Deadfall

The dramatic opening of bestseller Fairstein’s 19th novel featuring Manhattan prosecutor Alexandra “Coop” Cooper (after 2016’s Killer Look) is sure to jolt series fans: Coop is in the autopsy room of the city morgue, cradling the body of her longtime boss and friend, D.A. Paul Battaglia. Earlier that evening, Coop, who’s been on leave in the aftermath of her traumatic kidnapping, was leaving a charity function at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when Battaglia approached her. But before he could speak, he was shot twice in the head by a drive-by shooter and died in Alex’s arms. To her further horror, the homicide investigators regard her as more than an innocent bystander and discount her claim that she had no idea what the victim wanted to talk to her about. Coop is less than forthcoming about a previous time she saw Battaglia, and launches her own investigation, assisted by her lover, NYPD Det. Mike Chapman. Unfortunately, the plot takes some implausible detours en route to the over-the-top climax at the Bronx Zoo. Agent: Esther Newberg, ICM. (July)