Cold Hit
By Linda Fairstein
Read by Allison Janney
Table of Contents
About The Book
Renowned sex-crimes prosecutor and bestselling author Linda Fairstein sends her acclaimed heroine—the stylish and steely-nerved D.A. Alexandra Cooper—on a hunt for a killer inside New York City's glitzy art world.
Alexandra Cooper has seen many murder victims, but few more disturbing than the silk-clad body of a woman, her hands and feet tied to a ladder, pulled from the turbulent waters at Manhattan's northern tip. With her colleagues, including NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace, Alex races against the clock and hopes for a "cold hit"—a DNA match that would reveal the identity of the murderer by linking the crime to someone already in the police database. But as the case pulls her into the exclusive world of East Side auction houses and cutting-edge Chelsea galleries, Alex discovers she may be marked as an expendable commodity in a chilling and deadly scheme...
Alexandra Cooper has seen many murder victims, but few more disturbing than the silk-clad body of a woman, her hands and feet tied to a ladder, pulled from the turbulent waters at Manhattan's northern tip. With her colleagues, including NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace, Alex races against the clock and hopes for a "cold hit"—a DNA match that would reveal the identity of the murderer by linking the crime to someone already in the police database. But as the case pulls her into the exclusive world of East Side auction houses and cutting-edge Chelsea galleries, Alex discovers she may be marked as an expendable commodity in a chilling and deadly scheme...
Reading Group Guide
COLD HIT
Linda Fairstein
Questions and Topics for Discussion
1. In Linda Fairstein’s third Alexandra Cooper novel, she tackles the world of fine art dealing—even weaving in real unsolved art crimes. How would you describe her portrayal of the New York art world? Did it surprise you? Had you ever heard of the Amber Room or the Gardner Museum heist?
2. Mercer Wallace tells Alex that they’ll find Denise Caxton’s murderer, “in spite of the devil” (p. 11). What do you think he means?
3. COLD HIT pays particular attention to the landscape of Manhattan—thanks especially to Mike Chapman’s love of local history. How does Manhattan itself become a key player in this story? Can you imagine Alex living anywhere else?
4. The night that Denise Caxton’s body is found, Alex spends a tough night awake, thinking “about the monsters who walk among us” (p. 16). Which elements of this case do you think have especially disturbed her? Where else do we see glimpses of the more sensitive, vulnerable Alex?
5. Although we get to know Denise Caxton only through the testimony of others, how would you describe her? Did you, like Alex, sometimes have trouble finding her sympathetic?
6. Chapman is able to find opportunities for wit and humor in the face of even the most horrifying crimes. What does this ability tell us about him, and what makes him such an important part of the story?
7. In what ways does being a woman make it both easier and tougher for Alex to do her job?
8. How do characters like Ruth Harwind, the surly fifteen-year-old who falsely accuses someone of rape, and Mrs. Braverman, the woman who believes aliens live upstairs from her, add to the flavor of the story?
9. In COLD HIT, the friendship between Mercer, Chapman, and Alex is tested in the most dramatic way. Describe the bond between the three of them. Are Alex and Chapman justified in feeling responsible for what happened to Mercer?
10. Do you think that Alex successfully balances her personal life with the demands and stresses of her job? What outlets does she have to help keep herself sane?
11. Linda Fairstein’s novels do not limit themselves to a single story line, but paint a much broader portrait of Alex Cooper’s world. How does her brand of storytelling compare to other, similar works? Is there another writer she reminds you of?
12. Alex jokes with Chapman and Mercer about their “jealousy” of her new boyfriend. Though her relationship with them is platonic, do you think that this joke hits close to home? Could any boyfriend possibly be as close to Alex as the two of them are?
13. Denise Caxton’s life—with her multiple lovers, shady art acquisitions, and questionable partnerships—was complicated, but the reason she was murdered was ultimately very simple. Were you surprised when you learned what really happened?
** Page numbers are all based on the paperbacks.
Linda Fairstein
Questions and Topics for Discussion
1. In Linda Fairstein’s third Alexandra Cooper novel, she tackles the world of fine art dealing—even weaving in real unsolved art crimes. How would you describe her portrayal of the New York art world? Did it surprise you? Had you ever heard of the Amber Room or the Gardner Museum heist?
2. Mercer Wallace tells Alex that they’ll find Denise Caxton’s murderer, “in spite of the devil” (p. 11). What do you think he means?
3. COLD HIT pays particular attention to the landscape of Manhattan—thanks especially to Mike Chapman’s love of local history. How does Manhattan itself become a key player in this story? Can you imagine Alex living anywhere else?
4. The night that Denise Caxton’s body is found, Alex spends a tough night awake, thinking “about the monsters who walk among us” (p. 16). Which elements of this case do you think have especially disturbed her? Where else do we see glimpses of the more sensitive, vulnerable Alex?
5. Although we get to know Denise Caxton only through the testimony of others, how would you describe her? Did you, like Alex, sometimes have trouble finding her sympathetic?
6. Chapman is able to find opportunities for wit and humor in the face of even the most horrifying crimes. What does this ability tell us about him, and what makes him such an important part of the story?
7. In what ways does being a woman make it both easier and tougher for Alex to do her job?
8. How do characters like Ruth Harwind, the surly fifteen-year-old who falsely accuses someone of rape, and Mrs. Braverman, the woman who believes aliens live upstairs from her, add to the flavor of the story?
9. In COLD HIT, the friendship between Mercer, Chapman, and Alex is tested in the most dramatic way. Describe the bond between the three of them. Are Alex and Chapman justified in feeling responsible for what happened to Mercer?
10. Do you think that Alex successfully balances her personal life with the demands and stresses of her job? What outlets does she have to help keep herself sane?
11. Linda Fairstein’s novels do not limit themselves to a single story line, but paint a much broader portrait of Alex Cooper’s world. How does her brand of storytelling compare to other, similar works? Is there another writer she reminds you of?
12. Alex jokes with Chapman and Mercer about their “jealousy” of her new boyfriend. Though her relationship with them is platonic, do you think that this joke hits close to home? Could any boyfriend possibly be as close to Alex as the two of them are?
13. Denise Caxton’s life—with her multiple lovers, shady art acquisitions, and questionable partnerships—was complicated, but the reason she was murdered was ultimately very simple. Were you surprised when you learned what really happened?
** Page numbers are all based on the paperbacks.
About The Author
Linda Fairstein
Linda Fairstein was chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the district attorney's office in Manhattan for more than two decades and is America's foremost legal expert on sexual assault and domestic violence. Her Alexandra Cooper novels are international bestsellers and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. She lives in Manhattan and on Martha's Vineyard.
About The Reader
Allison Janney
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (September 1, 1999)
- Runtime: 4 hours and 30 minutes
- ISBN13: 9780743542883
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Cold Hit Abridged Audio Download 9780743542883
