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Alexandra Cooper #8
Death Dance
Teaming up with old friends and colleagues Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace, Alex Cooper investigates the disappearance of a world-famous ballet dancer from the Metropolitan Opera House. Meanwhile, Alex and Mercer are also on the trail of a doctor who has been drugging and assaulting numerous women.
467 pages, Paperback
First published January 17, 2006
194 people are currently reading
1511 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 235 reviews
March 4, 2025
"Overture ... curtain, lights! This is it ... we'll hit the heights!”
When New York Assistant DA Alex Cooper teams up with her police colleagues, Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace, to solve the murder of prima ballerina and outrageous diva, Natalya Galinova, readers are treated to a backstage tour of the New York music and theater scene that any arts-loving tourist would give their eye teeth for. We meet the dancers, actors and musicians, the show girls, the technicians, the on-stage grunts, the administrators and management, and the über-wealthy production financiers whose pockets are, to all appearances, bottomless. We tour the orchestra pit, stage front, backstage, refreshment loges, balconies, dressing rooms and rehearsal halls. We learn of the architecture and history of the buildings – Lincoln Center’s Metropolitan Opera House, City Center and the Belasco Theatre.
Unfortunately, despite this fabulous backdrop (did you catch that stage reference?), the plot that Fairstein has woven for her readers manages to be at once byzantine, pedestrian and melodramatic. The Berk family on which most time is spent becomes cartoonish. Admittedly, the alleged bad guys in a thriller aren’t supposed to be lovable folks but their self-centered narcissism, their overweaning pomposity and arrogance, their self-indulgent sexual perversion and their outrageous misogyny dominated the narrative and simply became tedious.
In the meantime, the secondary plot which showed so much promise in the opening chapter becomes a missed opportunity and is all but ignored through most of the novel. Drug assisted sexual assault, the ethics of DNA databases, bail versus release on an alleged criminal’s own recognizance, flight risk and international extradition – all that meat smelled so delicious when it first got dropped onto the grill but the chef walked away and left this reader hungry with his stomach rumbling loudly.
Weakly recommended for fans of the Alex Cooper series. I hope this one doesn’t mean that her curtain is about to come down.
Paul Weiss
When New York Assistant DA Alex Cooper teams up with her police colleagues, Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace, to solve the murder of prima ballerina and outrageous diva, Natalya Galinova, readers are treated to a backstage tour of the New York music and theater scene that any arts-loving tourist would give their eye teeth for. We meet the dancers, actors and musicians, the show girls, the technicians, the on-stage grunts, the administrators and management, and the über-wealthy production financiers whose pockets are, to all appearances, bottomless. We tour the orchestra pit, stage front, backstage, refreshment loges, balconies, dressing rooms and rehearsal halls. We learn of the architecture and history of the buildings – Lincoln Center’s Metropolitan Opera House, City Center and the Belasco Theatre.
Unfortunately, despite this fabulous backdrop (did you catch that stage reference?), the plot that Fairstein has woven for her readers manages to be at once byzantine, pedestrian and melodramatic. The Berk family on which most time is spent becomes cartoonish. Admittedly, the alleged bad guys in a thriller aren’t supposed to be lovable folks but their self-centered narcissism, their overweaning pomposity and arrogance, their self-indulgent sexual perversion and their outrageous misogyny dominated the narrative and simply became tedious.
In the meantime, the secondary plot which showed so much promise in the opening chapter becomes a missed opportunity and is all but ignored through most of the novel. Drug assisted sexual assault, the ethics of DNA databases, bail versus release on an alleged criminal’s own recognizance, flight risk and international extradition – all that meat smelled so delicious when it first got dropped onto the grill but the chef walked away and left this reader hungry with his stomach rumbling loudly.
Weakly recommended for fans of the Alex Cooper series. I hope this one doesn’t mean that her curtain is about to come down.
Paul Weiss
December 8, 2010
This is the first Linda Fairstein book I've read, and thought it a Good Read. Death Dance has a host of intriguing and engaging characters, with several threads, or crimes, to follow along with. The book was fast paced and kept my attention, but one thing I really liked - and wish more authors would introduce into their books - is the snippits of fact interspersed throughout. How they go about a task, tool used and why, what it means, what they look for...
