Customer Reviews

Likely to Die

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Alexandra Cooper, head of New York County's Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit, hadn't been involved in a major case since her actress friend was murdered six months previous so she was a little surprised when Detective Mike Chapman woke her at 5:30 am about a new case. Turns out Gemma Dogan, head of neurosurgery at Mid-Manhattan Medical Center, brain surgeon and professor for the prestigious hospital was found stabbed six times in her office. It also appeared as if she had been raped and then left for dead. Alexandra was a little uncomfortable with the comparisons to her own personal life, or lack thereof, and put all of her energy into finding out who hated Gemma enough to do this to her.

Unfortunately, Alexandra soon finds herself with a long list of suspects. There is John DuPre and Coleman Harper, both neurologists who claim to have evidence regarding the murder, but details of their interviews conflict and don't quite add up. There is William Dietrich, the director of the hospital, who is desperate to clean up the hospital's public image. Then there are the many applicants for Mid-Manhattan's neurology unit that Gemma denied. Failing those, there are the hundreds of homeless people who live in the tunnels and basements of the hospital and wander about at will, including one that is know simply as 'Pops' who was found wearing scrubs covered in human blood. As Alexandra sifts through one lead after another, she uncovers a lot more dirty secrets at Mid-Manhattan, secrets that someone will do anything to keep hidden...

Likely to Die is the second book in the Alexandra Cooper series (after Final Jeopardy) and I enjoyed it just as much. I love the way Fairstein accurately portrays the ins and outs of the judiciary system and police methods. Alexandra doesn't just drop everything to take on this case, she has many other cases that she is supervising and advising and it is interesting to follow her throughout her day as she preps witnesses and aids her fellow prosecutors. I also enjoyed the banter between Alexandra and Mike, especially their bets on the Jeopardy games. I really felt like I was reading a book about what it is like to work in the Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit in New York. I loved the author's attention to detail and clear, crisp writing style. Definitely an author that I will keep reading.

Likely to Die is Linda Fairstien's second entry into the Alexandra Cooper series and the first I've read. At no point during reading this novel did it really grab my interest and therefore it'll probably be the last book I read by this author. A good thriller has to catch you from the beginning, and Likely to Die just doesn't do that. Fairstein's experience as a prosecuter of sex crimes does add some interesting sidebars about sex crimes that are interesting, but irrelevant to the story.

The story revolves around a respected neurosurgeon, Gemma Doggen, being brutally murdered. Alex Cooper takes the case as the District Attorney and joins with the cops as they try and find the killer. In the first 100 pages or so, there is a lot of interaction between Cooper, and detectives Chapman and Mercer. They investigate the crime scene and organize the investigation. What Fairstien leaves out is a reason to care about Gemma Dogen or some reason to fear the killer.

The entire story is from Cooper's point of view, so witnesses aren't interviewed until well into the novel and Dogen's background isn't explored until it was too late. Likely to Die could have been a good novel if it dove right into Dogen's past and why she might have been killed. As it is, this novel provided little mystery and even less suspense. It also could have used some editing because there is way to much of Cooper's personal life with names of friends being dropped constantly that have nothing to do with the story.

As a second novel, I guess this was pretty good. I recommend reading Fairstien's latest works and go back to this one if you like them.

"Likely to Die" is a standard police procedural. All of the elements are there...investigation, standard cop characters, junk food and bad coffee, and an unknown violent killer on the loose.

But it has an additional element that saves the novel from the fate of some of its more lackluster police procedure companions: it has a totally engaging and witty heroine. Alex Cooper is a smart, savvy, and classy lady...and well she should be! Her creator, Linda Fairstein, is a veteran of 20 years in the DA Sex Crimes Unit in Manhattan, the very job Alex holds. And Alex/Linda bring to the novel a no-holds-barred look at this topic. In addition, Alex characterized as a real woman with a real career, one who cares about her career, friends, and her life style.

The result is catchy, fun, and -- at times -- shocking in its subject material. Its a mystery well worth picking up, with strong background, good plot, and some characters to care about.

The book starts out great then slows in the middle, then from out of no where is wrapped up in the last chapter. The London trip seemed like it was thrown in to take up pages. There didn't seem to be any big surprise as to who the bad guy was and I didn't seem to rush myself reading this book, more like having no interest in picking it up to finish it. I really want to like this series, but the characters seem to be missing something....

