Back from her time off, Alex knows it's not going to be an easy transition when she finds Mike in her office with a new victim, Lucy. It's up to Alex, Mike, and Mercer to sort through the tale - is it true? Does she have proof? And how is this intertwined with the race to fill the seat of Alex's boss... wonderfully written and touchingly relatable, Linda Fairstein keeps Alexandra Cooper's series so relevant with another headline story. Will easily be a favorite book for the year!!

An Old Rape Sparks a Recent Crime

Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper has returned to work after a devastating experience. With more women feeling empowered in the “Me Too” era the case load in the sex-crimes division is heavy. An engrossing case comes along in the person of Lucy. She’s been arrested on an old shop lifting charge, but strangely she freaks out in the police station after viewing the pictures of prominent police officers on the wall. Although Lucy has a reputation for embroidering the truth, Alexandra believes her and promises to find her attacker.

Alexandra also faces a tragedy when her friend, Francie Fain, collapses on the street on the way to Alexandra’s welcome home party. At first it seems a tragic accident, but soon it begins to look more like murder.

This is a complex mystery, but it’s easy to follow the various clues. The thread involving Francie is much harder to guess than Lucy’s case, but both are interesting.

Alexandra is a driven character. Sometimes it’s hard to like her when she single-mindedly pursues a line of inquiry and puts herself in danger. Luckily, Detective Mike Chapman is there to rescue her and Detective Mercer Wallace supplies calm support.

I enjoyed the book. It’s typical of the Alexandra Cooper mysteries, and can seem predictable and slow paced at times, but if you’re a fan, it’s a good one.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

This is one of my favorite authors and one of my favorite series. I've been following her and reading her since 1996 with the arrival of the very first Alexandra Cooper sighting.

Alexandra is back after taking off several months following the murder of her boss. First day back and she's thrown right in the middle of a case that I could see as headline news today.

A young woman has come forward to claim she was assaulted 10 years ago ... when she was just 14 years old. The name of her attacker comes as a huge surprise to Alex ... and it's going to take some maneuvering to get this case to court.

She's also dealing with one of the court judges .. who has warned Alex that he is divorcing his wife. Alex wants no part of this as she doesn't even like the judge. But a different story is presented when the judge's wife calls Alex with details.

And then there the death of Frannie Fain .. a colleague who sits on the other side of the courtroom, but is a good friend nevertheless. She is found outside on the street, convulsing. There's lot of secrecy involving the way she was killed.

And when these cases collide, Alexandra, along with her lover. NYPD Detectives Mike Chapman, and Mercer Wallace, one of her best friends, find themselves embroiled in secrets and lies .. some of which somebody will kill to keep them from seeing the light of day.

There is so much about this book ...and this series ... that I really enjoy. History trivia is present and accounted for. The three of them love to play JEOPARDY and generally stop wherever they are to watch on TV and make their own wagers. I really like how Alex and Mike's relationship has evolved over the years. I thought they'd never get to this point!

Although 20th in this series it can be read as a stand alone .. but this is one series that would be so worthwhile starting at the very beginning.

Many thanks to the author / PENGUIN GROUP Dutton / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Linda Fairstein always writes compelling novels/thrillers. She brings to life the spirit of NYC. I enjoyed reading this, but I must admit that the end was tied up a little to quickly and a little to neatly.
In spite of that I would recommend this book. I think of Alex and her cohorts as good friends of mine!

I came to this book a new reader of this author, with no knowledge of her characters and this series. As a series lover, I was not at all sure how this was going to go for me, but I’m happy to say I loved this book. The mystery presented was engaging and I enjoyed the characters even without knowing the history and backstory. This is a very timely book with subject matter in the headlines; the author really explores the humanity of “me too” and makes the reader feel the very real emotions involved. And now I feel the need to add this entire series to my TBR list...

Linda Fairstein has been called “the queen of intelligent suspense,” and is without question uniquely qualified to write a series featuring a female Assistant D.A. in New York whose area of expertise is sex crimes, having herself worked as the head of the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney‘s office from 1976 until 2002. I’m a big fan of the genre, so I was quite happy to receive Fairstein’s latest in the Alexandra Cooper series, Blood Oath, from Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley and write an honest review in return.

In this latest entry, #20 in the series, Alex/”Coop” has returned to work following the assassination of her boss, Manhattan DA Paul Battaglia, who was gunned down right in front of her (Deadfall, 2017). This happened right after she was kidnapped (Devil’s Bridge, 2015), so the series of events has let her somewhat traumatized.

In this latest thriller, Alex meets Lucy Jenner, a young woman in her twenties who has just been arrested in Brooklyn. When she is taken to the precinct, she completely freaks out when she sees a photo of the man she claims raped her years ago. The man is a member of the law enforcement team who handled Lucy’s case a decade earlier, and he is now on the verge of running for DA….oh, and Alex has considered that same path, just to complicate things.

