Andy Carpenter

Book Review: Citizen K-9

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Citizen K-9
The K-Team #3
by David Rosenfelt
read by Fred Berman

My rating: 3 / 5
Genre: Mystery

The K Team is asked to choose a cold case to investigate for the Paterson police department, and both Corey Douglas and Laurie Collins immediately choose the disappearance of two people from their high school class after a high school reunion a few years back.

The idea of investigating a cold case was a nice different take on the mysteries in this overall series. The team here doesn’t know for sure whether they are investigating a double murder or a disappearance of some type, but the reader has more knowledge. I often don’t feel like the segments showing the reader scenes that the MC isn’t aware of (this happens in the main series as well) are particularly necessary—sometimes they can add suspense or help the reader keep the twisty conspiracy straight, but plenty of times I feel like they’re just extemporaneous. Here, though, they gave me insight that did affect my view of the mystery and led me to some theories of my own. On the other hand, they made me shake my head at the way the investigation went for a while. The team goes after a crime boss for a large chunk of the book, Laurie even saying that they’re sure he’s behind the disappearance; meanwhile, Corey says multiple times (in the narration) that it makes no sense for the crime boss to be behind it. It just made it feel like a large portion of the book was spinning wheels. Corey also tended to be repetitive in his sorting though the case in the narration, and early in the book, he made a list of this “6 stages of relationships” (or something like that), and frankly, they just made no sense.

I really hate that I’m basically just listening to these books to make sure I don’t miss any major developments that might affect the main series (see my review of The K-Team) and have a feeling of “hanging in there” until this 4-book arc is done and I can focus solely on the main series. I’m sure David Rosenfelt had a reason to write these books, and I’m sure he put a lot into them, just like every author does. But they just don’t really work for me. I’m not trying to compare Corey to Andy, but Corey is just similar enough that it’s difficult not to. And in that comparison, Corey falls short. If you’re a fan of the Andy Carpenter series and wonder if you should read this, I’d say this particular book could be passed on (Andy is in it a tiny bit but mostly just to complain and deliver a few one-liners—if I only had this view of him, I’d think he was a sarcastic jerk too). If you haven’t read any of the main series, don’t start here. But definitely do start on the Andy Carpenter series if you’re interested.

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Book Review: Dog Eat Dog

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Dog Eat Dog
Andy Carpenter #23
by David Rosenfelt
read by Grover Gardner

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Mystery

When a stranger steps in to stop a dog from being abused and is then accused of a murdering two people in Maine, semi-retired defense attorney Andy Carpenter steps in to defend him. Anyone who will stand up for a dog can’t be all bad, can he?

A chance of scenery can be nice, and this time we go from New Jersey to Maine. Fortunately, most of the regular characters are still part of the story, so we’re not missing out on any of what makes these books great. But it breathes a little life into the series after so many books, with a chance for new scenery, courtroom characters, and locals. The lawyer that Andy partners with to be able to practice in Maine and Andy’s sudden obsession with lobster rolls were two of my favorite things about this books. The mystery was a good one, though not necessarily a stand-out for me. I felt like the ending was a little sudden and had a difficult time remembering it very well by a few days later. But the overall story is still good, and the narration is as enjoyable as ever. Even if I never listen to another Andy Carpenter book (not that I ever plan to stop), Grover Gardner would still forever be the voice of Andy in my head. If it’s not clear, I recommend this book (especially the audio) for fans of mystery, crime fiction, and courtroom dramas, as well as the books that precede it in the series (and probably all that follow it, but I’m still working my way through).

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Book Review: Animal Instinct

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Animal Instinct
The K-Team #2
by David Rosenfelt
read by Fred Berman

My rating: 3.5 / 5
Genre: Mystery

When a woman dies that Corey Douglas feels like he failed to help when he was a cop, he gets his investigative team involved in trying to track down her killer. Corey had been called in on a domestic dispute in the past, but the woman refused to press charges against her boyfriend. Now Corey wants to prove that the boyfriend killed her, but his bias might get in the way of the truth.

I’m still not really excited about this spin-off series. This one was a little better than the previous, but I think that’s mostly because I’ve gotten used to the narration from Corey’s POV. I still feel like he doesn’t have much personality, other than his short fuse. He’s quick to threaten the safety or even the life of anyone who remotely threatens his K-9 partner, and in this book, that extends to threatening the boyfriend mentioned in the synopsis, which gets him into some trouble in this story. Similarly, I guess it’s supposed to be a big deal that this character I barely knows has a steady girlfriend, but she doesn’t really have much of a personality to me either. She’s kind of a shadow of Laurie, Andy’s wife, and is even similarly presented to the reader as a little too perfect through Corey’s eyes, just like Laurie through Andy’s eyes.

