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Killer Heat by Linda Fairstein

Killer Heat

by Linda Fairstein

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  • Mar 2008, 384 pages
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There are currently 31 reader reviews for Killer Heat
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Kathleen

A little bit of history...and a whole lot of mystery!
Killer Heat by Fairstein really stokes it up. A complicated, intriguing plot combines with the always entertaining repartee between ADA "Blondie" Cooper and NYPD Mike Chapman to create another sure Fairstein hit. The small islands in and around Manhatten almost become characters themselves as their histories play out in the search for the killer. This legal thriller does not disappoint as readers will be instantly caught up in the action packed story as well as in the balanced attention given to current, significant legal/crime issues. I had only read Entombed by Fairstein previously. With Killer Heat, I am now A FAN and I can't wait to read her other crime thrillers. Try this book and you will become a believer as well!
Patricia

Killer Heat, Killer Read
Fairstein's words are experienced rather than read. The sights, sounds, smells, feelings, even the tastes are all there to make the reader part of Alex Cooper's life. In this episode an extremely brutal rapist-killer is followed to places in and around New York City that the average person is seldom aware of and would not normally visit, a situation that might change after New Yorkers read this one. As is normal in the real world, several police and court cases are part of the plot, each pulling the reader in to the harried and often thankless lives of the people involved. Their shared experiences create for them a world and a family that is separate from the "real" world, and the reader will be involved in both. Read this one!
Karen

Killer Heat by Linda Fairstein
Linda Fairstein has done it again. A great read! I love the Alex Cooper character and hope she is in many books to come. Storyline moved right along which made it difficult to put the book down. I enjoy books with female detectives, lawyers and the like so Killer Heat was a must read for me. If you enjoy Faristein's works this book does not disappoint.
Jayne

Killer Heat
I was very excited to get this book to preview. I have read other books by this author and loved them all. This one did not change my opinion of this author. The story drew me in right from the start. The balance of courtroom drama, forensic information and the interesting facts about NYC made for a great story. District Attorney Alex Cooper is a character I would like to see again in any more books that this author writes. A very enjoyable read and one that took me out of the craziness of my every day life and put me right there with a great character. .
John

Killer Heat
In Killer Heat, Linda Fairstein brings back familiar lead characters in Asst. DA Alexandra Cooper, NYPD homocide detective Mike Chapman, and detective Mercer Wallace.

The story is set in N.Y. City during an August heat wave and involves the murders of three women that seem to be the work of a single serial killer.

One of the women is a prostitute with some well known clients which could have made this particularly timely in light of the Spitzer debacle but this angle is not pursued and plays no role in the story.

The book doesn't immediately engage ones interest as the opening seems quite reminiscent of a number of other murder mysteries.

The story then proceeds in a very linear fashion with few unexpected twists. A subplot about a Latino gang out for revenge on Ms. Cooper is never really developed and quickly dealt with in the end.

The book is well written, however, and certainly holds one's interest and has suspense enough to keep the pages turning. Ms. Fairstein also provides interesting historical information about some of the islands in N.Y. harbor.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it as a good read especially to fans of the genre. Of course, fans of Ms.Fairstein's work and the main characters [Ms. Cooper and friends] should love it. The quality of writing could also give it broader appeal.
Karen, Great Falls, VA

Killer Heat and Killer Pacing
I think this is Linda Fairstein's best book to date. Fascinating history surrounding New York Harbor islands and sand dunes, excellent accurate legal analysis that entertains, great plot twists, and her pacing is superb. I completely forgot I was home with the flu! Plus, I'm a sucker for the characters and their banter. They're very fully developed personalities at this stage in her writing. Now, if only I could once guess the answer to the Jeopardy question they bet on each night!
Joan

Killer Heat
The thing that keeps me reading Fairstein is her careful description of locations in and around New York. I would never have known about all of the small islands close to Manhatten. They were carefully described and an intricate part of the plot. I like Alex Cooper and her buddies. It is obvious that the author is familiar with the job they do. There were too many dead bodies in a short period of time to suit my taste. That being said, the antagonist was portrayed as a serial rapist. The book was a page turner.
Power Reviewer
Peggy

Hot Time in the Big Apple
I was pleasantly surprised to find "Killer Heat" so enjoyable. I've read Linda Fairstein before and I had not been happy with the last couple books.

This book kept the tension high and the characters, old and new, interesting enough to keep the pages turning.

I like Alexandra Cooper and her pals. In this book Alex has to face trouble in a variety of directions and the multiple plotline keeps the book interesting. She has a rape case that looks like a done deal but in the justice system you never take that for granted. Now dead girls are showing up all over the city and the clues are scarce. You can feel the heat yourself as you immerse yourself in the story.

It is an added bonus to learn a lot more about the history of New York's landmarks.

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