OBS this review spoilers the ending of the previous book!

Entombed, book seven in the Alexandra Cooper series was the first book I read by Fairstein and I loved it. Since then have I read two other books in the series before I read this one. One of them was the book previous (and the other is the first book in the series) and that one ended with a cliffhanger, which I remembered when I started this book. And, the beginning was very strong, with Alex saying goodbye to Paul Battaglia, her mentor who in her eyes has lately fallen from the pedestal, but he had such a great impact on her life that it's still hard to grasp for her that he has been murdered. It doesn't get better when she starts to be seen as a suspect, despite being the one that was with him as he was shot. The question is, who really shot Battaglia and why?

The Alexandra Cooper series is one of my favorites. I have a couple of unread books waiting to be read at home and I was thrilled to get the chance to read this book. Now, you don't have had to read the previous book to read this book. The events that happened in the last book is mentioned, but it will not make this story confusing, despite the fact that Battaglia was killed in the end of the last book.

What this book, unfortunately, lack that the previous books I have read are an interesting villain and a thrilling plot. Don't take me wrong, the beginning was strong and I liked reading the book. But, the plot ended to be a lot wordier than I liked, the kind of book when one tends to zone out a bit while reading. As much as I like to read Fairstein's usual history lesson about New York, this time Bronx Zoo and its past were there just so much dialog that I found myself a bit bored, to be honest. And, the whom the villain turned out to be, well that was hardly a surprise.

So, Deadfall was not as engrossing as the previous books I have read, it's still a good book, but not the one I would recommend starting with if you want to read the series (go for Entombed, they find a body entombed in a house where Edgar Allan Poe once lived).

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review. ( )

Starts right after the events of the prior books. Alex annoyed me in the beginning. She resents being treated as a witness, who has lied and withheld information. Hey, Alex you are a witness who lied and withheld information.
They go to the Bronx Zoo where we learn the history of the Zoo.
With the help of her lover Mike Chapman and his fellow detective Wallace Mercer they follow a train of big game hunting, sale of illegal animals and parts as well as drugs. ( )

The only thing that saves this from a 2 star review is the NYC history that is generously shared. Alex Cooper has become a whiny, clingy person and it is grating. I miss the strong and independent Alex. I thought I would like the relationship between Alex and Mike, however it's more of a distraction than an enhancement to the story. I hate how condescending Mike is to Alex. I probably will not be reading any more of this series. ( )

A wild heart beats within New York City. Amid concrete and skyscrapers, the Wildlife Conservation Society works to preserve and protect the animal kingdom both within and beyond the borders of the five boroughs. But dangerous creatures don't always have claws and fangs, as Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper and NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace know all too well. Predators lurk close to home, and in the aftermath of the shocking assassination of an iconic public figure--someone Alex has worked with for years--the trio must unravel the motive behind the shooting to discover who is the bigger snake: the killer or the victim.

The murder investigation provides more questions than answers, as a tangled mess of secrets slowly comes to light. From street gangs to secret societies, from big-game hunting to the illegal animal trade, from New York City zoos to the highest offices in city government, Alex has her work cut out for her--especially since the task force handling the investigation, led by the US Attorney, seems to be more against her than with her. As tensions rise between Alex and the feds, she must determine just how far she is willing to go to uncover the truth--and uphold the integrity of the office she has so proudly served. ( )

So much skipping through the innumerable info dumps. And over Alex's whining and stupid questions. OMG she's worse and worse and worse. Her backbone has completely atrophied by now and she never learns a damn thing. When this goes back to the library I'm done with this increasingly annoying series. ( )