Book Review: Play Dead

Reviewed By: Cheryl - RAM

Play Dead     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
David Rosenfelt
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Legal Setting   Dogs
Series: Andy Carpenter # 6
Warner Books, 2007

"Play Dead" is another cleverly plotted and lighthearted adventure involving attorney Andy Carpenter and a golden retriever. Andy uses an unusual legal ploy to save a golden retriever from a death sentence only to discover that the dog was supposed to have already died, victim of a murder five years earlier. The canine witness provides the first bit of new evidence in the case of Richard Evans, currently serving a life sentence for murdering his fiancee and, according to the prosecution at the time, drowning the dog. Richard's sister identifies the dog and begs Andy to take on her brother's case and get him a new trial. How can Andy resist? If he wins, and innocent man will be free, and if he fails, a man who threw a golden retriever off his boat to drown will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Once the investigation begins, the plot gets nicely twisty and complicated, and while it sometimes drifts a little towards conspiracy theory territory, it remains both convincing and puzzling. This is another excellent light read from the author of "Dead Centre".

Cheryl - RAM

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