Briefly: Opening scene is in the morgue. Paul Battaglia, Alex Cooper's longtime boss and mentor, has been murdered and for some reason Alex becomes a suspect. This didn't ring true for the situation, and I was left-footed from the beginning.

I almost abandoned this one early on: Alex was so annoying in the first couple of chapters, and the animosity of one of the investigators seemed over the top. Although the more recent installments in this series have not appealed to me as much as the early books, I do enjoy the historical information about New York woven into each plot. Trophy hunters, illegal animal trade, and the New York City zoos helped pick up the pace and my interest.

NetGalley/Penguin Group

Mystery/Suspense. July 25, 2017. Print version: 400 pages.

A little more than ten months ago, I reviewed the then latest Linda Fairstein novel, Killer Look (see review dated August 31, 2016). Although I love Fairstein’s Alexandra Cooper series, I was ambivalent about Killer Look. But, Fairstein pulled the rug out from under her readers in a stunning move at the end of that book. Despite any misgivings I might have had about the book, I could not wait to read more of Alex’s story. Thankfully, I did not have to wait too long, and it was well worth any amount of waiting.

Deadfall, the next installment in the series, will be released on July 25, 2017. The book essentially picks up where Killer Look ended, right after the Fairstein bombshell that rocked our world. Alex is a witness on this occasion; but, is she also a suspect? Or, a target? Or, is she the deadfall? What is going on? Whatever it is, the investigation is moving too slowly for Alex, so, with the help of Mike and Mercer, she is determined to get to the truth. Her inquiries take us into the world of endangered species, big game hunters (what really happened to Justice Scalia at that Texas ranch resort?), and the illegal trade of animal parts. Along the way, we learn about the history of the zoos in New York, although the investigation has national and international aspects as well.

I absolutely loved Deadfall, from start to finish. It is an unrelenting fast-paced, gripping adventure. The plot is complex and convoluted. I do not feel like I was able to follow the reasoning that Alex used to reach the conclusion, but I attribute that to reading too quickly. I plan to go back and reread the book and hope to be able to fill in these gaps.

It has been awhile since a book took hold of me at the get-go and did not let go until the end (actually, this one didn’t even let go at the end). Deadfall is one of Fairstein’s best.

I always learn a lot when I read an Alex Cooper book - this time, I learned about zoos - I should say zoological parks, big game hunting, the smuggling of illegal substances - both drug and animal, and subway cars and where they go to to die. At first I thought Alex was a bit too aggressively demanding when being questioned abut the incident at the fashion show. It really turned me off and I about put the book down, so glad that I didn't Another fantastic book in this series. I would heartily recommend it. I learn so much about New York . That knowledge allows me to speak with some authority about a city of which I have no first hand knowledge.

Deadfall is a thriller. Lots of twists and turns. Lot's of characters with ulterior motives. At times I was on information overload. A lot of facts are given on various subjects. Overall I enjoyed reading this book.
****I voluntarily reviewed and gave my honest opinion of this Advanced Readers Copy of this
book from NetGalley****

The Manhattan district attorney has been murdered.. Not waiting for someone else to find the answers, Alex and her intrepid band of merry men, and women, begin the hunt for the information that would not only clear her name, but find who really killed Paul Battaglia. From Hong Kong, to the nature reserves in Africa, to southeast Asia and back to the Bronx Zoo, we are brought into a world where cruelty, trafficking, and human ignorance knows no bounds.

Read the entire review at https://journalingonpaper.com/2017/07/09/book-review-deadfall-by-linda-fairstein/

Fans of Linda Fairstein’s Alexandra Cooper series will be pleased that Alex is back and starting to heal emotionally from the damage inflected after being abducted in an earlier novel. It’s been a year since the last Alex Cooper novel which had a twist at the end leaving readers hungry for Deadfall, the 19th in this series.

Deadfall picks up where the last one, Killer Look, left off, with the shooting of long time New York City DA Paul Battaglia. Alex, still on leave as a prosecutor in the DAs office, finds herself in the crosshairs of both the investigation and the killer. Even though she shouldn’t be involved in the case, she can’t stop herself and teams up with her usual cohorts to find the truth.

One of the things I like about Fairstein’s books is that you always pick up new knowledge about some New York City landmark. In Deadfall it is the Bronx Zoological Park, along with insight into the criminal world of animal trafficking and a brief history of subway cars! And, of course, there are the Final Jeopardy questions, a hallmark of the Alex Cooper novels. As always with Fairstein’s books, this a quick and absorbing read.