I think Rosenfelt needed to spend a little more time developing a personality and overall life further removed from Andy’s for this spin-off to work very well. Especially since, on top of all of that, I thought the purpose of the spin-off was to focus more on the investigative side, where the main series includes the courtroom scenes along with the investigation, but this book ended up having both as well. So…I’m not understanding in general why Rosenfelt decided to make this spin-off series. It’s just not different enough or different in any way that I personally care about, though I’ll read the last two, because I don’t want to possibly miss any developments that might affect the main series (see my review of The K-Team). But if you’re a fan of the Andy Carpenter series and wonder if you should read this, I’d say this particular book could be passed on (though Andy is in it more than the previous, so there’s that). If you haven’t read any of the main series, don’t start here. But definitely do start on the Andy Carpenter series if you’re interested.

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Book Review: Silent Bite

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Silent Bite
Andy Carpenter #22
by David Rosenfelt
read by Grover Gardner

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Mystery

When semi-retired defense attorney Andy Carpenter’s friend Willie Miller brings him a defendant in need, it’s hard for Andy to say no. But an ex-con who is accused of murdering some old enemies won’t make for a simple case.

This book has some differences compared to other books in the series. The case seems a little weaker to me (from the prosecution’s side), yet the mystery itself was involved and interesting. It’s most common for Andy’s cases to end up involving grand conspiracies, often reaching across the nation or even to other countries, so it’s nice to have a divergence from that, in some form.

A large part of why I enjoy this series is due to Andy’s team, and in this book, there is a change-up in the team. However, it happens in an amusing way, and it means the series gets a fresh addition, which can be nice this far in. So far, though, at least to me, the new guy doesn’t have quite as good of a “shtick” as the one we’re losing, but I’ll reserve judgement for now (I’ve listened to later books in the series and recognize the name from them, but I don’t really remember anything about him, which might be telling in itself). Listening to this book with Grover Gardner as the narrator is like slipping back into a comfortable pair of shoes after wearing dress shoes all day. It may be a strange analogy, but it’s just so nice. If it’s not clear, I recommend this book (especially the audio) for fans of mystery, crime fiction, and courtroom dramas, as well as the books that precede it in the series (and probably all that follow it, but I’m still working my way through).

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Book Review: The K Team

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The K Team
Book #1
by David Rosenfelt
read by Fred Berman

My rating: 3 / 5
Genre: Mystery

The newly formed K Team consists of two former cops—Corey Douglas & Laurie Collins, super-human investigator Marcus Clark, and Corey’s former K-9 partner Simon. When they’re hired by a judge to find out who’s attempting to blackmail him, things quickly turn sticky and then downright dangerous.

It’s no secret how much I love the Andy Carpenter series by David Rosenfelt, so I knew I had to check out this spin-off when I got to the point in the series when it came up. The story has its merits with a conspiracy similar to those that are the norm in the Carpenter series and an overall interesting case. But sadly, Corey Douglas (the main character) is no Andy Carpenter and Fred Berman (the narrator) is no Grover Gardner. I realize that’s a little unfair to say, at least regarding the narrator, but Grover Gardner has spoiled me, so it is what it is. Andy actually appears in this book several times, and Fred Berman’s voice for him made me cringe hard the first time or two I heard it. I got used to it by the end, but wow. And the MC is pretty bland compared to Andy’s wit and sarcasm. Every once in while, Corey will make a snarky or sarcastic remark in the narration, but I certainly don’t expect Corey to be Andy (because otherwise, what’s the point of the spin-off?). But that means Corey needs his own kind of personality, and so far, I’m not seeing much. Maybe this will develop in future books, though so far there are only a few, and I have no idea if Rosenfelt plans to keep going with this spin-off, or if it just didn’t quite reach its potential. If you’ve read and enjoyed some of the main series and wonder whether you should read this book, the answer is yes, because a major development related to the main series actually does happen in this book. Major. My jaw dropped, seriously. If you haven’t read any of the main series, don’t start here. But definitely do start on the Andy Carpenter series if you’re interested.

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Book Review: Muzzled

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Muzzled
Andy Carpenter #21
by David Rosenfelt
read by Grover Gardner

My rating: 4.5 / 5
Genre: Mystery

When a fellow dog helper brings a conundrum to defense attorney Andy Carpenter, an ensuing sequence of events ruins his attempt at retirement when he ends up defending a man of murdering two people and faking his own death in a boat explosion.

As much as I enjoy the formula in this series, it’s nice to see it turned on its head now and then, and that happens big time in this book. Andy’s wit and snark is still wonderfully intact, as is his team of investigators and the tendency toward conspiracies in this series. The story overall isn’t a stand-out, and the main bad guy (at least the one we are aware of the most) doesn’t have quite the dangerous feel I’m used to. I think that’s because he actually doesn’t show up much. But there definitely still is danger, and Marcus’s services are fully warranted. In fact, Marcus has an incredibly rare special moment in this book! Grover Gardner continues to portray Andy perfectly. If it’s not clear, I recommend this book (especially the audio) for fans of mystery, crime fiction, and courtroom dramas, as well as the books that precede it in the series (and probably all that follow it, but I’m still working my way through).