I'll have to look into some more from Ms. Fairstein.
I'll have to look into some more from Ms. Fairstein.
September 1, 2016
Death Dance is the 8th book Linda Fairstein's series featuring Alexander Cooper. This was my third outing with Alex Cooper, having read a couple of the early books in the series sometime ago, and it was particularly interesting to see where the series had gone in the intervening years.
Alex is an Assistant District Attorney, working in the sex crime division, passionately devoted to her job and to the victims she sees herself as representing. Teamed up firstly with long-time friend Mercer Wallace, they are investigating the drugging rape of two visiting Canadian girls, when called to a missing prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Natalya Galinova after first being listed as officially missing, is eventually found brutally killed in the backstage area of the Opera House. Alex and Mercer team up with Mike Chapman, the third member of a group of long-time friends and colleagues, to investigate the murder. They do this in and around the backstage of the Opera House and amongst some powerful players in the New York theatre world.
Along with these two major investigations, the NY Police are also trying to track down a serial rapist who is attacking women in local parks.
The central plot regarding the death of the ballerina takes most of the focus in the book and, aside from Alex having a life long love of ballet, it was never really clear why a sex-crime prosecutor would be involved so closely in the non-sex related death of Galinova. The investigation of the death proceeds very slowly, intertwined with some interesting aspects of the Opera House, theatre venues in New York and with a cast of "theatre types" both management and talent. There is an unfortunate inconsistency in some of that follow-up which dragged me right out of the story and some fem-jep towards the end which really seemed too convenient. Meanwhile, the investigation into the rape of the two Canadian girls proceeds quickly and a suspect is easily identified. The resolution of that crime is less satisfactory from Alex's point of view, but could have struck a strong chord of reality if the final page dramatic climax had been avoided. The rapist in the park is also resolved but again, the methodology used is a little out of the blue and the plot line never really got much focus throughout the book.
One of the strengths of this book is the long-term relationship between the three investigators. They know each other well and have been through a lot together. The references to previous events, presumably from earlier books, are quite easy to assimilate and give a real feeling for the long-term friendship.
The rather crowded plot; the inexplicable actions in a sub-part of the ballerina's death; a glaring piece of fem-jep which seemed rather unnecessary, and a final "rapping up" of absolutely every loose end on all the sub-plots on the final pages of the book detracted. For me, this was an interesting read, but not one of my all-time favourites from this author.
Alex is an Assistant District Attorney, working in the sex crime division, passionately devoted to her job and to the victims she sees herself as representing. Teamed up firstly with long-time friend Mercer Wallace, they are investigating the drugging rape of two visiting Canadian girls, when called to a missing prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Natalya Galinova after first being listed as officially missing, is eventually found brutally killed in the backstage area of the Opera House. Alex and Mercer team up with Mike Chapman, the third member of a group of long-time friends and colleagues, to investigate the murder. They do this in and around the backstage of the Opera House and amongst some powerful players in the New York theatre world.
Along with these two major investigations, the NY Police are also trying to track down a serial rapist who is attacking women in local parks.
The central plot regarding the death of the ballerina takes most of the focus in the book and, aside from Alex having a life long love of ballet, it was never really clear why a sex-crime prosecutor would be involved so closely in the non-sex related death of Galinova. The investigation of the death proceeds very slowly, intertwined with some interesting aspects of the Opera House, theatre venues in New York and with a cast of "theatre types" both management and talent. There is an unfortunate inconsistency in some of that follow-up which dragged me right out of the story and some fem-jep towards the end which really seemed too convenient. Meanwhile, the investigation into the rape of the two Canadian girls proceeds quickly and a suspect is easily identified. The resolution of that crime is less satisfactory from Alex's point of view, but could have struck a strong chord of reality if the final page dramatic climax had been avoided. The rapist in the park is also resolved but again, the methodology used is a little out of the blue and the plot line never really got much focus throughout the book.
One of the strengths of this book is the long-term relationship between the three investigators. They know each other well and have been through a lot together. The references to previous events, presumably from earlier books, are quite easy to assimilate and give a real feeling for the long-term friendship.
