Customer Reviews

First Degree

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Edgar Award nominee for his first novel, Open & Shut, has penned another winner. Andy Carpenter, loveable lawyer (no, that's not an oxymoron,) is back and suffering from a severe case of "lawyer's block." When you've inherited $$$ million dollars, it takes away your incentive to represent any old criminal who walks through the door. But things change when a cop of questionable ethics is killed. The same cop, Alex Dorsey, that Andy's lover, PI Laurie Collins, turned in when she was on the police force. Then a man strolls into Andy's office, confesses, and asks Andy to represent him. Meanwhile the police have arrested someone else, someone Laurie is sure is innocent. One suspect after another fizzles out until Laurie becomes the chief suspect. Circumstantial evidence abounds, and Andy finally has a client he can get behind. It's personal now and the stakes have never been higher as Andy has to find the real killer and exonerate Laurie. Somehow the laughs keep coming as tension mounts and the bodies pile up, no easy feat but a sure testament to Rosenfelt's skill. This fast, funny read will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more.

I read too much and too often. I picked up this book and was not familiar with Rosenfelt's previous work. I was hooked from the first page.

There are many detective books that rely on humor that often falls flat. This is not the case. Many times, as I read into the night, I found myself laughing out loud and then quickling stifling that laughter so as not to wake up my wife.

The lead character, Andy Carpenter, is engaging and enjoyable. You find yourself wanting him to meet up with different people to see how he reacts and what he is thinking about.

The plot is smooth, interesting and entertaining. It is also enjoyable to see how Carpenter is going to handle new evidence or how he is going to figure out the answers. I enjoy Evanovich's books, but I find Rosenfelt's plot, characters and situations to be even better. When you read this book, you will get good action, great lines and a good, albeit short, read. You will not be disappointed.

David Rosenfelt's second novel, "First Degree", pretty much picks up where his highly acclaimed and immensely enjoyable debut, "Open and Shut", left off. Back is wise-cracking defense attorney Andy Carpenter, "Law-dromat" lawyer Kevin Randall, investigator/girlfriend Laurie Collins, and of course Tara, Carpenter's golden retriever. Even Willie Miller, the death-row inmate Carpenter defends in his first book, is back starring in a mostly unnecessary sub-plot. But if you enjoyed "Open and Shut", you'll certainly find the pace, style, and settings of "First Degree" comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that reading "Open and Shut" is almost prerequisite, at least if you want to have any clue to the source Carpenter's mysterious inheritance and the imprisonment of his Senator ex-father-in-law which are frequently referenced in the new story.

"First Degree" gets off to a fast start with the gruesome discovery of the headless and charred body of Alex Dorsey, a Patterson police lieutenant with a shady history. Shortly after the murder, a mysterious visitor shows up in Andy's office, confesses to being Dorsey's killer and, in the process, drops some clues regarding the murder that only those responsible for the crime would know. This leads to a series of events that ends in the arrest of Laurie Collins for the murder of Dorsey. Laurie indeed may have a motive: as a former Patterson cop, she blew the whistle on Dorsey's unsavory activities, but was unsuccessful in making the charges stick. With Laurie now in the hot seat, Andy and Kevin team up again, defending her against what appears to be a carefully concocted frame job. What follows is some compelling courtroom drama, spiced Andy's bizarre but now-legendary defense antics, paced with a satisfying blend of humor and cynicism. It is a well crafted who-dun-nit, with enough suspense and thrills to keep the pages turning. Like "Open and Shut", this is fast reading, and the sheer adrenalin will keep many reading cover-to-cover in a single setting. My only real criticism of "First Degree" is the ending. The book could have ended very successfully on page 224. Instead, Rosenfelt adds another seven pages - I guess he felt the need for one more twist - that falls flat in a wholly unbelievable "second" climax that was not only unnecessary, but casts a pall over an otherwise terrific story. Nonetheless, Rosenfelt has avoided the sophomore jinx, and turned out another first-rate crime novel. I'll look forward to his third, "Bury the Dead", to be released in June.

FIRST DEGREE is a sequel that will delight the fans of David Rosenfelt's five star debut novel OPEN AND SHUT (review 10/23/2004). The following summary from my review of that book is equally applicable here. This is neither a novel of lasting historical significance or a truly overwhelming literary achievement. Rather it is a story that is great fun to read because of the enjoyable protagonist that the author has created to be the narrator. The story is related in the first person by attorney Andy Carpenter, who lives and practices law in Paterson, New Jersey. Andy's reputation is that of an excellent criminal defense attorney who is occasionally willing to engage in whatever courtroom theatrics and bizarre behavior are necessary to gain a verdict of not guilty for his clients. This methodology of course endears him to most defendants but frequently tries the patience of the opposing district attorney and more ominously on occasion puts him in risk of being held in contempt by the presiding judge. He is often compared, not always favorably, with his father, the legendary and respected ex-district attorney Nelson Carpenter.

