Book Review: Unleashed by David Rosenfelt

Unleashed
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 11)
Publication: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (July 23, 2013)

Description: Andy Carpenter's accountant, Sam Willis, is stunned to receive a phone call out of the blue from Barry Price, a high school friend he hasn't spoken to in years, pleading for help with something too frightening to discuss on the phone. Barry needs Sam's financial acumen and lawyer Andy Carpenter's legal expertise—and he needs them immediately. But when Sam almost runs over an injured dog lying in the road on the way to Barry's house, he can't drive off without waiting for help to arrive. By the time Sam makes it, Barry's already taken off on a private airplane headed who-knows-where.

Assuming their help is no longer needed, Sam and Andy turn their full attention to helping the dog Sam found recover from his injuries. Then they learn that Barry's plane has crashed, and they come to the terrifying realization that Sam was also supposed to have been killed on that plane. Barry was in far more serious trouble than either of them knew, and for Sam and Andy, the trouble is only beginning.

Unleashed, David Rosenfelt's next Andy Carpenter mystery, is a thrilling read, full of Rosenfelt's trademark clever plotting, humor, and engaging prose.

My Thoughts: In the eleventh Andy Carpenter mystery, it is his friend Sam Willis who is in need of Andy's professional skills. 

After a call for help from an old friend, Sam heads to Barry Price's house. His arrival is delayed when he hits a dog and needs to wait until help can arrive for the dog. His late arrival means missing Barry who dies in a plane crash - a plane Sam was supposed to be on with him. 

When Barry's wife - Sam's high school girlfriend - is arrested, Sam asks Andy to defend her. But there is a twist. She claims that she's been having an affair with Sam and Sam is the one who killed Barry. Now, Sam's on trial until Andy can figure out the whole thing which happens to lead to plans for mass terrorism on Memorial Day.

I like Andy who is snarky and work-averse but who will do anything for his friends. Sam's new dog whom he names Crash was also a nice companion for Andy's Tara. 

Favorite Quote:

"Well, I think I may have a new client for you."

Sam says this with an expression and tone in his voice that indicate he thinks he is giving me good news. "Yippee skippee," I say.

I bought this one November 2, 2022. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: One Dog Night by David Rosenfelt

One Dog Night
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter Mysteries (Book 9)
Publication: Minotaur Books (July 5, 2011)

Description: Lawyer Andy Carpenter will have to pull out all of his tricks to get to the bottom of this cold case turned white hot in One Dog Night, the latest in David Rosenfelt's popular mystery series.

For six years Noah Galloway has lived with a horrible secret and the fear that his rebuilt life could be shattered at any moment. Now his dread has become a certainty, and he has been arrested for the arson murder of twenty-six people.

What he needs is defense lawyer Andy Carpenter, who most definitely is not in the market for a new client. So Noah plays his hole card: a shared love for Andy’s golden retriever, Tara, and the knowledge that Andy wasn’t her first owner—Noah rescued Tara first. When Noah wasn’t able to care for her any longer, he did everything in his power to make sure that she was placed in the right home: Andy’s.

Andy soon learns that the long-ago event that may destroy Noah’s life is only the beginning of an ongoing conspiracy that grows more deadly by the day.

My Thoughts: The ninth Andy Carpenter mystery has Andy defending the man who rescued and owned Andy's beloved golden retriever Tara before Andy. Noah Galloway was a chemical engineer turned drug addict when he surrendered Tara to the shelter where Andy found her. Now, six years later has rebuilt his life but he's been keeping a terrible secret. He believes that he was responsible for the deaths of twenty-six people in one of the worst arson fires in Paterson's history. 

Despite Noah's desire to plead guilty to save his wife and small child from the horrors of a trial, Andy isn't so sure. He has lots of questions concerning the man who went to the FBI six years after the event and said that Noah had confessed the crime - complete with all the details -- to him and now his conscience has convinced him to go to the FBI. Even more questions arise when that oh-so-helpful witness is murdered in Las Vegas and can't be cross-examined by Andy. 

And Andy has questions about a man who follows Laurie and him and who is then killed by a sniper before Marcus can question him. Phone records hacked by Sam the accountant raise the question of some large conspiracy where framing Noah is just one small cog. But can Andy discover what is going on before his client is convicted for murders he did not commit?