The rather crowded plot; the inexplicable actions in a sub-part of the ballerina's death; a glaring piece of fem-jep which seemed rather unnecessary, and a final "rapping up" of absolutely every loose end on all the sub-plots on the final pages of the book detracted. For me, this was an interesting read, but not one of my all-time favourites from this author.
September 20, 2009
Fans of Law and Order, SVU (Special Victims Unit) where cutting edge forensic tools are coupled with gritty detective work will definitely relish Death Dance. The book captures the reader's attention with a look into the personal and professional life of a New York criminal prosecutor and two of her colleagues. Her cases are varied and range from indicting a physician involved in drug facilitated sexual assaults to the murder of a prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera House.
While I do not want to give away the complete plotline, let me just say that the book treats the reader to a descriptive behind a scenes tour of the Met as well as a couple of other famous New York theaters; gives us a history lesson about the famous and infamous residents of the city, both past and present, supplies lessons in forensics and police procedures and finally allows an exasperating glimpse at the practice of releasing non-citizens on their own recognizance with the naive expectation that they will return for trial and not flee the jurisdiction. (Are we stupid, or what??)
This book captures the readers attention from page one, twists and turns its way through 482 undeniably intriguing pages and deposits us at the end of a devilishly good story, satiated for the moment but definitely looking forward to another delectable helping of Linda Fairstein. Take her along on your next lazy afternoon at the beach or better yet on a long, tedious plane ride. You won't regret allowing her to join you.....she makes flying fun.
While I do not want to give away the complete plotline, let me just say that the book treats the reader to a descriptive behind a scenes tour of the Met as well as a couple of other famous New York theaters; gives us a history lesson about the famous and infamous residents of the city, both past and present, supplies lessons in forensics and police procedures and finally allows an exasperating glimpse at the practice of releasing non-citizens on their own recognizance with the naive expectation that they will return for trial and not flee the jurisdiction. (Are we stupid, or what??)
This book captures the readers attention from page one, twists and turns its way through 482 undeniably intriguing pages and deposits us at the end of a devilishly good story, satiated for the moment but definitely looking forward to another delectable helping of Linda Fairstein. Take her along on your next lazy afternoon at the beach or better yet on a long, tedious plane ride. You won't regret allowing her to join you.....she makes flying fun.
October 25, 2018
The one thing I always 'love' when I read a Linda Fairstein book is the bonus tutorial on NYC history. Even as a native New Yorker, I always learn interesting history about the area , which I never knew!.
In " Death Dance " Asst.Manhattan DA Alex Cooper becomes involved in 3 cases at once. The main one is the murder of prima ballerina Natalya Galinova at the Met. But soon there will a second incident, accident or murder attempt? to a young ballerina, Lucy DeVore. These attacks on these women may involve some powerful men in the theater industry.
Plus the other case involves a foreign physician, Selim Sengor who apparently likes to drug young women before raping them . Just as Alex is closing in on him , he escapes the country and heads back to the middle East. But he also has a colleague snare some evidence before Alex can get her hands on it. Working with her 2 buddies Mercer & Mike , Alex must try to get all the evidence together and solve all three cases.
My only criticism of Fairstein's books is that they can run a little long. Otherwise she is a mesmerizing author.
In " Death Dance " Asst.Manhattan DA Alex Cooper becomes involved in 3 cases at once. The main one is the murder of prima ballerina Natalya Galinova at the Met. But soon there will a second incident, accident or murder attempt? to a young ballerina, Lucy DeVore. These attacks on these women may involve some powerful men in the theater industry.
Plus the other case involves a foreign physician, Selim Sengor who apparently likes to drug young women before raping them . Just as Alex is closing in on him , he escapes the country and heads back to the middle East. But he also has a colleague snare some evidence before Alex can get her hands on it. Working with her 2 buddies Mercer & Mike , Alex must try to get all the evidence together and solve all three cases.
My only criticism of Fairstein's books is that they can run a little long. Otherwise she is a mesmerizing author.