This book can be read as a stand alone, but there are many references to actions that took place in the last novel, so anyone new to this series might consider reading it at the very least. Then there is the long history of the main characters and their many fascinating cases, so why not start the series from the beginning?

**I received an online ARC from NetGalley at no charge for review.**
Die hard Fairstein fans - I'm sure you will enjoy this book. I enjoy Fairstein's plotlines immensely for the most part - I think she does a great job in creating fresh stories, and I like how this book started just where they last one left off. I love all the factoids of NY history that are a consistent part of the books. I like the Jeopardy trivia.
Up until 4 books ago I was big Alex Cooper fan.
However, I've discovered that Alex has become this horrible, dumbed-down version of herself, clingy and needy (even before the abduction). Mike treats her worse than "one of the guys," his teasing is often mean and bullying. He's worried about her drinking so he treats her like a dog - "be a good girl and I'll LET you have a drink" (obey daddy and get a puppy treat! Bark! Sit! ROLL OVER! Ugh, it's so so horrible). Mike says things like, "One and done," or "you aren't drinking," and does things like "signaled the waiter to put dinner on Cooper's tab." SERIOUSLY? He's a horrible chauvinist pig, leaning heavily to misogyny..
So Alex keeps reaching out to him and he withdraws. He "lets" her drink if she's a good girl or if he feels she's earned a drink.
Alex is so dumb (and a DISTRICT" ATTORNEY!) that she asks the stupidest questions. Apparently she's never been involved in any investigation OR watched any detective/CSI/mystery show and didn't know that breast implants have serial numbers.
The dialogue is one-dimensional and every conversation feels unfinished. It's like SNIPE! DIG! Regular conversation. INSULT! Back down. Loving words. Regular conversation.
No emotion, no spat or argument or fight is ever fleshed out resembling ANYTHING real, and everyone is always over the anger or snappishness by the next sentence and it's forgotten.
During a meeting with a zoo tour guide, at one point for no reason she "snapped at" Alex. ??
It was so confusing! I had a very difficult time staying interested because it was jumbled and nonsensical at some points. The conversations were just so roller-coastery that it was difficult to follow along, especially considering the UNformatted condition of the document. Sometimes I had to guess who said what.
IT IS A SHAME that Mike and Alex have become so very unlikeable, their personalities SUCK, they're just so weak and nasty and weird and misogynistic between the two of them, that I'm considering giving up on this series. I'm so sick of Mike calling women "broads" or talking rudely to them like when he repeatedly called the 911 operator "LADY" in a hateful tone.
*****Not really a spoiler, but maybe TMI until you read it, so continue at your own peril*****

The whole Skyfari tram thing near the end? SO FREAKING BOGUS. SO STUPID. The whole concept of it - and even the fact that the thing could be started and run - was RIDICULOUS. I mean, everyone who's ever ridden one knows how slowly they move. And even trying to get it started and warmed up to lift? A baby could've crawled over and bitten everyone's feet by the time all that happened, and yet no-one could hit anyone else with a gun or even try to disarm the others. SO. RIDIC.
I would NOT recommend this particular book to a new reader, but I know the long time fans will likely enjoy it enough. I will personally not be purchasing any more Fairstein books if they continue in this way - especially in the emotional/political climate of today where women are losing enough of their rights and identity. UGH. NO MORE. Get in the now, Linda Fairstein.

I am always fascinated by the information that has become such an integral part of Linda Fairstein’s Alex Cooper books. The information and histories she shares about New York City almost becomes more interesting than the story. Almost, but not quite, because Fairstein manages to pull the reader back into her always exciting story.
The book opens with Alexandra in the morgue staring at the body of Paul Battaglia, her long time boss, mentor, and until recently her friend. Just a short time ago he had been assassinated on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, falling and dying in Alexandra’s arms.
Alex shortly becomes part of a federal investigation, but she is not sure if she is a witness, or a suspect. One thing is certain; she will not remain a passive bystander. She decides to be pro-active and to investigate with the help of long time friends NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace. Alex has been confined-for her safety-to a mental hospital in the wilds of the Bronx. Alexandra decides to finally reclaim her true self. After being kidnapped and held hostage in the book “Devil’s Bridge” Alex seems to have lost her way. Now again becoming feisty and fearless, Alex and her cohorts seeks the truth about secret hunting societies, the history of Chinese gangs and their control of large swaths of the city, and hunters who claim to be the biggest conservationists.
Fairstein manages to weave in information about the death of Supreme Court Justice Scalia on a very private hunting ranch. From his possible membership in a very secretive hunting society to the extremely bungled death investigation- non-existing in other words- Fairstein manages to raise some very important questions about Scalia’s death. Questions that no one seems interested in answering. Talk about a perfect storm of cover-up, neglect, and bad luck. No wonder there are conspiracy theories out the wahoo. The reaction to this could be interesting. Fairstein has added really thought-provoking information.
Fairstein is such an accomplished writer. Smooth as the scotch that Alex likes for self-medication. Her characters have grown and changed over time, but there is no problem picking this one up as a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Fairstein continues with the Alexandra Cooper series. Still recovering from the assassination of her boss, Alex must help solve his murder. How far is she willing to go?