Alex’s lover, NYPD Detective Mike Chapman works with her when he isn’t busy with another (possibly related?) case involving the murder of one o Alex’s good friends. Mike and Alex learn that Lucy has a history of lying, so while Alex really wants to believe her, there is a big question of trust.

Overall, it’s a good read and sure to be popular with Fairstein fans. TBH, I find myself conflicted in the same way that some fans of Michael Jackson’s music are struggling as more stories about his personal life have come out: how to separate the artist from the art? Can the listener/reader get past the negative perception of the singer/author and just enjoy the music/book? Fairstein’s actions in an investigation into the actions of Harvey Weinstein haven’t gotten the level of publicity as Jackson’s actions, but the stories have been enough to bother me. In the end, I can separate things enough to say I enjoyed this book a lot, although I confess I am a bit less likely to spend my own money to buy Fairstein’s books in the future. Four stars.

Blood Oath – Linda Fairstein

I was fortunate to receive this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.

Alex Cooper has returned to her office after a lengthy absence following a kidnapping. Ready to assure everyone that she is up to the task, she immediately finds herself involved in the past of a young woman, Lucy Jenner, who has a fascinating tale to tell. When she was 14, and a witness to a murder she was befriended, and then she claims raped, by the prosecutor of the case. A man that is now running for District Attorney for New York City.

Meanwhile, a friend and colleague of Alex’s collapses on a city sidewalk in convulsions and is rushed to the ER where she is deemed critically ill. Then she is mysteriously transferred out of the ICU to another facility, and no one seems to have any information.

Alex gently coaxes the entire story out of a reluctant Lucy, who claims she and ‘Jake’ shared a blood oath not to tell, and a scar to prove it, and begins to suspect that Zach is a predator, and has been for a long time. She and partner Mike Chapman begin to investigate her story, its timeline, and the DA wanna-be, Zachary ‘Jake’ Palmer.

Meanwhile, they are able to find the mysterious hospital where Francie has been taken and are stunned to learn that she was thought to have been poisoned by a toxic nerve agent. Alex has also inadvertently learned that her friend was pregnant. Holding her unconscious friends’ hand one night, Alex discovers a scar on Francie’s hand, much like that of Lucy.

Determined to keep Lucy safe, she and Alex go into hiding. But someone has learned what she knows and will do anything to silence the opposition…

This was one of the best of the Fairstein novels that I’ve read! It captured my attention from page one, and I could not flip the pages fast enough. Alex’s sassy attitude and the glimpse into the behind-the-scene’s courtroom drama, along with all the intrigue and suspense you’d expect from a crime drama, make this book a winner!!

Great read! Alex Cooper - smart, strong female DA investigates alleged sexual assault crimes committed by a member of NYC political community. Fast paced, suspense and great writing. I am a huge fan of this series - did not disappoint.

I always learn something when I read a Fairstein book - this one introduced me to the Rockefeller University Hospital, a research facility dealing with esoteric diseases and their cures. But the hospital is not the main story.. Alex meets a young lady who claims to have been sexually abused by a prominent prosecutor. Getting the truth from her is trying to say the least, but Mercer and Alex stick with it. There are so threads to the story it keeps the reader guessing as to the outcome. But thank goodness we all know that Alexandra will save the day!

Alexandra Cooper meets Lucy, who had testified years before at a federal trial and says that she was sexually assaulted during that time. Alex investigates and also finds herself at Manhattan’s Rockefeller University. Mystery, suspense and great New York City history.

Good procedural with ripped from the headlines material pits Alexandra Cooper against various and sundry men not behaving well. In this era of #MeToo, the question becomes how far off the rails has law enforcement really gone. The story is tight and fast and will not break down easily along gender lines. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Blood Oath, the twentieth (20th) book in Linda Fairstein’s Alexandra Cooper series, will be released on March 26, 2019. And, this milestone book is a blockbuster.

After some difficult times and a leave of absence, Alex Cooper returns to work. She meets Lucy Jenner, a young woman who had been a witness to murder ten years earlier. Something had happened to Lucy while she was a witness; something untoward, committed by someone who had a great deal of power and prestige. As Alex delves into the events and tries to find the truth about what had happened to Lucy, the danger rises and threatens Alex and those close to her.

I have always enjoyed Fairstein’s Alexandra Cooper series. The books present good mysteries with some history mixed in and are well written. In Blood Oath, the history component deals with Rockefeller University, a prestigious and somewhat secretive research institute and hospital in New York City. In many of the books, the police have a murder and Alex helps them resolve the case. But, Blood Oath feels a bit different. Fairstein seems to have returned to her roots, so to speak. Although there is still overlap between the police and their case and Alex and her legal work – as one would expect to find with an attorney working for the district attorneys office – this book focuses on Alex’s work as an attorney. There is a sense of realism, or authenticity, that permeates the book.