Someone actually published this novel?! If you love murder mystries, with a strong emphasis on law enfocement/district attorney involvement, you may want to read the first 20 pages. However, this novel quickly takes a turn for the worse! I understand the author's desire for character devolopment, but should we, the reader, suffer for her needs? If you want to know how long it takes Alex Cooper (our heroine) to microwave a lean cuisine (yes, it's in there), read this book! If you want to know how fabulous her social circle is, and read pages on characters who have NOTHING to do with the plot, read this book! If, however, you are like me, and have to know who the killer is, before you can put down the book, do not, I repeat, do not pick it up. Essentially, the book delves into the sanctimonious lifesyle of Alex Cooper. Yes, there is a murder, and yes, the killer is caught, but it seems these are little tidbits, and the author spends too much time on what Cooper eats, drinks (and she drinks a lot), what she listens too, and how great all her friends are. If you really like murder mysteries, you can do better, try Tami Hoag, or Michael Palmer. In short, we like to like our heroines, but we read for the murder, not the lifestyle. If that's what you want, pick up a Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

This book had all the hopes of a great one. Feinstein is awesome at holding interest with all of the excellent behind the scenes action of the life of an assisstant DA. That is what I loved about the book. I thought Alex's stint in London was a bit too long and really didn't have much to do with the plot. But the ending is what got me. There was no surprise and not all of the loose ends were resolved. The book went from a 5 to a 3 in about 10 pages. I spent one whole morning reading the last 100 pages, couldn't put it down and then kicked myself for wasting all that time.

Hopefully, Feinstein has improved her endings in the series, otherwise I'm going to have to give her up.

In this second novel by Linda Fairstein the writing style is better and the story is superb. Alex Cooper is back and better than ever. You travel with her on her journey in finding the killer of talented physician. The suspense starts with the first call to come to the doctor's office and investigate the crime scene and follows thoughout the twists and turns of this wonderful book. Mike Chapman is back and the sexual tension with him and Alex is still under the surface. After reading this book, I'll be very careful before I check into a hospital. The only thing bad is that it will have you begging for another episode in the life of Cooper. If you enjoy a good thriller, then grab this book and enjoy

Linda Fairstein's second foray into the world of New York Assistant DA Alex Cooper is even better than the first. Before you start it, though, lock yourself into a padded room, turn off the phones, the computer, the TV et al., send the kids off to grandma, and your significant other off to Zanzibar. Because, and yes it's been said before, you will NOT be able to put this one down.

The fast-paced story begins with the bloody murder of a brilliant neurosurgeon at a prestigious New York hospital. One of the few women in her field, Gemma Dogan has been a superstar all of her professional life. Her murder, occurring as it has within hospital walls and without apparent motive, becomes front-page news faster than you can say "perpetrator."

And who IS the perp? Alex has been called into the case because the victim was found in a state suggesting sexual assault, and Alex heads the sex-crimes unit. She and her sidekick, homicide cop Mike Chapman, along with their good bud Mercer (also a homicide cop) are stumped. The more clues they gather, the more clueless they become--nothing adds up. The reader is in the same boat. Unlike the majority of crime novels, "Likely to Die" does not give the reader a single possibility of who the murderer might be. This is absolutely NOT an "aha!" type of book!

When at last, through much detective work and personal danger, our team figures it all out, one of them is already in the hands of the murderer. And about to die.

I can say no more. But I can assure you that, unlike the tabloid press in the book, which suddenly bulges with witnesses who "knew it all along," the reader is in the dark from start to finish. This is one heck of a good novel. If you are looking for an intelligent, nonstop, well-written, spine-tingling mystery, give this one a try. it is well worth the eyestrain you'll get from reading all night long!

It took me over two years to get around to reading this. It read easily and kept my interest and thus it rates as a good summer read. Be sure to read the first one before plunging into this one.

This book is very boring. She tells us everything people are eating and wearing. She gives a running dialog between people that has nothing to do with the story. I started skipping through paragraphs & finally about half way through the book, I went to the last few pages to find out who the murderer was.