Book Review - Hell Gate by Linda Fairstein

Synopsis:  New York City politics have always been filled with intrigue and behind-the-scenes deals. In Hell Gate, Alex finds her attention torn between investigating a shipwreck that has contraband cargo-human cargo-and the political sex scandal of a promising New York congressman now fallen from grace. When Alex discovers that a woman from the wreck and the congressman's lover have the same rose tattoo-the brand of a "snakehead", a master of a human trafficking operation-it dawns on her that these cases aren't as unrelated as they seem and that the entire political landscape of New York City could hang in the balance of her investigation. As Alex looks on at the nameless victims in the morgue, she realizes she's looking at the present-day face of New York's long, dark tradition of human trafficking-a tradition that began hundreds of years ago with slave trade from Africa, now a multimillion-dollar industry that will stop at no cost, even if that cost is Alex's life.

First Line:  "How many bodies?"

Random Quote:  "The chief of the Trial Division was a perennial thorn in my professional side.  McKinney was a few years my senior, and although he was reputed to have capable investigative skills, his rigid and humorless manner made him an unpopular choice to lead the hundreds of smart young lawyers who staffed the division that was the heart of every prosecutor's office."

Review:  Not the best effort by Ms. Fairstein, although I do enjoy the way she tries to weave a bit of New York history into all of her books.  This one really misses the mark.  It feels rushed, the plotting is poor, much of the action is too contemporaneous with names that are current now, but won't be in a year or so.  The starting premise is good, but quickly gets bogged down in cutesy banter between Alex and Mike and all the aforementioned names.

Hell Gate - NYC - Image by Metro Centric via Flickr
I like these books, but I hope the next one is better.  I will admit, however, that I'm truly bored with the relationship between Alex and Mike.  Neither one of them is very appealing in this book and that needs to change to keep Ms. Fairstein's readers coming back for more.

FTC Disclosure:  San Leandro Public Library

Rating:  White

Reading Challenges:  RIP V