May 2, 2023
Dieser Fall bliebt trotz aller Ausflüge tatsächlich mal sehr nah am Opfer und am Verbrechen selbst, zumindest für die Verhältnisse dieser Reihe. Obwohl es zum Teil sehr zu Familie Berk abdriftete, wurde immer wieder der Bogen geschlagen und die Ballerina geriet nicht in Vergessenheit. Die Entwicklung im Team, die mir zu Ende des letzten Buches so Bauchschmerzen machte, hat sich ein wenig beruhigt, aber es wird noch dauern bis es wieder so wird, wie ich es kenne und liebe. Wenn es denn wieder so wird. Schließlich verändert so ein Schicksalsschlag. Ich bin sehr gespannt, was noch auf Alex, Mike und Mercer wartet.
December 7, 2013
The murder and the other cases in this story were acceptable, but the ending was much too long and much too unbelievable for me. There was too much Mike and his grief and his unlawful behavior. There is always too much insulting of Alex by Mike to my way of thinking but in this one it was a bit over done. I also felt that the characterization of Joe Berk was extreme and the family conspiracy was a bit much but then I have never had much contact with billionaires.
I will try some more. I do like the lessons I learn about the complications of the sexual assault cases.
I will try some more. I do like the lessons I learn about the complications of the sexual assault cases.
December 21, 2015
Outstanding! Alex, Mike, and Mercer investigate the murder of a prima ballerina at the Met. Initially, there are hundreds of suspect, from all walks of life, including an assortment from Broadway theaters.
January 5, 2009
Fairstein's books are interesting because she takes her readers on a different virtual tour of New York City in every book. In this case, it is the world of theater--the Broadway stage, the Met, and the City Center. Her thorough research is so well incorporated into the action of the novel that "Death Dance" can be used as a guidebook for one's next trip to the City. Even better, she creates a number of very colorful characters. Unfortunately, the plot here is extremely thin. We have absolutely no reason to care about the murder victim; we meet her only after her death, and her loss doesn't have any emotional impact on any of the book's characters. Her death seems only a pretext for introducing the settings; the death of a second victim is far more interesting. Moreover, although we learn a great deal about many suspects, the real villain is the character about whom we know the least--a flaw that has become almost formulaic in Fairstein's books. Equally formulaic are (1) the threats to Alex's life, after which she flees to her home in Martha's Vineyard, and (2) the climax in which the villain kidnaps Alex. Nevertheless, this book is entertaining, and the interaction of the characters during the climax is filled with suspense. The relationship of Alex, Mike, and Mercer is one of the strengths of the series. In this book, Alex is trying to cope with her own reaction to Mike's grief over the death of his almost-fiancée. This creates quite a bit of tension, intensifies some of Alex's more unlikable traits, and may lead to a change in their relationship in later books.
May 24, 2015
Great Read
I love Linda Fairstein. The history she gives in her novels is great. I learn something new with every read.
I love Linda Fairstein. The history she gives in her novels is great. I learn something new with every read.
June 21, 2021
This one is honestly probably a 2.5 for me. And the only reason I'm giving it that high is because I was genuinely invested in the mystery and there were some plot twists that I wasn't expecting on that front. But the characters annoyed the heck out of me. The main character is definitely a Mary Sue, which I didn't realize was a thing in adult literature and it's not even necessarily a bad thing all the time, but here it is. The reader constantly has to hear about how rich Alex is, all about her house on Martha's Vineyard, how she has a super fancy apartment and never wears polyester, etc, etc. There's even one point at which she is taken hostage and she feels the need to remind us that she has "smooth skin." SERIOUSLY?!? Her supposed police detective best friend waxes poetic about his first time visiting the Met as a kid when they're supposed to be rushing to find a missing ballet dancer and constantly sexually harasses her. And there's even a point at which the two casually victim blame and shame women who are coerced into drinking alcohol before being sexually assaulted (I am APPALLED that this author used to work in the SVU after reading that). There are other little annoying things, too. Watching Jeopardy is a recurring theme but the way the author writes Alex Trebek's lines makes me think she's never actually watched Jeopardy. And there are multiple plot lines/cases running through the book, but by the end two of them are hastily wrapped up in neat little bows that just don't feel realistic. Yes, the main mystery is good, but honestly? Skip this one. There are good mysteries out there without all these infuriating details.
July 2, 2025
Trei steluțe, ce au început prin a fi patru și era cât p-aci să se transforme în două, într-atât de prost și tras de păr este finalul.
