In this 19th book in the 'Andy Carpenter' series, the defense attorney's client is accused of killing a documentary filmmaker. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Ever since he inherited a large fortune, New Jersey defense lawyer Andy Carpenter takes very few cases. Instead, Andy devotes his time to hanging out with his wife, son, and dogs; watching baseball; schmoozing with his friends; helping run a canine rescue operation called 'The Tara Foundation'; and so on.
When Andy's veterinarian Dr. Dowling asks to speak to him, the lawyer is frightened for his golden retriever Tara, who's at the clinic getting a lump assessed.
Luckily Tara is just fine, but the vet is concerned about a French bulldog named Truman - who was brought in to be euthanized. The receptionist reports that the man who brought Truman in was a big intimidating guy in his mid-forties.
The vet examines Truman and finds him perfectly healthy. Moreover, a scan of Truman's chip reveals that the man who brought him in is not the owner. Andy is outraged by all this and takes custody of Truman, who stays at the Tara Foundation while Andy makes inquiries.
It turns out that Truman's owner is a documentary filmmaker named James Haley, who's been staying in Paterson, New Jersey to make a movie about urban blight. Moreover, Haley was murdered a couple of days ago, and a 20-year-old minor criminal named Joey Gamble was arrested for the crime. Andy is certain the menacing man who tried to put Truman down is the real killer, and he takes Joey's case.
Andy assembles his team, which includes his private investigator (and wife) Laurie - a tough ex-cop with connections in law enforcement; his law partner Hike - the most depressing man on Earth; his accountant Sam - a terrific computer hacker/data miner; his muscle Marcus - who could take out a battalion by himself; his friend (and co-owner of the Tara Foundation) Willie - a dog lover with a black belt in martial arts; and his secretary Edna - who threatens to retire if she has to do any work. (I always get a kick out of Edna).
Andy also regularly meets his friends, newspaper editor Vince Sanders and Homicide Captain Pete Stanton, at Charlie's Sports Bar. Since Andy is a millionaire, he always pays the bill - and sometimes gets useful information in return.
When Pete is shockingly absent one day, Andy remarks: "I always pick up the tab for dinner and beer, and Pete would never miss a free meal, no matter what. If I had to guess, he probably doesn't even have a refrigerator or stove in his house."
As Andy prepares to defend his client he discovers that the victim, James Haley, previously made a movie about sponge-diving in Florida. Andy also discovers that other murders are connected to the Haley case. This necessitates Andy, Marcus, and Willie going to Florida, and also leads to Andy consulting with FBI and DEA agents.
In Andy's personal life, his ten-year-old son Ricky is away at summer camp and Andy's daily letters go something like: 'How's camp?' 'You playing sports?' 'You enjoying yourself?' 'How's the food.?' Ricky's answers are even briefer: 'Good.' 'Yes.' 'Yes' 'Okay.' 😎
By the end of the trial Andy is ready to reveal the truth about Haley's murder, and he even has a few kind words for the prosecutor, Dylan Campbell.....which is a first!
Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter mysteries are always fun, and I'd recommend the book to fans of light suspense.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (David Rosenfelt), and the publisher (Minotaur Books) for a copy of the book.
Rating: 3 stars
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