I thought, as a Law and Order SVU fan, this might be something I might like (except in book format). Well, it was all right at first. I liked Alexandra. A very strong willed character, although she had her girlie moments, she wasn’t a stone cold woman of ice either. That was good. Her friendship with Mike Chapman was really fun to read. Chapman made the story more interesting with his sense of humor. His jabs towards Alexandra (and vice versa) were fun to read. The plot was all right. It wasn’t really that exciting. The only twist was who Isabella’s male companion was, but it wasn’t that shocking or revealing. However, I’m glad Alexandra didn’t mope about and became dramatic diva over that moment. I do like seeing her all up in a temper though - that was really entertaining to watch. So, the plot was rather mediocre, and although I did like the characters, it wasn’t enough to make me fully enjoy the book. What rather killed it for me was, it was rather dry. So dry, it took me a while to finish a book that only had 336 pages. Oh boy, did it ever drag. On top of that, Alexandra also handles many other cases and it’s all mixed in with the main case featuring Isabella. Now although this is realistic, to me it felt like it was added to fill in pages of the book. It wasn’t exciting, it didn’t particularly interest me, and there were many minor characters added you could not keep track without at least back tracking to figure out which case she’s talking about now. It came to the point where I skimmed through most of the last third of the book, read the grand climax (which wasn’t that great in the first place) and then I was done. I was just curious what was so great about these series and I just wanted to see how it was like. I realize this is the first book so of course, perhaps books after this one are better. Yet, I’m not sure if I’m going to get the second book. If it’s like this one, I will pass. This might not be for everyone, but those that are into legal thrillers are welcome to try and see for yourselves.
I am still very much up in the air about this book.In the past I have loved books by Linda Fairstein, but for some reason, this one just didn’t come across as well. The storyline and the supporting characters felt rather flat, nothing really stood out in the storyline and I didn’t feel the urgency that would be necessary for a book like this.In a case of mistaken identity, Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cooper has been reported murdered when a body fitting Alex’s description is found in a car rented to her on a deserted road leading to the summer home of Alexandra Cooper – S e x Crimes Prosecutor.But it’s not Alex, its Isabella Lascar, a film star that just needs a break from her life and some peace and quiet. Now the question is who was the real intended victim? As Alex combs her past cases to see who would be out for revenge and scouring Isabella’s life to find the stalker that was writing letters and threatening call to her, the hunt goes on for the killer and the reason behind the murder.The ending is good, if a bit unbelievable, but overall, the book just didn’t do anything for me. I will pick up other books by Ms Fairstein, because of past success, but for this one, I would recommend that you pass.
What do You think about Final Jeopardy (1997)?
I am currently reading the most recent book in this series & have become so familiar with Alex, Mike & Mercer, that they seem more like characters on my favorite week night drama & not just on the pages of books that I periodically encounter. Having never been to New York & always wanted to visit, I think the attention to detail & descriptive nature of the locations, landscapes & backdrops take on a life of their own & transport the reader to places both known & unknown...like MoMA, Central Park, Times Square, the tunnels & boroughs & the behind the scenes, all-access, inner workings of the city that never sleeps. And while, I don't envy the life of a sex crimes prosecutor, I can clearly picture being one of Alex's friends & having interesting conversations over lobster & wine while watching the sun set on the vineyard . What a life...excesses on both extremes & friends to keep you grounded. I enjoy this series, even when I think some of the situations are far fetched...hey I still watch Law & Order:SVU & wait for the plot twist; to me this is similar but better.
—Sélonge
Alexander Cooper is Manhattan’s top sex-crimes prosecutor who finds herself a part of a murderous tangled web. A “friend” is murdered while staying at Alex’s home in the Vineyard and everyone at first suspects that Alex was the victim. This book includes unexpected twists and turns that leave the reader guessing. The main character comes across as a little rich girl at times, but she definitely is gutsy and someone to admire. I found the first half of this book slow, perhaps because I did not have the time to sit down and let myself get into it or perhaps it was because the story seemed to take a while to gain momentum. I will definitely look for the second book in the series.
—Wendy
First of the Alex Cooper series. Not a bad book. Excellent info on the sex crime scene in NY. The author is an expert. The story line is OK. Not great but I did enjoy the book overall. "The crusading longtime chief of Manhattan's Sex Crimes Prosecutions Unit brings to her exciting first novel the same passion and insights into the criminal and crime-busting minds that marked her memoir, Sexual Violence (1994). Fairstein also brings herself to the novel-or at least an alter ego of a narrator, Alexandra Cooper, who's also a middle-aged blonde heading the borough's prosecution of sex offenders. Cooper's typical day of counseling victims and working with the NYPD on sex crimes would probably keep readers fascinated, but her latest problem-the shooting murder of glamorous movie star Isabella Lascar at Cooper's getaway home on Martha's Vineyard-pitches the plot at high intensity right away. Though Cooper is warned by the DA not to play cop, she and homicide detective Mike Chapman, who's assigned to bodyguard her, work together unofficially to solve the crime, carrying on a sort of anti-romance all the while."
—Kellie
