Audiobook Review: Bury the Lead by David Rosenfelt

Bury the Lead
Author: David Rosenfelt

Narrator: Grover Gardner
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 3)
Publication: Grand Central Publishing; 1st edition (September 3, 2007); Listen & Live Audio, Inc. (August 12, 2004)

Length: 284 p.; 5 hours and 52 minutes

Description The hero of Rosenfelt's previous novels, Edgar-nominated Open and Shut, and First Degree, Andy Carpenter returns to prove the innocence of a reporter accused of being a serial killer.

Defense attorney Andy Carpenter has been successfully avoiding taking on new cases until his sometime friend and newspaper owner Vince Sanders, calls and asks him for a favor. Daniel Cumming, Vince's star reporter, is being used as the mouthpiece for a brutal serial killer. He has been cooperating with the police but Vince wants to make sure both the newspaper and Daniel are protected. Andy thinks the case will be a piece of cake...until Daniel is found unconscious in the park next to the killer's latest victim. Daniel claims he intended to stop the murder but the police arrest him. A reluctant Andy plunges himself into the case. And as he learns more about Daniel's shady background he begins to wonder how deadly the truth might be.

My Thoughts: When old friend and newspaper editor Vince Sanders calls Andy to help him protect one of his reporters who has been the only contact with a serial killer, Andy is reluctant but friendship wins out. 

Daniel Cumming is being used as a mouthpiece for a man who is killing random women and cutting off their hands. But when Daniel is found on the scene of the death of the latest victim who happens to be in the run for governor of New Jersey, he ends up arrested for the murders. 

Andy isn't necessarily convinced of his new client's innocence and his conviction is shaken even more when he learns that Daniel's wife was also murdered leaving him a very rich man. When he learns that Daniel is Vince's son - the result of a long-ago one-night stand, Andy feels that he has no choice but to help him even though the evidence against him seems overwhelming.

But as Andy, Laurie and Marcus look into the cases, they begin to believe that Daniel is the victim of a very nicely done frame. A former client of Andy's now in prison overhears something that sheds light on Andy's case but is killed before he can share what he knows. 

Marcus tracks down another former prisoner who points the finger at a serial killer who is known to frame someone innocent for crimes he commits. But proving anything isn't easy even when Andy calls on a local crime boss for help.

This was a twisty mystery filled with Andy's usual snark. It is the episode where Andy's partner is the dog rescue Willy meets and marries his love. And where Andy and Laurie are living together with Andy hoping for marriage and Laurie not seeming interested in it. I really enjoy Andy's interactions with his dog Tara. 

Favorite Quote:

"There are a number of leads that we're aggressively pursuing along with our colleagues in the state police," he says. "We're very confidant."

"So you've got nothing."

"Not a f**king thing."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.