It takes Andy's whole team including a group of computer hacking Jewish octogenarians before all the pieces come together for a satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed this story with its complex plot and great characters. Andy is my favorite fictional lawyer.

Favorite Quote:

Because the idea that trials are a search for the truth is just a myth. Trials are a search for that which the jury will believe is the truth.

I bought this one in November 2022 when it was a Kindle Deal. You can buy your copy here.

Book Beginnings: One Dog Night by David Rosenfelt

Happy Friday!

Book Beginnings is hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader. She asks that the first sentence is posted along with the author and title of the book and the reader's initial thoughts on the sentence, the book, or anything else it inspires.

Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower.org also provides a linky for sharing first lines and connecting with others. This meme asks that the chosen books be PG or marked as Mature if they are not.

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. This meme is currently on hiatus but many of us are still including a sentence from page 56 or from 56% of the ebook. Anne @ Head Full of Books is picking up the slack until Freda is ready to return. I think this link will get you to the correct place.

Beginning:

When they came into the room, Noah Galloway looked at his watch.

Friday 56:

"They'll only plea-bargain if they have weaknesses in their case."

"That's okay; I'm not bargaining. There's no way I'm going to see the light of day again. I just want this over with; the less Becky has to go through...the less Adam has to hear as he grows up..." He starts to choke up and stops speaking.

This week I am spotlighting One Dog Night by David Rosenfelt. This is the ninth book in the Andy Carpenter mystery series. I came to this series late when I was offered a copy of book 20 for review in 2020. I fell in love with the characters especially the sarcastic Andy and have been trying to catch up on the earlier books in the series as well as reading each new one as a review book.

Here's the blurb from Amazon for this book:

Lawyer Andy Carpenter will have to pull out all of his tricks to get to the bottom of this cold case turned white hot in One Dog Night, the latest in David Rosenfelt's popular mystery series.

For six years Noah Galloway has lived with a horrible secret and the fear that his rebuilt life could be shattered at any moment. Now his dread has become a certainty, and he has been arrested for the arson murder of twenty-six people.

What he needs is defense lawyer Andy Carpenter, who most definitely is not in the market for a new client. So Noah plays his hole card: a shared love for Andy’s golden retriever, Tara, and the knowledge that Andy wasn’t her first owner—Noah rescued Tara first. When Noah wasn’t able to care for her any longer, he did everything in his power to make sure that she was placed in the right home: Andy’s.

Andy soon learns that the long-ago event that may destroy Noah’s life is only the beginning of an ongoing conspiracy that grows more deadly by the day.

ARC Review: 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt

'Twas the Bite Before Christmas
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 28)
Publication: Minotaur Books (October 10, 2023)

Description: In National Bestseller David Rosenfelt’s ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas, all through the Carpenter house, five dogs are stirring, and not even Andy can get out of working this latest case at his door.

Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is at the Tara Foundation’s annual Christmas party. The dog rescue organization has always been his true calling, and this is one holiday tradition he can get behind because every dog that’s come through the rescue―and their families―are invited to celebrate.

This year’s party is no exception. But before the stockings can be hung by the chimney with care, homicide detectives ruin the evening. Derek Moore, one of the foundation’s best foster volunteers, is arrested for murder.

Andy discovers Derek―whose real name is Bobby―is in the witness protection program after giving evidence against his former gang. The police believe Bobby murdered a member. But Bobby swears to Andy he didn’t do this. He’s built a new life, a new business, has two new dogs after being a double foster-failure.

There isn’t much Andy likes about this case, but he likes Bobby. If he’s innocent, Andy wants to help. Before Andy can settle down for his long winter’s nap, he has a client’s name to clear, a murderer to catch, and two new dogs to look after: a golden and a Dalmatian. Andy’s golden retriever, Tara, will have to adjust to not being the only golden at the house while Andy gets to the bottom of this one…

My Thoughts: Andy Carpenter's next case comes to him at the Tara Foundation Christmas party when one of the best fosterers is arrested for murder. Derek Moore whose real name is Bobby is in the Witness Protection Program after turning in two of his fellow gang members for murdering a convenience store owner and a customer who was there. Bobby has built a new life for himself which includes adopting two dogs. He tells Andy that he didn't kill anyone and asks for help.

