- Hardcover: 336 pages
- Publisher: Orion (3 July 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0752869019
- ISBN-13: 978-0752869018
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.4 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,014,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
In the world of books, nepotism can only take you so far. Jesse Kellerman has needed a couple of books to prove that he’s not being published just because he’s the son of Faye and Jonathan. But being the daughter of James Lee Burke -- possibly the greatest living writer of crime fiction in America -- Alafair Burke had the most challenging task of all, with a crushing load of expectation. Interestingly enough, she needed no period in which to find her feet; her Samantha Kincaid series hit the ground running, and she immediately establish her own writing identity, quirky and idiomatic – though strikingly different from her father.
Dead Connection is her first standalone novel, and it’s a corker, moving with express train velocity. Two women are murdered in New York, both having been set up for dates via an online dating service. Their murderer has left indications connecting deaths of the two women, and Detective Ellie Hatcher finds herself transferred to the homicide task force to smoke out a killer with a lethal agenda. Also involved is larger-than-life detective Flann McIlroy, a cop intoxicated by the lure of publicity (shades of James Ellroy’s LA Confidential here, rather than the work of Alafair Burke’s illustrious father). McIlroy sees Ellie as a crucial aid to nailing a man who wants to cut a bloody swathe through the lonely women of New York.
This is truly assured crime writing, crammed full of brio, and sporting two memorable protagonists.
--Barry ForshawReview
'...her first stand alone novel and it's a corker, moving with express train velocity. ... This is truly assured crime writing' (Barry Forshaw AMAZON.CO.UK )
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having enjoyed Angel's Tip very much, Burke's second book featuring NYC Detective Ellie Hatcher, I decided to go back and read Dead Connection, the first book in the series. I'm glad I read them in reverse order or I probably wouldn't have ever read Angel's Tip. Dead Connection has Hatcher, a rookie detective, requested to work on a special assignment with the homicide task force. Without going into detail about the assignment, Hatcher and her seasoned, publicity-seeking partner, are assigned to draw out a serial killer who is using an internet dating service to target single women in Manhattan. This plot starts off interesting but eventually becomes a bit tedious due to a lack of action and to its getting bogged down with some convoluted subplots and twists and turns that Burke used to try to throw the reader off from guessing who the killer is. As a result, I found that the plot dragged at times. Further, while Burke's rookie hero working on her first homicide case is a likable and interesting character, Hatcher lacks some credibility. This is due to the author's enabling Hatcher to outthink/outsmart/outguess all of her superiors as well as the baddies in regards to "unhatching" the plot and solving the case. Despite the flaws in Dead Connection, it is a satisfying read. Also, you should be aware that Burke's style improved considerably in Angel's Tip, making it a very worthwhile read.
Format:Paperback
As a long-time fan of James Lee Burke, I was delighted to find that his daughter Alafair is a fine crime-writer in her own right.
This is the first of her books I've read, but certainly won't be the last. Well-plotted and featuring a likeable heroine in Detective Ellie Hatcher, Alafair shows here that her dad has raised a lady whose talent places her in the upper echelons of the genre. In some ways her style reminds me of Deaver, and that's high praise indeed.
As an ex-deputy DA and a current Professor of Law, this lady knows her subject, and writes about it with style. I look forward to my next dose of Ellie!
This is the first of her books I've read, but certainly won't be the last. Well-plotted and featuring a likeable heroine in Detective Ellie Hatcher, Alafair shows here that her dad has raised a lady whose talent places her in the upper echelons of the genre. In some ways her style reminds me of Deaver, and that's high praise indeed.
As an ex-deputy DA and a current Professor of Law, this lady knows her subject, and writes about it with style. I look forward to my next dose of Ellie!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
22 reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
`Find the motive, and the motive will lead you to the man.'
24 Jun 2008
Format:Hardcover
Detective Ellie Hatcher is specifically sought for a special assignment on the homicide task force when a clue left at the scene of a murder seems to connect two cases to an online dating service. Detective Hatcher is a rookie NYPD detective but Detective Flann McIlroy, seeks her involvement anyway. Why? I don't want to spoil the novel for anyone: suffice to say there is an explanation in the novel.
This thriller is set in the murky world of identity theft and anonymity: both made easy by the use of the internet. While Hatcher and McIlroy set out to solve the crimes, they uncover other crimes that may be related and a number of potential suspects. Along the way, both Hatcher and McIlroy break a number of rules and individual readers may find this irritating if not unbelievable.
And the conclusion? Some aspects are more clear-cut than others, and I found some parts of the storyline more satisfying than others. Overall, though, this was an enjoyable read and well worth picking up if you have a couple of hours to fill.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This thriller is set in the murky world of identity theft and anonymity: both made easy by the use of the internet. While Hatcher and McIlroy set out to solve the crimes, they uncover other crimes that may be related and a number of potential suspects. Along the way, both Hatcher and McIlroy break a number of rules and individual readers may find this irritating if not unbelievable.
