Rating: 
Summary: The Dead House is definetely alive
Review: I thought that this book was extremely well written. The author, Linda Fairstein had great, in-depth characters as well as a good thought-out plot. It was suspenseful in a sense that you did not know what was going to happen next with the murder investigation. It is full of twists and turns and just when you think you know who did it, why they did it, and just what did happen... Another twists comes into play and you get lost again. I'd say this is a must read for suspense lovers!
Rating: 
Summary: The Deadhouse
Review: Disappointing !! This book was a non starter. The few interesting plots were never resolved, ( maybe they will be in a future book) The main story line was just NOT interesting. I never cared about any of the characters and there was not enough of Alex's private life which I always enjoy. I could have put this book down and never come back to it. But I kept expecting it to get good, based on all of her previous books. It took me 9 weeks to read this book....need I say more.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't relu get into it
Review: did you ever keep reading a book just because you had started it...I just couldn't relate to these people. Moderately interesting plot line; but I basixally didn;t CARE about tge protagonists. Sorry, won;t read the earlier ones.
Rating:
Summary: A Compelling Page-Turner.....
Review: Assistant D.A., Alexandra Cooper, was sure it was the victim's husband. She'd been working for almost two years to get Kings College political science professor, Lola Dakota, to press charges. Dakota's husband had abused her, stalked her, and terrorized her, but on the day she was strangled and thrown down an elevator shaft, her husband had an airtight alibi. He was in jail. The only clue she and her favorite homicide detective, Mike Chapman, have to work with, is a note found in Lola's pocket with the word "deadhouse". Their investigation leads them to Kings College and her collegues, where they find out that Lola was involved with a special historical project on Roosevelt Island, a desolate strip of land in the East River where nineteenth century New York quarantined its sick, dying, and insane, and the worst of its criminals. Always tenacious and persistent, Chapman and Cooper dig deep, following leads and literally leaving no stone unturned, but won't quit until they find the murderer and get to the whole truth..... Linda Fairstein is back with another intricately plotted installment of her Alex Cooper series. The story is compelling, full of atmosphere and suspenseful, riveting scenes. The characters are engaging, well drawn, and interesting, and the writing is crisp, smart and intelligent. Ms Fairstein's indepth knowledge and expertise in the workings of the D.A.'s office and police department add real credibility to the story, and her extensive and detailed research into the history of Roosevelt Island is fascinating, and really makes this thriller stand out. The book does have a couple of weaknesses. The subplots about a stalker and Alex's and Chapman's separate love lives, become tiresome, adds nothing to the plot, and bog down the intriguing story line, and the ending is rushed and unsatisfying, leaving a few to many loose ends. But that said, The Deadhouse is a well paced, entertaining thriller that's hard to put down. This is the fourth novel of a great and realistic series. For those new to Alex Cooper and company, start at the beginning with Final Jeopardy, and read them all. If you're already a fan, The Deadhouse doesn't disappoint.
Rating: 
Summary: Where's the chemistry?
Review: Actually, I think the book deserved 3 stars, but I wanted to bring down the 4 and a half star average. There was only one problem with this book and that is the chemistry between Micheal and Alexandra. If you look back at relationships in books and television, you'll know that the two male and female characters need to have unreqited sexual chemistry for it to work. For example, when they first filmed the pilot for X-Files, Scully had a long term boyfriend. Fortunately, they edited the scenes out. Here, we have Blondie and her faulted relationship to Jake. He doesn't trust her with his sources, and doesn't show respect for the dead... only interested in getting a scoop. And now Mike has a relationship to Valerie- a recovering cancer patient. Fairstein doesn't manage to hold the chemistry between Alex and Mike like the three previous books. Less banter and no sexual tension, only uncomfortable scenes that suggest both are jealous of the other's partners. It would have worked if there was chemistry, but apart from Mike rubbing Alex's hands warm at the police station... their relationship has become too professional. SPOILER ALERT. If you haven't read the book, don't read this paragraph. Read the book? Okay. It's great to see Mercer is going to be a dad. He's never been a neccessary character before, and the series would work without him there. Netherless, as much as I don't care for that character his new life began the tense scene in the car where Alex poked fun at what she assumed was Mike's singular sex life. Painful, but the fight was funny. Both characters in their mid 30s are feeling time close in on them. In general, a good, tension filled book. Of course, Alex is such a wimp in the end, following the bad guy into the hospital. "He isnt armed... scratch his eyes out with your manicure!!!!" I yelled. One question though... I don't know much about pounds. Down Under we use kilos. Isn't 115 pounds extremely light for a 5'10" woman. With blonde hair, ballerina's muscle tone... Fairstein desribing a media image of a perfect woman. I like that Chapman describes her as too skinny. Perhaps next time Alex will eat a steak with Jake, instead of him eating the steak and Alex having soup and salad. She's physically weak, and in her line of work she should know the dangers of being so defenseless. One more point. The ending was unsatisfactory. Sure, itll be exciting to see how they deal with the stalker. No doubt it will be the end-of-the-book cliffhanger where our bony heroine manages to save herself, the day, and catchthe bad guy/girl all at once. Hopefully the next book sees more chemistry between Cooper and Chapman.
