Customer Reviews

Hell Gate

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

In all honesty this book was closer to 2 stars than 3 but I have to give Linda Fairstein props for her attention to detail and research. But the last three books in this series have felt more like text books about New York history than mystery novels. I enjoy knowing some detail and history if it's relevant to the story. But it seemed like every time a character asked a question about something or they entered a building we would have to go into pages upon pages of history and background which took away from the story and started to get annoying. I've followed these books for years because I enjoy the characters. Specifically the relationship/chemistry between Alex and Mike. And can Alex ever have a 'lover' who isn't rich, French, famous...etc? If she isn't going to be involved with Mike then why can't it be a 'regular' guy? Like a detective or even another lawyer? I'll read the next installment in the series but may borrow it from the library instead of purchasing it.

Hell Gate, Linda Fairstein's twelfth novel featuring ADA Alexandra Cooper, is another ode to the history and architecture of New York City and a fascinating mystery. Fairstein has a knack for weaving multiple storylines and cases without muddling the narrative. As we all know, only ADAs on television have the luxury of having one case at a time.

The usual cast of characters is back in Hell Gate. The novel opens with the wreck of a human cargo ship and a promising New York politician crashing his car after fighting with his mistress. Sex scandals abound, yet Fairstein keeps the story from becoming salacious. As always, New York City itself is a character in the story, and the reader learns so much about the city's rich history. Some of it's tied to crimes, but much of it is there because it's fascinating.

Hell Gate borrows a few characters from the headlines. Bloomberg isn't mayor here, but he was. Paterson is the governor of New York, and Spitzer did fall from grace. There's a currency to this book that I really enjoyed. If you follow New York City and state politics, you'll enjoy quite a few snarky jabs at familiar faces, names and characters.

If you're a fan of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, you should really read Linda Fairstein. She ran the SVU at the Manhattan District Attorney's office for decades, and now she writes wonderful novels. Thankfully, she manages to write one each year, but I find I even enjoy rereading them, which is rare for mystery novels. She is one of my favorite authors.

Normally, I recommend starting with Fairstein's first novel (Final Jeopardy), but I think the political storylines in this novel might entice fans of political thrillers, and these storylines have some amount of currency to them. Yes, some of the characters may be unfamiliar to new readers, but the focus is really on the mystery and politics in this novel; there are mentions to the social lives of our favorite detectives, but even new readers will be able to follow the story. The novel does begin with a lot of characters. I've read all of Fairstein's novels, and there were a few faces popping up I could not remember. I wasn't sure if they were knew to this book or not, but Fairstein provides enough background that it doesn't really matter if you remember the characters or not. Either way, I really enjoyed it.

It seems as though most successful authors hit a point at which either they have no more ideas, they no longer have time to do the job well, or they just don't care any more. "Hell Gate" is the clearest indication yet that Fairstein has hit this point. As others have mentioned, there are two plot threads. One involves a Congressman whose political career may be derailed by a girlfriend (and yes, of course he's married) claiming that he tried to kill her. This hardly seems like Alex Cooper's territory. The other plot thread involves the shipwreck of a ship carrying three hundred passengers who were intended to be smuggled into the US and sold as slaves. That, at least, is within Cooper's bailiwick, although she's in the mix a little bit early -- the passengers haven't even been identified before she's interviewing them.

Unfortunately, the human trafficking plot takes a back seat to the political maneuverings, as Cooper and her cop friends more or less stumble over clues to what is really going on with the Congressman's girlfriend, and how it relates to the trafficking operation. In this volume, it's a real stretch to connect the story with a bit of New York history, and the connection of the crimes with Gracie and two other federal-era mansions is tenuous. As noted by another reader, the usual history lessons are not well integrated into the story (although, unlike that reader, I thought they were more interesting than the political plots) and really stick out.

