Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper is faced with trying to bring down a very powerful man in BLOOD OATH, a man that years ago groomed a young witness in a case. Now Lucy, the young woman, wants the man who used her brought to justice. But, how to prove what really happened all those years ago? It's just her word against the man in question. And, Lucy hasn't the best of reputation. Alexandra also has to deal with a personal blow when a friend of her mysteriously collapses on the street seemingly struck by a seizure.

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I have read most of the books in this series. As with the others this one combines a crime, continued insights into the lives of the key continuing characters, and an interesting substory about a famous NYC landmark, in this case Rockefeller Institute/ University. I always enjoy learning about he landmarks, although in this case the commentary felt particularly ad hoc and not integrated into the story. I also struggle at times with the main character, who seems to vacillate between an highly educated, professional woman and the stereotypical "dumb blonde." I always enjoy the dialogue among the core characters and the mystery itself was quite interesting. ( )

Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Alexandra Cooper had been next to her boss when he was murdered. She took a leave of absence to recover from the shock and is now back at work.
On her first day, she steps into a courtroom to observe one of her younger colleagues prosecute a rape case. Judge Corliss immediately goes after her, verbally, and demands to speak to her in his office. He then tells her that his wife is going to accuse him of domestic abuse.
Since she has specialized in Special Victims cases, The “Me, too” movement becomes a major driving force in BLOOD OATH.
She eventually was able to return to her office where New York Police Detective Mike Chapman, her long time lover, is waiting for her with twenty-four-year-old Lucy Jenner who had been an important witness is a string of rape cases several years earlier. She now is willing to talk about the sexual abuse she experienced at that time. The abuser was not the man who had been on trial. But Lucy is not an easy person with whom to work. She is afraid to name the person who assaulted her (he made her promise to never divulge the information by making a blood oath with him) and she has a history of petty crimes and lying. Both Alex and Mike are not sure whether to believe her claims.
Soon afterwards, Alex is feted by her colleagues at a welcome back party. On the way there, one of the attendees falls down on the sidewalk, suffering a seizure.
Both stories overlap and, at the end, Alex has to run away from a killer. (The chances of the reader predicting the killer are exceedingly slim.)
One of my favorite features of Linda Fairstein’s books are the descriptions of Manhattan locations. BLOOD OATH writes about Rockefeller University, a hospital, major research hub, and college but in; less detail than she has devoted to the sites in previous books.
Tidbits: Some people lie about being raped “because they figure I’ll think worse of them if I knew everything they did.”
While well written, the book as a lot of repetition and references to previous books. It also has too many short chapters.
Side note: Linda Fairstein was the prosecutor who oversaw the confessions in the Central Park Five case. She and her books are now being boycotted. ( )

BLOOD OATH by Linda Fairstein
This thriller by a master of the art starts a bit slow but by the time you get all the players straight the thrills a minute lead to a heart pounding conclusion.
Alexandra Cooper, back from a leave of absence, is the heroine of the tale. Lucy, a troubled young woman is the object of concern. Along the way a wide cast of characters, some good, some evil, come into play.
Tightly plotted and unerringly fleshed out, Fairstein’s novel is one of the best of the genre.
4 of 5 stars ( )

This was not among my favorites. I always enjoy the Alex Cooper novels, but this one seemed to have less about NYC. It also wasn't as compelling as some of her earlier works. ( )