. A brief mention of the restaurant Patroon which is a mainstay in Stuart Woods books of Stone Barrington.
January 15, 2023
This book really read as if it was an episode of Bones. An intruiging mystery, a small romantic connection between the main characters, and a (slightly) predictable plot. It was however still entertaining and gave me a lot of new insights into Central Park, which is also worth a lot!
August 8, 2013
The nude body of a young woman washed up in The Lake near the Bethesda Angel in Central Park. She had been dead for at least two weeks but placed in The Lake only two days before she was found. She had no identifying marks or other information to help determine who she was or how she got there. Three valuable and unusual items, old silver replicas of some of Central Park’s best known features, were found near that area. New York City Assistant District Attorney Alex Cooper and Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace were called in to work the case.
With media attention high because of the location of the victim, the pressure is on to find answers. The investigation is divided between finding out who she is and who killed her. There are, of course, several possibilities and suspects.
In addition, Alex and Mike are accused of improper behavior and become the possible target of a killer. And a very wealthy elderly woman from a very wealthy family lives on the eighth floor of the Dakota, across from the park. She suffers from dementia. Her three-year-old granddaughter disappeared in 1979. The windows on the ninth floor are much smaller than those below them. Because of the smoke and smog and noise, they were the rooms for the servants. They also had the best views.
DEATH ANGEL is the fifteenth book in Linda Fairstein’s series featuring Alex, Mike and Mercer. One of the best features of the books is all the information presented about the location, in this case, Central Park. A map showing all the locations precedes page 1. It is very helpful though I frequently went on-line to get a better look at them.
One location, Seneca Village, figures prominently in the story. It was a settlement of 250 African American property holders living near 80th Street to 89th Street. Its first settlers arrived in 1825. In 1857, the entire village--houses, shops, three churches--was destroyed by New York so the land could be used for the new park. The cemeteries there were covered over by the new landscaping.
Much of the landscaping was created specifically for the park. Rocks and soil were brought in to build hills and grottoes. The water in the reservoir, lakes, and waterfalls was supplied by the NYC water system. There are also numerous caves, many closed off because of safety issues.
About four thousand homeless youths between ages thirteen and twenty five stay in NYC every night. There are only 250 beds available to them in shelters. Forty percent of the homeless youth are GLBT.
She does pay tribute, in two places, to Justin Feldman, her husband in real life. She mentioned that he died. I Googled him and learned a lot about a very interesting, important man. I appreciate the introduction.
Some of the situations are standard but the dialogue works and the characters, on the whole, seem plausible. Fairstein presents information from previous books that really are not necessary for this one. She has a few very short chapters followed by chapters that take place in the same location at the same time with the same characters. At one place, the group is at a restaurant which doesn't have menus. On the next page, they each order something else. (One of my pet peeves.) Even if you’ve never seen one of the previous books, DEATH ANGEL is an interesting read. It may encourage you to check out the others.
With media attention high because of the location of the victim, the pressure is on to find answers. The investigation is divided between finding out who she is and who killed her. There are, of course, several possibilities and suspects.
In addition, Alex and Mike are accused of improper behavior and become the possible target of a killer. And a very wealthy elderly woman from a very wealthy family lives on the eighth floor of the Dakota, across from the park. She suffers from dementia. Her three-year-old granddaughter disappeared in 1979. The windows on the ninth floor are much smaller than those below them. Because of the smoke and smog and noise, they were the rooms for the servants. They also had the best views.
DEATH ANGEL is the fifteenth book in Linda Fairstein’s series featuring Alex, Mike and Mercer. One of the best features of the books is all the information presented about the location, in this case, Central Park. A map showing all the locations precedes page 1. It is very helpful though I frequently went on-line to get a better look at them.
One location, Seneca Village, figures prominently in the story. It was a settlement of 250 African American property holders living near 80th Street to 89th Street. Its first settlers arrived in 1825. In 1857, the entire village--houses, shops, three churches--was destroyed by New York so the land could be used for the new park. The cemeteries there were covered over by the new landscaping.
Much of the landscaping was created specifically for the park. Rocks and soil were brought in to build hills and grottoes. The water in the reservoir, lakes, and waterfalls was supplied by the NYC water system. There are also numerous caves, many closed off because of safety issues.