Nu mai citisem nimic de Linda Fairstein, așa că partea mea optimistă spera să găsească un alt autor care să-i placă, ceea ce s-a și întâmplat până la un moment dat, în ciuda lungimii excesive a romanului, datorată și unor practici redundante și obiceiului de a călca de mai multe ori în același loc.
Interesant este că, pe măsură ce citeam (și fără a ști că Alexandra Cooper este eroina unei întregi serii) similitudinile cu seria Women's Murder Club a lui James Patterson mi se păreau din ce în ce mai multe și mai evidente.
Ambele sunt thrillere , în care eroina ne povestește aventurile sale din cadrul poliției. Alex Cooper este ceva mai răsărită ca Lindsay Boxer (geloasă foc, uneori monument de cretinătate, fata care nu are telefonul la ea în cele mai fierbinți momente) dar nu cu mult, pentru că e și ea scorțoasă și suficient de plină de sine. La fel ca în seria lui Patterson, acțiunea are loc pe mai multe planuri diferite, la fel, finalul nu poate fi decât violent și pe unde va ilogic. Nu de alta, dar m-am cam săturat de thrillere în care băeții răi îi au în mână (la propriu!) pe protagoniști, da se împiedică la modul cel mai grațios.
PS: Era să uit un alt punct comun. Și simpatica de Alex se trezește fără telefonul mobil atunci când îi era lumea mai dragă. E drept, nu neapărat din vina ei.
Nu mai citisem nimic de Linda Fairstein, așa că partea mea optimistă spera să găsească un alt autor care să-i placă, ceea ce s-a și întâmplat până la un moment dat, în ciuda lungimii excesive a romanului, datorată și unor practici redundante și obiceiului de a călca de mai multe ori în același loc.
Interesant este că, pe măsură ce citeam (și fără a ști că Alexandra Cooper este eroina unei întregi serii) similitudinile cu seria Women's Murder Club a lui James Patterson mi se păreau din ce în ce mai multe și mai evidente.
Ambele sunt thrillere , în care eroina ne povestește aventurile sale din cadrul poliției. Alex Cooper este ceva mai răsărită ca Lindsay Boxer (geloasă foc, uneori monument de cretinătate, fata care nu are telefonul la ea în cele mai fierbinți momente) dar nu cu mult, pentru că e și ea scorțoasă și suficient de plină de sine. La fel ca în seria lui Patterson, acțiunea are loc pe mai multe planuri diferite, la fel, finalul nu poate fi decât violent și pe unde va ilogic. Nu de alta, dar m-am cam săturat de thrillere în care băeții răi îi au în mână (la propriu!) pe protagoniști, da se împiedică la modul cel mai grațios.
PS: Era să uit un alt punct comun. Și simpatica de Alex se trezește fără telefonul mobil atunci când îi era lumea mai dragă. E drept, nu neapărat din vina ei.
December 28, 2020
I had So much expectation for this book and I was let down..BIG TIME!
The plot wasn't as intense as I thought it would be for a book that started with so much prospect and has lots of PAGES and the names!! They were quite hard to keep up with. The writer had like 4 names for just one character, I got pretty confused at some point only to realize she was using a nick name for the characters.
The ending wasn't at all as I expected, maybe my expectations were too high and that's why I felt dissatisfied but I genuinely believe it could be better.
The person that ended up the villain was so alien to me, didn't even get mentioned that much in the book but some way happened to be the architect of the chaos that happened.
Also, GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING :
THEY'RE SOME CHAPTERS YOU
MICHT FIND GORY, the description of the death and crime scene were so very much intense and I cringed at some point lol, I wonder what I was expecting when I'm reading a crime novel but idk, I didn't mind but I found it "too gory" either way.
I think the 3🌟 is befitting,
WILL I RECOMMEND IT? YES, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO PASS TIME BUT NOT IF
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BOOK THAT WILL KEEP YOU UP WITH ENTHUSIASM
AND CURIOSITY.
The plot wasn't as intense as I thought it would be for a book that started with so much prospect and has lots of PAGES and the names!! They were quite hard to keep up with. The writer had like 4 names for just one character, I got pretty confused at some point only to realize she was using a nick name for the characters.
