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Angel's Tip (Ellie Hatcher #2)

by Alafair Burke (Goodreads Author)

3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 851 ratings · 137 reviews

In a city full of victims . . . it's hard to choose just one.

Fresh-faced Indiana college student Chelsea Hart is so excited to spend the final hours of her spring break in the VIP room of an elite New York City club that she remains behind when her girlfriends call it a night. The next morning, as her concerned friends anxiously pace their hotel lobby, joggers find Chelsea...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published August 19th 2008 by Harper (first published 2008)

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Jul 29, 2008 Gregory Baird rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: James Patterson fans

Shelves: 2008-booklist, amazon-vine, arc, mystery-thriller

Ally McBeal gets a badge

I decided to read this book because I have heard many good things about the mysteries written by Alafair Burke’s father, James Lee Burke. Unfortunately, I found the experience rather disappointing. Ms. Burke seems to be a capable enough plotter, but this novel suffers from an excess of twists and some supremely laughable dialogue (for example, when asked if she went out the previous night, main character Ellie Hatcher responds “Nah, maybe back in my old skanky days. I k...more Ally McBeal gets a badge

I decided to read this book because I have heard many good things about the mysteries written by Alafair Burke’s father, James Lee Burke. Unfortunately, I found the experience rather disappointing. Ms. Burke seems to be a capable enough plotter, but this novel suffers from an excess of twists and some supremely laughable dialogue (for example, when asked if she went out the previous night, main character Ellie Hatcher responds “Nah, maybe back in my old skanky days. I kicked it at home alone last night.” I’m not kidding). Such obvious attempts to sound hip and youthful are painfully common throughout the book, and they are not restricted to the dialogue alone. Pop culture references abound; suspects are described by what au courant celebrity they resemble (Jake Gyllenhaal and an older Zac Efron), TV commercials, trendy NYC hotspots, et al are tossed casually into the plot, and I want to say that it’s for realism’s sake, but the cynic in me believes that it’s a desperate bid to sound trendy through association.

Then there are the plot twists. I love a good mystery novel, but the genre as a whole tends to be too slavish to the idea that there has to be a big sucker-punch of a surprise at the end, and most writers can’t ever seem to make their ‘gotcha’ moment credible. Such is the case with Ms. Burke, who changes the direction of Ellie’s investigation not once, not twice or three times, but with a whopping four misdirections. It would be enough to give you a headache if the plot weren’t too frothy to take seriously in the first place. Strangely enough, Ellie’s partner doesn’t seem to have a problem with his partner’s proclivity to throw out everything they’ve been working on and put both of their careers on the line – despite the fact that they have only been working together for two weeks. Yes, that’s two weeks. Ellie and her partner, Rogan, have instantly fallen into a dynamic most long-term partners would envy, defying credibility because the plot requires that Rogan back Ellie’s wacky theories up.

Not to mention Ellie herself. She is meant to embody a strong woman trying to make it in a male-dominated field, and I respect that. But the message is constantly undermined when Ellie makes statements like the one I quoted above, and also when her romantic life suffers from more crises than you would find in an entire season of Ally McBeal. Her boyfriend is a reporter and they can’t seem to keep their professional lives from interfering in the bedroom. Is he using her to get a byline or is he the dreamboat lover she longs for? Then, of course, comes the tall dark and handsome distraction to fill Ellie’s non-case-related thoughts with romantic angst. Now we have two revelations to wait for: the identity of the killer, and which guy will Ellie choose? Leaving Ellie aside for the moment, the plot itself isn’t doing much to cry feminist. The victims are the very essence of murder-mystery cliché: beautiful girls with a ‘bad streak’ who doom themselves with their lust for partying. Their friends, who responsibly go home at a reasonable hour, are safe, while they must pay the ultimate price for staying out. The guys who party with them are fine – they may come across as sleazebags, but no one ever seems to question their morals when it comes to a good time.

Of course it is only a matter of time before it is revealed that the killer is personally targeting Ellie as the next victim, and in the style of the rest of the book it isn’t quite clear why. The reader must simply shrug and accept it, because it just wouldn’t be as exciting if the climax weren’t personal.

Sigh.

