Book Review: Dead Center

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Dead Center     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
David Rosenfelt
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Romance   Legal Setting   Humorous
Series: Andy Carpenter # 5
Mysterious, May 2006, $24.95

Wealthy Patterson, New Jersey attorney Andy Carpenter picks and chooses cases that fascinate him, but lately nothing captivates his interest as he misses his beloved Laurie Collins, who moved back to Findlay, Wisconsin to become the acting chief of police in her hometown.

Laurie arrests twenty-one years old college student Jeremy Davidson for the murders of two coeds, Elizabeth Barlow and her friend Sheryl Hendricks. Though the evidence is overwhelming that he committed the homicides, her gut says otherwise. She calls Andy to come to Center City to defend Jeremy; only for Laura would Andy accompanied by his canine Tara travel to Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, the case spins from his client’s love life to a religious cult, but the means, motive, and opportunity still points at Jeremy.

The fifth Carpenter legal thriller starts off as a terrific tale with the hero depressed over his beloved leaving home for the Midwest and continues solidly as he defends Jeremy in a courtroom. When the tale spins in the direction of a cult, it loses a bit of its steam. Still fans of the series will enjoy DEAD CENTER as Andy struggles with the defense including the role of the religious order, trying to reassemble his love life, and even more difficult finding a decent pizza for Tara.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner