A richly nuanced synthesis of history and suspense.
One of New York City's most haunting buildings is the Deadhouse. This abandoned structure -- which sits on a small island in the middle of the East River like the ghostly remains of a castle -- plays in the imagination as a likely place for murder.
It's the holiday season but there's little reason for cheer at one of New York's most elite colleges. A respected professor is dead, strangled and dumped in an elevator shaft. Lola Dakota's lifeless fingers clutch a few strands of hair, and a piece of paper in her pocket reads "The Deadhouse."
Opportunistic murder seems unlikely as assistant DA Alexandra Cooper uncovers a distressing pattern of betrayal and terror. There's proof that Lola's husband wanted her dead. And why did Lola have a photograph of Charlotte Voight pinned to her office bulletin board? Charlotte left her dorm room eight months ago and vanished into the night. Are they both victims of the same predator?
Perhaps most puzzling of all are the words "The Deadhouse." What was Lola's connection to this desolate place where people once endured slow and agonizing deaths? And what danger awaits Alex as she targets Lola's killer?
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"my introduction to Linda Fairstein and I am definitly hooked on her writing and character, Assistant District Attorney, Alex Cooper. Not sure why I start with # 4 haha so I have to go back..and start at the beginning. Great character and locale in this NYC tale of murder and deceit."
— Joe (4 out of 5 stars)
“Darkly woven, with a shocking history of New York asylums, penitentiaries, and plagues, The Deadhouse conjures up a horrid past to solve a baffling modern murder. Fairstein’s latest continues to establish her as on of the most promising forces in crime fiction.”
— Patricia Cornwell, New York Times bestselling author“Linda Fairstein is rare among bestselling novelists…her novels are authentic and timely, with the feel of a true-crime drama and the writing style of a natural-born storyteller.
— Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author“Linda Fairstein writes tough, beautiful prose about a world she knows firsthand.”
— Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author“On of the best of the year…a beguiling mix of murder, romance, and suspense…Fascinating.”
— Los Angeles Times" The premise was interesting, the book was not. "
— Lauren, 2/19/2014" Good author for stories in NY city...good legal/murder mystery...fascinating aspects of history and architecture and waterways...good 'beach' read... "
— Paul, 2/17/2014" Lots of fun and learned a lot about Roosevelt Island. "
— Paige, 2/8/2014" Well Ms Fairstein, you might be a hot professional, but you are a lousey writer. Is it a television series you're after now you have probably retired? All that dialogue and no content (literary, that is). And also Ms Fairstein, you refer to: "Tasmanian Indian tribe". Tasmania! Australia! There are no Indians in Australia, they are aborigines you blockhead! So much for researching your material, or were you showing off what a clever, well-educated person you are? Perhaps you were being ironic! Well, it didn't work, you just come across as a moron trying to cash in on a possible media takeup of your mediocre novel. "
— Artemis, 2/4/2014" I love Linda Fairstein's books - murder mystery combined with New York history. "
— SÃle, 1/22/2014" This is another intense thriller from Linda Fairstein in this series. Great drama with some historical background and good suspense. "
— Kristen, 1/20/2014" This book is filled with cliche. Although the book is not trying to be a classic, in the mystery genre it makes it exciting to have a thread of the truth. This book is so filled with what one expects a mystery to be, you can't feel the truth of it, so, for me, it was a dud. "
— Ginnie, 1/15/2014" The Alexandra Cooper series just gets better and better. On to book 5! "
— Teresa, 1/12/2014" I liked how this book was a bit different from all of the other books I've read. I'd recommend. "
— Jennifer, 1/7/2014" This book was recommended to me on a bookstore 'crawl' of sorts following a 2 week course between semesters of my senior year. I didn't think much of it from the cover but gave it a shot - and found it quite entertaining. "
— Shoshi, 1/5/2014" I didn't finish. It started out well, but the plot bogged down about halfway through. "
