Death Angel (Alex Cooper)

I'm surprised at all the five star reviews; I found Death Angel unsatisfying. Looking back from the end, the plot, as usual, was well crafted. As I was reading, however, I was struck by how irrelevant the murder victim seemed. Mostly, I was reading a paean to Central Park, the real main character in the story. That will not surprise regular devotees of Ms. Fairstein, since some New York site is always the center of her books. In this one, however, I thought the subordination of the human stories to the place story was a bit overdone.My real disappointment, however, is the characters. As for Alex Cooper herself, I am confused about how old she is. She seems not to be aging in real time, and yet the book is not "historical" -- it seems to take place in the here and now. I know that authors do this, but it always confuses me. I can't see how Alex can still be "young" and after following her through 15 books, it's starting to bother me that her life does not move at all. She still has the same job (Well, OK); her relationships with her colleagues have not changed, her bosses have not changed, she has no life outside of her job. In short, she comes across, at least to me, as not a person but a stick figure used to tell the story. She needs a life.Regular Fairstein readers may object that she has a life, as illustrated in the most recent previous book, in which she spent time in France with her love interest. But like his predecessors, he didn't stick around very long and the reader never was able to see him as a live person -- i'm sure most readers felt, as I did, that he was mostly a plot device.Well, OK again, I don't really care if Alex has a boyfriend, and romance is clearly not Ms. Fairstein's forte. But where I think the characters have really gone off the rails is with Cooper ready to embrace romance with Chapman. Based on their respective characters in all previous books, this would be a terrible mistake. Alex has never been romantically attracted to Chapman and she doesn't need to justify it, she just isn't. Fairstein does not need to tie up Cooper and Chapman like Castle and Beckett, or other dumb TV mates. Even worse, Chapman is domestic violence waiting to happen. Going back several books, and including Death Angel, his "teasing" has been inappropriate and hostile. It is NOT friendly teasing. It's eased up a bit in this volume, but was especially bad in the book that was about synagogues. My theory is that he's deeply angry that she has not wanted (until now, apparently) to be romantically involved with him. He feels inferior and blames her. How can Fairstein miss this about her own characters? I'm not making it up. He makes comments that cut Alex down in front of her bosses and in front of total strangers. She should stay away from him.In summary, Ms Fairstein's characters have begun to seem tired, and what may be her solution strikes me as outrageous. Go back and reread the earlier books.As a long-time fan, I hope Ms. Fairstein steps away from this precipice.

Well I have just finished reading 15 books in a row on this series. I think it's safe to say I am hooked & never want this series to come to an end. I love a good mystery with well written characters, throw in a little romance, a little danger, and best of all Linda Fairstein throws in lots of 1 of my favorite things "history". My brother has lived in NY for years & is a well known dancer, choreographer, costumer & set designer who travels around the world to perform (at least he did prior to COVID-19). I have been reading bits of the NY history from these books & telling him he would enjoy reading the series for that fact alone. I also told him that my list of things I want to do when I next visit him in NY is growing exponentially. Guess I will simply have to make it a longer visit. I don't want to live there, but it's an incredible place to visit. Thanks Ms. Fairstein for such a fantastic series! I am going through some very challenging things right now, including caring for my father as he is dying. These books take me somewhere else for the time I am reading them. I have always been an avid reader, my whole family is. I love that the characters & their family & friends become so real. I feel I know them & want to get to know them even better. I can see the words on the page come to life in technicolor, jump starting my imagination & taking me on an exciting journey. It's hard to put the story down & go to bed!

** this review contains some spoilers **I have to say that after reading the last book and being somewhat disappointed, this one was a pleasant surprise. I hated the character of Luc and was growing to dislike Alex as she became more involved with him. When Death Angel begins Alex has broken up with Luc and has an open minded conversation with Mercer's wife about why she's never lucky in love. Unlike the previous reviewer who appreciates the city history that comes along with these books, I actually wish Fairstein would spend more time developing the relationship between the characters and focusing on their interactions. I like a little bit of history in the books but find myself skimming at times because the descriptions and conversations about the park, historical landmarks and New York legal system seem to go on for pages and pages and...you get the point. I so wanted there to be more conversation between Alex and Mike. And after their night together in the park...nothing. For me it was a good book with a good mystery but until there can be a better balance between character development and New York city history, these books will never really be completely satisfying. And as much as I wanted Mike and Alex to get together, it felt a little abrupt. Looking forward to the next book and hope I get more Alex and Mike.

I have loved and read ALL the Alexandra Cooper, Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace novels and with DEATH ANGEL, I am once again brought back to New York City and this time to Central Park and all the history this beautiful spot represents. I lived and worked in New York in Murray Hill, but never got the chance to explore the beauty of Central Park except for a cold Martini in the Oakroom Bar of the Plaza across from the park. With DEATH ANGEL, Fairstein draws you into the history and the development of Central Park along with weaving a story of a young woman found dead there which begins a search for the killer accompanied by the handsome Mike Chapman and the wonderful Mercer Wallace. There are also wonderful dinners which Alex, Mike and Mercer have at some of the finest restaurants in New York and of course, getting into some of the darkest areas of Central Park which you never would know existed until you read this book. And, of course, there is the chance that Alex and Mike might finally come together with the attraction that has always been there between them, but with that added element of suspense, you have to read DEATH ANGEL to find the answer to that question not found on Mike's love of JEOPARDY. Already, I want another Alexandra Cooper book...

As always, Linda Fairstein never fails to disappoint. Yet again she tells a story that is full of historical information about New York City. The characters of Alexandra, Mike and Mercer are so alive and the cases they work on are both exciting and, in places, scary, especially when “Coop” gets herself into danger. This time we are told intriguing facts about the history of Central Park and the author weaves her story in and around the park, using her imagination and knowledge to give us an extraordinary and somewhat believable situation where crimes have been happening for decades, most of them remaining unsolved. In addition to the main plot, we are treated to a hint of something that most readers have been waiting for since book one. Although this is never totally followed through, I have a sneaking suspicion that we may be exploring that trail further in the next episode. All in all, a delightfully written story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

Thoroughly enjoyed the history of Central Park, so much that I want to go and visit it. One of Linda Fairstein's best for some time but the repetitions of Alexandra Cooper's family history, her friendships and visits to Martha's Vineyard still irritate. Not sure if this is lazy writing or if the publisher is requesting it. A synopsis at the beginning or end would do!

Easy to read crime novel - similar pattern in all her work, but a nice underlying story too.I now own several of her books.Book arrived promptly in a good condition.

The setting of the park, with all its history,and all the detail had me captivated, and the twist with the Dalton family tragedy made you want to keep o n reading brilliant research, and such detail

prompt service enjoyed book