As readers of the previous novel will be aware, when this novel commences Andy is considerably richer and much more widely recognized than he was during that story. The wealth is a function of his receipt of a totally unexpected inheritance; the fame is a function of the central storyline of that novel - his success in the high profile reversal of the sentence of death row inmate Willie Miller (who had been prosecuted by Andy's father). If you are a reader who enjoyed OPEN AND SHUT and have looked forward to following Andy's further courtroom exploits, this book will delight you. Howver, if you have not read that book, there are two reasons why I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ IT PRIOR TO READING FIRST DEGREE. The most important reason is that paradoxically, in order to provide the information necessary to make this novel totally understandable as a standalone story, at various points enough background detail is summarized from the previous book that it would effectively act as a substantial spoiler to readers who became captivated enough by Andy and the other characters (and dogs) in FIRST DEGREE that they then decided to read the earlier book. Second, I believe that OPEN AND SHUT not only sets the table for readers of FIRST DEGREE, but is marginally more enjoyable for reasons which I will summarize at the end of this review. Thus, if you don't enjoy OPEN AND SHUT there will be no reason for you to read this book anyway; whereas if you do like the earlier novel as much as I did, you will have had the satisfaction of watching the plot in that book unfold as it was intended rather than already having summary knowledge of all the key elements of the story.

Once again, the author has managed to create a compellingly fast read. One interesting and quite effective technique is that there are frequent section breaks (usually between every eight to fifteen pages) but no chapter notations to stop the flow of the story. Just as with the earlier novel, this book begins with Andy reminiscing with regard to the importance of the words "opening day" in his relationship with his recently deceased father. They had shared memorable times enjoying the thrill of many season openers at Yankee Stadium; he is planning to continue that legacy by "passing the sacred tradition on" to his only remaining family member, the irrepressible golden retriever Tara (who was an essential element of my enjoyment of the first novel given the resemblance of her personality to that of my own golden retriever). Of course, he realizes that this will require some creativity and adaptability on his part, and this event forms the delightful introductory four pages of the story. However, Andy's and Tara's enjoyment of the day is interrupted by startling news from Laurie Collins, the chief investigator for his law practice and the woman with whom he has fallen in love.

Laurie stuns Andy with an announcement that former Police Lieutenant (and Laurie's boss when she was a detective in the Patterson Police Department) "Alex Dorsey is dead ... somebody decapitated him, then poured gasoline on his body and set it on fire." Despite Laurie's contentious relationship with Dorsey, which was the reason that she had resigned from the Department, Andy is amazed at her totally atypical emotional response that she is glad that Dorsey is dead. Shortly thereafter, his amazement turns to shock when he is approached by a stranger, the mysterious Geoffrey Stynes, to be his legal representative in the "slight chance" that he is charged with the murder of Alex Dorsey. When the lowlife Oscar Garcia is charged by the police instead of Stynes, Andy is faced with the dilemma that crucial information which he possesses concerning the case is covered by attorney-client priviledge and therefore cannot be divulged to the police. Thus begins another murder mystery/detective story/legal thriller with frequent misdirection (of Andy and the police as well as the reader, who is seeing this unfold through Andy's first person narration of events). There are enough twists to keep the story interesting; then soon the case becomes even more personal to Andy than he could have imagined.

All the main characters who remain alive from OPEN AND SHUT play meaningful roles in this story; hopefully the author plans to continue to evolve their personalities through future volumes of their exploits, combining the style of Robert Parker in his Spenser series with legal exploits more reminscent of Dismas Hardy in the books by John Lescroart. In addition to Andy, Laurie, and Tara, Willie Miller plays a significant role in this book including his introduction of a new friend to Tara and his discovery of a cause near the end of the story that will complete his rehabilitation and surprisingly engage Andy as well. Police Lieutenant Pete Stanton and disillusioned lawyer Kevin Randall (the owner of the Lawdromat which dispenses free legal advice while you do your laundry) also figure prominently in the story. To the delight of the author's fans, newspaper reporter Vince Sanders, Andy's secretary Edna, the "unchallenged crossword puzzle master of the Western World" and Judge "Hatchet" Henderson also reappear with their eccentricities integral components of this tale. .There is even a cameo apearance by Andy's former wife Nicole. In summary, this is another well thought out plot; the flow of the story is handled exceptionally well, the character development is uniformly good, the sports analogies provide marvelous insights, and Andy's wonderful pesonality makes the story sing and the reader smile.