If you’re a fan of James Patterson or other by-the-book mystery writers than this will probably work for you. Otherwise I would suggest skipping it.(less)

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Jan 04, 2009 Patricia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Spring break in New York for three girls from Indiana couldn’t start out more exciting nor end more tragically. Chelsea Hart, Stephanie Hyder and Jordan McLaughlin are best friends and plan to spend their last night in New York checking out all the clubs. Two girls survive the night but for one it will be her last night.

Ellie Hatcher is a Manhattan South Homicide detective. Ellie is single and currently lives with her brother Jess. While out for a morning run the two discover the body of a young...more

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Sep 17, 2008 Lara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-harper-collins

If I had to describe my experience with this book in one word, I would say “typos”. Oy. I hope I’m not getting an editor in trouble with that, but it’s the truth. Hell, at one point, there was even a mix-up with a character name.

If I didn’t say “typos”, I’d just say “enh”. The book had the elements of an entertaining murder mystery: dead bodies, hot female detective, possibility of a serial killer, discord within the investigative team, yada yada yada; but it just didn’t really deliver in an in...more

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Nov 20, 2008 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

This Law professor writes a gritty mystery book. ther are good plot twists and enough suspense to keep most readers guessing to the end Those of you who know me know I'm more likely to figure out who was the culpret before the revelation without reading the last chapter first.

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Feb 23, 2009 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of hard boiled mysteries

Recommended to Michael by: Read reviews in mystery magazines.

Shelves: mystery, read-in-2009, reviewed, series

"Angel's Tip" brings back Ellie Hatcher who made her debut in "Dead Connection."

Ellie is jogging and comes upon a body of a young woman, who had come to Manhattan on college break.

The woman has had her face mutilated and her hair cut off.

Ellie is a new detective in the homicide unit, attempting to make her way in a male dominated world. The investigation slows and a tip comes in from the hot line that another victim, Robbie Harrington was murdered in the same fashion in 2000.

Ellis researche...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Kara Jorges rated it 4 of 5 stars

Detective Ellie Hatcher catches a homicide one morning while she’s out jogging in the park with her brother/roommate Jess. They find the murdered and mutilated body of 19-year-old college student Chelsea Hart from Indiana. Chelsea and her friends had come to Manhattan for spring break, and Chelsea disappeared on her last night in town after partying it up in a VIP room with some yuppies. All the evidence points to the last man to see her alive, obnoxiously coiffed Jake Myers, but when Ellie come...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

This second book in the Ellie Hatcher series is remarkable for the vicious "Barber of Manhattan." Bodies begin to line Hatcher'a path as she and partner, J.J. Rogan strengthen their bond as NYPD detectives in seeking the killer of young, blonde women who stay out too late and don't go home when their friends warn them to do so.

Ellie, JJ, Ellie's brother, Jess, and the rest of the characters are believable. The villain evokes fear. Burke is a master of plot, and this one does not disappoint. How...more

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Oct 15, 2010 Stephen Tremp rated it 4 of 5 stars

main character, Ellie Hatcher, is a likeable and believable character. She’s a straight shooter who can do things the easy way or the hard way. Regardless, she’ll get results. She’s smart, tough, aggressive, calculated, and pretty darn hot. But she also likes to drink Margaritas with friends and relax.I liked the chemistry with her brother Jess and new partner JJ Rogan. I appreciated the balance as its no fun to have a completely wound up protagonist. The minor characters were engaging and fun t...more main character, Ellie Hatcher, is a likeable and believable character. She’s a straight shooter who can do things the easy way or the hard way. Regardless, she’ll get results. She’s smart, tough, aggressive, calculated, and pretty darn hot. But she also likes to drink Margaritas with friends and relax.I liked the chemistry with her brother Jess and new partner JJ Rogan. I appreciated the balance as its no fun to have a completely wound up protagonist. The minor characters were engaging and fun to watch develop. The victims were humanized and not treated as a prop to further the plot.

Angel’s Tip is a classic whodunit. Could the killer be someone from within the police force or one of the affluent young party boys in the elite Manhattan night club called the Pulse? Burke skillfully hides clues and integrates red herrings along the way to keep the reader guessing until the end of the book. The story took numerous twists and turns, as one by one the characters looked as if they could very well be the serial killer, until finally there was one man left standing.

