Head of the Sex Crimes Unit of the district attorney's office in Manhattan for decades, Linda Fairstein is America's most visible legal expert on s...
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Feb 06, 2011
Paul
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Alexandra Cooper, aka Alex or Coop, is a part of the New York District Attorney's office. Alex is part of the Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit. In "Hell Gate" she becomes involved in a case of human trafficking, that would have possible implications for those in high government offices.
A ship, the "Golden Voyage", runs aground in New York Harbor and panic breaks out and people begin abandoning ship. The police find that the ship is full of illegals from the Ukraine More...
A ship, the "Golden Voyage", runs aground in New York Harbor and panic breaks out and people begin abandoning ship. The police find that the ship is full of illegals from the Ukraine More...
May 31, 2010
Hell Gate, by Linda Fairstein, A-minus, narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, produced by Penguin Audio, downloaded from audible.com
This is the 12th Alexandra Cooper novel with Alex, an assistant D.A. in the sex crimes unit, and her two buddy police officers, Mike Chapman and Wallace Mercer, with whom she has worked for over a decade. Fairstein always gives us great glimpses of litte-known New York City history in her books, this time the remaining mansions built for highly influential pol More...
This is the 12th Alexandra Cooper novel with Alex, an assistant D.A. in the sex crimes unit, and her two buddy police officers, Mike Chapman and Wallace Mercer, with whom she has worked for over a decade. Fairstein always gives us great glimpses of litte-known New York City history in her books, this time the remaining mansions built for highly influential pol More...
Jul 13, 2011
Joe
rated it: 
Alexandra Cooper, ADA in the city of New York, along with her partner, police Detective Mike Chapman, go after human traffickers and crooked politicians. The story has the usual twists and turns associated with a typical mystery. There's a political sex scandal with love child, human traffickers selling women into prostitution from the Ukraine and Mexico, political fraud, and more.
While Fairstein writes a good mystery, the real gems of her stories are the two main characters. Alex is a More...
While Fairstein writes a good mystery, the real gems of her stories are the two main characters. Alex is a More...
May 25, 2010
Cornerofmadness
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May 10, 2010
Jennifer
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I accidentally returned this book to the library 1/4 of the way in, so my reading was interrupted significantly! However, once I got it back from the library, it was hard to keep going. I slogged on, trying to keep the players on track in my mind, and to maintain interest in the two separate stories that were very obviously going to merge. Even when I was 10 pages from the ending, I set it down to finish later -- never a good sign with a mystery book! There were few surprises, and too many b
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Feb 03, 2010
Quoting "nomadreader"'s review: "...The usual cast of characters is back in Hell Gate. The novel opens with the wreck of a human cargo ship and a promising New York politician crashing his car after fighting with his mistress. Sex scandals abound, yet Fairstein keeps the story from becoming salacious. As always, New York City itself is a character in the story, and the reader learns so much about the city's rich history. Some of it's tied to crimes, but much of it is there becaus
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Mar 28, 2010
judy
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I keep asking myself why I keep reading Fairstein. I'm so comfortable with the characters they almost cease to interest me. I've not been happy with the last several mysteries--and I think this one was the worst. When I open her books, I know exactly what I'm going to get--and that's the problem. As a history buff, I'm always amazed and delighted by the NYC history she imparts. Really fascinating. I follow NYC closely enough that I catch most of the insider references--and that's kind of fun t
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May 13, 2010
Susanhayeshotmail.com
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This may well be my last Fairstein read. I remember enjoying these Alex Cooper mysteries but this time I kept asking myself what was it previously enjoyed so much I would pick up another one. The NYC historic bits were as always interesting, I even looked up the mansions online, interesting stuff. As for the rest, bleh. Too much political tediousness with too many bad guys to keep track of and the almost but never really yet never really not either romance (fauxmance?) between Alex and Mike
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Mar 28, 2010
Kendra
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Book 12 in the Alex Cooper series deals with human trafficking, which I found both sad and interesting. Best part of the book: Fairstein is finally devoting a little more time to the Mike/Alex dynamic. Worst part: Alex comes across as wimpy and submissive in this book. Every male she interacts with is condescending toward her -- and I absolutely GET that it happens, believe me, but she could at least act offended and take some action. There is no sense of her as a tough, take-charge prosec
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Apr 20, 2010
Craig
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In Hell Gate, her 12th novel, Fairstein’s recurring heroine ADA Alex Cooper finds herself investigating a shipwreck that spills illegal immigrants into the frigid waters off Manhattan. At the same time a congressman is caught up in a sex scandal that leads to murder; and when his dead mistress is linked to a boat victim, Cooper realises a sinister sex trafficking ring may be making power plays in her city.