Romance has never been Fairstein's forte. That's OK -- she should just give Cooper a boyfriend, stick him in occasionally, and forget about it. We can imagine most of the relationship. This, however, does not seem to be the direction in which she (Fairstein) is headed. Instead, she seems to be heading toward a Mike/Alex romance. DON'T DO IT, Ms. Fairstein! I, for one, would find it highly unbelievable. The fact is, I dislike Mike. I don't think it's intentional on Fairstein's part, but I find Mike's so-called "banter" to be a lot like the teasing of adolescents -- meant to seem like teasing while carrying a real bite. The things he says are often mean, and certainly unprofessional and inappropriate in a business context. Another way of looking at it is that he is trying to "claim" her in front of other parties by saying things that suggest that they are intimate (although not necessarily in a sexual way). I hate it. Alex should hate it and call him on it. Certainly no romance should happen unless he grows up a LOT.

In short, read this book if you like Cooper, but don't expect too much from it.

God knows I loved the early books in the series and I have tried and tried to love the last 3 or 4 but , Linda, time to stop. If I needed to know the esoteria of Ole New York I would have purchased a history not a crime novel.

Unfortunately you are travelling the same downward route as the Scarpetta novels and you have become just as dreary and just as platitudinous and patronising in the exercise of your art. Send Alex out to the suburbs , marry her off, let her have babies but for God's sake dont let her have any further adventures. We dont need to know and you dont need to waste our time.How sad to see such a decline in talent and such a pathetic misconception of fading skills ( or laziness ).

I love Linda Fairstein's novels - that is, until this one. Her latest is overcrowded by a vast cast of characters, mostly NY City Hall types, and the names just keep coming and coming. Even though I've read every one of her novels, and know most of the continuing cast of character , this was simply too overwhelming and became a major chore. A totally charmless effort.

The tone is very dreary and dull, the book is tedious. First time in many years that I did not finish a novel -and to admit this about a LF novel is a huge shock. Life's too short to waste on dreary careless writing. When I read a thriller, I want to be enthralled. This one is like reading a list of city employees, none of whom is likeable, nor any would I want to know or meet. Don't waste your time or money.

Sorry, Linda.

This 12th in series is OK although there seems to be too much going on to really flesh out both story lines - the one with the victims of the ship going aground and the other involving the disappearance of the congressman's mistress. I do like the interplay between the characters but sometimes the narrative and dialog seem more like a lecture than actual conversation. I usually learn something new with every book, especially the historical background - in this case with the mansions and Federalists from Revolutionary times. I'll read the next as I am a fan.

I rushed out and bought this book the day it came out. I have loved all the previous books in this series. This one I could barely get through. The last 30 pages, I found myself just skimming. I gave this to a co-worker to read and she felt the same way.

I remember how much I loved the first books in this series, but as newer titles have arrived, the thrill has definitely gone. I'm a native New Yorker and love reading about my city and its history, but even that couldn't convince me to finish HELL GATE. In fact, I almost didn't bother at all after the last dreadful offering in the series, but curiosity won me over. Well, I lasted through three chapters on this current one before dumping it back at the library (one of the great things about libraries is that you aren't stuck paying for stinkers like this). All of the characters are boring stereotypes, every worn cliche shows up regularly, and I absolutely cannot stand another minute reading anything about the obnoxious Mike Chapman. Good bye and good luck, Linda. You had me for a while but I won't be back for anymore.

Linda Fairstein's 12th mystery novel featuring assistant district attorney Alexandra Cooper is titled, Hell Gate. This time out, the crime topic is human trafficking, and the subject of the history lesson about New York City is the story of some old large mansions that have not been torn down as the city has grown. Politics, crime, corruption and connections are sufficient enough to allow most readers to sit through the history class sections of the book to savor the unfolding action. Alex's partner, Mike Chapman, keeps the repartee and tension sharp, and Alex's French friend, Luc, remains an invisible presence this time out. I liked the history lessons in Hell Gate, but for some readers, the slowing of the action might be a distraction. Fans will appreciate every page that features this finely developed female protagonist.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)

HELL GATE begins with a shipwreck loaded with human cargo. One of the dead has a connection with a local politician (his lover has the same tattoo). Are they truly related or is it a coincidence? Alex Cooper an ADA and two NYPD detectives try to connect the dots. I have just started reading this series, but I must say that Linda Fairstein does a great job with her research and descriptive narratives of New York City architecture and history. I found this as interesting as the story itself. The camaraderie between Alex and Mike (one the detectives) is enjoyable, especially when they are always betting one another on the answers to Final Jeopardy. Although, this story wasn't as thrilling as some of the previous ones, it was still a good read.