I like to write down the names of the characters, who they are, and what they do, then try to identify the killer as I progress through the book. Sometimes I can correctly identify the killer halfway through. Not this time. Although there were only two actual murders in Angels Tips, Burke did a wonderful job recalling three similar murders from the past and intertwining them throughout the story. Ellie, of course, made the connections and concluded there had to be only one killer resposnible for all five killings.

Alafair Burke’s background as a deputy district attorney and as a teacher of criminal law is demonstrated in her ability to weave inner workings of a criminal mind, how the justice system works, the investigative process, and what works and what doesn’t work into her story.

Angel’s Tip is based on real life murders of young women after a late night of partying in New York City and developed into a “What if” scenario. What if Ellie Hatcher caught cases like these and saw a connection where no one else did?(less)

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Jun 07, 2009 KarenC rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: better_than_tv, police, murder_mystery

Ellie is an interesting character committed to her profession. Burke describes her well; makes her human, along with her partner Rogan. I like Ellie much better than I did Samantha Kincaid, but I don't remember why (it's been a while since I last read a Kincaid book). Ellie & Rogan seem well-paired as partners, making fast progress (too fast?) to a level of trust that's a bit hard to imagine when the partnership has barely begun. But they are both straight forward people who don't seem to pl

...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Lynn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: suspenseful, mystery

This is all my husband's fault! (Isn't everything?!? lol) He bought this book for me; it had been in the house a little over a day and he didn't have anything new to read, so decided he'll read it, too. He finishes it (in one day--typical for him), then. I pick it up last night, having only read the first few pages, and next thing I know it's 2:30AM and I've just finished a really GOOD book, in my opinion. Alafair is a new author for each of us. Her father is one of John's (that's the husband of...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-books

When college student Chelsea Hart stays behind at a New York Club after her friends leave, she doesn't realize a killer is watching her, waiting for this perfect opportunity. The next morning, Detective Ellie Hatcher finds Chelsea's body while out on a run with her brother. The obvious suspect is the guy she was last seen with at the club. But soon Ellie begins to realize they may be after the wrong guy.

Angel's Tip by Alafair Burke is a thriller with tons of twists and turns. While the reader is...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Wendy Kobylarz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Maybe I read this too close to the first novel in the series, but I found this too similar to the first. Young women getting killed by unknown assailant, and the switching points of view between Ellie and the murderer. I'm sure that's not an uncommon premise in so many mysteries and thrillers, but this one didn't quite cut it with me.

There are some places in the book that I had to re-read two or three times, particularly dialogue, to make sense of what was being said. Too frequently, although th...more

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Jan 04, 2009 Kathleen Hagen added it

Shelves: 2008-mysteries-suspense, 2008-audio-books

Angel’s Tip, by Alafair Burke, A-minus, narrated by eliza Foss, produced by recorded Books, downloaded from audible.com.

Detective Ellie Hatcher is taking her morning run with her brother when, at 5:30 a.m., they come across a body, a pretty young woman, with her hair shorn off, many cuts to her body and strangled. Because Ellie was the first on the scene, it became her case along with her partner’s. Ellie has only been a homicide detective for a week and isn’t well liked in the homicide unit bec...more

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Mar 25, 2009 Carey rated it 4 of 5 stars

When new homocide detective Ellie Hatcher takes her usual early morning jog with her brother, Jess, they stumble right over a murder victim. Chelsea Hart, a beautiful blond Indiana college student, has been dumped there in East River Park with her hair weirdly chopped off.

As the first detective on the scene, Ellie takes charge. Her find, her case. She calls her new partner, J.J. Rogan, and together they begin to put together the pieces of this seemingly random crime. Attractive college girl, in...more When new homocide detective Ellie Hatcher takes her usual early morning jog with her brother, Jess, they stumble right over a murder victim. Chelsea Hart, a beautiful blond Indiana college student, has been dumped there in East River Park with her hair weirdly chopped off.

As the first detective on the scene, Ellie takes charge. Her find, her case. She calls her new partner, J.J. Rogan, and together they begin to put together the pieces of this seemingly random crime. Attractive college girl, in town with two girlfriends for spring break, plucked from a trendy nightclub after a night of partying.

It is surprisingly easy to find the murderer, the man Chelsea was seen dancing with at the club until three in the morning. He's the obvious choice, plus his record is not spotless. Easy. Maybe too easy, Ellie thinks. Too bad she is the only one with second thoughts. Everyone else is happy they got the guy, case closed.

But Ellie gets a call from a man whose daughter was murdered years ago. He's had a dream about his daughter and he thinks she is trying to tell him something. Maybe the two crimes are connected.

Well, he must be a nut, right? Probably. Ellie pulls his daughter's case anyway. And the biggest similarity, the only thing not released in the press, is something about the hair. Ellie becomes convinced that there is no way the suspect they have could be the right one, he is too young, and there are more similar cases that stretch back too far. A serial killer who has been at work for years. Can she and Rogan figure out who is the real murderer before it's too late...for Ellie, herself?

Alafair Burke has a winner in the character of Ellie Hatcher. She is quick, sharp, smart, endearing and fun. I enjoyed the development of the new relationship between Ellie and Rogan. This book flew by, the pages practically turning themselves as the suspense built up. The Manhattan setting is perfectly evoked and the author's knowledge of the world of the New York Police Department added believability to the story. This is a talented author and I look forward to her next exciting installment!(less)

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Jul 17, 2011 Deborah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

A good, solid detective novel. This is the second book in the Ellie Hatcher series that I have read. Ellie has a new partner, J.J. Rogan; her lieutenant doesn't like her; the squad resents her because they feel she made homicide on more than just her skills alone.

Ellie gets her first big case since joining the squad, when she goes out for a run with her brother Jess, and they come across a dead body of a young woman. She turns out to be a college student from Indiana, who went to New York with h...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Jim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Detective Ellie Hatcher tries to find a serial killer. Same premise as about 40% of myseries, so what makes this one worth reading? First, the events don't seem contrived. There are plenty of surprises, but they are believable. Second, Ellie herself seems real. So many times when I read books like this I end up rolling my eyes at the stupidity of some of the actions of the protagonist. This doesn't happen with this character. Third is the way Burke presents her. As a male so many times when I re...more

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Apr 09, 2011 Bojan Tunguz rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have not had a chance to read a good crime novel in a long while, and from the description this book seemed like a good one to read. It took a while for the story to develop, and since I was not familiar with the main character from the previous novels by Alfair Burke, it took about hundred pages or so before I could care enough to be fully gripped by the story. However, once I had the full interest in the happenings, the book was hard to put down. Burke has a very well developed style that is...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Raechel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, great-american-detective, mystery

This is the first time that I've cried reading a mystery novel in recent memory, and I've read my fair share. Alafair Burke doesn't have the same talent for lyrical prose that her father, James Lee Burke, does - and I'm sure she just loves those comparisons. Still, she did a wonderful job depicting the consequences of a series of grisly murders, particulary the toll the losses left on the victims' family and friends. This wasn't just a tale of tragedy and woe - I was only teary for a few pages a...more

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Oct 23, 2008 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable contemporary detective thriller. I was guessing up until the last second, mostly incorrectly. =)

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May 04, 2013 Tony rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY

Fresh-faced Indiana college student Chelsea Hart is so excited to spend the final hours of her spring break in the VIP room of an elite New York City club that she remains behind when her girlfriends call it a night. The next morning, as her concerned friends anxiously pace their hotel lobby, joggers find Chelsea'...more THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY

Fresh-faced Indiana college student Chelsea Hart is so excited to spend the final hours of her spring break in the VIP room of an elite New York City club that she remains behind when her girlfriends call it a night. The next morning, as her concerned friends anxiously pace their hotel lobby, joggers find Chelsea's body in East River Park, her wavy blond hair brutally hacked off.

NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher catches the case and homes in on the group of privileged men who were last seen plying Chelsea with free-flowing alcohol. But before she can even gather the preliminary evidence, the gruesome murder is grabbing headlines and drawing unwanted media attention to the department. So when Ellie builds a tight case against Jake Myers, a young hedge fund manager, the department brass and the district attorney's office are elated: the case will soon be cleared, the media will tout the department's quick work, and Ellie will be a dream witness at the trial against Myers.

But Ellie has her doubts. Chelsea's murder is eerily similar to three other deaths that occurred nearly a decade ago: the victims were young, female, and in each case, the killer had taken her hair as a souvenir.

Ellie's investigation pulls her into a late-night world of exclusive clubs, conspicuous wealth, and hedonistic consumption. And her search for the truth not only pits her against her fellow cops but also places her under the watchful eye of a psychopath eager to add the prideful young female detective to his list.

It ends up that Chelsea's killer has killed 3 before her and 1 after. He has his sights set on Ellie but before he gets her, she gets him. The killer is a crime reporter.

Ellie has recently been promoted to homicide and a lot of detectives think she has got there too quickly and give her a hard time. Her partner is J J Rogan who is a cool black guy. She gets her lead from a recently deceased partner of hers who was also investigating a serial killer who took his victim's hair as a souvenir. He never caught him. (reread 3/13)
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Feb 12, 2009 Becky rated it 2 of 5 stars

I require two things when I read a mystery or thriller. It has to mystify and thrill me...and really, that's not asking too much because I will readily admit, I'm easy.

I couldn't forgive the scene when the lead investigator walks into a NYC hotel (with 2000 rooms) and "runs" into the victim's worried girlfriends. Yikes, that was just bad acting, and all within the first 35 pages.

I also require more than one plot string. Needless to say, this book was dull and flat. Simply not enough story happen...more

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Mar 16, 2009 Kercelia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Detective Ellie Hatcher is featured in this book by Alafair Burke, and I found her to be a fully rounded character. The book focuses on her relationships, whether with her brother who is temporarily sleeping on her living room sofa; her new partner in the precinct; her newspaper writer boyfriend; or various others that populate the story. She and her brother discover the body of a young woman while out for an early morning run, and the crime soon links up to similar crimes leading to a search fo...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-the-horror

I enjoyed this read. It might be a 3.5-er, but I'm rounding up because it sucked me in more than her other books have.
(This sucking in could be partially because it caught me at a time when I am susceptible to New York nostalgia, and it made me want to move back to New York, so I can once again go out in the meatpacking district and shake my head at people who pay hundreds of dollars for bottle service while I hypocritically do not turn down their hospitality.)
I read this on my Kindle for PC (...more I enjoyed this read. It might be a 3.5-er, but I'm rounding up because it sucked me in more than her other books have.
(This sucking in could be partially because it caught me at a time when I am susceptible to New York nostalgia, and it made me want to move back to New York, so I can once again go out in the meatpacking district and shake my head at people who pay hundreds of dollars for bottle service while I hypocritically do not turn down their hospitality.)
I read this on my Kindle for PC (a .99 download! because, as Alafair Burke puts it, she and her publisher are like the drug dealers at the playground who hook the kids with free samples...thanks, publisher!) so I had to go away from it when I wasn't taking my laptop with me (usually) and I kept wanting to hurry back to it to see what was next. It moved along quickly, as most mysteries do. One thing about her writing is that her characters say snarky, incisive things, much like the author herself does, so rather than a slow characterization by actions, the characters quite often express something about themselves in a witty, articulate way--it feels very modern and hip. This is also far better than the genre trope of introducing every new character with "He was tall, red-headed, with piercing green eyes that nicely topped his slightly chubby frame" - so glad Alafair Burke doesn't introduce every character that way. Anyway, no plot summary from me because I hate spoilers and hate them even more in a mystery, duh! But I recommend this for your beach/airport reading pleasure whether you're new to Alafair Burke or you've read her newer stuff and are on the fence about catching up on the backlist. It's a thoughtful, sardonic, smart, New Yorky story. Bonus: we get a jackass law student, a seriously unethical lawyer, and a bit of the eternal philosophical debate about whether one should go to law school. (My answer: no...because you can just benefit from Alafair Burke's criminal procedure wisdom in her books like this, instead of paying thousands of dollars to take her class)(less)

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Apr 21, 2010 Vanessa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

This is the second in Burke's series about NYPD homicide detective Ellie Hatcher. Since Alafair Burke is the daughter of James Lee Burke and a former prosecutor/current law professor, she has the perfect mystery writer's pedigree and she takes full advantage of it.