Once again, Fairstein weaves fascinating historic New York facts, many unbekno More...
Once again, Fairstein weaves fascinating historic New York facts, many unbekno More...
Aug 08, 2010
Kelly
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 09, 2011
Enjoyed enough to listen to. However the narrator was a smoker and the character isn't. I also thought there were too many references to real life events in such a way to seem gratuitous. I also thought one reference to Kerik, which wasn't based on real events, could be libelous. I’m no fan of Kerik's but it just didn't sit well with me and I love Linda's books. Probably what I enjoyed best was the history lessons about some great New York landmarks. I didn't like the possibility of Alex having
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Sep 19, 2010
Caitlin
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Not the best effort by Ms. Fairstein, although I do enjoy the way she tries to weave a bit of New York history into all of her books. This one really misses the mark. It feels rushed, the plotting is poor, much of the action is too contemporaneous with names that are current now, but won't be in a year or so. The starting premise is good, but quickly gets bogged down in cutesy banter between Alex and Mike and all the aforementioned names.
I like these books, but I hope the next one More...
I like these books, but I hope the next one More...
May 13, 2010
Kirsten
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I always enjoy the Alex Cooper books, but I'm slightly disappointed that I told my husband the big plot twist about a third of the way through, and not only was I right, but even when faced with the truth, Alex didn't get it, and had a hard time believing it.
I'm interested to see where the maybe-romance between Mike and Alex goes, but it almost feels cheap. I've always loved the friendships between Mercer, Mike, and Alex, and this feels somewhat forced. Especially in light of the f More...
I'm interested to see where the maybe-romance between Mike and Alex goes, but it almost feels cheap. I've always loved the friendships between Mercer, Mike, and Alex, and this feels somewhat forced. Especially in light of the f More...
Jul 06, 2010
Patricia
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This is the latest in Linda Fairstein's Alex Cooper series and one of the best in awhile. Lately I had been finding that Ms. Fairstein's interweaving of the history of New York with her stories had become somewhat cumbersome and pedantic; I liked the history but not when it stalled the plot. This one moves more seamlessly and I enjoyed it much more. I am finding that the "are they/aren't they attracted to each other" thing with Mike Chapman is becoming annoying and would like Fairste
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May 29, 2010
Alice
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Hell Gate was an interesting story about women being brought into the country illegally as sexual slaves. There was a secondary plot line about corrupt politicians that was well done. Mercer and Mike and the rest of the gang were involved in solving the puzzles. Enjoyed the book, except I felt like there was a little too much teasing with sexual tension between Mike and Alexandra that went nowhere. They are in their late 30s and never speak about their feelings for one another. Then again,
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Oct 17, 2010
Denise
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This 12th in series is OK (3.5/5 stars) although there seems to be too much going on to really flesh out both story lines – the one with the victims of the ship going aground and the other involving the disappearance of the congressman’s mistress. I do like the interplay between the characters but sometimes the narrative and dialog seems more like a lecture than actual conversation. I usually learn something new with every book, especially the historical background – in this case with the mansio
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Dec 28, 2010
Stephanie
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I guess LF is trying to move us along toward some sort of increased sexual tension between Alex and Mike, and I say just get on with it...and have it be integral to the story (ies) - this was too coy, too cute in that regard...did enjoy the NYC history but this one reminded me of a few other authors whose books I have always put on my library request lists, even after I stop loving them.
So I guess I will request the next one just to see where it goes...and, as the bookshelf indicates, More...
So I guess I will request the next one just to see where it goes...and, as the bookshelf indicates, More...
Jul 12, 2010
Mary
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An assistant district attorney who helped create the sex crimes unit in Manhattan, Linda Fairstein writes what she knows. In this book which features sex-crimes prosecutor Alexandra Cooper, she weaves New York politics and history into a mystery involving a political sex crime and a prostitution ring. The characters, Mike, Alex and Mercer, are great and I learned so much about the history of New York which really almost becomes a character in the book. This was my first Fairstein mystery and it
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Jul 06, 2010
Lelah
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I really like this series, it's exciting and fun to read, since each one focuses on a different New York City historical landmark, or sometimes an aspect of New York City history. Hell Gate was an interesting addition to the series, focusing on human trafficking and Manhattan's Federalist-era mansions. However, if Alexandra and Mike do not so much as kiss in the next book, I might have to start boycotting the series. Come on! They are perfect for each other and the author has kept them scrupulou
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May 17, 2011
Julia
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I love the Alex Cooper books. I think Fairstein is a good author, she surely knows how to tell a story. Her research into esoteric pieces of NYC history are really great -- I'd read the books just for them but, the story around them is always interesting.