The case doesn't look good. The victim's blood is found in Bobby's trunk and the murder weapon in a cabinet in Bobby's home. But there are still a number of questions that need to be answered before Andy can prove that someone is framing his client not least of which is why someone would want to frame him. 

As Andy and his team of investigators including his wife Laurie and accountant Sam have lots of trails to travel down to find the answers. For quite a while it looks like Andy and company have discovered another crime that is still on-going which is great but doesn't get Bobby off the hook. 

I enjoyed this 28th episode in the Andy Carpenter series. I really like Andy's sarcastic and self-deprecating viewpoint. The story has a nice assortment of dogs too between Andy's three and Bobby's two.

Favorite Quote:

I get home and tell Laurie about the conversation in detail, and her first question is "What does your gut tell you?"

"My gut is an idiot. He's wrong so often, I've cut him off. We don't even speak anymore. So if you hear someone say I'm gutless, that's what they're talking about."

"Andy,,," It's a one-word admonishment, but again one that says it all.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: New Tricks by David Rosenfelt

New Tricks
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 7)
Publication: Grand Central Publishing (July 18, 2009)

Description: In this "taut thriller full of whiplash plot twists and wisecracking dialogue," a lawyer will do whatever it takes to make sure an adorable Bernese puppy -- whose owner was brutally murdered -- doesn't fall into the wrong hands (Entertainment Weekly).

Few can rival Andy's affection for dogs. However, the playful new friend he just inherited is valued by several people, many of whom are willing to resort to violence to get what they want. It will take more than Andy's usual courtroom theatrics to save this dog, including a little help from his beloved golden retriever, Tara.

Andy soon discovers that anyone around him is in danger, including his long-time girlfriend Laurie, and he will have to muster all of his wits to save those he holds most dear.

My Thoughts: It all starts when Judge "Hatchett" Henderson assigns Andy a pro bono case: a Bernese Mountain dog puppy is in a custody battle after his owner was murdered. Andy is all for helping find the perfect home for Waggy, a very active puppy.

He happens to be at the home of the widow discussing the matter and meeting the estranged son who is there arguing with his stepmother when the house explodes killing the widow and narrowly missing Andy and Waggy. 

The custody case should be easy except a third party, the former dog show partner of the murdered man, files his own claim for custody of the puppy and the son is arrested for the murder of his father and stepfather. 

Andy takes on the case of the son and needs to prove that he didn't kill his father or stepmother despite all the evidence pointing toward him if he wants Waggy to have a happy home. And it seems that someone wants Waggy dead. An assassination attempt on the dog hits Andy's long-time girlfriend Laurie and almost kills her. 

This story was filled with twists and turns and is also filled with Andy's usual snark. I really enjoyed this story.

Favorite Quote:

"You don't really have to take it anywhere, you know. You won the case."

I think about that for a moment. The way I do my job, the way I've always done my job, is to think of it as a competition, a game. I won't feel like I've won the game unless I figure it out. Laurie already knows this about me, so I smile and say, "The game isn't over yet."

"And if you win the game it means a murderer gets caught," she says.

"That's what makes it a really great game."

I bought this one November 26, 2022. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Flop Dead Gorgeous by David Rosenfelt

Flop Dead Gorgeous
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 27)
Publication: Minotaur Books (July 4, 2023)

Description: Lights, camera, action in bestselling author David Rosenfelt’s Flop Dead Gorgeous, as Andy Carpenter goes bicoastal to prove an old friend’s innocence.

Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter remembers every dog that’s come through the Tara Foundation’s doors, but the most well-known alum of the dog rescue organization that Andy founded in Paterson, New Jersey, may be Mamie. Adopted by famous actress Jenny Nichols―Andy’s high school girlfriend―the miniature French poodle is now practically a starlet in her own right.

Andy doesn’t hold it against his friend. In fact, he and his wife, Laurie, have dinner with Jenny while she’s in town filming her next big hit. But after an eventful meal, there’s a plot twist the next morning that none of them see coming: Jenny’s costar is found dead, a knife in his back. It’s not long before Jenny is arrested for the murder and finds herself in need of Andy’s legal services.

While Mamie becomes reacquainted with Tara, Andy’s golden retriever, Andy digs into the lives of the rich and famous.