This book picks up about a month after the first one (Dead Connection). Ellie has returned from Kansas where she was interviewed by Dateline about the mystery surrounding her father's death-a mystery that will undoubtedly continue for...more

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May 22, 2010 Maddy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-reads

PROTAGONIST: Detective Ellie Hatcher
SETTING: New York
SERIES: #2 of 2
RATING: 3.0

A group of young women from Indiana are just about to return home after some time vacationing in New York City. For their final night in the City, they decide to party at a club called Pulse. When her friends are ready to leave, Chelsea Hart decides she'd like to stay a little longer. She's been drinking too much, but having such a great time that she wants to make the evening last as long as possible. That turned out...more PROTAGONIST: Detective Ellie Hatcher
SETTING: New York
SERIES: #2 of 2
RATING: 3.0

A group of young women from Indiana are just about to return home after some time vacationing in New York City. For their final night in the City, they decide to party at a club called Pulse. When her friends are ready to leave, Chelsea Hart decides she'd like to stay a little longer. She's been drinking too much, but having such a great time that she wants to make the evening last as long as possible. That turned out to be not a good idea; the next morning, while making a run with her brother, Detective Ellie Hatcher is there when Chelsea's body is found. The most striking thing about the body is the fact that Chelsea's long blonde hair has been hacked off.

Ellie is a relative newcomer to the NYPD homicide department. There are many who question her fast rise to the position that she's in, including her lieutenant, Dan Eckels. Fortunately, an experienced detective named J. J. Rogan has requested that Ellie be his partner. The two of them are a good match and quickly learn to respect one another. Although Rogan is by far more savvy than Ellie is, he learns to go along with his new partner's hypotheses, one of which is that Chelsea's murder is one of a series that may have begun as long as a decade earlier. The way that Ellie made the connection to three unrelated murders years earlier was tenuous, at best. I did have to wonder why Rogan would so immediately go along with the rookie detective; in an incredibly short amount of time, they were functioning better than teams that have spent years together.

As it turns out, the killer has more than a passing interest in Ellie. I don't like the serial killer scenario to begin with; but what makes it even worse for me is when the villain's actions are motivated by some situation involving the female protagonist. Of all the possible reasons for his actions, why do they have to involve the woman who is investigating his case? It becomes even more ludicrous when that female is part of the NYPD, one of the largest police forces in the United States. In addition, the killer is basing part of his interest in Ellie on his admiration of a killer from her past. I found myself completely annoyed by this set-up, and it colored my reaction to the book, in a negative way.

The plot was serviceable; Burke's insider knowledge of the workings of the DA's office adds a welcome accuracy to the tale. However, the way that the book resolved was not procedurally sound. Ellie acts in a completely irresponsible way, and no one stops her from doing so. It was hard to believe that she would be permitted to face the killer alone.

I really liked the first book in this series, Dead Connection, and felt that it showed promise of good things to come. Unfortunately, Angel's Tip did not live up to that expectation for me.

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Aug 16, 2009 LJ rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary_post_1945, female_author, mystery, mysterybookclub, new_york_city, police_procedural

First Sentence: The man leaned forward on his stool to make room for a big-boned redhead who was reaching for the two glass of pinot grigio she’d ordered.

A young collage woman is missing after a night bar-hopping with her friends in New York City. Her body is found severely mutilated. As Detective Ellie Hatcher, investigates, she finds similar murders in the past..

This was another sociopathic serial killer who attacks young women, mutilates them, keeps a souvenir and gets off on it. The protago...more

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Sep 01, 2008 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: female-author, police-fiction, mystery

Chelsea Hart is an Indiana University student in New York City on spring break. She and her friends are out at a trendy night club on their last night in town. It's late and her friends are trying to pry her away from the club. Chelsea, however, doesn't want to leave yet so she talks her friends into returning to the hotel without her. It's a deadly decision. Chelsea isn't seen alive again.

Ellie Hatcher is one of the first to find Chelsea when she and her brother Jess are out for a morning run....more Chelsea Hart is an Indiana University student in New York City on spring break. She and her friends are out at a trendy night club on their last night in town. It's late and her friends are trying to pry her away from the club. Chelsea, however, doesn't want to leave yet so she talks her friends into returning to the hotel without her. It's a deadly decision. Chelsea isn't seen alive again.

Ellie Hatcher is one of the first to find Chelsea when she and her brother Jess are out for a morning run. Ellie is back in NYC and back with the homicide department, this time as an official detective IN the department. She calls her new partner J.J. Rogan and tells him to get to the crime scene, they've just snagged a murder investigation.