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Book Review: And to All a Good Bite

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And to All a Good Bite
Andy Carpenter #32
by David Rosenfelt
read by Grover Gardner

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Mystery

When a man who once saved a puppy from a burning building is arrested for murder a year later, defense attorney Andy Carpenter is a little less reluctant than usual to take his case. A man who can save a dog’s life can’t possibly want to harm a human, right? This case takes Andy into another area that is foreign to him—high end art.

I may have sounded a little snarky in my synopsis, but really, sometimes Andy’s belief in a client’s virtue simply due to how they treat dogs makes me roll my eyes. Still, that doesn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book (maybe because I’ve gotten so used to the crazy amounts of dog love in this series). I always enjoy Andy’s team, and I liked seeing the inclusion of Corey, a former K-9 cop that is one of the major characters in the spin-off series, The K Team, which I haven’t read yet but plan to start soon. I really liked the angle of Nazi-stolen art in this story, which I felt was a fresh and interesting area to explore for this series. And the conspiracy, though twisty as always, comes together really well in the end.

Andy sarcasm in this book reminded me of why I love these books, and overall, this one ranks up there for me in this series. I don’t know how much longer the series will go on, but it’s good to know that Rosenfelt still brings an enjoyable story 32 books in. And Grover Gardner continues to portray Andy perfectly. If it’s not clear, I recommend this book (especially the audio) for fans of mystery, crime fiction, and courtroom dramas, as well as the books that precede it in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me a copy of this book to review.

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Book Review: Dachshund Through the Snow

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Dachshund Through the Snow
Andy Carpenter #20
by David Rosenfelt
read by Grover Gardner

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Mystery

When reluctant defense attorney Andy Carpenter’s wife Laurie gets caught up in the lives of a family where the husband/dad has been arrested for a cold-case murder, it’s no surprise that Andy ends up with a new client.

Is it weird that I could probably put the same basic synopsis at the front of every one of these reviews and repeat the same opinions on many of them, and yet, I still absolutely love this series? Some are better than average and some are worse than average, but it’s a formulaic series, so it’s difficult to think of anything new to say with each review. For this book, though, I can say that it was nice to have a less complex and widespread mystery. Not that there weren’t still quite a few players behind the scenes that caused me to get lost a little bit, but overall, I’d say this book was on the high side of average for the series. A solid addition to the series. I especially recommend the audiobook, because Grover Gardner’s narration is a huge part of why I never want to stop listening to this series.

This book also births a spin-off series (though it looks like it was a short-lived one), which I’ve known existed but never really known much about. Now I’ll have to be sure to get that a try too!

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Book Review: Bark of Night

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Bark of Night
Andy Carpenter #19
by David Rosenfelt
read by Grover Gardner

My rating: 4.5 / 5
Genre: Mystery

When a dog whose owner was recently murdered is brought to a vet by a man who pays to have it euthanized, Andy Carpenter is suspicious. Someone has been arrested for the murder, and it wasn’t the man who brought a perfectly healthy dog to the vet to be put down. So he once again dusts off his defense attorney skills and assembles the team for another case.

This was a great installment in the series, with a little bit of a different take on the formula I always enjoy. The story this time is more focused on the investigation than the trial, allowing the different facets of the crime more room to breathe. It was a little complex, but it didn’t feel as convoluted as others have, and I think that’s because Rosenfelt expanded on it enough to keep that from happening. I always enjoy the inclusion of Andy’s team, and this time, we get to see the softer side of Marcus, which is fun. Overall, I felt like it was one of the stronger books in an overall great series! I especially recommend the audiobook, as Grover Gardner was clearly made to voice Andy Carpenter and brings his wit and sarcasm to life as wonderfully as ever.

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Book Review: Deck the Hounds

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Deck the Hounds
Andy Carpenter #18
by David Rosenfelt
read by Grover Gardner

My rating: 3.5 / 5
Genre: Mystery

When a homeless man is attacked and his dog bites the attacker, the dog is quarantined and the man is heartbroken. Andy Carpenter’s family insist that he offer the man some help, since, after all, it’s Christmas! Things take a turn when the man is arrested for murder, putting reluctant defense attorney Andy in the position of having to decide whether to represent him or not.

This was a sort of middle-of-the-road read for me, in the context of the rest of the series. It didn’t stand out in any way as better or worse than average. Of course, since this series is a comfort read/listen for me, “average” is still plenty enjoyable. The ending seemed a little harder to follow than usual, and I kinda kept waiting for a little more to come out. There was one plot arc that seemed to be unrelated to the case, but I saw its connection coming pretty much the whole time, though not every detail. Of course, I have the benefit of knowing that this is a fictional story, so the author isn’t going to include something that won’t eventually factor into the main plot. Overall, though I wouldn’t necessarily recommend starting the series here, I do recommend this book for fans of mysteries and court dramas. And if you’re an audiobook listener, definitely consider going that route for this book/series, since Grover Gardner is always great at bringing Andy’s wit and sarcasm to life.

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