Hell Gate (Alex Cooper, Book 12)

I like this series a lot but I could really do without her obvious political cheap shots which the author seems to like to sprinkle in here and there. She is very knowledgeable and weaves a good story. But I found the shots at Bernard Kerik particularly offensive in that she seemed to want to put him in the same category as the human traffickers that she was writing about. His crimes were mostly of the tax evasion sort. And we all know about the apartment he used in NYC for his trysts. He paid for his crimes and to try to smear him this way seemed a bit sleazy to me but then I am beginning to think that that is what comes out of the NYC prosecutors office these days.I hope Ms Fairstein reconsiders her attacks before she pens her next novel. It really hurts her as far as I am concerned and takes away from a reader's enjoyment of her talent. Attacking, even subtly, , potentially half of your erstwhile audience seems just plain stupid to me, but then I guess I will continue reading so maybe it doesn't matter too much.

Ms. Fairstein strikes again with another great mystery!!! The story begins with ADA Alex Cooper at a shipwreck in Queens that has many twists and turns. Were the ships' passengers vistims of an international sex trafficing ring? Who was behind it? The mystery intensifies when citizens with political contacts end up dead? Who did those victims know in politics? And who killed them? Was it the new mayor, the governor, the local congressman, the former police commissioner, or was it the......? And what part in the plot did Gracie Mansion, the mayor's official residence, play? Well, I guess you'll just have to read the book to find out. I found the book hard to close.

It seems as though most successful authors hit a point at which either they have no more ideas, they no longer have time to do the job well, or they just don't care any more. "Hell Gate" is the clearest indication yet that Fairstein has hit this point. As others have mentioned, there are two plot threads. One involves a Congressman whose political career may be derailed by a girlfriend (and yes, of course he's married) claiming that he tried to kill her. This hardly seems like Alex Cooper's territory. The other plot thread involves the shipwreck of a ship carrying three hundred passengers who were intended to be smuggled into the US and sold as slaves. That, at least, is within Cooper's bailiwick, although she's in the mix a little bit early -- the passengers haven't even been identified before she's interviewing them.Unfortunately, the human trafficking plot takes a back seat to the political maneuverings, as Cooper and her cop friends more or less stumble over clues to what is really going on with the Congressman's girlfriend, and how it relates to the trafficking operation. In this volume, it's a real stretch to connect the story with a bit of New York history, and the connection of the crimes with Gracie and two other federal-era mansions is tenuous. As noted by another reader, the usual history lessons are not well integrated into the story (although, unlike that reader, I thought they were more interesting than the political plots) and really stick out.Romance has never been Fairstein's forte. That's OK -- she should just give Cooper a boyfriend, stick him in occasionally, and forget about it. We can imagine most of the relationship. This, however, does not seem to be the direction in which she (Fairstein) is headed. Instead, she seems to be heading toward a Mike/Alex romance. DON'T DO IT, Ms. Fairstein! I, for one, would find it highly unbelievable. The fact is, I dislike Mike. I don't think it's intentional on Fairstein's part, but I find Mike's so-called "banter" to be a lot like the teasing of adolescents -- meant to seem like teasing while carrying a real bite. The things he says are often mean, and certainly unprofessional and inappropriate in a business context. Another way of looking at it is that he is trying to "claim" her in front of other parties by saying things that suggest that they are intimate (although not necessarily in a sexual way). I hate it. Alex should hate it and call him on it. Certainly no romance should happen unless he grows up a LOT.In short, read this book if you like Cooper, but don't expect too much from it.

I am a big fan of Linda Fairstein, and I find the beautiful history, she shares of the New York City area, memorable, which is incorporated within each and every book. I doubt if I will ever travel to NYC, but she paints a picturesque and finely detailed description of the historic landmarks incorporated into her writings. She always spurs me to go to the computer to look up these buildings and areas on my own, which makes each book more personal to me. Hell Gate has a bevy of twists and turns which are totally unexpected. I loved this book and could not put it down. I highly recommend this and all the earlier Fairstein books!Can't wait for next years' release.

Linda Fairstein is known for writing intelligent, well-plotted mysteries, and HELL GATE adds a layer of political intrigue that makes this a particularly potent installment of the Alex Cooper series. I was surprised to see that the book got so many negative reviews, but as I read them I noticed that many readers are upset about the fact that the characters of Alex and Mike seem to be moving towards a romantic relationship. I have mixed feelings about that relationship myself (I want to punch Mike every time he calls Alex "princess"), but it in no way affected my enjoyment of this thrilling, satisfying mystery.

It's always nice to be familiar with the location of a book, and this one was even more fun because I have never been to any of the places except Poe cottage. The actual mystery through a light on human trafficking and it was a great read as usual. I am glad that Alex always manages to overcome the obstacles in her way.

Fascinating. Compelling stand-alone that is easy to follow. Storyline focuses on human trafficking.Believable characters with distinct personalities. Interesting, informative and thought-provoking dialogue. The history lessons throughout her stories are an added bonus.I will re-read this story and always look forward to new works by this author.

This was an extremely old, beaten-up, stained copy. The print is incredibly small, as the format of the book is not the standard paper edition format. Possibly I could have noticed those details before I ordered it. I was unable to read it. I couldn't even give it to a friend - too beaten up. I donated it to the recycling bin.

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.

One of her better stories, this one touches on politics in NY as well as some history of Gracie manor and other buildings.

One of my favourite authors. Always delivers an exciting read

Love her books

I love the Alexandra Cooper books by Linda Fairstein. As usual this book did not let me down