My Thoughts: In this 27th book in the Andy Carpenter series, Andy is determined to prove that his high school girlfriend turned movie star Jenny Nichols did not stab her co-star in the back and leave his body lying on her kitchen floor. 

The murder victim is Ryan Griffin who made his fortune as a hedge fund manager before deciding he wanted to act and produce movies. Personally, he was a charismatic and charming cheater. His relationship with Jenny was short-lived on her part but he was reluctant to let her go. After making a scene at a welcome party hosted by Andy, his next appearance is as a corpse lying dead in her kitchen.

Andy, who would love to be a retired lawyer, takes on her case but the evidence and the odds are against him, his client, and his team. The evidence clearly points to Jenny as the murderer. But Andy is undaunted and calls his team to action. Sam will look into the cyberworld while Marcus Clark looks into the criminal world. 

Andy comes up with an alternate suspect in a Russian gangster who is somehow connected to the case but has difficulty connecting him to Griffin's murder. However, his investigation does give the FBI enough to take down a Russian cybercriminal. That's good but isn't going to free Jenny or prove her innocent. 

Up until nearly the end of the book, it looks like this is one case that Andy won't be able to win using his legal intelligence and snarky manner. 

I really enjoy Andy's snarky voice and his love of dogs. The dog in this story is a pampered toy poodle named Mamie that Jennie adopted from Andy's foundation. I also enjoy the way Andy and his colleagues investigate crimes. 

Favorite Quote:

Going to a murder scene is like going to Madison Square Garden the morning after a typical Knicks game.

You know something really depressing and ugly happened there the night before, but at the moment it's quiet and sterile. Instead of beer cups and popcorn kernals on the ground, there is blood spatter and chalk outlines. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Play Dead by David Rosenfelt

Play Dead
Author: David Rosefelt
Series: Andy Carpenter Mystery (Book 6)
Publication: Grand Central Publishing (July 15, 2009)

Description: In this imaginative legal thriller for dog lovers, an attorney tries to free an innocent man by convincing an incredulous jury to take the testimony a golden retriever seriously.

Few can rival attorney Andy Carpenter's affection for golden retrievers, especially his own beloved Tara.

After he astonishes a New Jersey courtroom by successfully appealing another retriever's death sentence, Andy discovers that this gentle dog is a key witness to a murder that took place five years earlier.

It will take all the tricks Andy's fertile mind can conceive to get to the bottom of a remarkable chain of impersonations and murder -- and hopefully save not only a dog's life but also his own in the process.

My Thoughts: There are few things lawyer Andy Carpenter likes more than golden retrievers, so when he hears that one is in a kill shelter after biting his supposed owner, Andy is determined to save him. He doesn't expect to find out that the dog was once the beloved pet of a man convicted of murdering his girlfriend.

When Richard Evans's sister sees the publicity about Andy saving the dog, she immediately comes to him because the dog was supposed to have been killed by Richard in the same incident when he killed his girlfriend. If the dog is still alive, what else about the night his girlfriend died and he tried to overdose isn't true? She's never believed that her brother could have killed anyone and asks Andy to look into the case again.

Andy agrees to meet Richard and form his own opinion though he already has positive feelings for the man because of his dog. But as Andy begins to look into the case and especially the character of the woman Richard was supposed to have murdered, he finds he is disturbing something that some very powerful people don't want uncovered. 

Andy's shot at, has his home bugged, and hits all sorts of roadblocks including not being allowed to indicate that the girlfriend was in the Witness Protection Program. And even after he finds out about the conspiracy, someone is murdering the participants.

This was another engaging entry into the Andy Carpenter mystery series. 

Favorite Quote:

Marcus Clark is a terrific investigator, but that is not what initially comes to mind when one thinks of him. Focusing on his investigative talents first would be like somebody asking for your view of Pamela Anderson, only to have you respond that you hear she's a pretty good bowler. It may or may not be true, but it's not "top of mind."

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

Friday Memes: Play Dead by David Rosenfelt

 Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

"Andy, you're not going to believe this."

This is the type of sentence that, when said in a vacuum, doesn't reveal much. Whatever it is that I am not going to believe might be very positive or very negative, and there would be no way to know until I see it.

Unfortunately, this particular sentence is not said in a vacuum; it's said in the Passaic County Animal Shelter. Which means that "positive" is no longer one of the possibilities.

