212

Another suspenseful read from Alafair Burke! In this Ellie Hatcher novel, the third in the series, Ellie and her partner Rogan investigate a murder in an upscale New York building known as "The 212." To make heads or tails out of their case, and another homicide they're working concurrently, Ellie must sort through a cast of multi-dimensional suspects and, not surprisingly, none of them are easy to read. In fact, there are quite a few "double lives" going on here, and all of them lend themselves to a real head-scratcher. In typical form, Burke twisted and turned the plot long after I thought I knew what was going on, and in the end, she wrapped it up nicely. This book takes a very honest look at what motivates people and leaves the reader with a reminder that things are often not as they seem on the surface. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a New York City setting, police detective novels, or determined female protagonists who don't take crap. :)

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Alafair's newest book stands on its own as a product of great life experiences much like the works of James Lee Burke. This is truly a must read. Don't wait and buy it for a mid-summer beach read. Order it now and savor the fruit for yourself at its ripest before your friends start talking about it.

A thoroughly enjoyable and believable book. This novel entails murder, blackmail, sexcapades, and lots of secrets. Ellie Hatcher and her police partner J.J. Rogan investigate the shooting death of a body guard at 212 apartment building in Manhattan. From that come all the other facets of the book.

Alafair Burke's latest novel, 212, blends a series of crimes into a brain-twisting puzzle for the reader and for NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher. A fiery, bold cover design hints at the intensity to come, and Burke definitely knows how to start in the middle of the action. The first chapter produces a shooting, sex, and an anonymous police report. From there, the story speeds up. Bodies fall so fast, in so many different scenarios, it seems impossible they are all connected. Even in a city like New York, few crimes involve victims as diverse as hookers, college students, a bodyguard, an artist, and a real estate agent. Burke's characters live in today's high tech world, where students and criminals know how to post on websites, and use forums, without being traced. Add in phony names and a stolen identity, and the list of suspects seems endless. The challenges in this case keep Ellie awake all night, and that's before she discovers her boss's romantic relationship with a suspect. By chapter seven, Detective Ellie Hatcher already aggravated a judge and infuriated a rich and influential businessman, which earned her a night in jail for contempt. Ellie didn't earn the Police Combat Cross by being afraid to take action though. She's stubborn and independent, but her instincts are sharp. When backup doesn't arrive and another victim's life is at stake, will her tenacity solve the crime or get her killed? How will her boss react to the news that the criminal might be her boyfriend? Burke's descriptions of New York City provide a true feel for the culture, diversity, and violence packed into that huge metropolis, along with colorful details that portray everything from the street life to the architecture well. The authenticity of the descriptions is easy to recognize for those who've been to the great city. However, a few of the author's movie and television character references may lose people who aren't familiar with the shows, and this may be primarily a generational issue. On the other hand, explaining each of them would be awkward and interrupt the flow of the story. The amount of information packed into each chapter is unbelievable. Some chapters are only two pages long, but there's no choppiness or gaps. Burke has a talent for keeping the pace moving and providing exciting plots and sub-plots, as well as choosing smooth breaking points. This is the third book in the Ellie Hatcher series, and Burke's inspiration for this series comes from a childhood home and a case that took over thirty years to solve. Don't miss reading the entire story on her website. Samantha Kincaid stars in another mystery series written by Burke, which is set in Portland, Oregon, where Burke attended college. Coincidentally, I've spent time in Portland and in NYC, and the recognition of the settings adds a familiar feel to this story. Burke's research and story-telling skill takes me to new places within those cities, as well as adding a bit of history from time-to-time.

Ellie Hatcher is back with a vengeance. A vengeance that lands her butt squarely in jail. Smart, independent Ellie Hatcher proves to the world everyday that she's far more than a pretty face. She can "bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan." She juggles her job, her older brother Jess, Assistant District Attorney Max Donovan, even her mother back in Wichita. And while she may not be as hip as her brother would like, she still manages to do it all with panache. Burke's work is the epitome of art imitating life. Her plot lines are "ripped from the headlines;" the characters and dialogue are infused with pop culture; and she brings to life the New York City she so loves. 212 has no shortage of Burke's signature wit, which often comes out in her crisp, commanding dialogue. Ellie's exchanges with both her brother Jess and her partner J.J. could walk off the pages they are so believable. Burke's strengths are numerous, but her dialogue is quite possibly my favorite. Conversation is clear, it's sharp, it's witty. When a reader believes the dialogue, he/she believes the characters delivering it. For my money, no one does this better than Alafair Burke. The complexity of 212's plot is carefully balanced. Burke peals back layer after layer, creating numerous unexpected twists throughout the book. But the twists never go over the top, nor do they become too numerous for belief. Instead the keep the reader gripped to the pages. I tried to slowly savor this book, but the plot simply wouldn't let me. In addition, the plot of 212, like each of Burke's previous novels, reflects current events. But more than that, it examines some hefty "why" questions that are floating around these current events as well. And whenever Burke addresses a "why" question in her writing, she illustrates that the answer to that question is never a basic one, like so many people want to make it out to be. Afterall, it's humanity she's addressing, and humanity is certainly never basic. In 212, Burke takes a 348 page back swing allowing her to masterfully stroke her theme straight down the fairway and sink a hole-in-one on the final page. It's a monumental ending, one that won't quickly leave your thoughts. I waited over a year for Ellie Hatcher to return to action, and 212 was worth every minute of that wait.