About four thousand homeless youths between ages thirteen and twenty five stay in NYC every night. There are only 250 beds available to them in shelters. Forty percent of the homeless youth are GLBT.
She does pay tribute, in two places, to Justin Feldman, her husband in real life. She mentioned that he died. I Googled him and learned a lot about a very interesting, important man. I appreciate the introduction.
Some of the situations are standard but the dialogue works and the characters, on the whole, seem plausible. Fairstein presents information from previous books that really are not necessary for this one. She has a few very short chapters followed by chapters that take place in the same location at the same time with the same characters. At one place, the group is at a restaurant which doesn't have menus. On the next page, they each order something else. (One of my pet peeves.) Even if you’ve never seen one of the previous books, DEATH ANGEL is an interesting read. It may encourage you to check out the others.
August 31, 2013
Combining a grizzly murder, buried secrets and the luscious layout of New York’s Central Park prove to be a good match for author Linda Fairstein’s latest Alex Cooper thriller, DEATH ANGEL.
Narrator Barbara Rosenblat does an excellent job giving distinct voices to the returning characters of Fairstein’s series, as well as new ones. Her cadence pulls you in holding you captive as she vocalizes the depth of Fairstein’s words. Rosenblat has you gasping for breath right along with the characters.
When a young woman’s body is pulled from a lake in Central Park, law enforcement is put on alert to find the killer and make the park safe once again. As Assistant District Attorney Alex ‘Coop’ Cooper and Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace being looking into the case, they discover the trail leads to the famous apartment building, The Dakota, located nearby. Piecing the bits of evidence together, they soon discover it could have connections to a cold case involving a missing child that rivaled the Lindbergh Kidnapping.
Meanwhile, Coop and Chapman have their hands full with a more personal matter. They’re about to be pulled into a scandal involving a judge on the verge of losing it that could cost both of them their jobs. Coop is determined to help Chapman no matter the cost as a few sparks of attraction between the two ignite.
Once again Fairstein places her characters in the middle of a bizarre crime scene and leads readers on a merry chase to find the killer. The well-developed characters continue to evolve with each new installment in the series. They’re realistic and likable.
DEATH ANGEL moves at a steady, but smooth pace. It’s action-driven with twists and surprises along the way to keep you on your toes. Readers new to the series won’t be left in the dark with prior references, while returning fans will enjoy the continuing growth of the lead characters.
Fairstein’s vivid and detailed descriptions of Central Park places the reader/listener in the middle of the beautiful backdrop. Her eye for authentic detail enhances the story and brings the setting to life. Reading/listening to DEATH ANGEL is like taking a virtual trip to Central Park with a side stop for a mysterious murder or two.
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Narrator Barbara Rosenblat does an excellent job giving distinct voices to the returning characters of Fairstein’s series, as well as new ones. Her cadence pulls you in holding you captive as she vocalizes the depth of Fairstein’s words. Rosenblat has you gasping for breath right along with the characters.
When a young woman’s body is pulled from a lake in Central Park, law enforcement is put on alert to find the killer and make the park safe once again. As Assistant District Attorney Alex ‘Coop’ Cooper and Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace being looking into the case, they discover the trail leads to the famous apartment building, The Dakota, located nearby. Piecing the bits of evidence together, they soon discover it could have connections to a cold case involving a missing child that rivaled the Lindbergh Kidnapping.
Meanwhile, Coop and Chapman have their hands full with a more personal matter. They’re about to be pulled into a scandal involving a judge on the verge of losing it that could cost both of them their jobs. Coop is determined to help Chapman no matter the cost as a few sparks of attraction between the two ignite.
Once again Fairstein places her characters in the middle of a bizarre crime scene and leads readers on a merry chase to find the killer. The well-developed characters continue to evolve with each new installment in the series. They’re realistic and likable.
DEATH ANGEL moves at a steady, but smooth pace. It’s action-driven with twists and surprises along the way to keep you on your toes. Readers new to the series won’t be left in the dark with prior references, while returning fans will enjoy the continuing growth of the lead characters.