Friday 56:

"Thanks. Did you see anything on television about the case I handled recently? Where I defended the dog?"

He smiles. "I thought that was great. I'm thinking of hanging around the local shelter to get clients."

This week I am spotlighting Play Dead by David Rosenfelt. This is the sixth book in the Andy Carpenter series. It was written in 2007. I bought my copy last year to help in my goal of reading the whole series. Here is the description from Amazon:

In this imaginative legal thriller for dog lovers, an attorney tries to free an innocent man by convincing an incredulous jury to take the testimony a golden retriever seriously.

Few can rival attorney Andy Carpenter's affection for golden retrievers, especially his own beloved Tara.

After he astonishes a New Jersey courtroom by successfully appealing another retriever's death sentence, Andy discovers that this gentle dog is a key witness to a murder that took place five years earlier.

It will take all the tricks Andy's fertile mind can conceive to get to the bottom of a remarkable chain of impersonations and murder -- and hopefully save not only a dog's life but also his own in the process.

Book Review: Dead Center by David Rosenfelt

Dead Center
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter Mysteries (Book 5)
Publication: Grand Central Publishing (December 2, 2008)

Description: After Laurie Collins left him and headed west, New Jersey defense attorney Andy Carpenter didn't expect to ever see her again. So he's shocked when his ex-girlfriend appears on TV--and then calls him pleading for his help. Two coeds in Wisconsin have been found brutally stabbed to death. As the town's acting police chief, Laurie had to arrest a young college student with a carful of bloodstains who argued with one of the victims just before her death. Yet Laurie strongly believes that the suspect, Jeremy Davidson, is innocent.

Trading the refineries and factories of Paterson for the frozen pastures of Findlay, Wisconsin, Andy soon finds himself in a small town handling a big-time double homicide case. He looks into Jeremy's romance with one of the victims--and the possible involvement of a bizarre religious cult--one that may sanction the most unholy, and vicious, of acts.

While Andy tries to save Jeremy, make sense of his love life, and find a decent pizza for his beloved dog, Tara, the secrets of an ultra-religious community begin to rain down on him like bricks from a cracked fortress. But as Edgar®-nominated Rosenfelt proves to us once again, the path to the truth is littered with lies and misdirection. And before it's all over, the unexpected is the only thing Andy can count on.

My Thoughts: The last thing Andy Carpenter expects is for his former girlfriend Laurie Collins to call him and ask him to defend a young man she has arrested for murder. But Andy, and Tara, are off to the wilds of Wisconsin to look into the case. 

Jeremy Davidson is accused of murdering his girlfriend Elizabeth and her friend Sheryl and burying their bodies in his parents' yard within steps of his apartment in the family guesthouse. Laurie doesn't believe it and Andy has questions.

Teaming up with local attorney Calvin Marshall who is as snarky as Andy, the two try to find out about the two girls who were both residents of a very private and insular town near Findlay. No one in the town is willing to speak to either attorney. Even calling on the computer skills of Andy's friend Sam back home in New Jersey only gives them the barest hint of a way to proceed when he manages to give a possible name to Elizabeth's former boyfriend.

When Jeremy's home is firebombed, Laurie insists that Andy call in Marcus to provide protection for him. But the protection isn't expansive enough and Calvin winds up dead with a broken neck in a supposed car accident. Then, after agreeing to talk to Andy, the former boyfriend is found hanging in his motel room's bathroom after leaving a signed confession. 

The confession is enough to get Jeremy's trial cancelled and get Jeremy released from jail, but Andy isn't satisfied. He still wants to find out who actually murdered Elizabeth and Sheryl and the boyfriend. His continued investigations manage to put both him and Laurie in peril. 

I'm curious to see where this series goes next. Andy and Laurie have agreed to try a long-distance relationship since, while they love each other, their choices of places to live are incompatible.

Favorite Quote:

Bringing Marcus to Findley would be like bringing a bazooka to a Tupperware party.

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

Book Review: Sudden Death by David Rosefelt

Sudden Death
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter Book 4
Publication: Grand Central Publishing (June 26, 2009)

Description: Following the success of Bury the Lead, David Rosenfelt delivers a "wise cracking legal thriller" featuring Defense Attorney Andy Carpenter (Publishers Weekly).