Probably the best series around. Excellent degree of research and the details show it. History and places are seamlessly interwoven into the story. The crimes are realistic and the solutions are handled in believable ways.

Entombed, book seven in the Alexandra Cooper series was the first book I read by Fairstein and I loved it. Since then have I read two other books in the series before I read this one. One of them was the book previous (and the other is the first book in the series) and that one ended with a cliffhanger, which I remembered when I started this book. And, the beginning was very strong, with Alex saying goodbye to Paul Battaglia, her mentor who in her eyes has lately fallen from the pedestal, but he had such a great impact on her life that it's still hard to grasp for her that he has been murdered. It doesn't get better when she starts to be seen as a suspect, despite being the one that was with him as he was shot. The question is, who really shot Battaglia and why?

The Alexandra Cooper series in one of my favorites. I have a couple of unread books waiting to be read at home and I was thrilled to get the chance to read this book. Now, you don't have had to read the previous book to read this book. The events that happened in the last book is mentioned, but it will not make this story confusing, despite the fact that Battaglia was killed in the end of the last book.

What this book, unfortunately, lack that the previous books I have read are an interesting villain and a thrilling plot. Don't take me wrong, the beginning was strong and I liked reading the book. But, the plot ended to be a lot wordier than I liked, the kind of book when one tends to zone out a bit while reading. As much as I like to read Fairstein's usual history lesson about New York, this time Bronx Zoo and its past were there just so much dialog that I found myself a bit bored, to be honest. And, the whom the villain turned out to be, well that was hardly a surprise.

So, Deadfall was not as engrossing as the previous books I have read, it's still a good book, but not the one I would recommend starting with if you want to read the series (go for Entombed, they find a body entombed in a house where Edgar Allan Poe once lived).

This story picks up immediately where the last book finished. The DA had been murdered and Alex witnessed the entire thing. She's struggling with the fallout and her already fragile mental health. As the investigation begins Alex can't stop herself from getting involved as it seems the investigating offices are looking at her for the crime. Of course Mike and Mercer have her back and they all start looking at people who could have wanted Paul dead.

Their questions lead them to a group of people who hunt big game animals in the US and it also leads them into the world of smuggled animals and animal parts. As in all of these books, the author incorporates parts of New York and it's history into the plot. (Honestly it's my favorite thing about this series and the reason that's I'm still reading them all these years later.) In this one we learned about the history of the Bronx and Central Park Zoos. Interesting stuff.

This was a pretty entertaining story and I enjoyed it more than the last book. I'm a bit weary of Alex's personal problems but it seemed by the end that maybe that plotline will be coming to an end soon. Overall this was good and I think fans of the series will like it. If you haven't read any of the other books in the series though I would not recommend starting with this one. Too much of the plot ties in to the last book.

**ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley**

This is a hard book to review. On the one hand, it's action packed and moves along briskly, even if the "mystery" really isn't much of a puzzle once most of the clues have been offered. But on the other hand Coop, our heroine, comes off as more unbelievable than in previous books in the series. She's curiously without much empathy for her boss's death, shockingly in a deadfall on her on the steps of MMA, and even less for his family, whom she knows well. She and Mike, neither of whom are very young any more, have seemingly endless supplies of energy that, even if adrenaline supplemented, are just unreal. The most interesting feature of Deadfall is the light it sheds on the illegal trade of body parts of endangered animals and the curious link between conservationists and hunters.

The 19th book in this amazing series opens with the shooting death of Alex's boss, the District Attorney, Paul Battaglia.

Alex finds herself being treated more as a suspect than a witness when the FBI steps in. The US Attorney seems to have a problem with Alex, but they've never met, so what could he have against her?

NYPD Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace are trying to investigate the case even though they've been ordered to stand down. That has never stopped them before ... it certainly won't stop them now.

The more answers they find, the more questions they need to ask. Who would want the DA dead? Why had he seemed to be angry with Alex for months before his death? Who would have anything to gain?

DEADFALL takes the reader on an astonishing journey from the the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to an animal sanctuary in Montana to a stint in a mental hospital to the Bronx Zoo. They meet good people and lots of bad people.

With each and every book in this series, I have learned more about the history of New York City than I would never have known otherwise. And of course, there is always Final Jeopardy to count on.

I have followed this author for years and always look forward to a new Alex Cooper book. All these books can be read as stand-alones, but it's so much more entertaining to start at the very beginning.

5 Stars for DEADFALL. 5 Stars for the series.

Many thanks to the author / Penguin Group Dutton / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of DEADFALL.

Another stellar summer read from Linda Fairstein who I look forward to reading every summer. Again Coop and the gang solve a case, while educating the reader on NYC history, and asaleays, Fairstein entertains like no other with her knowledge and research about the Bronx zoo,and smuggling of exotic animals and blood ivory and the inclusion of drug runners as well.

I will heartily push the title, and look forward to next year.

Alexandra Cooper finds herself in the middle of a death investigation. Her boss, DA Paul Battaglia is shot in front of her. The police investigator assigned to the case has a grudge against her and is treating her more like a suspect than a witness. The Feds have been pulled into the case and the US Attorney also has his eye on Alex. The list of people Alex can trust is getting short.

This is a great suspense novel. Alex is a great character. I liked her sarcasm, she didn't take any guff from anyone. This book kept me engaged from the beginning to the end. I guessed part of the ending but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I must admit to loving this series, never missed one, so I was excited about DEADFALL. Fairstein and her alter ego, Alex Cooper take us on another exciting and interesting adventure, this time through the worlds of animal conservation and the illegal black market in exotic animals and their body parts.

One of the amazing things about these books is that Fairstein is a brilliant educator, who has researched the topics and is able to transmit subject matter within the framework of an exciting adventure. Her books have given me the rich history of such diverse areas as Grand Central Station and Central Park. Here, she has given an in depth portrait of the Bronx Zoological Park as well as the repugnant preserves where the rich go to hunt endangered species.

The book opens with the starling assassination of Alex Coopers' boss, literally in her her arms, and Alex becoming the next target. Her relationship with Detective Chapman has grown with the series and they work in tandem to solve this crime.

I was totally engaged in this case, and I felt I learned so much as I read it. As a New York City history buff, I enjoy these books on multiple levels. One of the bonus joys in this series is seeing the author in the same places that Alex, Mike and Mercer frequent. (Just go to Primola or PJ Bernstein and keep your eyes open)

The only criticism I have is that this book works better if you have read prior entries in the series. I feel like I know the characters and I am excited about Alex' next career move...no spoilers! I urge my readers to read several entries and enjoy them as they immerse themselves in this fabulous series.

Quite simply, one of the best books I have read all year! Linda Fairstein takes Alex, Mike, and Mercer on a twisty tale through the Zoological Society of New York to the wilds of Montana. Her descriptive detail to the characters' surroundings, as well as insight to their deep feelings and battles, makes this a page turner. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and am anxiously awaiting the next Alex Cooper book! Five stars!

No one beats Linda Fairstein in sharing the most fascinating historical facts about NYC while giving us one hell of a story. And I'm glad to see Coop, as she said in her own words, "back." She is a tough, smart character I've long enjoyed. But. This story was hard for me to read, and I found myself skipping through many pages. I thought it was perfectly written, but it's a subject that I just can't comfortably read about. I wish there were no extinct or soon to be extinct animals. I wish governments and people cared more. I find it heartbreaking and criminal that more isn't being done. I applaud Ms. Fairstein to bringing it to the forefront, but I'm not the right audience for this book, I'm afraid. Next one though - I'm already looking forward to the next one.

ADA Alexandra Cooper is back! This time she and New York detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace are investigating the illegal animal trade in the city. It turns out it’s a multi billion dollar business and one people will kill to protect. When a colleague of Alex’s is killed, she dives head first into the shady and shocking business of illegal animal trade. From prominent zoos, to wealthy socialites to members of local government, everyone seems to want a little bit of the wild for themselves, and they don’t care who gets hurt in the process. Fairstein can always be counted on to deliver a first class mystery and this one has a little Nevada Barr element to it that I really enjoyed