Book Review: Dead Center

Reviewed By: Cheryl - RAM

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
May 2006, Mysterious Press

New Jersey defence attorney Andy Carpenter is in the enviable position of being wealthy enough to pick and choose only the most interesting cases to work on. He's got friends, and interests outside his work. There is just one fly in his ointment - he desperately misses his ex-girlfriend Laurie, who has left him to take her dream job back home in Wisconsin. He doesn't miss her quite enough to follow her there, though, until she calls to tell him that she's just arrested a young man for a double murder, and he needs a good lawyer. Suddenly, Andy has both an interesting case and a chance to re-connect with a woman he still loves.

It is surely a little odd for the Chief of Police to personally find a defence lawyer for a murder suspect, but author David Rosenfelt slides quickly over this, keeping the focus of the story on Andy's investigation.

Andy is not really at home in the heartland far away from the east coast, but he settles in, rents a house for himself, his dog Tara, and his team, and starts work by meeting with his client, his client's local lawyer, a local investigator and, of course, Acting Chief of Police Laurie Collins. Rural Wisconsin turns out to be far less peaceful than one might assume, and it is not long before there is another mysterious death. Andy's investigation is hampered by both his client's reticence and the secretive nature of the religious community that was home to the initial victims.

"Dead Center' is a smooth, professional middle-of-the-road book with an appealing protagonist and enough plot twists to provide suspense. In this addition to his series, David Rosenfelt provides an entertaining light read that is sure to be appreciated by readers.

Cheryl - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Cheryl - RAM