The ending wasn't at all as I expected, maybe my expectations were too high and that's why I felt dissatisfied but I genuinely believe it could be better.
The person that ended up the villain was so alien to me, didn't even get mentioned that much in the book but some way happened to be the architect of the chaos that happened.
Also, GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING :
THEY'RE SOME CHAPTERS YOU
MICHT FIND GORY, the description of the death and crime scene were so very much intense and I cringed at some point lol, I wonder what I was expecting when I'm reading a crime novel but idk, I didn't mind but I found it "too gory" either way.
I think the 3🌟 is befitting,
WILL I RECOMMEND IT? YES, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO PASS TIME BUT NOT IF
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BOOK THAT WILL KEEP YOU UP WITH ENTHUSIASM
AND CURIOSITY.
April 13, 2018
I always enjoy Fairstein's books because in addition to the story line, the reader gets the chance to learn a little bit about some aspect of NYC. This installment gives us knowledge about the theater and ballet. It's a nice back drop that the author provides as part of her fictional creations. I've read a bunch of the Alex Cooper series and enjoy the characters and their interactions. While some reviewers lament the interplay between them, I find that it works and over the course many books the character development meshes nicely. This story wasn't my favorite but overall it was enjoyable and these books are a kind of "comfort read" as you know what you'll get and won't be disappointed. I might have been a little generous in giving it 4 stars but giving it 3 would have been too spare.
June 1, 2019
Of course we always get deep background on a historical/architectural/cultural aspect of New York City in a Fairstein novel, and in this one, fascinating as the Met opera world, the NYC theater world, and the Shriners are, deep background overpowers the murder mystery to the point where I thought Fairstein was giving a seminar series rather than writing a police/legal procedural. To be a nitpicker, the proofreader should have corrected Mike's Fresco by Scotto restaurant order of bronzino (the 16th c. Italian painter) to branzino (the fish). Story of narcissistic theater impresario full of mordant characterization of a brash boor, and the usual investigative team/trio do their usual eye-opening thing, but with its mix of history and current sex crimes topped with the flatness of the last 5 chapters, this one left me wanting.
November 5, 2021
Death Dance (Alexandra Cooper #8)
by Linda Fairstein
A better book from the first ones, the history lessons continue but more in line with keeping the murder story at the forefront and not taking it over. The Theatre is the scene of murder - or one of them as there is another incident working along side - drugging and rape of two young girls.
Alex and Mike are not getting on very well. He is still working through the death of his Girl (lady) friend and Alex tried to help but is rejected. Alex goes through a couple of attacks and Mike does not seem to take the attack seriously which again hurts her feelings, consequently Alex can be a little hurtful too.
Mercer is working with the SVU (Special Victims Unit) on incidents that dont tie in with the story other than to drag him away form the other two.
by Linda Fairstein
A better book from the first ones, the history lessons continue but more in line with keeping the murder story at the forefront and not taking it over. The Theatre is the scene of murder - or one of them as there is another incident working along side - drugging and rape of two young girls.
Alex and Mike are not getting on very well. He is still working through the death of his Girl (lady) friend and Alex tried to help but is rejected. Alex goes through a couple of attacks and Mike does not seem to take the attack seriously which again hurts her feelings, consequently Alex can be a little hurtful too.
Mercer is working with the SVU (Special Victims Unit) on incidents that dont tie in with the story other than to drag him away form the other two.
March 23, 2025
This is another in the series of Alexandra Cooper. She is investigating the apparent suicide of a ballerina at the NY Met. Unfortunately, she isn't someone the reader cares about, nor are the incidental characters. Most are flat and uninteresting, although there is some interest in a few of the interactions.
The book opened with a drug-rape scene and its ensuing courtroom actions. The judge was a misogynist, although way over the top. He was too extreme to be believable as a character. Although probably within the realm of reality, he was too much for a book. This plot line was more interesting and more appropriate for Alexandra. Unfortunately it was a subplot and happened in the background and was resolved without much interest.
Overall the story felt flat. It wasn't really a bad mystery, but just barely held my interest.
