Reads of the week

Killer Look (Dutton), by Linda Fairstein

[Photo provided to China Daily]

Linda Fairstein's novels about assistant district attorney Alexandra "Alex" Cooper take readers behind the scenes to New York City's often hidden corners and crevices, as well as its industries.

In Killer Look, Fairstein explores New York's fashion industry, which ranks with Milan, Paris and London. But beyond the glamour and glorious clothes lurks a business that can be rife with corruption, bad deals and jealousy.

While this perceptive view of the fashion industry and its history is vintage Fairstein, Killer Look reveals a side of Alex never seen before. Instead of the confident, secure, fearless Alex, the assistant district attorney is paranoid, doubts her skills and is fearful of everything. Her fragile mental state is the fallout from being kidnapped and held captive. To cope with these newfound fears, Alex's drinking is out of hand.

Killer Look is Fairstein's most intensely personal look at Alex and, as usual, there's always time for that final "jeopardy" question, a tradition in this series.