Helpful Score: 4
I love David Rosenfelt's books. If you're an animal lover you will enjoy the Andy Carpenter books. David includes a golden named Tara in his books. David Rosenfelt is a dedicated animal rescue guy. In this book he and a friend start up an animal shelter for homeless dogs. And Andy thinks his dog Tara is smarter than anyone or anything. Good twists and turns in his books. David Rosenfelt enjoys getting feedback about his books using his web site. I feel the money I spend on his books is being put to rescuing goldens. He has pictures of his goldens on his website too.
Helpful Score: 3
Really enjoyed attorney Andy Carpenter's smart-mouthed, wise-cracking comments....kept me smiling throughout the book! His relationship with private investigator, Laurie Collins was refreshing to read also. The edge-of-your-seat detective storyline kept you going til the end. It was a quick read but most enjoyable! I will definitely be reading more of Rosenfelt's books.
Helpful Score: 1
A great detective story with humor added.
Helpful Score: 1
This is the second book in the Andy Carpenter series. Love his wicked sense of humor, and they keep you guessing till the end.
Helpful Score: 1
I love the characters in this series!
Helpful Score: 1
A cop's body is found decapitated and burned beyond recognition. At first, a local thug is seen as the perpetrator, but then things turn around and soon a local detective who had had a run in with the dead cop is suspect #1.
Exciting.. lots of turns and suspense.
Exciting.. lots of turns and suspense.
Helpful Score: 1
I just cannot get enough of David Rosenfelt! I keep thinking that at some point one of his books will not measure up to those which I have already read (at least four if not more - I am an avid reader and seem to lose track). He has yet to disappoint. He has an amazing style of writing with a captivating sense of humor and ability to keep me in suspense. My only complaint is that he has kept me sleep deprived - I look forward to reading more by him. This book was wonderful! Another publication which I highly recommend!
Helpful Score: 1
Easy, short, kept my attention throughout book. I've now read the first two in this series and plan to continue. Serious plots with good humor -- I'm hooked!
Helpful Score: 1
This is my second Andy Carpenter book to read...I love the characters.Suspensful and humourous
This was another fun book! Some of the suspense had been removed for me since I discovered this series by reading the first thirty or so pages of the sixth book in the series (_Play Dead_). Still, this was fun to read and I was pretty surprised by the way it all turned out. I really liked the way the Tara Foundation is set up and I am excited to keep reading this fun series! It is kind of like watching a TV show in some ways because of the humourous narration.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
Very exciting plot. Great follow-up to the first book. I'm hooked on this series now and I love Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter character.
The first book in this series didn't do it for me for some reason, but I really enjoyed this one. The courtroom drama was solid, and the banter was witty. I also can't resist any book with a dog on the cover.
I always love David Rosenfelt's books, and have read them all, however, so far, this is his best.
Great wit and great surprises. A fast read because it's hard to put down!
I really liked the book a lot, this was the first time I have read one of his books and I will definately read another. I live in New Jersey so I could really relate to all the places he refers to.
Loved this one more than the first in this series! Can't wait to read No. 3! Rosenfelt's style is quickly paced and to the point...doesn't waste any words with unnecessray tedious explanations... he describes in detail what needs to be described and nothing more....I like that! Love the wit and humor he uses as well!
All of David Rosenfelt mysteries are highly entertaining. It is fun to read several of them because of the character development and running humor, but not necessary to enjoy them. This was another winner!
I'm glad David gave up California to move to Maine with his 27 dogs and write more mysteries!
I'm glad David gave up California to move to Maine with his 27 dogs and write more mysteries!
love his writing, grood book!!
Good book with lots of twists. The author includes a dog, a golden named Tara. In this book he and a friend start a rescue animal shelter with their sudden wealth. I love the idea the main character is such an animal lover. The author is a huge animal lover, he does rescue work with Golden's, I feel when I pay full price for one of his books my money is going to be used to help with his rescue dogs. His books keep me interested and I find I can't put them down until I finish them so I can start the next one to find what Andy and Tara might be up to next.
Great read with good ending
I don't know what kept me from this series for so long; it pushes all the right buttons for me. Nice, convoluted mystery, humor, dogs, and a wonderful cast of slightly oddball characters. I may not know what kept me from this series, but I do know that I intend to savor every single one. Who knows? There may be an Andy Carpenter Week (or two) in my future.
In this second book of the series, Andy is gathering together a first-rate "family." We're introduced to the very scary Marcus, whom Rosenfelt admitted he modeled after Robert B. Parker's Hawk in his Spenser series. Willie Miller, whom Andy defended in an earlier trial, makes himself at home with Andy and Laurie, and then there's the brilliant lawyer Kevin Randall who quit practicing because he couldn't face the possibility of either sending an innocent man to prison or letting a guilty man go free. And then there's Tara, the golden retriever that only seems to leave Andy's side... for Laurie's. This is ensemble casting at its best, ready and willing to expand for characters like Barry Leiter, a young man with a short role who punches a hole straight through your gut.
I would imagine that all true dog lovers like me roll their eyes whenever a normally well-behaved dog starts barking up a storm and its human ignores all the fuss. Well, that happens in First Degree, too, and I'm hoping that Andy learns to pay attention.
First Degree has a marvelous cast, laugh-out-loud humor, and a fun mystery with plenty of twists. As I read, I knew the identity of "Mr. Big," but I certainly hadn't filled in all the particulars. Now that I've read the first two books in the series, all I can say is that I'm looking forward to book three with a definite twinkle in my eye. Haven't made Andy Carpenter's acquaintance? There's no time like the present!
In this second book of the series, Andy is gathering together a first-rate "family." We're introduced to the very scary Marcus, whom Rosenfelt admitted he modeled after Robert B. Parker's Hawk in his Spenser series. Willie Miller, whom Andy defended in an earlier trial, makes himself at home with Andy and Laurie, and then there's the brilliant lawyer Kevin Randall who quit practicing because he couldn't face the possibility of either sending an innocent man to prison or letting a guilty man go free. And then there's Tara, the golden retriever that only seems to leave Andy's side... for Laurie's. This is ensemble casting at its best, ready and willing to expand for characters like Barry Leiter, a young man with a short role who punches a hole straight through your gut.
I would imagine that all true dog lovers like me roll their eyes whenever a normally well-behaved dog starts barking up a storm and its human ignores all the fuss. Well, that happens in First Degree, too, and I'm hoping that Andy learns to pay attention.
First Degree has a marvelous cast, laugh-out-loud humor, and a fun mystery with plenty of twists. As I read, I knew the identity of "Mr. Big," but I certainly hadn't filled in all the particulars. Now that I've read the first two books in the series, all I can say is that I'm looking forward to book three with a definite twinkle in my eye. Haven't made Andy Carpenter's acquaintance? There's no time like the present!
An unabashed animal lover, Paterson New Jersey, lawyer Andy Carpenter has grown a fast reputation as the rare defender who saves both dogs and humans from Death Row. Thanks to the high-profile success of his last case, he's at the top of every local felon's wish list of attorneys. But despite his newfound fame and fortune, he's suffering from a painful attack of lawyer's block, rejecting every potential client who comes his way. His office is eerily quiet, except for the pen of his secretary, Edna, scratching nimbly across and down the New York Times crossword puzzle, while his soul hungers for a case to sink his teeth into.
He's about to get his wish. And it'll be a first-degree kick in the head.
It begins in the asphalt heart of Paterson, with the discovery of a once dirty, now decapitated cop. Then not one but several prime suspects emerge. Drawn into this affair, Andy has things under control...until the last suspect turns out to be none other than Laurie Collins, Andy's lead investigator and the love of his life. Now to clear Laurie, Andy must spring a brilliant yet desperate courtroom trap-before it engulfs them both.
He's about to get his wish. And it'll be a first-degree kick in the head.
It begins in the asphalt heart of Paterson, with the discovery of a once dirty, now decapitated cop. Then not one but several prime suspects emerge. Drawn into this affair, Andy has things under control...until the last suspect turns out to be none other than Laurie Collins, Andy's lead investigator and the love of his life. Now to clear Laurie, Andy must spring a brilliant yet desperate courtroom trap-before it engulfs them both.