There are three reasons why I rated this book only four and a half stars in comparison with the full five stars that I gave to the earlier novel. First, the potential element of surprise of one of the really crucial twists in the story and its shock value is spoiled by the book jacket notes and some of the reviews which I read before purchasing the book. Thus, I suggest that if possible you avoid reading that information, but I suspect that most readers will have the same knowlrdege that I did before they ever start the story. While that is a minor factor in my downgrade, the other factors are more important. Second, even though the actions involved were a crucial element of the storyline, I was as stunned and saddened as Andy by the collateral damage to one of the good guys that resulted from the investigation of Dorsey's apparent murder. Third, and by far the most significant factor, was the fact that the mastermind behind Dorsey's death became obvious to me (and I believe many readers will share my insight) well before Andy made the connection. While admittedly sometimes it is easier for someone somewhat more removed from the frantic pace of the day-to-day investigative revelations and somewhat less emotionally involved than Andy to piece together the directions in which the clues lead, this fact nevertheless slightly detracted from my enjoyment of the story even though I still needed Andy to fill in the outline which I had glimpsed. Enjoyable characters, amusing dialog including Andy's wonderful sarcasm, moments of tense action, and the expected courtroom theatrics - highly recommended when you are in search of a fast paced light reading experience.

Tucker Andersen

As soon as I finished reading David Rosenfelt's first book Open and Shut which I thoroughly enjoyed, I thought this book cried out for either a sequel or series. I guess Mr. Rosenfelt accommodated me even before I read his first book because as soon as I finished this book I realized there were two more which were already written featuring the main character and other characters found in the first book.

First Degree by David Rosenfelt is the second book in what I hope will be a long series which features Andy Carpenter, a rather unconventional and unique lawyer. But now Andy has inherited a large sum of money from his father and with little need to work for money, Andy hasn't worked in the legal profession in quite some time and has little interest in the cases which are offered to him by clients. As he puts if he's suffering from lawyers block.

Then word reaches him that a missing and possibly dirty cop has been found decapitated and burned beyond recognition. Suddenly Andy is ready to go back to work. Not quite sure why this case intrigues him, Andy also never expected his client to be released so quickly after he claimed be the murderer. The next person who is arrested turns out to be a former policewoman who not only worked with the murdered man but knew just how dirty and corrupt he was while for worked for the police department Hired by the former policewoman will test every skill Andy has as a lawyer and there is no option about to win since this woman who readers may remember from Open and Shut is Laurie, Andy's girlfriend.

As the author David Rosenfelt provided for us in his first book,
this is a roller coaster of a mystery which will keep you sitting on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this series for those among you who enjoy procedural legal cases. I did rate this book with a B+.

I'd never heard of Rosenfelt before picking this one up but I'll be actively looking for his other work after this masterpiece thriller. You think legal thriller or courtroom drama and the word usually boring comes to mind but Rosenfelt has found the balance between court room chapters and the more exciting outside world for events to happen in for the story to lose no substance. Andy Carpenter is a funny extremely likeable character, sort of like Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar character, where Carpenter has to think on his feet to avoid either being killed, beaten up or outplayed in the courtroom making wisecracks at his opponents along the way. Dean Koontz style Rosenfelt gives Carpenter a loyal lovable golden retriever by his side as well.

After a man confesses to the murder of Carpenter's girlfriend's arch enemy Carpenter faces an ethical dilemma of what to do as an innocent man faces trial. Oh and the innocent man also is a guy much hated by his girlfriend and ex cop Laurie. Much to the disgust of Laurie he decides to represent the guy but quickly learns this is only the start of his nightmare as Laurie also faces charges for the brutal murder. You won't be able to put this one down.

and couldn't believe I'd missed the sequel. I had to find out about it from another Amazon reviewer.

David Rosenfeldt has hero Andy Carpenter involved in a whodunit within a whodunit. There's a personal stake when lawyer Carpenter's investigator and lover, Laurie Collins, is accused of the brutal slaying of a cop who crossed her when she was on the police force. Andy's dog Tara is back, and we learn how his life has changed since he inherited $22 million of "dirty money" from his father. Solicitations from charities like the "Committee to Save the Otters of Guatemala Bay" impinge on his time, sometimes even interrupting the non-stop flow of NBA and college basketball games on his new large-screen TV.

Rosenfeldt's biggest talent is not necessarily mystery, it's comedy. He has an incredibly funny way with words, and each character that Carpenter surrounds himself with is someone who connects with Andy's humor. Andy drops non sequiturs frequently, and gently baits people to keep up a running line of humor that is cynical and funny. Andy has an ongoing "song-talk" contest with Sam, his accountant, where they use song lyrics in conversation. Put this together with characters like sexy Rita Golden, the court clerk, and cousin Fred, who is the investment genius for Andy's money, and....well, you just have to be there for the humor.