Fairstein’s vivid and detailed descriptions of Central Park places the reader/listener in the middle of the beautiful backdrop. Her eye for authentic detail enhances the story and brings the setting to life. Reading/listening to DEATH ANGEL is like taking a virtual trip to Central Park with a side stop for a mysterious murder or two.
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
May 4, 2014
Fairstein’s last book wasn’t as good as her prior ones. It just didn’t have the strong story or good tension of those other books. Fairstein had just lost her husband around the time she was writing it so she was entitled to a pass. She’s back on track here.
The Central Park murder of a homeless girl leads to the solving of the disappearance of a three-year-old child almost fifty years earlier. Meanwhile, both Alex Cooper and Mike Chapman are dealing with a problem that could derail both their careers.
Both plotlines are engaging and the tension is strong and steady with occasional calm spots to let readers catch their breath. But there were two sub-plots – a threat from a man Alex is prosecuting and an escaped serial killer – which Fairstein left unresolved. Perhaps she'll resolve them in the next book. And it appears there are some major changes coming for Alex, Mike, and Mercer (Fairstein’s third primary character).
Fairstein devoted a lot of words to Central Park and The Dakota (the building where John Lennon was murdered) that, while informative and interesting, slowed down the story some. I'm not a fan of Fairstein constantly mentioning high-end NYC restaurants, not just in this book but in almost every one in the series, either. It smacks a little too much of name dropping for my taste. Don't Alex, Mike, and Mercer ever just hit McDonald's for burgers, fries, and shakes?
And again, Alex goes off on her own and gets her butt in a major sling. One has to wonder how a woman as intelligent as Alex can constantly do something so idiotic. A writer friend of mine calls this 'Too Dumb To Live' behavior.
Luc Rouget, Alex’s latest lover, is absent here after a thoroughly annoying performance in the prior book. Many reviews I’ve read of books including him have panned his presence. Let’s hope he’s gone for good.
Alex and Mike are still trading cruel barbs instead of the more teasing exchanges of earlier books. Let’s hope this – like Luc – goes away soon. Mercer has a bigger role in this book than in the last one, where his main function seemed to be playing buffer between the other two.
The next book in this series is due soon and I’m looking forward to reading it.
The Central Park murder of a homeless girl leads to the solving of the disappearance of a three-year-old child almost fifty years earlier. Meanwhile, both Alex Cooper and Mike Chapman are dealing with a problem that could derail both their careers.
Both plotlines are engaging and the tension is strong and steady with occasional calm spots to let readers catch their breath. But there were two sub-plots – a threat from a man Alex is prosecuting and an escaped serial killer – which Fairstein left unresolved. Perhaps she'll resolve them in the next book. And it appears there are some major changes coming for Alex, Mike, and Mercer (Fairstein’s third primary character).
Fairstein devoted a lot of words to Central Park and The Dakota (the building where John Lennon was murdered) that, while informative and interesting, slowed down the story some. I'm not a fan of Fairstein constantly mentioning high-end NYC restaurants, not just in this book but in almost every one in the series, either. It smacks a little too much of name dropping for my taste. Don't Alex, Mike, and Mercer ever just hit McDonald's for burgers, fries, and shakes?
And again, Alex goes off on her own and gets her butt in a major sling. One has to wonder how a woman as intelligent as Alex can constantly do something so idiotic. A writer friend of mine calls this 'Too Dumb To Live' behavior.
Luc Rouget, Alex’s latest lover, is absent here after a thoroughly annoying performance in the prior book. Many reviews I’ve read of books including him have panned his presence. Let’s hope he’s gone for good.
Alex and Mike are still trading cruel barbs instead of the more teasing exchanges of earlier books. Let’s hope this – like Luc – goes away soon. Mercer has a bigger role in this book than in the last one, where his main function seemed to be playing buffer between the other two.
The next book in this series is due soon and I’m looking forward to reading it.