The book opened with a drug-rape scene and its ensuing courtroom actions. The judge was a misogynist, although way over the top. He was too extreme to be believable as a character. Although probably within the realm of reality, he was too much for a book. This plot line was more interesting and more appropriate for Alexandra. Unfortunately it was a subplot and happened in the background and was resolved without much interest.
Overall the story felt flat. It wasn't really a bad mystery, but just barely held my interest.
May 16, 2018
I truly enjoy the adventures of Alex, Mike, and Mercer! I love their friendship and their closeness! I love travel up and down town with them and getting to explore NYC while still at home. I want to go eat where they eat and drink what they drink and even watch some Jeopardy!!
I enjoyed the story and how there are parts of other books wrapping up and others just unfolding. I thought it was interesting look into the theater world and even the worker unions that go into each show.
Sometimes I felt like the story was taking me out to left wing and then bringing me back in a different direction, but all in all I really enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the story and how there are parts of other books wrapping up and others just unfolding. I thought it was interesting look into the theater world and even the worker unions that go into each show.
Sometimes I felt like the story was taking me out to left wing and then bringing me back in a different direction, but all in all I really enjoyed it.
July 7, 2019
This was the first novel by Fairstein I couldn’t get into. When I choose her books I’m looking for history of NYC with suspense. Everything takes place in historical theaters around town. The Met is the main one she writes about. But, the descriptions are no more than room after rooms not a lot of descriptions. You get it that it’s large but with no real picture. I listened to this book on audio and I didn’t like the narrator as much as well although she did a great job. Her voice was too low. I came within half an hour and I couldn’t listen to it anymore. The storyline was difficult to connect with.
October 17, 2019
Typically, Fairstein's books have several seemingly disparate plot lines that are actually linked and usually tied up well together by the end of the book. Fairstein also usually includes a fantastic minor history lesson about some aspect of New York.
Death Dance failed on both of these accounts for me. The plot lines didnt really come together well for me (the multiple questionings of Joe Berk) and Fairstein didn't flush out the history of theatre/dance very well in this book. The Shriner's seems to be thrown in as an after thought although this ends up being central to the ultimately plot.
Death Dance failed on both of these accounts for me. The plot lines didnt really come together well for me (the multiple questionings of Joe Berk) and Fairstein didn't flush out the history of theatre/dance very well in this book. The Shriner's seems to be thrown in as an after thought although this ends up being central to the ultimately plot.
May 17, 2025
New York
Alex Cooper, procureure spécialisée dans les crimes sexuels, est appelée à la suite du témoignage de deux canadiennes, victimes d'un viol.
Mercer, son collègue policier, la contacte également après la disparition d'une danseuse à l'entracte d'un ballet.
Son corps est retrouvé lors des recherches.
J'ai lu cette auteure, il y a au moins quinze ans.
Le trio d'enquêteur fonctionne toujours.
La ville de New York et ses théâtres sont bien toujours présents.
Mais il y a beaucoup de pages inutiles. L'enquête n'est pas intéressante. C'est fade. Un protagoniste dit qu'un autre a fait ça, ils vont l'interroger et ce n'est que ça. C'est toujours la même chose. C'est vite saoulant.
Alex Cooper, procureure spécialisée dans les crimes sexuels, est appelée à la suite du témoignage de deux canadiennes, victimes d'un viol.
Mercer, son collègue policier, la contacte également après la disparition d'une danseuse à l'entracte d'un ballet.
Son corps est retrouvé lors des recherches.
J'ai lu cette auteure, il y a au moins quinze ans.
Le trio d'enquêteur fonctionne toujours.
La ville de New York et ses théâtres sont bien toujours présents.
Mais il y a beaucoup de pages inutiles. L'enquête n'est pas intéressante. C'est fade. Un protagoniste dit qu'un autre a fait ça, ils vont l'interroger et ce n'est que ça. C'est toujours la même chose. C'est vite saoulant.
October 26, 2022
Natalya Galinova, world-famous ballerina, disappears. But that's not all that is strange in this world. It is run by powers that determine who makes it and who doesn't, and when it is time for a star to be demoted. Natalya is aging out but not ready to retire. Is she now forcefully retired?
Other ballet stars are threatened in this complex thriller, and secret rooms are explored.
I found myself searching for the famous buildings featured here, and enjoyed that part of the hunt as much as the story itself.