The plot does go over the top, from time to time, another Rosenfeldt comedic device. While characters are real, situations, in retrospect, go above and beyond the norm.
Getting Laurie's house arrest, so that she stays with him while he defends her is one of these devices, but it enhances both the feeling of misery during the trial, and the odd situation Andy's in when Laurie can't help him investigate. There are other quirky couplings in the book -- Andy's client Willie Miller, from the first novel, is now sueing his ex-wife's father and his partner for over $10 million; it makes for interesting dialogue between Andy and Nicole. There's also the serious, in the way that Andy regrets getting his friends involved in his cases, when Sam's assistant Barry, is harmed while conducting part of the investigation.

All in all, "First Degree" is a fast and enjoyable sequel, proving that David Rosenfeldt is not a one shot wonder ("Open and Shut" was nominated for an Edgar Award), and I look forward to more from him before the bestseller world finds him and turns him into a book machine.

5 big stars!

We get a feel for laid-back lawyer Andy Carpenter when he is looking forward to "opening day," that is, the day when a dog park is opening in his home town of Paterson, NJ, and where he is taking his beloved Golden Retriever, Tara, a rescue dog. He is soon surrounded by a gaggle of females, swooning at his compassionate act. He is in a new phase of his life, having recently inherited 22 million from his father, and, more importantly to him, proved a man innocent who was on death row. He hasn't had a client in months, but little does he know how dramatically his life is going to change when his love of a lifetime and private investigator Laurie Collins tells him of the brutal murder of a corrupt police lieutenant Alex Dorsey.

If a visit a few days later from the self-acknowledged killer of Dorsey is not strange enough, then surely the arrest of another man for the crime, who Andy knows cannot be guilty, most certainly is. But the last shocker is that as a result of investigating this last accusation, it is now determined that Laurie is the guilty party. She certainly has motive - seeing her own police career go up in smoke when it became known that she had turned in the corrupt Dorsey to IA some two years prior, only to see him get no more than a slap on the wrist.

Andy and his small crew - Edna, the office manager, and Kevin, a brilliant part-time lawyer - find themselves in the fight of a lifetime; the evidence, which Andy knows is manufactured, is seemingly airtight. But in this quick-moving, fairly short book, Andy leaves nothing unexamined. He chips away at the background and connections of everyone, no matter how remotely connected to the case, and steps on plenty of toes doing so, especially the prosecutor's. At least he managed to get Laurie released to his supervision, with electronic monitoring, even though Tara seems to have fallen under her spell. But a sobering moment does arrive - Laurie packs a small bag when returning to the courtroom for the verdict.

The book is a good follow-up to OPEN AND SHUT, the author's first in this series. Reading the first is not mandatory, but does clarify some of what is referred to in this second book. This book has much to recommend it. Andy is a clever, witty, likeable guy. The plotting is intricate and crisp, equally split between the courtroom and outside developments. A last scene seems a bit tacked on, but can be ignored.

David Rosenfelt continues his Andy Carpenter series - this the second installment after the superb "Open and Shut". A dirty cop's body is found - headless and burned. A man walks into Carpenter's office and confesses, asks Carpenter to represent him - which Carpenter declines to do. When another man is charged with the crime he feels he must take the case since he knows the man could not have done it. All of this sets up Carpenter's girlfriend, Laurie Collins to take the fall.

Edna (the erstwhile secretary), Kevin (the laundromat owning legal associate), Willie (the wrongly accused from his first novel) and Tara (his dog) are back. Carpenter figures out he has been set up from that first visit from the "killer" and must play catch-up during the entire case.

Rosenfelt builds the story and the suspense, leaving you wondering how he is going to carry the day. The story takes several unexpected turns and builds to a solid conclusion. Rosenfelt has gifted his protagonist with a dry sense of humor that, while not laugh out loud funny, leaves you wishing you could be as clever as quickly under pressure. Have downloaded the next novel already - can't wait to start it.

This is a very well-done courtroom drama, kicked off when a bad cop turns up headless and burned to a crisp. Suspect(s) are named and a court trial ensues, featuring ace defense lawyer Andy Carpenter, whose rapier wit and irony is put to good use. You'll chuckle in more than a few places, and in others, you'll marvel at the author's ease in crafting a taut novel which crackles with authentic-sounding courtroom dialog. One criticism -- and a mild one at that -- is that Rosenfelt relies a little too much on serendipity and coincidence to develop his plot. Also, the blurb on the back cover implies that Carpenter's dog Tara will play a big part in the book. She doesn't, which is worth mentioning in case you think you're getting a dog book here. All in all, this is a delightful courtroom thriller, the first Rosenfelt book I've read, but certainly not the last.