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LETHAL LEGACY
by Linda Fairstein
Little, Brown, January 2009
372 pages
12.99 GBP
ISBN: 1408700794


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

LETHAL LEGACY is the latest in Linda Fairstein’s long-running Alex Cooper series. This time, Cooper finds herself dealing with a woman who is alleged to have been assaulted, but who refuses to press charges or cooperate with the inquiries. Days later, the woman is found battered to death, with a jewel-encrusted book beside her. As Cooper and her team investigate, they find themselves drawn into a web of intrigue surrounding the New York Public Library. Cooper soon comes to realize that books can be extremely dangerous.

By giving the action the backdrop of the New York Public Library, Fairstein has created a novel that no book lover could fail to enjoy. She provides vast amounts of background detail, demonstrating her extensive research to make her story realistic, talking about such interesting matters as elephant folios and ancient maps. Her descriptions of the Library bring the venerable institution alive and will appeal to anyone who has ever had the chance to explore the building. One does wonder, though, if events like those described in LETHAL LEGACY do really go on.

The novel is, as always, filled with twists and turns. One particular twist towards the end, relating to the identity of the killer, was a little disappointing and unrealistic, in my opinion, but, aside from that, it is a good read. There is an odd sub-plot that does not appear to serve much purpose, but Fairstein plays true to her usual themes – Cooper’s complicated love life and the Jeopardy questions, among other things.

LETHAL LEGACY has a tight plot and a fast pace. Fairstein introduces a range of characters, some of whom appear to be more akin to caricatures than real figures – take, for example, the character with a hook for a hand, a feature that seemed somewhat unnecessary. Nevertheless, this will not spoil the overall read, which is extremely satisfying.

Reviewed by Luke Croll, April 2009

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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