Review of "Open and Shut: An Andy Carpenter Mystery" by David Rosenfelt

Though I've read many novels in the 'Andy Carpenter' series, I hadn't read the first book until now. In this initial story, set in Paterson, New Jersey, attorney Andy Carpenter defends a convicted killer who gets a new trial.

*****

Like his father Nelson Carpenter, Andy Carpenter is a lawyer. The difference is that retired New Jersey District Attorney Nelson Carpenter was a prosecutor, and Andy is a criminal defense attorney.



Seven years ago District Attorney Nelson Carpenter tried Willie Miller for the murder of Denise McGregor.



The following evidence was brought out at trial:

⦾ Denise's body was found in the alley behind the bar where Willie worked, and a witness testified she saw Willie standing over the dead woman.

⦾ The bloody murder knife was discovered in a nearby trash can, covered with Willie's fingerprints.

⦾ Willie had scratch marks on his face, and his skin was found under Denise's fingernails.

For his part, Willie pled not guilty. He claimed he was drunk that night and couldn't remember anything.....but insisted he didn't kill Denise.

Willie was convicted of first degree murder and given the death penalty.

Now, seven years on, Willie is getting a new trial because of juror misconduct, and former prosecutor Nelson Carpenter asks his son Andy to take the case.....even though Willie will undoubtedly be convicted again.



Sadly, Nelson passes away before the trial begins. Afterwards, Andy finds a hidden photo, taken 35 years ago, of Nelson with three friends - men who are now wealthy and prominent.



Moreover, Andy is shocked to learn his father had an investment account worth 22 million dollars, which Andy inherits.



As Andy prepares to defend Willie, he also pursues his curiosity about his dad's concealed photo and the windfall inheritance. But when Andy approaches the men in the picture, each one claims it's not him. Of course this fires up Andy's inquisitiveness, and he keeps digging.



Meanwhile, Andy is threatened and attacked, and it seems SOMEONE wants to stop Andy from doing SOMETHING, but it's not clear who or what.



In Andy's private life, his estranged wife Nicole wants to give the marriage another try JUST when Andy has started dating his private investigator Laurie.



This sets up an uncomfortable situation, but Andy is comforted by his wonderful golden retriever Tara, a rescue pooch.



Since this is the first book in the series, some of the core characters aren't present yet, but we do meet Laurie Collins - a former New Jersey cop who's now Andy's investigator;



Edna - Andy's secretary who doesn't do any work;



and Sophia Hernandez, the fruit vendor downstairs from Andy's office, who pays for Andy's legal services with watermelons and cantaloupes.



Andy's personality as a wise-cracking quip artist and jokester is also established, and Andy's examination of witnesses in court is clever and funny. In fact the book is full of amusing scenes, and I got plenty of laughs amidst the serious issues of murder and mayhem.



This is a good start to the series, which I recommend in it's entirety.

Rating: 3.5 stars