DEADFALL
by
Linda Fairstein
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.
