📖 Overview
Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cooper has vanished from outside her Manhattan apartment, leaving her team and the NYPD scrambling to find her. Her longtime colleague, Detective Mike Chapman, leads the desperate search through New York City's darkest corners.
The investigation reveals an intricate web of criminal enterprises and corruption that may hold the key to Cooper's disappearance. Chapman must navigate complex police politics and dangerous underworld figures while racing against time to locate his missing friend and colleague.
The story moves between Manhattan's courthouses, criminal hideouts, and the historic High Bridge spanning the Harlem River. The investigation exposes vulnerabilities in the justice system and tests the bonds between law enforcement professionals.
The novel explores themes of loyalty, justice, and the shadow world that exists alongside legitimate institutions. Through its examination of both personal and systemic corruption, it raises questions about trust and power in modern law enforcement.
👀 Reviews
Readers found this to be a solid entry in the Alexandra Cooper series, though not among the strongest. The book maintains a fast pace and delivers the expected New York City atmosphere fans appreciate.
Likes:
- Mike Chapman's expanded role and perspective
- Details about NYPD operations and procedures
- Manhattan locations and landmarks
- Tighter plotting compared to recent series entries
Dislikes:
- Less courtroom drama than usual
- Alexandra Cooper's reduced presence
- Some found the ending rushed
- Several reviewers noted predictable plot elements
As one Amazon reviewer noted: "Chapman is the star here, but missing Coop's legal expertise makes it feel incomplete."
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.9/5 (4,800+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.2/5 (1,100+ ratings)
Barnes & Noble: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings)
The book ranks in the middle range of Fairstein's series according to aggregate reader reviews, with most considering it an entertaining but not standout installment.
📚 Similar books
The Last Child by John Hart
A detective and a thirteen-year-old boy search for answers in their small town after the boy's twin sister vanishes without a trace.
You Don't Want To Know by Lisa Jackson A mother investigates her son's two-year-old disappearance while uncovering dark secrets in her seaside mansion.
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter Two sisters unite to solve their sibling's decades-old disappearance when new evidence connects it to recent crimes.
Find Her by Lisa Gardner A kidnapping survivor helps police track a predator who has taken other women in Boston.
Cold Cold Heart by Tami Hoag A television reporter recovers from a violent attack while investigating a cold case of a missing teenager from her hometown.
You Don't Want To Know by Lisa Jackson A mother investigates her son's two-year-old disappearance while uncovering dark secrets in her seaside mansion.
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter Two sisters unite to solve their sibling's decades-old disappearance when new evidence connects it to recent crimes.
Find Her by Lisa Gardner A kidnapping survivor helps police track a predator who has taken other women in Boston.
Cold Cold Heart by Tami Hoag A television reporter recovers from a violent attack while investigating a cold case of a missing teenager from her hometown.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌉 "Devil's Bridge" draws its name from an actual bridge in New York City's Central Park, which has been the subject of urban legends and mysterious tales since its construction in 1860.
🚔 Linda Fairstein drew from her 25+ years of experience as head of the Sex Crimes Unit in Manhattan's District Attorney's office to create authentic details for her Alexandra Cooper series.
📚 This is the 17th book in the Alexandra Cooper series, but uniquely tells much of the story from Mike Chapman's perspective rather than Cooper's, marking a significant departure from previous novels.
🏛️ The book features several real Manhattan landmarks, including The Cloisters museum, which plays a pivotal role in the story and houses genuine medieval art and architecture.
🔍 The novel reflects actual criminal investigation techniques used by the NYPD Special Victims Unit, particularly in cases involving technology and digital surveillance.