In Blood Oath, Alex is back – and back with a vengeance. Fairstein is back, too. She has put together a powerful, awe inspiring book that goes beyond the “normal” good quality found in her Alexandra Cooper series.

My one regret is that my Blood Oath reading experience is over. Blood Oath is truly one of Fairstein’s finest.

This was yet another complex, engrossing legal thriller. I have been reading this series for awhile now, and Fairstein is wonderful about adding just enough backstory to help me figure out where we left off. This was the second book I've read this year that references the #metoo movement, and let me tell you, I am absolutely here for it! I love it when authors weave monumental current issues into their stories, and Fairstein does it perfectly with her own flair! The plot was paced well, and the complexity of the case kept me thinking and guessing the whole time. With a young girl and a law enforcement officer going head to head, who is telling the truth? What side am I on? This one really hit home with everything going on in the world today, and I truly glad to have read it.

The latest Alex Cooper detective novel continues soon after her boss's murder. Just as Alex is easing back into work, a good friend dies on her way to Alex's welcome back party. Things speed up from there. Mike brings a witness/victim to Alex but the perp proves to be a politically savvy and powerful opponent.

Blood Oath shows us the extent to which Alex Cooper is willing to disrupt, to fight even the most powerful people that she knows. Alex works with Mercer and Mike to find out the truth behind the allegations even as she risks her own career and her life.

Linda Fairstein delivers another satisfying detective

Alexandra Cooper has just come back to work after witnessing the former DA being shot. A young woman is brought to her office who is a possible victim. The woman is caught in several lies, but Alex thinks there is something there. She just has to get the woman to trust her. The alleged perpetrator is a very powerful man and she needs to be very sure before she proceeds.

The book had a good cast of characters and a decent plot with plenty of suspense. There were a couple of twists that I saw coming. This was a fairly fast paced story that held my attention. I have read this author before and will do so again. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Alex Cooper returns from her leave of absence as her whole tough self once again along with a timely "me, too" stiry, she shares one of her signature historical background stories about NYC's many secret places

Once again Linda Fairstein gives us a heart pounding, complex, and believable Alex Coop mystery, this time focusing on a sexual predator and a domestic abuser. Alex has returned to work after a three month gap to recuperate from two particularly horrendous incidents and hardly has a chance to sit down before her next case is thrust into her more than capable hands. Fairstein’s 20th book in this series is as fresh as her first, and I hope that she will offer many more to her loyal readers.

After returning from a leave of absence, ADA Alex Cooper is immediately thrown into a cold "Me too" case. Lucy is a young girl with a horrible past and penchant for stretching the truth. She has an all too familiar story to tell. Unfortunately, this story involves a famous federally prosecuted case for which Lucy was a witness at age 14. And her molester was a part of the federal team.

Later that evening, when Alex and Mercer are returning from a surprise party thrown in her honor, they come across a woman having a seizure in the street. The woman is a former colleague and friend of Alex's en route to the party. Francie Fain is rushed to the hospital under strange circumstances.

We get 2 different cases here: Lucy's rape and Francie's sudden collapse. Lucy's case is rage inducing - the way her rapist cultivated her and created the predatory relationship. It only gets worse when Lucy reveals the identity of her abuser. And poor Francie, walking to her friends party only to end up in the hospital. There is a lot going on in this book but the story is easy to follow and well done. I'm so happy that we have the normal Alex back, after the last book! Bring on the next one!

Another complex legal thriller featuring Alexandra Cooper in her 20th book of the series. I have read several of the series completely out of order, but had no trouble diving right in. Backstory is filled in effortlessly and the story flows steadily. In this tale, Cooper is drawn into a case of a formal Federal witness who takes heart from the #MeToo movement and declares that when she was an underage witness, she was sexually assaulted by a law enforcement individual. Is she telling the truth? Who exactly is the individual, and where is he now? Nothing comes easy and the guilty party may be as dangerous to Alex as the witness. Very convoluted and intriguing plot. Fairstein always includes a New York landmark as a character in her stories, and this one looks at Manhattan's Rockefeller University. Fascinating as always.

Alex Cooper returns to the courtroom, with a timely Me Too storyline, in Fairstein's 20th novel. After a lengthy leave of absence from the DA's office, Alex dives into investigating allegations against a prominent public figure. Blood oath was a quick paced read, with plenty of plot twists and a dash of a history lesson about New York's Rockefeller Hospital. A solid legal thriller, even if the ending felt a bit rushed.