‘Devil’s Bridge’ by Linda Fairstein

Published (PB) by Dutton, (US/CAN/UK)
7 June 2016.
ISBN 978-0-4514-1730-5

Published (UK) by Little Brown (HB)
11 August 2015.
ISBN 978-0-7515-6033-6. (PB)

In the previous 16 novels in the Alex Cooper series the author selected one New York City landmark in which to set the crime and exhibit her meticulous research in giving all the facts and minutiae surrounding the site.  In this novel, however, she chose three: the George Washington Bridge, Liberty (Bedloe’s) Island, home to the Statue of Liberty, and Devil’s Bridge, a rocky outcropping at the foot of the bridge atop of which is the only lighthouse in Gotham [NYC, that is], the Little Red Lighthouse.

And then to continue on a different path, the victim is Alex herself, who is kidnapped:  allowing the author to delve more deeply into her new paramour, Mike Chapman, now that their relationship has deepened.  Of the three sites, only the George Washington Bridge is described perfunctorily: opened in 1931, connecting the narrowest point between northern Manhattan and Ft. Lee, New Jersey.   Everything you’d want to know, and then some, is provided on the other two landmarks.

There are two questions facing Chapman and the rest of the NYPD:  Is her abduction related to a case she is prosecuting, or to her relationship with Chapman,  With entire resources of the City and its police force, it still remains for Mike’s intuition to arrive at an answer, while contributing his knowledge of military history and the various forts in the city, including the one beneath the statue of Miss Liberty and the two originally constructed where the bridge now stands during the Revolutionary War by George Washington. It was interesting to witness a conference at One Police Plaza during which the Commissioner led a group laying the groundwork to help find and rescue Alex.  Equally absorbing was following Chapman’s various thought processes as he investigates his lover’s kidnapping.  Obviously, the novel is recommended.

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Reviewed: Theodore Feit

Linda Fairstein is an American author and former prosecutor focusing on crimes of violence against women and children. She was born 5 May 1947 in New York. She was educated at Vassar College, University of Virginia School of Law. She has written 14 books featuring Alex Cooper-NY District Attorney, and Detective Mike Chapman.

http://www.lindafairstein.com

  

Ted and Gloria Feit live in Long Beach, NY, a few miles outside New York City.  For 26 years, Gloria was the manager of a medium-sized litigation firm in lower Manhattan. Her husband, Ted, is an attorney and former stock analyst, publicist and writer/editor for, over the years, several daily, weekly and monthly publications.  Having always been avid mystery readers, and since they're now retired, they're able to indulge that passion.  Their reviews appear online as well as in three print publications in the UK and US.  On a more personal note: both having been widowed, Gloria and Ted have five children and nine grandchildren between them.