Kenny Schilling is the new star running back for the New York Giants. Troy Preston was a wide receiver for the Jets, until his recent murder. Could rivalry have turned Kenny Schilling into a cold-blooded killer? The police say yes. And now the football hero needs a good lawyer--quick. Still basking in the glow of his last successful case, Andy Carpenter is called to defend Kenny's innocence. Then it's revealed that Troy wasn't the only murdered player Kenny was in contact with. Now, amid a collapsing personal life and death threats from a drug king--who may or may not have a hand in things--Andy must keep his eye on the ball during what could become the media trial of the century.

My Thoughts: In this fourth Andy Carpenter mystery, Andy is hired to defend Kenny Schilling who is the new star running back for the New York Giants. He is accused of murdering Troy Preston who is another player for the Giants. 

Things don't start off well for Andy or for Kenny. They meet when Kenny is holding off the police from entering his home where Preston's body is found stuffed in a closet. 

As Andy and his team investigate, they learn that Preston was not only using drugs but selling them. In order to prove reasonable doubt, Andy explores the possibility that Preston was killed by a local drug dealer which angers the dealer enough to put a hit out on Andy requiring him to seek protection from Marcus and his dog rescue partner Willie. 

But Preston's death is not the only one with a possible link to Kenny. He was in Wisconsin at a hunting party composed of fellow football players when one of the players died in an accidental shooting. As a young man named Adam who came to New Jersey to write a potential movie script about Andy's role in Willie Miller's successful trial begins helping Andy investigate this case, he soon learns that that wasn't the only death that happened near Kenny. And when Adam is murdered in Andy's office the first thought is that he was killed by the drug dealer in a case of mistaken identity. But the fact that his notes were stolen leads to a different conclusion.

Is Andy defending a possible serial killer?

And, while all of this is going on, Andy is dealing with personal life difficulties. His girlfriend Laurie has an opportunity to move back to her hometown in Wisconsin and get back into law enforcement. She spends the whole book making up her mind about what she wants for her future. 

This was another excellent episode in the Andy Carpenter series. 

Favorite Quote:

I go downstairs to pay Sofia Hernandez, the owner of the fruit stand, enough money to take care of the damage and aggravation. She's amazingly calm about it, as if thugs falling from the sky are an unfortunate but expected part of doing business.

I bought this one September 7, 2022. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Sudden Death by David Rosefelt

 Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

I step off the plane, and for the first time in my life, I'm in Los Angeles. I'm not sure why I've never been here before. I certainly haven't had any preconceived notions about the place, other than the fact that the people here are insincere, draft-dodging, drug-taking, money-grubbing, breast-implanting, out-of-touch, pâté-eating, pompous, Lakers-loving, let's-do-lunching, elitist scumbags.

But here I am, open-minded as always.

Friday 56:

Edna finally notices that I've come in, and she reluctantly pauses in her tutorial to introduce the stranger as Adam Strickland. He's the writer the studio sent to get to know us and see how we operate so that he can write the screenplay more effectively and accurately.

This week I am spotlighting another book in the Andy Carpenter series. Andy is a defense attorney who tries to avoid work. He prefers to spend his time at his dog rescue Tara Foundation. But sometimes there's a case he just can't avoid.

Here's the description of Sudden Death by David Rosenfelt - the fourth book in the series.

Following the success of Bury the Lead, David Rosenfelt delivers a "wise cracking legal thriller" featuring Defense Attorney Andy Carpenter (Publishers Weekly).

Kenny Schilling is the new star running back for the New York Giants. Troy Preston was a wide receiver for the Jets, until his recent murder. Could rivalry have turned Kenny Schilling into a cold-blooded killer? The police say yes. And now the football hero needs a good lawyer -- quick. Still basking in the glow of his last successful case, Andy Carpenter is called to defend Kenny's innocence. Then it's revealed that Troy wasn't the only murdered player Kenny was in contact with. Now, amid a collapsing personal life and death threats from a drug king-who may or may not have a hand in things-Andy must keep his eye on the ball during what could become the media trial of the century.

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.

Book Review: Muzzled by David Rosenfelt

Muzzled
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 21)
Publication: Minotaur Books (July 7, 2020)

Description: In David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter mystery, Muzzled, Andy and his beloved golden retriever, Tara, are back on the case as a favor to a friend.