Finding the headless and charred body of Alex Dorsey is the opening salvo of this great story. I liked it even better than the first Andy Carpenter story, OPEN AND SHUT (see below).
Alex Dorsey was a cop with doubtful ethics; Andys love interest, Laurie Collins, blew the whistle on his dishonest dealings while she was a police officer. The only thing that changed was that Laurie left law enforcement and became a private investigator.
When the police start looking for the Alexs killer, Laurie looks like the perfect choice. Theres lots of circumstantial evidence against her. The pacing is fantastic; Andy and Kevin (Andys lawyer associate) rush to punch holes in the meticulously-orchestrated frame up of Laurie. I dont know how Rosenfelt does it; although tension mounts, bodies keep falling the jokes keep coming.
This was a well-crafted, quick read. This seemed to be the perfect mystery until the last few pages; they just seemed unnecessary.
Andy Carpenter
1. Open and Shut (2002)
2. First Degree (2003)
Alex Dorsey was a cop with doubtful ethics; Andys love interest, Laurie Collins, blew the whistle on his dishonest dealings while she was a police officer. The only thing that changed was that Laurie left law enforcement and became a private investigator.
When the police start looking for the Alexs killer, Laurie looks like the perfect choice. Theres lots of circumstantial evidence against her. The pacing is fantastic; Andy and Kevin (Andys lawyer associate) rush to punch holes in the meticulously-orchestrated frame up of Laurie. I dont know how Rosenfelt does it; although tension mounts, bodies keep falling the jokes keep coming.
This was a well-crafted, quick read. This seemed to be the perfect mystery until the last few pages; they just seemed unnecessary.
Andy Carpenter
1. Open and Shut (2002)
2. First Degree (2003)
A legal thriller where the lawyer has a thing for his female PI
I like Andy Carpenter!!! Such a sweetheart!! and a rich one!!!
I love humor in the cozy mystery books I read, and âFirst Degreeâ is now near the top of my favorites list. It is a personal case for Andy Carpenter this time because it involves his girlfriend Laurie Collins. It's a real nail biter right up to the very end and then it finishes with a bang! I really enjoy this series. I'm going to read the next one as soon as I can!
This is the second in the Andy Carpenter series.
An excellent read. First in a series.
This book is so hard to find and very pricey on Amazon. I ended up borrowing it from the local library.
The mystery was easy to figure out but the story moved along and you were not bored.
Andy Carpenter
1. Open and Shut (2002)
2. First Degree (2003)
3. Bury the Lead (2004)
4. Sudden Death (2005)
5. Dead Center (2006)
6. Play Dead (2007)
7. New Tricks (2009)
8. Dog Tags (2010)
9. One Dog Night (2011)
10. Leader of the Pack (2012)
11. Unleashed (2013)
12. Hounded (2014)
13. Who Let the Dog Out? (2015)
14. Outfoxed (2016)
15. The Twelve Dogs of Christmas (2016)
16. Collared (2017)
17. Rescued (2018)
18. Deck the Hounds (2018)
19. Bark of Night (2019)
20. Dachshund Through the Snow (2019)
The mystery was easy to figure out but the story moved along and you were not bored.
Andy Carpenter
1. Open and Shut (2002)
2. First Degree (2003)
3. Bury the Lead (2004)
4. Sudden Death (2005)
5. Dead Center (2006)
6. Play Dead (2007)
7. New Tricks (2009)
8. Dog Tags (2010)
9. One Dog Night (2011)
10. Leader of the Pack (2012)
11. Unleashed (2013)
12. Hounded (2014)
13. Who Let the Dog Out? (2015)
14. Outfoxed (2016)
15. The Twelve Dogs of Christmas (2016)
16. Collared (2017)
17. Rescued (2018)
18. Deck the Hounds (2018)
19. Bark of Night (2019)
20. Dachshund Through the Snow (2019)
Suspence
