Death Angel by Linda Fairstein

For years readers have been waiting for NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Linda Fairstein to take on what is arguably the most famous landmark in New York City – Central Park. At last, the wait is over. In Fairstein’s latest Alexandra Cooper novel, DEATH ANGEL (Dutton: July 30, 2013), she delves into the very depths of Central Park, past the open baseball fields and spring foliage, and into the dark and little-known history of New York City’s biggest – and perhaps deadliest – playground. Fairstein is the master of simultaneously pulling readers into her ripped-from-the-headlines plots and into a behind-the-scenes tour of New York. Drawing from her life time as a New Yorker who has spent hours enjoying all the Park has to offer and from her experiences as a former prosecutor who had first-hand knowledge of the many heinous crimes committed in this idyllic setting, readers are in for Fairstein’s most fascinating story yet.

After discovering the body of a naked girl near the famous Bethesda Fountain, Alexandra Cooper and Detective Mike Chapman are pulled into the long forgotten past and darkest recesses of Central Park to find the killer. Their investigation leads them from the caves and hidden danger spots of the Park, through the Ramble and Ravine, to the attics of the iconic Dakota apartment building. All the while, Coop’s previous casework threatens to resurface with a vengeance when she learns of a man with an ominous tattoo reading “KILL COOP” who has been harassing women in the Park. From the remnants of Seneca Village to Belvedere Castle, no stone goes unturned as Coop and Chapman uncover the storied history of the Park, from entire villages destroyed during its construction to the meticulous planning of every tree, footpath, and terrace.

BOOKLIST has said of Fairstein’s writing, “Manhattan becomes a character in itself.” And this is certainly true of her latest. Packed with little-known tidbits about Central Park woven into each step of the murder mystery, DEATH ANGEL is classic Linda Fairstein. It’s a perfect summer read that will keep readers guessing until the last page, and will leave New Yorkers checking around every bend next time they take a stroll through their beloved Park.

*****

Credit: Peter Simon

LINDA FAIRSTEIN was chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the district attorney’s office in Manhattan for more than two decades and is America’s foremost legal expert on sexual assault and domestic violence. Her Alexandra Cooper novels are international bestsellers and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. She lives in Manhattan and on Martha’s Vineyard.

To learn more about Linda, please visit her website.