I have one gripe and this is true for all the books (at least the 12 I've read). The book moves along at an excellent pace all the way through. The characters are developed, the story unfolds, the reality is in place and then -- EVERY More...
I have one gripe and this is true for all the books (at least the 12 I've read). The book moves along at an excellent pace all the way through. The characters are developed, the story unfolds, the reality is in place and then -- EVERY More...
Jan 31, 2011
Sara
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In this twelfth novel featuring Linda Fairstein’s New York District Attorney, Alex Cooper finds herself present at the scene of a shipwreck off the Manhattan Coast. The wrecked ship contains illegal immigrants who have been brought into America as part of a people trafficking plot. The body of a drowned young woman is recovered, sporting a tattoo identifying her “owner”. Not long after, the mistress of a prominent politician also turns up dead. Strangely, she sports the same tattoo as the other
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May 03, 2010
Shellye
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One of her less satisfying efforts. Neither of the two intersecting plotlines will hold your interest for long. You'll get a history lesson on Manhattan's Mansions (particularly Gracie Mansion, the Mayor's official residence), and the usual scenes of meals with Mike and Mercer, as well as the Jeopardy final question. There's the obligatory mention of the possible attraction between Chapman and Alexandra Cooper, but it's only a mention, nothing of note. I'll hope for a more compelling mystery in
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Nov 22, 2010
Bettie
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Apr 05, 2011
Susan
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Fairstein's books continue to get better and better. The fact that she is an attorney herself who helped create the Special Victim's Unit is evident in her writing. Each of her books is built around the history of an important structure in the New York City area. In this novel, the focus is upon Gracie Mansion and, surprisingly, other mansions in the boroughs. Corruption at City Hall is interwoven with murder and human trafficking in Hell Gate, making it one of Fairstein's best.
May 10, 2011
Petula
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I found this one thoroughly confusing. I couldn't seem to keep the characters straight despite taking notes.
A bigger problem, though, is my increasing dislike for Mike Chapman. I liked him in books #1 and #2, then I had to skip to book #5 when I couldn't find #3 & #4 on audio. Since then, he's been becoming a bigger jerk to Alex with each successive novel, while at the same time it seems as if we're supposed to view him as a potential romantic partner for her. Yick.
A bigger problem, though, is my increasing dislike for Mike Chapman. I liked him in books #1 and #2, then I had to skip to book #5 when I couldn't find #3 & #4 on audio. Since then, he's been becoming a bigger jerk to Alex with each successive novel, while at the same time it seems as if we're supposed to view him as a potential romantic partner for her. Yick.
Nov 25, 2011
Nora aka Diva
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Admittadly this got bogged briefly down once or twice throughout the novel but aside from that it was an entirely fun read. Fast paced and suspsenseful enough to keep most people guessing. The characters were rounded out enough that you could get a very good sense of them but without going overboard into the "who cares" area. Oddly that seems to be difficult for many authors. Anyway, I would definetely recommend this novel to my friends.
Apr 06, 2011
Darren
rated it:
This was actually a fun ride. I'd almost given up on Fairstein since I really disliked her last novel prior to this one, but Hell Gate was an interesting, well-researched and fast-paced tale. I was able to figure out the whodunit early, but it honestly didn't matter. The story held up well and I enjoyed the areas of discussion (human trafficking, corrupt politicians, and ordinary victims caught in the crossfire when powerful people become greedy and selfish). If anyone close to Ms. Fairstein rea
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May 16, 2010
Holly
rated it:
Good book...I've read a lot of her previous novels and what I really like about them is that they are so grounded in reality. The author's background and experiences come through to make the story so believable...and, in some cases, so informative. She also obviously enjoys history and puts a bit of a NY history lesson in each novel as well. Fun read (even though the subject matter isn't what one would term "fun")...
Oct 22, 2010
Marti
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Two Linda Fairstein novels in a row--because this one I checked out at the library. It was very good--giving more about New York City history as Alex Cooper, Mike Chapman, and Mercer ? seek to solve the problem of human trafficking--womwn smuggled into the country to become sex slaves. Hell Gate is a location in the city where part of the action takes place. Though the subject matter is sleazy, the story is good.