And the conclusion? Some aspects are more clear-cut than others, and I found some parts of the storyline more satisfying than others. Overall, though, this was an enjoyable read and well worth picking up if you have a couple of hours to fill.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
4 1/2 Stars...To Another Level
13 Aug 2007
Format:Hardcover
A few years back, Alafair created a stir when she arrived on the publishing scene, residing as she did in the huge shadow of her father, crime novelist James Lee Burke (one of my all-time favorites). While never trying to match his mastery with words and imagery, she showcased her own talent for plotting and dialogue, and gave us a memorable protagonist in Samantha Kincaid. With each Kincaid mystery, Alafair's writing got stronger as did her ease in storytelling.
Now, with the introduction of Detective Ellie Hatcher, Alafair takes it to another level. Drawing from her own experiences as a youth during the days of the BTK killer, she weaves in family and psychological insights without growing heavy-handed. She uses the theme of Internet dating, telling a cautionary tale while never oversimplifying. She teases us into the story with a great opening chapter, then leads us through a list of questions and suspects which pull us rapidly toward the conclusion.
Ellie Hatcher is a tough cookie, throwing out snippets of humor and exhibiting a few character foibles, which only make her more likable. The book ends with her poised for her next investigation, a more personal one. Alafair also manages, in a cleverly handled scene, to connect Ellie with a certain Detective Robicheaux in Louisiana.
With one series well underway, and another now off and running, Alafair Burke looks like she'll be around for a long time. That's a good thing. A very good thing.
Now, with the introduction of Detective Ellie Hatcher, Alafair takes it to another level. Drawing from her own experiences as a youth during the days of the BTK killer, she weaves in family and psychological insights without growing heavy-handed. She uses the theme of Internet dating, telling a cautionary tale while never oversimplifying. She teases us into the story with a great opening chapter, then leads us through a list of questions and suspects which pull us rapidly toward the conclusion.
Ellie Hatcher is a tough cookie, throwing out snippets of humor and exhibiting a few character foibles, which only make her more likable. The book ends with her poised for her next investigation, a more personal one. Alafair also manages, in a cleverly handled scene, to connect Ellie with a certain Detective Robicheaux in Louisiana.
With one series well underway, and another now off and running, Alafair Burke looks like she'll be around for a long time. That's a good thing. A very good thing.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Thrilling
22 Jan 2008
Format:Hardcover
Driven, young detective Ellie Hatcher, working scams and robbery in New York receives a surprising special assignment to the homicide department: A young woman had been strangled in an empty alley.
Like her two other victims have been killed. One 12 and one 24 months ago and the fourth victim is coming up.
All woman had something in common: They were connected to an online service named FirstDate. During investigations Ellie and her new partner won't get any help from FirstDate's CEO without a court order.
The killer's changing his M.O. and one victim wasn't even an user of FirstDate but a FBI informant releasing informations about credit card fraud and Russian drug dealers. Mentioning FirstDate to an agent got her killed three days later.
Searching for patterns that don't exist or don't add up Ellie and her partner use the help of former programmer and co-founder FirstDate to solve this case.
A fantastic mystery, very well thought through. As a former deputy district attorney and being the daughter of James Lee Burke, an acclaimed crime writer, Alafair Burke certainly knows what she's writing about. Twist and turns, dramatic and a little love is all this book needed to make it a perfect, suspenseful mystery, very well written and without leaving any questions at the end.
The character Ellie Hatcher is a stand-alone besides the Samantha Kincaid series, which I haven't read yet but certainly will read sometime soon.I read on e Alafair's webpage that there's going to be a series with Ellie. :-)
Like her two other victims have been killed. One 12 and one 24 months ago and the fourth victim is coming up.
All woman had something in common: They were connected to an online service named FirstDate. During investigations Ellie and her new partner won't get any help from FirstDate's CEO without a court order.
The killer's changing his M.O. and one victim wasn't even an user of FirstDate but a FBI informant releasing informations about credit card fraud and Russian drug dealers. Mentioning FirstDate to an agent got her killed three days later.
Searching for patterns that don't exist or don't add up Ellie and her partner use the help of former programmer and co-founder FirstDate to solve this case.
A fantastic mystery, very well thought through. As a former deputy district attorney and being the daughter of James Lee Burke, an acclaimed crime writer, Alafair Burke certainly knows what she's writing about. Twist and turns, dramatic and a little love is all this book needed to make it a perfect, suspenseful mystery, very well written and without leaving any questions at the end.
The character Ellie Hatcher is a stand-alone besides the Samantha Kincaid series, which I haven't read yet but certainly will read sometime soon.I read on e Alafair's webpage that there's going to be a series with Ellie. :-)
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