The Deadhouse

I've liked all of Linda Fairstein's novels so far. FINAL JEOPARDY, LIKELY TO DIE and COLD HIT. THE DEADHOUSE is no exception. I like the main character, Alexandra Cooper, who has the same occupation as Linda--in charge of the Sex Crimes Unit of the District Attorney's office in Manhattan. Alex is smart and savvy, a strong but feminine woman with plenty of attitude, which she's not afraid to use when it's needed. I also like NYPD detective Mike Chapman, who assists Alex in her sleuthing, teases her constantly but affectionately, and shares with her a certain amount of chemistry.The Deadhouse is a contemporary story with fascinating historical details of a part of New York I didn't know existed. It begins with the apparent death by murder of political science professor, Lola Dakota, which later becomes an actual death by murder. (You'll have to read the book to understand what that means.) Number one suspect is Lola's abusive husband Ivan Kravolic, but Lola had also made enemies at King's College where she taught. Lola was evidently not an easy person to like and there are enough other suspects to keep Alex and the reader guessing. A slip of paper in the pocket of Lola's sweater leads Alex to The Deadhouse on Roosevelt Island where people were confined for various reasons in the nineteenth century. The plot is a complex one that kept me in suspense all the way to the exciting climax.The movie of Final Jeopardy was a good one, and a successful one. I hope the rest of the books, including The Deadhouse, will be made into movies too. The Deadhouse certainly has enough action and suspense to qualify.As always, Linda Fairstein's own work experience blesses the story with authenticity, but that would not be enough to make a great novel without her excellent writing, vivid characterization and a plot that sizzles. My attention was held completely all the way through.

Linda Fairstein offers a wry insider's view of the criminal justice system in NYC, with the names changed to protect the guilty. "Deadhouse" provides a fascinating glimpse into the macabre history of Blackwell's Island-- that slice of land in the middle of the East River containing the skeletons of hospitals NYC provided for the criminals, the insane,and the immigrant poor. If you've driven the FDR Drive, you've seen them. And the sexual tension between Chapman and Cooper vibrates-- maybe they'll finally get it together in the NEXT book.

When Professor Lola Dakota finally had enough of her husband's abuse she agreed to work with the New Jersey District Attorney's office to put him behind bars. They set up a sting operation using undercover police officers masquerading as hitman. When they show Lola's husband Ivan on a videotape of them "killing" her, he pays them their fee. The police arrest him. Unfortunately, later that day Lola's body is found in the elevator shaft of her Manhattan apartment building. The police declare it a homicide. Alex Cooper, New York's assistant district attorney is handling this homicide in conjunction with the police. With so many suspects and so little hard evidence, Alex has to work doubly hard to solve the case while avoid getting killed by some people who want to see her dead. THE DEADHOUSE shows how the district attorney's office and the police department work closely together while trying to find the perpetrator of a homicide. Familiar characters from previous books in this series give the audience a feeling of being reunited with dear and cherished friends. Linda Fairstein is a talented writer who sets up a story line with so many twists and red herrings that the reader won't be able to rest until they find out who the culprit is.Harriet Klausner

As a mystery writer with my debut novel in its initial release, I genuinely enjoy Linda Fairstein's Alex Cooper series. Her current book, THE DEADHOUSE, is one of the strongest in her series. Assistant District Attorney Alex Cooper finds herself involved on a deeply personal level in the homicide investigation into the death of Lola Dakota, an abused wife who was also a brilliant university professor. While Lola refused to cooperate with prosecuting her husband for domestic abuse charges while she was alive, her death changes things. The husband becomes Alex's prime suspect, but he seems to be in the clear because he was arrested a short time before the killing. The chief clue is a paper with the word "deadhouse" and a series of numbers scribbled on it. The deadhouse turns out to be an ancient hospital where smallpox victims once went to die. Ms. Fairstein steams onward from there, and THE DEADHOUSE is a fabulous read. I recommend it highly.

In The Deadhouse, Linda Fairstein not only tells a good tale, she unearths a fascinating corner of New York history. I didn't think anything could distract me in this moment of national tragedy, but this book did. Fairstein captures the complexity of one of America's greatest cities from both a modern and historical perspective. Her writing is brisk, her characters appealing, and the story is terrific. I couldn't put it down. Though a mystery fan, I'm new to the Alex Cooper series. I intend to read all of them now.