March 10, 2015
I always learn something about New York when I read Fairstein. This time it is the history of Central Park and the Dakota Apartment building. Prosecutor Alex Cooper and her buddy police detective Mike Chapman are on the scene for the murder of a young woman in Central Park. In trying to identify the young woman and her killer, Alex and the police wend their way through the characters that inhabit the park, including homeless addicts and youth. They find there are hidden cubbies and caves where secrets can hide. Adjacent to the case is a long cold case involving the kidnapping of the grandchild of a very wealthy woman who lives in the Dakota facing the park. The case was never solved and the child was never found. Alex and Mike wonder if the two are connected because some small-scale model pieces of monuments from Central Park are found at the scene. The pieces are one-of-a-kind and known to belong to the now-elderly grandmother of the kidnapped child. The woman is now in her eighties and has lapses of dementia. Very interesting lessons on old New York. There is a boring subplot about a man who is out to kill Alex (of course). There is also a silly catfight subplot involving a woman judge who is jealous of Alex’s relationship with Mike. After reading the new series about a D.A. by Marcia Clark and nothing that her main character seems to spend more time investigating than in the courtroom, I began to wonder the thing about Alex. She does spend a lot of time being a detective. But like Marcia Clark, Fairstein used to do what Alex does, so she should know? I do not work in that world, but have never had the impression that D.A.s and Prosecutors are called to live scenes. I’d welcome input from someone who knows.
Read
August 19, 2013Death Angel, by Linda Fairstein, b-plus, Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, Produced by Penguin Audio, Downloaded from audible.com.
In this entry to the Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cooper series, Alex and her homicide detective partner, Mike Chapman, are trying to solve a murder where a young woman is found brutally murdered with no clothes and no identifying marks, so no one knows who she is. But Alex thinks her murder holds the same MO as murders committed by a man she tried for murder a few years ago. She was unsuccessful in getting him convicted of murder, but he was found not guilty by reason of insanity and had been placed in a hospital for the criminally insane. However, he escaped when he was allowed out on work release for good behavior. Now Alex believes he is killing again and that he is after her as well. But also in the running as a murderer is a man who escaped from Bellevue during evacuation of that hospital in Hurricane Sandy. In additioin to the thriller elements of the story itself, we have Fairstein’s always interesting relation to history of New York-this time to the history of Central Park. Also, we continue the saga toward, I imagine, eventual consummation of an affair/relationship between her and Mike Chapman. If that happens in future books, one of the two of them will have to leave their prominent positions in the Prosecutor’s Office or in the police force, which is why I don’t want to see this happen. But it looks like eventually it will, so we should all get ready.
In this entry to the Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cooper series, Alex and her homicide detective partner, Mike Chapman, are trying to solve a murder where a young woman is found brutally murdered with no clothes and no identifying marks, so no one knows who she is. But Alex thinks her murder holds the same MO as murders committed by a man she tried for murder a few years ago. She was unsuccessful in getting him convicted of murder, but he was found not guilty by reason of insanity and had been placed in a hospital for the criminally insane. However, he escaped when he was allowed out on work release for good behavior. Now Alex believes he is killing again and that he is after her as well. But also in the running as a murderer is a man who escaped from Bellevue during evacuation of that hospital in Hurricane Sandy. In additioin to the thriller elements of the story itself, we have Fairstein’s always interesting relation to history of New York-this time to the history of Central Park. Also, we continue the saga toward, I imagine, eventual consummation of an affair/relationship between her and Mike Chapman. If that happens in future books, one of the two of them will have to leave their prominent positions in the Prosecutor’s Office or in the police force, which is why I don’t want to see this happen. But it looks like eventually it will, so we should all get ready.
October 11, 2013
I wanted more park, less Falcon Crest.
Interesting opening scene, body found in Central Park Lake, under a famous angel statue, which means you start gearing up for some informative and in-depth NYC history, all super good, then BAM! 100 pages of ridiculous soap opera drama starring the scintillating Alexandra Coopah! With everyone tossing their heads and snapping at each other, slapping each other for sass, stalking out of places, like--
What? What? No! Stop it! Go solve the damn murder! Body! Murder! Park!
What. Are. Y'all. Doing.
At the end of those 100 pages, fortunately, we pause for commercials, which in this case take the form of another truly fascinating look at a piece of New York City: Central Park. The history of it, the geography of it, what it replaced, etc etc. So good. Such interesting stuff, especially when you throw in the Dakota apartment building.
Then another brief Falcon Crest interlude -- and to be honest, the trope of the spurned woman turned stalker is done for me. Especially when stalkers in real life are overwhelmingly male. So you know, that just kept irritating the snot out of me.