All seems great in NYC when a suspect is arrested and an air-tight case appears to be in order. But in the process of the investigation, Ellie discovers three cold cases her old partner Flann McIlroy had been looking into. Cases he believed were connected...and cases that look eerily similar to the Chelsea Hart case.

Alafair Burke is back in prime form! She hit another Ellie Hatcher homerun with ANGEL'S TIP, the follow-up to Hatcher's debut in DEAD CONNECTION. Like Harlan Coben, Burke is a master of "imitating life." I love the pop culture allusions that weave throughout the plot.

The nightlife, club scene in ANGEL'S TIP is one that is very foreign to me. BUT, Burke had me connecting with Ellie because that wasn't her scene either. I could FEEL her discomfort at wearing clothes that just weren't HER.

The introduction of J.J. Rogan was a fantastic addition to the series. J.J. is a fun and rich character - and I'm not talking about his inheritance either. It's refreshing to have two relatively young, intelligent professionals working together - of opposite genders - who have great chemistry that doesn't necessitate jumping in the sack.

Both Ellie and J.J. have such a realistic passion about their jobs as police detectives. The way Burke illustrates this passion you would think she was a New York City detective herself.

Another point of realism that reminded me of how "unreal" television can portray police work came when Ellie took off running after a suspect. J.J. was screaming for her to stop. She didn't have a protective vest on; she didn't know if the suspect was armed; they didn't have back-up - that wasn't correct procedure. Yet, we see that every night on the crime dramas and we expect it. But the "correct procedure" sure does make a lot of sense. I always feel like I've learned something after reading a book by Alafair Burke. This point also reminded me why I like Ellie so much - she's human. She makes mistakes in the heat of the moment; rookie mistakes, if you will. But she's also accountable for her mistakes. She doesn't need some Superman to come save her. There's even a point where the young ADA is with Ellie and she tells him she doesn't need a protector, he can go home. He informs her that he's there for HER to protect HIM! Priceless!

All of this excellent character development and realism sets the scaffolding for a fantastic plot. There are twists and turns at every chapter. While at one point in the novel I suspected the culprit, Burke threw in so many twists that I ended up constantly oscillating trying to guess who the real killer was, "well, it can't be HIM because..." "hmmm, maybe it's HIM..." "then again, it could be...".

Thrillers like ANGEL'S TIP are the only roller coaster rides I enjoy. I'd line up again and again to experience Alafair Burke's kind of thrill! Outstanding!! (less)

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Jun 08, 2012 Michael Jenkins rated it 2 of 5 stars

Chelsea heart was at a wild crazed party, flirting with guys, while an unexpected visitor lurks around in the corner, oblivious to her friends. They are persistent to leave the party with her, but she is convinced that she is having a great time, so she declines their offer. The next day NYPD Ellie Hatcher finds Chelsea's lifeless body, with her hair cut off. She questions the friends of Chelsea and tries to come into the revelation on who was the murderer.

It was difficult in trying to rate this...more

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Jun 19, 2010 Sheila Beaumont rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries-suspense-thrillers

A police procedural, serial-killer thriller, and whodunit all in one, this twisty, well-plotted tale set in NYC really kept me turning the pages. Homicide detective Ellie Hatcher is a likable, intelligent, courageous heroine, and the supporting characters are portrayed as interesting and multidimensional. This book has excitement, good dialogue, suspense, a fast pace, humor, and a surprising conclusion. A terrific read for those who enjoy a good mystery or thriller.

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Nov 05, 2011 Goldenwattle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the ways I judge a book is how easily I can put it down. This book was not difficult to do so. The main police detective was female, so I expected her to be pursued by the killer, and she was. This is so clichéd when the detective is female. I am trying to think of any story where this happens to a male detective, and right now I can't recall one. Ho-hum. The story line though was reasonable, so hence a score of three.

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About Alafair Burke

Alafair Burke is the author of "two power house series" (Sun-Sentinel) that have earned her a reputation for creating strong, believable, and eminently likable female characters, such as NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher and Portland Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid. Alafair's novels grow out of her experience as a prosecutor in America's police precincts and criminal courtrooms, and have been...more

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Angel's Tip (Ellie Hatcher #2)

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