Killer Looks

This is the 18th book in the Alexandra Cooper series. In this book, Coop finds herself involved in a murder investigation in the world of fashion.

Businessman and top designer Wolf Savage is found dead in a hotel room after apparently committing suicide. But Savage’s daughter, an old acquaintance of Alex, insists that her father has been murdered.

Meanwhile, after the traumatic event of the previous novel, Devil’s Bridge, Alex is not living her best moments and is becoming embroiled in a battle with her alcoholism. Also, her job at the D.A’s office is in danger as some think that she is not the person she was, following her ordeal related in the previous book. But she is determined to get back in the saddle and teams up with detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace to unravel the truth behind Wolf Savage’s demise.

After more than twenty years and seventeen books, it is clear that Fairstein’s legion of fans are going to devour this book as soon as they can, especially with the open ending of her previous adventure. Newcomers may find, as I did, that the book moves along at a rather plodding pace. There is a lot of exposition and not so much in the way of action. Her need for support due to recent events and her growing dependence on alcohol is understandable and so she turns to Mike Chapman her romantic partner. The problem for me with Mike is that I found him incredibly patronising in his attitude to Coop, regardless of the fact that he thinks he is doing the best he can for her. Whether this will become a sticking point in future novels remains to be seen but I finished the novel feeling rather dissatisfied.