Other ballet stars are threatened in this complex thriller, and secret rooms are explored.
I found myself searching for the famous buildings featured here, and enjoyed that part of the hunt as much as the story itself.
January 5, 2018
Revolves around the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center.
A famous dancer is killed.
Interesting characters.
At the Opera House they make all their own costumes, wigs, sets, etc. There is a huge area of rooms where the behind the scenes work goes on.
City Center, another venue, used to be a Masonic Lodge and has a beautiful dome.
I like how we learn so much about NYC history in this series.
A famous dancer is killed.
Interesting characters.
At the Opera House they make all their own costumes, wigs, sets, etc. There is a huge area of rooms where the behind the scenes work goes on.
City Center, another venue, used to be a Masonic Lodge and has a beautiful dome.
I like how we learn so much about NYC history in this series.
February 15, 2018
Didn't enjoy this one as much as her others...
Lots of information and history about the ballet, The Metropolitan Opera, Broadway producers, and some tidbits about the Shriners. Seemed more plodding, or maybe that was just my take. Lots of love, lust, intrigue, greed, and underhanded dealings among beneficiaries of a large fortune. Still loving the colloquy among Coop, Mike, and Mercer. We should all be so lucky to have such great people to work alongside.
Lots of information and history about the ballet, The Metropolitan Opera, Broadway producers, and some tidbits about the Shriners. Seemed more plodding, or maybe that was just my take. Lots of love, lust, intrigue, greed, and underhanded dealings among beneficiaries of a large fortune. Still loving the colloquy among Coop, Mike, and Mercer. We should all be so lucky to have such great people to work alongside.
February 16, 2021
Disappointing. I normally enjoy Linda Fairstein's novels, but I found this one confused and distracted, possibly because of the principal plot being staged in great theatre buildings, descriptions of which, while possibly accurate and well researched did little to add to the book. Some of the characters' depictions and behaviours also seemed a bit of a stretch. Overall, in my opinion the book was not up to Fairstein's generally excellent standard.
March 22, 2022
This is an inside look at the Metropolitan Opera House, where a current death echoes a previous murder.
As is usually the case, Alexandra Cooper is put in danger at the end, which seems to be a regular occurrence in this series and not always necessary for a tense finale.
What is unusual is being zapped by a manhole, only to die at a later date. Talk about fate.
I enjoyed the investigation.
I own a copy of this book.
As is usually the case, Alexandra Cooper is put in danger at the end, which seems to be a regular occurrence in this series and not always necessary for a tense finale.
What is unusual is being zapped by a manhole, only to die at a later date. Talk about fate.
I enjoyed the investigation.
I own a copy of this book.
November 16, 2023
Initially I enjoyed the bantering between Cooper, Chapman and Wallace, but very quickly I got tired of what seemed to me to be not-so-subtle putdowns. In particular, I got sick of them referring to her as "blonde" or "kid." As I got more irritated, I wondered what the heck an assistant DA was doing investigating crimes with the police. All that aside, I did enjoy the nod to Jeopardy, and the history of the theaters, and the mosques in New York. The plot was pretty good.
June 6, 2017
I liken the Alexandra Cooper series to the Law and Order SVU of books. Highly entertaining with interesting plot lines. What is most interesting is the NYC history and the criminal legal procedures which are also addressed. This particular book was no different. The history of the NYC Broadway theater world and the ballet added to the book.
December 21, 2017
Not bad at all although the ending was a little drawn out. The killer kidnaps Alex then keeps her alive, gets drunk argues with his wife... Which gives her rescuers the time they need. Oh well ... Good book anyway. One thing about Fairstein's books is that you always learn something about the history of New York City which I like.
May 13, 2019
My favorite thing about the series is getting a peek into a particular subculture in New York. This time it's the theatre world.
The part I had to shake my head at is Alex, again, after being snagged up by the killer, thinking, "Why didn't I think of X earlier. X has this particular skill! This particular background!" It feels like that's her response in at least every other novel.
The part I had to shake my head at is Alex, again, after being snagged up by the killer, thinking, "Why didn't I think of X earlier. X has this particular skill! This particular background!" It feels like that's her response in at least every other novel.
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