— Kathy, 11/29/2013" Another detective/mystery/crime writer that I am now reading through the series - from the school of Janet Riechs and/or Patricia Cornwall - enjoying the series so far. "
— Jane, 11/25/2013" Not one of my favorite Fairstein books, this is still a great crime thriller. It's set in an abandoned NYC smallpox asylum. Not being all that familiar with that struggle in history, I found the imagery a little difficult. Still, though, classic Fairstein with nail-biting suspense! "
— Amy, 11/15/2013" One of the best books I have read. Didn't know who did it till the very end. I also love the detail description of all the NY sites. Also the history background. One of my new Fav. authors. "
— Gina, 11/13/2013" Very suspensful. Ended completely different than I thought it would. "
— Chelsie, 6/23/2013" The book was good to very good. It read like an episode Law & Order: SVU. "
— Mary, 3/24/2013" It was just ok for me. "
— Dianne, 3/3/2013" Stupid book - not even good trash. I didn't like the writing, the plot, or the main character. I finished it, but hardly know why. I won't be reading anything else by this author. "
— Meredith, 12/21/2012" 3.5 stars - This is another good detective/D.A. murder mystery. I enjoyed the main characters and plot development. "
— Cindy, 7/10/2012" Would not have stuck to it was it not for Blair Brown's reading. Still, much better than most of the books on this shelf. "
— Emese, 5/1/2012" This is the second Alexandra Cooper mystery I've read. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Good characters, good setting and a good mystery. I'll read more of them. "
— Lee, 2/9/2012" My absolute favorite of Fairstein's Alexandra Cooper mysteries. The topic/subject of this book is something I've always wanted to do, and intrigues me. This book kept me up at night because I never wanted to put it down. "
— Gillian, 1/14/2012" Almost done - getting better the closer that I am getting to the end. Reading for a book group. Really turned out to be a very good read. Looking forward to reading more of her books. "
— Cynthia, 11/15/2011" This is a good basic mystery. I like Linda Fairstein's books, especially for the historical injections, and this was no exception. I did feel that it was a little predictable but a fun quick read nonetheless. "
— Holly, 11/5/2011" Another great mystery by Linda Fairstein. I loved learning the history of "the Island." This time Linda involved academia for the set-up. Very ingenious! I cannot recommend enough Linda's books. "
— Julie, 8/12/2011" I enjoyed this book. It did seem to be drawn out in some parts, but as a whole I would recommend it. This is a series I will continue to read. "
— Carol, 7/12/2011" The Alexandra Cooper series just gets better and better. On to book 5! "
— Teresa, 3/7/2011" One of the best books I have read. Didn't know who did it till the very end. I also love the detail description of all the NY sites. Also the history background. One of my new Fav. authors. <br/> "
— Gina, 2/9/2011" Read a while back and never could get into it. Finished it, but will not read more by this author. "
— Anne, 1/23/2011" I always enjoy the extra "treat" of learning about the history of NYC in Fairstein's books. "
— Carol, 12/22/2010" Very Good .... I will read more of this author. "
— Shirley, 12/15/2010" enjoyed..first time reading this author but will read more "
— Teresa, 9/27/2010" The book was good to very good. It read like an episode Law & Order: SVU. "
— Mary, 8/2/2010" 3.5 stars - This is another good detective/D.A. murder mystery. I enjoyed the main characters and plot development. "
— Cindy, 3/18/2010" A good detective suspense novel. A 3.5 star. "
— Cindy, 3/16/2010" Lots of fun and learned a lot about Roosevelt Island. "
— Paige, 1/19/2010" This book is filled with cliche. Although the book is not trying to be a classic, in the mystery genre it makes it exciting to have a thread of the truth. This book is so filled with what one expects a mystery to be, you can't feel the truth of it, so, for me, it was a dud. "
— Ginnie, 12/22/2009Linda Fairstein is an author of crime fiction.
Blair Brown is an award-winning narrator and a Tony Award–winning actor. Besides earning several AudioFile Earphones Award, she received the prestigious Audie Award for Best Fiction Narration in 2020. She has appeared on Broadway, in film, and on television in numerous miniseries and TV movies and received five Emmy Award nominations for her starring role in The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd.