New Tricks (Andy Carpenter Book 7)

First Sentence: "Andy Carpenter, Lawyer to the Dogs."Attorney Andy Carpenter inherited enough money so he can work only when he wants, or when a judge assigns him a pro bono case. When the head of a large pharmaceutical company and owner of a Bernese mountain dog puppy is murdered, Carpenter is asked to take care of the dog until the custody fight between the man's widow and son is settled.He doesn't expect that when he picks the dog up, the house explodes and the original owner's widow is killed and the son is accused of murder. Andy agrees to defend the son, but things become personal when someone shoots his girlfriend.It's an odd situation where the protagonist of the book is someone I don't particularly care for. He is a little too wise-cracking, and except when in the courtroom, Andy often comes off as a bit of a dork and not always very bright. He has relationship issues, of which I am getting bored. Happily, in this book, Andy emotionally grows up. While I enjoy the song-chat dialogue between Andy and his friend Sam, "Town Without Pity" was written and made famous by Gene Pitney. However, the supporting characters, including the dogs, even out the tone of the book and make it very enjoyable.What I really did like was the plot. Whenever I thought I knew where the story was going or what the motive for the killings was, the story went somewhere else; the twists were very good, unexpected and I never saw the villain coming. I did have a couple issues; portents--but there was only one so I could forgive it; and Laurie's recovery seemed way too fast for me.What I did appreciate was being able to read it while having a 7-year-old reading it aloud next to me and I didn't have to switch books because of expletive language, sex or violence that his father, in the row ahead of me on the plane, would not have appreciated my sharing with his child.I also appreciated that the theme of the book is very current but didn't overwhelm the pace of the story, and Rosenfelt's book does have a great pace.Some criticize the idea of a book being an airplane read. I view it as a compliment as it's something that can completely distract and engross me and that I want to finish in one read. New Tricks was a very good airplane read. I've already ordered his next book.NEW TRICKS (Unl. Inv/Attorney/Andy Carpenter-New Jersey-Cont) - VGRosenfelt, David - 7th in seriesGrand Central Publishing, 2009, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9780446505871

I’m on my seventh book and I can’t wait to start the eighth. It’s been a long time since I enjoyed a series like this. It’s filled with mystery, intrigue and lots of fun on top of it. The dialogue is fantastic usually I skip over paragraphs but I find myself reading every single line and every single paragraph and the Andy carpenter books.

Andy Carpenter is an independently wealthy attorney who can afford to take on cases he can win or ones that fascinate him. In New Tricks, Judge Henry Henderson, known to Andy as Hatchett, did not offer him a choice; he was given this particular case. Hatchett is rather a stereotypical, sarcastic judge who wields his power over attorneys and his courtroom. He gives Andy, an inveterate dog lover, the custody case of a Bernese mountain dog. Andy is to decide whether the dog's ultimate home will be with the wicked stepmother or the natural son of a very wealthy, newly murdered scientist, Walter Timmerman. The writing, at this point, reminds me of the main characters who find sarcasm or nuances in every conversation. This type of writing is becoming old.Rosenfelt brings in fascinating characters, the best of which is Marcus, who is the enforcer and bodyguard. He is a mammoth man with a voracious appetite and will do anything to please Andy and his lovely girlfriend, Laurie, who happens to be the chief of a police in a small town in Wisconsin. But this murder and others take place in New Jersey so we have fast-talking, smart-aleck cops and ancillary investigators.The plot involves sophisticated DNA marking but the fun is in the chase for the real murderers of Walter Timmerman and his wife and Carpenter's defense of the victim's son, Steven and the Bernese, Waggy, who for very good reasons, is an exuberant hyperactive dog.I thought the legalese was interesting but the plot was predictable. It's not a plausible whodunit but Rosenfelt's writing is sometimes entertaining. I only found one mistake, which I am surprised an editor did not catch. Walter Timmerman had developed a drug called Actonel which revolutionized the study of DNA by allowing a much smaller sample to be utilized for a reliable test. Actonel is a real drug, which treats osteoporosis and prevents bone loss. We need 1/2 stars. I really wanted to rate this book 3.5 stars.

My new public library has many ebook options available that my old library didn’t offer. So, I’m reviewing series that I was getting print copies before COVID. One series I enjoyed was Andy Carpenter.AC is more light drama and more humorous. Some of it is old but still entertaining. The who as in the main bad person was not hard. It is common in most mysteries, I explain but than I’d be a spoiler.If your looking for a more entertaining read than a captivating page turner, you should like New Tricks.It’s clean other than the thinking the reader needs to know they’re having sex to fully enjoy the story. 🥱

Rosenfelt's sly sense of humor is magnified here when he's talking about the Bernese mountain dog puppy he cares for while he's trying to solve a murder, free a suspect from prison, and trace all the threads that lead to this dog. Puppies are always fun to watch, and readers get great word pictures of this puppy and its antics....in addition to sympathizing with Carpenter as he tries to solve an almost unsolvable crime.

Love these legal thrillers and the dogs involved . Can’t wait for the next one! I also love that the writer has lots of dogs in real life.

Very good

Enjoyed the humour, investigative process and courtroom drama. Still, found the last two books were stretching in their attempts to find an alternative guilty party.

David Rosenfelt writes with his usual combination of wit and drama. A winning combination in every way, with enough twists to keep the tail wagging.