Rating: 
Summary: Did not enjoy it as much as I did her previous works
Review: The book starts with a 'staged murder' of an abused wife in order to fool her dangerous husband. Unfortunately, a few hours after he is arrested, his wife is strangled and thrown into an elevator shaft. The question is: Did the husband have a backup plan to kill his wife? I will not spoil the book, but I was unhappy with the story itself. It is good to familiarize myself with the characters that I left behind in COLD HIT, however, the story is not really about them. It involves an abandoned hospital, located in Roosevelt Island, where very sick immigrants would be taken in order to die. Lola Dakota (the aforementioned wife) has an interest in this place that will be made clear at the end of the book. There are conspiracies, hit-and-runs, and old secrets involved in the mystery of the abandoned hospital. Alexandra Cooper (Fairstein's protagonist) goes through the paces to solve the problem in this book but I think it would have preferred it had this book not been part of the series. I enjoyed Cooper in the other books and I suggest you try them.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Page Turner in Alexandra Cooper Series
Review: This book was a great book to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In previous books by this author, I thought there were too many other stories going on besides the main case, but in this book, it seemed to be more about the major case at hand. If you like the workings of solving a murder, then you will like the steps that are taken in the latest by Ms. Fairstein. I like the banter between Chapman and Cooper. Story is in the Holiday season and involves a woman that was abused by her husband and the woman is murdered. However, the murder may not be directly related to her husband even though he had put a hit on her. It is a great journey through the evidence trail and one I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: Not her best
Review: I have been anxiously awaiting the release of another book by Linda Fairstein and I was really disappointed. Working with crime victims myself and having worked in the criminal justice field for over 20 years, cops are some of my best friends. I particularly enjoyed the easy banter between Coop and Mike Chapman - including their Final Jeopardy bet. However, this book had little banter - only a hint at the chemistry that the two keeps buried just below the surface - and a story line that put me to sleep. I had to force myself to finish the book and normally I have to force myself to put Alex Cooper books down so that I can sleep or accomplish anything at all besides finishing the book. Hopefully this is not an example of things to come - only a lull that will result in the next book being spectacular.
Rating:
Summary: Egotistic DA
Review: Although I enjoy Ms. Fairstein's books.....I find her somewhat egotistical. She presumably is writing about someone in her own real-life occupation and she seems somewhat filled with self-admiration, self-importance, and a holier than thou attitude. She tries to be tough, but then has 5 pairs of shoes under her desk, expensive make-up and never seems to go out without a hair in place. I am glad that I neither work for or with her. She would drive me nuts!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: LINDA FAIRSTEIN HAS DONE IT AGAIN!!!
Review: All I can say is that she must be an absolute killer in a courtroom because from the first sentence Linda Fairstein has you hooked! And, as in a good Agatha Christie, you can't help but stay spellbound until you reach the final page and find that the real villain was someone that you hadn't even suspected. The Deadhouse is a wonderful book that once again demonstrates Linda's love of New York, her love of the work that she does, her respect and admiration of collegues and her love of law, art, friends and Martha's Vineyard. It showcases her brilliant writing ability too <G> With consumate skill Ms Fairstein weaves a plot that has you enthralled, and leaves you guessing, from beginning to end. You actually feel like it's you who is Alex Cooper and, like her, you can't see forward to the future. The characters, as always, are just that, believable, human, fallible and even desirable :) Keep up the great work Linda! The only thing that makes the wait for the next installment bearable is the knowledge that you do such an incredible job in the courtroom and yes, I did feel icy <G> Linda in Oz
|