Andy Carpenter is a lawyer who would rather not practice law. He'd rather spend his time working with the Tara Foundation, his dog rescue organization, and being with his family and his two dogs, Tara and Sebastian. But when a friend asks him for a favor that involves both dogs and his lawyerly expertise, he can't say no.

Andy's friend Beth has found a stray that seems to have belonged to a murder victim--in fact, the man and two of his colleagues died in an explosion a few weeks ago. But when the murdered man contacts Beth, asking for his dog back, Andy knows there must be more to the story. The man claims his life is in danger, and that's why he disappeared. As much as Andy doesn't want to get involved--anything to avoid a new case--he can't help but come to the rescue of a man who'd risk everything, even his life, to reunite with his dog.

Once again, David Rosenfelt delivers suspense and laughter in equal measure in another engaging mystery from "one of the most unforgettable voices in the genre." (Associated Press)

My Thoughts: It starts with a dog. Andy Carpenter gets a call from a friend who tries to reunite dogs with their owners. Only this time the owner is returning from the dead. Alex Vogel was supposed to have died when his boat exploded. It is certain that his two friends and potential business partners did.

Alex said that the boat was invaded by two men who killed his friends but missed him because he was hiding. He managed to get off the boat in a dingy just before the boat exploded. Fearing for his life, Alex went into hiding until he decided he couldn't stay away from his beloved dog any longer. 

Andy gets involved when Alex is arrested for murder. He doesn't think Alex is guilty, after all he is a dog lover. But the prosecution's case is strong, and Andy and his investigators are having trouble finding evidence against anyone else.

However, Andy and his investigators manage to uncover a plot involving the Russian mob, American mobsters, and criminal drug developers.

I really like Andy's snarky and sarcastic voice as he tells the story. I also admire his desire to be a retired lawyer instead of a working lawyer. And I admire his abilities to go the extra mile to help his clients, once he can be convinced to take on another client. 

This is the 21st in the Andy Carpenter series. Each books stands alone, and the series does not have to be read in order.

Favorite Quote:

"This trial will get a lot of media attention," Laurie says. "There's a pretty good chance that Russo will not appreciate your calling him a murderer."

"What about if I smile when I say it?"

"You do have an adorable smile."

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

Friday Memes: Muzzled by David Rosenfelt

 Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

The boat was in international waters, just outside the three-mile limit.

Friday 56:

I turn and see Norman Trell, one of the better prosecutors in the county. He's not in any way brilliant, no future law school students are going to study his trial tactics, but he's incredibly diligent. He treats every fact, no matter how obscure, as crucial. That way he is never surprised, and he is certainly never outworked.

This week I am spotlighting Muzzled by David Rosenfelt. It is book 21 in the Andy Carpenter series. I'm skipping around in this series since I'm waiting for deals on the books. Luckily, they can be read in any order. Here is the description from Amazon:

In David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter mystery, Muzzled, Andy and his beloved golden retriever, Tara, are back on the case as a favor to a friend.

Andy Carpenter is a lawyer who would rather not practice law. He'd rather spend his time working with the Tara Foundation, his dog rescue organization, and being with his family and his two dogs, Tara and Sebastian. But when a friend asks him for a favor that involves both dogs and his lawyerly expertise, he can't say no.

Andy's friend Beth has found a stray that seems to have belonged to a murder victim--in fact, the man and two of his colleagues died in an explosion a few weeks ago. But when the murdered man contacts Beth, asking for his dog back, Andy knows there must be more to the story. The man claims his life is in danger, and that's why he disappeared. As much as Andy doesn't want to get involved--anything to avoid a new case--he can't help but come to the rescue of a man who'd risk everything, even his life, to reunite with his dog.

Once again, David Rosenfelt delivers suspense and laughter in equal measure in another engaging mystery from "one of the most unforgettable voices in the genre." (Associated Press)

ARC Review: Santa's Little Yelpers by David Rosenfelt

Santa's Little Yelpers
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 26)
Publication: Minotaur Books (October 11, 2022)

Description: Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his humorous investigating team return in Santa's Little Yelpers, the next Yuletide mystery in David Rosenfelt’s bestselling series.

