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paulabrandon's review
2.0
This obviously picks up right after the events of Killer Look, and although I haven't read that yet, I was still able to follow what was going on here. Well....just.
The crime Alexandra Cooper has to solve this time around is that of her boss, Paul Battaglia - except she's caught up in the crime herself! Battaglia was on his way to confront her when he was gunned down right in front of her. Alexandra seems to be a suspect, with both a detective and an assistant district attorney seemingly intent on finding her guilty of the crime.
Alex has her usual support from lover Mike Chapman and friend Mercer Wallace, as they work together to find out who really had Paul Battaglia assassinated. They eventually find links to hunting clubs and animal smuggling, and begin to follow this trail, potentially uncovering a deadly worldwide operation.
I won't get into the controversy surrounding Linda Fairstein and some of her cases. I've been reading her books for over a decade, and enjoyed a large majority of them, so I've continued to read them. However, this was very, very bland. Alex and Mike go and talk to lots of various people about the international smuggling trade for animal parts, there's some gratuitous information about the Bronx Zoo, and the bad guy is basically the person Mike and Alex have suspected from the start. There just didn't feel like there was any urgency to what was going on, and the plot simply wasn't that interesting. The climax is decent, and I appreciated the book's anti-hunting stance. However, even if Fairstein's career hadn't been cancelled by the fallout from the When They See Us mini-series, I don't think more books like this would have seen the Alexandra Cooper series last much longer.
The crime Alexandra Cooper has to solve this time around is that of her boss, Paul Battaglia - except she's caught up in the crime herself! Battaglia was on his way to confront her when he was gunned down right in front of her. Alexandra seems to be a suspect, with both a detective and an assistant district attorney seemingly intent on finding her guilty of the crime.
Alex has her usual support from lover Mike Chapman and friend Mercer Wallace, as they work together to find out who really had Paul Battaglia assassinated. They eventually find links to hunting clubs and animal smuggling, and begin to follow this trail, potentially uncovering a deadly worldwide operation.
I won't get into the controversy surrounding Linda Fairstein and some of her cases. I've been reading her books for over a decade, and enjoyed a large majority of them, so I've continued to read them. However, this was very, very bland. Alex and Mike go and talk to lots of various people about the international smuggling trade for animal parts, there's some gratuitous information about the Bronx Zoo, and the bad guy is basically the person Mike and Alex have suspected from the start. There just didn't feel like there was any urgency to what was going on, and the plot simply wasn't that interesting. The climax is decent, and I appreciated the book's anti-hunting stance. However, even if Fairstein's career hadn't been cancelled by the fallout from the When They See Us mini-series, I don't think more books like this would have seen the Alexandra Cooper series last much longer.
kimdavishb's review
5.0
When I was offered the chance to read an advance copy of DEADFALL, the 19th book in the Alexandra Cooper series by Linda Fairstein, I jumped at the chance. A longtime fan, I’ve looked forward to each and every release and this newest book didn’t disappoint. Ms. Fairstein takes the reader to a variety of New York area landmarks in each book and DEADFALL focuses on the zoos, specifically the Bronx Zoological Park. I truly enjoy each location and the bits and pieces of history and facts that are woven into the plot. With the zoo and its conservation efforts towards saving endangered species as the backdrop, the protagonist, Alexander (Alex) Cooper sets out to clear her name in the assassination of her boss, District Attorney Paul Battaglia, and bring the perpetrator to justice. I appreciated the attention brought to a variety of endangered species and reminds us of our responsibilities towards preserving these magnificent creatures, both great and small.
The reader is treated to a variety of settings in this new story, including a Montana wild game hunting ranch, as Alex pieces together conspiracies that touch on the mystery surrounding the death of Supreme Court Justice Scalia. There is a tangled web of intrigue that involve a secretive fraternity of wealthy, influential men who belong to private hunting reserves. Ms. Fairstein skillfully weaves the threads of the story together, building the pieces of evidence together to entice the reader and draw them in until you can’t put the book down. The thrilling conclusion left me breathless and turning pages late into the night to read the final page.
I was provided an advance copy with the hopes that I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The reader is treated to a variety of settings in this new story, including a Montana wild game hunting ranch, as Alex pieces together conspiracies that touch on the mystery surrounding the death of Supreme Court Justice Scalia. There is a tangled web of intrigue that involve a secretive fraternity of wealthy, influential men who belong to private hunting reserves. Ms. Fairstein skillfully weaves the threads of the story together, building the pieces of evidence together to entice the reader and draw them in until you can’t put the book down. The thrilling conclusion left me breathless and turning pages late into the night to read the final page.
I was provided an advance copy with the hopes that I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
bookslifeandeverythingnice's review
3.0
Slightly disappointed by Deadfall. I keep hearing such wonderful things about all of Linda Fairstein's books. I've tried reading a physical copy of one of her books before, but couldn't finish it and ended up DNFing it. I figured I'd try again but with a different book medium. Sometimes a particular genre, author, or topic works better as an audiobook or physical book for me. Still, I couldn't quite get into Deadfall as much as I would have liked. I just couldn't seem to really connect with the main character, Alexandra Cooper. The main storyline was still good, so I did enjoy the book but wasn't captivated by it. Also I really enjoyed the themes of animal hunting, zoos, sanctuaries, etc. I thought it made for an interesting and unique story.
dnemec's review
2.0
I've read most of the Alexandra Cooper series and have enjoyed them. While the story was interesting and the plot lively, Alex's behavior in this book drove me nuts. At the end of the second chapter, the NYPD officer begins reading Alex her rights. The first week of law school, you are taught that you ALWAYS ask for a lawyer when you are being questioned by the cops. Alex knew better. Instead, it's 4 A.M., she had just caught her boss in her arms as he was killed, and she's sitting in the morgue screwing around with the cops. I wanted to reach into the book and shake her. Then even though her life's in danger, she doesn't figure that out until 75% of the way through the book. "Oh gee, Mike, are you really protecting me and not just hanging out with me for the week?" Oy vey. Then when they finally get her out of the way, she comes back to NYC (and at this point, Chapman is being just as much as an idiot as she is), and makes herself a huge target at the end (sorry, trying not to spoil). I don't know what happened to the brilliant ADA, but I hope she's back in the next book.
carlajo713's review
4.0
I love me some Alex. I love me some mike and coop. I love me some final jeopardy betting among this trio. I can’t say for certain what made this a 4 Star read. However, I think a lot of that centers around the missing sexual tension between Alex and mike. I don’t for a second want them not together.... but I think some of the spunk is missing now. I look forward to seeing what happens next in light of battaglia being out of the picture.
bbwolf59's review
1.0
Yuck. Clunky dialogue, lots of gore, no characters to like - or even enthusiastically root against. A waste of time.
tbsims's review
3.0
I was sad there was no development with mike and alex. And that it was about alex being the subject of the investigation. I get frustrated with the good guys get treated like the bad guys.
sapphicbookdragon's review
2.0
This book was a disappointment. I was determined to finish it just for the sake of finishing it and returning it to the library in a prompt manner. I don't think I can get into it without spoilers, so I'm not going to. Let me just say that the two main characters make some bad decisions.