Then finally, we return to the park and things get even more interesting, and the denouement is way too tiny, just like with The Deadhouse. But it does pass The Bechdel Test (hosanna!) and I did just spend all day reading it, so I'm going to try just one more from the series.
Interesting opening scene, body found in Central Park Lake, under a famous angel statue, which means you start gearing up for some informative and in-depth NYC history, all super good, then BAM! 100 pages of ridiculous soap opera drama starring the scintillating Alexandra Coopah! With everyone tossing their heads and snapping at each other, slapping each other for sass, stalking out of places, like--
What? What? No! Stop it! Go solve the damn murder! Body! Murder! Park!
What. Are. Y'all. Doing.
At the end of those 100 pages, fortunately, we pause for commercials, which in this case take the form of another truly fascinating look at a piece of New York City: Central Park. The history of it, the geography of it, what it replaced, etc etc. So good. Such interesting stuff, especially when you throw in the Dakota apartment building.
Then another brief Falcon Crest interlude -- and to be honest, the trope of the spurned woman turned stalker is done for me. Especially when stalkers in real life are overwhelmingly male. So you know, that just kept irritating the snot out of me.
Then finally, we return to the park and things get even more interesting, and the denouement is way too tiny, just like with The Deadhouse. But it does pass The Bechdel Test (hosanna!) and I did just spend all day reading it, so I'm going to try just one more from the series.
August 1, 2013
This is the fifteenth crime novel featuring 38-year-old Alexandra (“Alex”) Cooper, 38, the prosecutor in charge of the Special Victims Unit in Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
Alex has been called to the scene of a murder that took place near the Angel of the Waters statue in Central Park. Summoned as well is her friend and police SVU detective Mercer Wallace, and homicide detective Mike Chapman.
Because the crime has taken place in Central Park, the police need to scan the park for clues, so we, along with them, get thoroughly briefed in the history, background, and topography of the park, which is the best part of the book.
We find out, for example, that Central Park is 843 acres - six percent of the total size of Manhattan! - with an annual budget of $46 million (85% of which comes from private funds). As Alex and Mike and Mercer explore the Ravine and the Ramble and the Sheep Meadow and so on, I very much wished I could take the book with me as a guidebook in the park.
Otherwise, the story is pretty standard fare: a bit of a mystery, a bit of tension, and a bit of romance. Fairstein generates reliably entertaining books that could readily be transformed into a winning television series.
Alex has been called to the scene of a murder that took place near the Angel of the Waters statue in Central Park. Summoned as well is her friend and police SVU detective Mercer Wallace, and homicide detective Mike Chapman.
Because the crime has taken place in Central Park, the police need to scan the park for clues, so we, along with them, get thoroughly briefed in the history, background, and topography of the park, which is the best part of the book.
We find out, for example, that Central Park is 843 acres - six percent of the total size of Manhattan! - with an annual budget of $46 million (85% of which comes from private funds). As Alex and Mike and Mercer explore the Ravine and the Ramble and the Sheep Meadow and so on, I very much wished I could take the book with me as a guidebook in the park.
Otherwise, the story is pretty standard fare: a bit of a mystery, a bit of tension, and a bit of romance. Fairstein generates reliably entertaining books that could readily be transformed into a winning television series.
May 14, 2015
I actually just read three of this author's books in the Alex Cooper series. Killer Heat, Silent Mercy and this one, Death Angel and I have to say I found all three disappointing. Alex Cooper is supposed to be an Asst. NYC DA and the head of the Special Victims Unit, yet she is treated like a helpless female by several men, particularly her boss, DA Paul Battaglia and the male lead, Detective Mike Chapman. She is often pooh-poohed for her thoughts and ideas by both these men. Basically, she is told to be a good little woman and let the men take care of her. A woman in her position should command a lot more respect than this and I am surprised the author chooses to portray her lead character this way. This was done in all three books that I read. Another thing I found annoying is that when Alex finally gets to confront the killer, she is almost killed several times before she finally is safe and the killer has been taken care of. Again, this was in all three books I read. Reminded me of those slasher movies like Friday The 13th or Halloween, where the killer never dies! Anyway, I am not a fan of this author and I will not be reading anymore of her books.