'Tis the season in Paterson, New Jersey: Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are surrounded by holiday cheer. It’s even spread to the Tara Foundation. The dog rescue organization, not used to having puppies, has their hands full with a recent litter. Eight puppies are a lot to handle, and Andy is relieved when his co-worker Chris Myers agrees to foster them.

Myers, a newer employee at the Tara Foundation, did time for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. When Myers discovers a key witness against him lied on the stand, he goes to Andy to ask for representation in getting the conviction overturned. Myers thinks they can have this wrapped up by Christmas, no problem.

But when the witness is murdered, and Myers is arrested for the crime, things go from bad to worse. Suddenly, it’s all elves on deck to make a list and check it twice, so they can prove Myers is innocent.

My Thoughts: Andy's Christmas break is disturbed when one of the best volunteers at his dog rescue is arrested for murder. Disbarred attorney Chris Myers had already been convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served his term. Now, Charlie Burgess who was witness against him has contacted him to say that he was paid to lie. 

When Chris goes to see the wavering witness, he arrives just in time for someone to shoot Burgess. Three hours later, Chris is arrested. 

Andy gathers the team together to plan Chris's defense. But there are few ways for them to progress. Chris has always said that he didn't think he killed Joey Bonaventura behind that bar. But he admitted that he was very drunk at the time. Once Andy starts investigating, the first roadblock is that Bonaventura apparently didn't exist. Sam, his computer geek, can't find anything older than six months about him.

While they are trying to find out more about Bonaventura, they also want to look into the cases he was working on at the time of the first arrest and trial. Chris doesn't remember much about them since he was drinking so heavily at the time. But they do provide another avenue for research.

This was another entertaining episode of Andy Carpenter, reluctant lawyer, and his band of colleagues. I liked that it takes place during the Christmas season which gives Andy a lot to be snarky about. Since the story is told from Andy's viewpoint and in his voice opportunities for snark and sarcasm are abundant.

Fans of the series won't want to miss this latest episode. 

Favorite Quote:

Even though I'm with Marcus, these situations unnerve me. I always have to remind myself that the worst thing I can do is show that nervousness. The best way not to show it is to be a sarcastic wiseass. That I can do with no problem whatsoever.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook: First Degree by David Rosenfelt

First Degree
Author: David Rosenfelt
Narrator: Grover Gardner
Publication: Listen & Live Audio, Inc. (April 3, 2008)
Length: 6 hours and 40 minutes

Description: Nominated for the Edgar and Shamus Awards, David Rosenfelt's debut novel, Open and Shut, was widely praised by listeners and critics. Rosenfelt returned with this riveting mystery, First Degree, featuring irreverent and dynamic lawyer Andy Carpenter.

When a cop's body is found burned and decapitated, the last thing Andy Carpenter expected is for a stranger to waltz into his office and admit to the crime. For the wise-cracking millionaire defense attorney suffering from "lawyer's block", the case looks like a no-brainer...until the cops pick up another suspect: Andy's lead P.I., Laurie Collins, who happens to be the love of his life.

Soon Laurie's facing conviction for the grisly murder and Andy must desperately try to save her. All he had wanted was a case to sink his teeth into. Now he gets one that's a kick in the head - and the heart.

My Thoughts: This is the second Andy Carpenter novel and this time Andy has to find a way to prove that his girlfriend Laurie is innocent of the brutal death of a fellow police officer. It was because she turned him in for corruption that Laurie left the force and became a private investigator.

The story begins when a man comes to Andy's office to confess that he was the one who killed the cop. Even though he doesn't take the case, because of lawyer-client privilege, he can't tell anyone what he has learned. So he volunteers to defend the man the police arrest for the crime even though he is a major slimeball and someone Laurie has been watching because he sold drugs to a young daughter of a friend.

Andy is also busy getting used to the idea that he is now a multi-millionaire and is helping the man he saved from death row get a multi-million dollar settlement from the men who framed him for the crime.

When Laurie is arrested, and the evidence looks like she committed the murder, Andy needs to get serious about finding out who is trying to frame her.

I like that Andy is irreverent and has a smart mouth. I like that he is dedicated to his clients. I liked the courtroom drama and the legal maneuvering.

Grover Gardner did a great job of making Andy Carpenter a character worth knowing.

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