Death Dance

I love all of Linda Fairstein's New York City mysteries. Each gives you a little history on the city and its great buildings and locales. This was not one of my favorites, however. The mystery involves a murdered prima ballerina, Broadway producers, and a young actress. We get to learn a lot about Lincoln Center and Broadway. It is a solid mystery, which keeps you guessing, and the character develop is, as always, thorough and engaging. I think I just wasn't too fond of the focus of this particular book.

Why was Alex part of this investigation? There was no sex crime involved with the death of Galinova. The DA just assigned her to it because she asked, which seems really dumb since she probably had a lot of other work she could have done. I didn’t buy the fact that she was necessary.

And I didn’t really care about the dead woman. No effort was made to help me to do so, either. She was written as shrill, manipulative and uncaring woman past her prime, still grasping at some sort of fame. I think I would have killed her, too. In the end, it was Mona and Mona’s boyfriend who killed her, but I can’t remember why. Probably money.

I did enjoy the subplot revolving around the doctor who drugs women so he can rape them while they are show more unconscious. He was a guy worth writing about and I felt sympathy for the victims of that case. But it was just a subplot and not given much ink.

The friendship between Alex and her investigators is fun to read about and almost seems like it could be real. Almost. The smooth way they fit their lives together and the non-sexual banter is really false. They’re always finding some swanky restaurant to eat in, or a bar just in time to hear Final Jeopardy or flitting off to Alex’s house on the Vinyard. It seems a little too slick, but comforting somehow. Even a fictional perfect world is that, I guess. show less

Fairstein is one of those authors I don't read very often, and it always takes another book of hers to remind me why. It's not that she isn't a good author... she's very talented. Her plots are complicated, often involve several crimes and a plethora of suspects. For me, however, there are always too many stories and little sidebars, perhaps I need to read the Alex Cooper series in order, but I don't know that that would help. Fairstein always seems to have more story than fits into her books... too many cases that never tie up into a nice neat little package... too many suspects that appear and disappear. Granted she was a DA for 25 years and I'm sure that it's more realistic this way -life isn't a nice neat little package- but it show more always leaves me feeling slightly shorted at the end of a book... hey what happened to __________?

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http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/2007/10/jenns-review-death-dance.html show less

This is the first book I've read by this author, who led the sex Crimes Unit of the DAs Office in Manhattan for 25 years before becoming a writer.

Despite a promising plug by James Patterson on the front, this book wasn't nearly as gripping as a typical JP book. However, I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in theatre and especially the magical behind-the-scenes world of Broadway. This book contained a fabulous insight into the world of musicals and theatres including the history and politics of the industry.

This is another in the series of Alexandra Cooper. She is investigating the apparent suicide of a ballerina at the NY Met. Unfortunately, she isn't someone the reader cares about, nor are the incidental characters. Most are flat and uninteresting, although there is some interest in a few of the interactions.

The book opened with a drug-rape scene and its ensuing courtroom actions. The judge was a mysogenist, although way over the top. He was too extreme to be believable as a character. Although probably within the realm of reality, he was too much for a book. This plot line was more interesting and more appropriate for Alexandra. Unfortunately it was a subplot and happened in the background and was resolved without much interest. show more

Overall the story felt flat. It wasn't a bad mystery, but just barely held my interest. show less

I started reading Fairstein's books with the first of the series. I am at the point now where I will continue to read them because I am involved with the characters and want to see where their lives take them. However, the books are becoming a little cookie cutter. On a positive note NYC is one of my favourite places to visit and her books, up to now, have all taken place at various venues in that city. Through reading them I have had the pleasure of visiting some places in NYC I may not have gone to (the Cloisters, for instance), except that her books made them sound interesting and they were.

Natalya Galinova, world-famous ballerina, disappears. But that's not all that is strange in this world. It is run by powers that determine who makes it and who doesn't, and when it is time for a star to be demoted. Natalya is aging out but not ready to retire. Is she now forcefully retired?

Other ballet stars are threatened in this complex thriller, and secret rooms are explored.

I found myself searching for the famous buildings featured here, and enjoyed that part of the hunt as much as the story itself.