August 11, 2013
I gave this book 5 stars more for the historical info rather than the storyline.
One of the thing I enjoy most about the Alex Cooper series is the historical info about NYC that Linda Fairstein weaves into her fictional storyline. I learn something new with each book. This particular one centered around Central Park. The Dakota featured prominently as well. Even if you've lived in NYC all your life, I bet you'll learn something new from Fairstein's research.
I was a bit disappointed with the Cooper - Chapman storyline. I had hoped Fairstein would keep it away from a romantic entanglement. I just don't see that happening, but I guess we'll have to wait until the next book to find out for certain.
Cooper seemed a little off her game when she walked right into the suspect's lair. In fact, Cooper seemed a little off the entire book. Not sure I like her new demeanor but, again, we'll have to wait and see what happens in the next book.
Overall, this is a great series that can be read individually, but best read in order.
One of the thing I enjoy most about the Alex Cooper series is the historical info about NYC that Linda Fairstein weaves into her fictional storyline. I learn something new with each book. This particular one centered around Central Park. The Dakota featured prominently as well. Even if you've lived in NYC all your life, I bet you'll learn something new from Fairstein's research.
I was a bit disappointed with the Cooper - Chapman storyline. I had hoped Fairstein would keep it away from a romantic entanglement. I just don't see that happening, but I guess we'll have to wait until the next book to find out for certain.
Cooper seemed a little off her game when she walked right into the suspect's lair. In fact, Cooper seemed a little off the entire book. Not sure I like her new demeanor but, again, we'll have to wait and see what happens in the next book.
Overall, this is a great series that can be read individually, but best read in order.
January 4, 2014
While the plot of this novel was a bit stronger than Fairstein's last few books, the writing was distractingly bad in many places. "Her great good looks"?!? "The cool water refreshed me instantly--as both a drinking source and a foot bath." Stilted and unnatural, this type of writing repeatedly detracted from the pace of the novel, along with terrible dialogue...two sentences after a doctor refers to the re-assignment of patients to other hospitals during Hurricane Sandy as a diaspora, Alex says, "So they scattered, like a colony of people living away from their homeland. Like a diaspora." Or, in a romantic moment, "I told you I'm not cold. I'm--I'm nervous, I think. That's why I'm trembling." It's as overdone as an old Hollywood drama. In the crucial, climactic scenes there are important details that are out of sequence with the bindings on her feet. Fairstein has the knowledge and writing skills to create good books-- like she did in her earlier Cooper novels-- but the last few seem to have been rushed and poorly edited.
August 13, 2013
After the disappointment of the last couple of Linda Fairstein novels I had vowed never to buy any of her books again but when I read that this new novel would be set in Central Park I couldn't resist and I'm so glad that I relented and bought it.
Death Angel has all the elements that have made me love Linda Fairstein's books - Coop, Chapman and Mercer and most importantly all of the well researched historical facts about New York which make them seem so authentic.
I couldn't put this book down and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good crime thriller, this one is on par with The Bone Vault which is one of my all time favorite Fairstein books.
Death Angel has definitely restored my faith in the Alexander Cooper series and I can't wait for the next installment.
Death Angel has all the elements that have made me love Linda Fairstein's books - Coop, Chapman and Mercer and most importantly all of the well researched historical facts about New York which make them seem so authentic.
I couldn't put this book down and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good crime thriller, this one is on par with The Bone Vault which is one of my all time favorite Fairstein books.
Death Angel has definitely restored my faith in the Alexander Cooper series and I can't wait for the next installment.
July 26, 2013
Not one of her strongest, yet there is a lot of interesting lore about Central Park in this one. Weak points are too much back story about the main characters, not essential to the plot and avid readers of the series already know about Alex Cooper, Mercer and Mike. Also Fairstein reverts to the classic heroine in peril scenario several times in this book which weakens Alex Cooper's credibility as a street smart advocate for women. Strong points are the details about New York, Central Park in particular.
April 15, 2015
I enjoyed all the NYC history. I felt like there was a lot of background on the characters that I didn't know (this is a late entry in a series) which made the relationship parts of the book (which were extensive) confusing and not very interesting. The crime did not get a lot of focus and seemed a bit tacked on to the history and the interpersonal intrigue.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews