First Degree

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful, Well-Paced Mystery
Review: America's love affair with the law is sweeping and pervasive. Next to war, the news talk shows find crime and the legal process to be their greatest source of material. Across America, daytime television features numerous judges conducting video trials on countless cable stations. Our fascination with the law extends to our reading behavior. A cursory look at any bestseller list will generally yield several courtroom-related efforts on both the fiction and nonfiction lists.

FIRST DEGREE by David Rosenfelt marks the second appearance of Andy Carpenter, a New Jersey attorney whose personal history portends many future cases and clients. In order for a writer to have the luxury of a continuing character, there needs to be a hook upon which to hang succeeding novels. For Carpenter, Rosenfelt has chosen as his hook something easily understood by lawyers and non-lawyers alike: money. Andy Carpenter is wealthy, having inherited 22 million dollars from his father. This nest egg allows Carpenter the luxury of picking and choosing clients based upon a simple premise: whether the case and the client interest him.

Before securing his eventual client in FIRST DEGREE, Carpenter must survive two false starts. Alex Dorsey, a local police officer of shady reputation, has been found murdered, his body decapitated and burned. Geoffrey Stynes appears at Carpenter's office seeking to hire him as his attorney. Stynes assures Andy that he will shortly be arrested for Dorsey's murder. That evening, a man named Oscar Garcia is arrested for the murder and Carpenter discovers to his amazement that Geoffrey Stynes does not really exist. An imaginary man has confessed to an actual killing for which another man is charged. By itself, this plot could be an outstanding mystery but Rosenfelt has a few more ingredients to add to the stew. As additional evidence is discovered, Garcia turns out to be the wrong man and charges against him are dropped. Suspicion now turns to private investigator Laurie Collins, a former colleague of Dorsey. Collins also happens to be Carpenter's love interest. Of course Andy will represent her, and the stage is now set for the trial that serves as the major portion of FIRST DEGREE.

While David Rosenfelt has woven an intuitive and intricate plot, when his characters enter the courtroom to do battle in a criminal trial, they lose some of their appeal. Rosenfelt is not an attorney; he is a screenwriter and former president of a marketing company, which perhaps explains why his courtroom scenes sound more like talk show confrontations than legal encounters. Andy Carpenter as an advocate is just a touch too insulting to opposing counsel and acerbic in his demeanor to be believable as a trial lawyer. He is to the practice of law what Judge Judy is to actual judges. They just do not, and should not, behave as they do in their fictional world.

This is however a minor criticism of a wonderful, well-paced mystery that keeps the reader guessing as to who actually killed Alex Dorsey. Andy Carpenter is an interesting character who will certainly have his share of intriguing cases in the future. A little humility in the courtroom, along with a touch more respect for the law, will make him a very readable character.

--- Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman

Rating:
Summary: No Sophomore Jinx Here!
Review: David Rosenfelt's second novel, "First Degree", pretty much picks up where his highly acclaimed and immensely enjoyable debut, "Open and Shut", left off. Back is wise-cracking defense attorney Andy Carpenter, "Law-dromat" lawyer Kevin Randall, investigator/girlfriend Laurie Collins, and of course Tara, Carpenter's golden retriever. Even Willie Miller, the death-row inmate Carpenter defends in his first book, is back starring in a mostly unnecessary sub-plot. But if you enjoyed "Open and Shut", you'll certainly find the pace, style, and settings of "First Degree" comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that reading "Open and Shut" is almost prerequisite, at least if you want to have any clue to the source Carpenter's mysterious inheritance and the imprisonment of his Senator ex-father-in-law which are frequently referenced in the new story.

"First Degree" gets off to a fast start with the gruesome discovery of the headless and charred body of Alex Dorsey, a Patterson police lieutenant with a shady history. Shortly after the murder, a mysterious visitor shows up in Andy's office, confesses to being Dorsey's killer and, in the process, drops some clues regarding the murder that only those responsible for the crime would know. This leads to a series of events that ends in the arrest of Laurie Collins for the murder of Dorsey. Laurie indeed may have a motive: as a former Patterson cop, she blew the whistle on Dorsey's unsavory activities, but was unsuccessful in making the charges stick. With Laurie now in the hot seat, Andy and Kevin team up again, defending her against what appears to be a carefully concocted frame job. What follows is some compelling courtroom drama, spiced Andy's bizarre but now-legendary defense antics, paced with a satisfying blend of humor and cynicism. It is a well crafted who-dun-nit, with enough suspense and thrills to keep the pages turning. Like "Open and Shut", this is fast reading, and the sheer adrenalin will keep many reading cover-to-cover in a single setting. My only real criticism of "First Degree" is the ending. The book could have ended very successfully on page 224. Instead, Rosenfelt adds another seven pages - I guess he felt the need for one more twist - that falls flat in a wholly unbelievable "second" climax that was not only unnecessary, but casts a pall over an otherwise terrific story. Nonetheless, Rosenfelt has avoided the sophomore jinx, and turned out another first-rate crime novel. I'll look forward to his third, "Bury the Dead", to be released in June.

Rating:
Summary: Expect the Totally Unexpected
Review: Getting lost on the very first page of First Degree was easy. It started with talk of an opening day. You will be asking, Opening day of what?

Rosenfelt will lead you to believe that it might be opening day of baseball season - but will then tell you that what he really meant was opening day of the dog park that he's now taking his dog, Tara, to visit.

You'll hope this is not a sign of what is to come. And it won t be.

You will learn, through that opening day fiasco, that Andy Carpenter loves animals and rescued Tara from death row of an animal shelter. He also has rescued a human from death row, Willie Miller.

In fact, Mr. Miller's name comes up often enough that you will wonder if he's the murderer in this tale. You'll also be introduced to the love interest in Andy's life, Laurie Collins - an ex-cop turned P.I., and now works for Andy.

Laurie comes into the story with a big bang, announcing that Alex Dorsey, a cop that Laurie had once provided evidence against, has been killed - decapitated and then set on fire. Not really sure in what order. Alex had been the reason Laurie quit the force and became a private investigator.

Andy is then confronted with Geoffrey Stynes who comes to his office, confesses to killing Alex Dorsey and asks for representation. Andy declines.

Shortly after, Oscar Garcia is arrested. Andy, believing that Geoffrey Stynes is the killer, takes Oscar's case.

Just one more arrest in this case - Laurie. Oscar is freed and Laurie is brought up on murder charges. Andy ends up representing Laurie at her trial. His somewhat sarcastic sense of humor follows him right into the courtroom.

From there on, expect the unexpected. There are more surprises to come.

David Rosenfelt allowed us to know Andy on a very personal level as the book is written in first person. The good part of that was being able to eye every detail through Andy and thus have the same opportunity to figure out the case.

Rating:
Summary: Ho Hum
Review: I generally rely on the customer reviews I read and make my selection based on them - boy was I thrown on this one. Andy is NOT funny, the plot does twist - in knots! All I can figure out about Laurie is she's a good cook and has no problems sleeping. In addition to the people being totally uninteresting - the dog is as dull as dish water - and I'm a sucker for dogs! I'm on page 224 and intend to skip to 273 (the end) rather than endure anymore of it.

Rating:
Summary: Don't miss this fast & funny legal thriller
Review: The Edgar Award nominee for his first novel, Open & Shut, has penned another winner. Andy Carpenter, loveable lawyer (no, that's not an oxymoron,) is back and suffering from a severe case of "lawyer's block." When you've inherited $$$ million dollars, it takes away your incentive to represent any old criminal who walks through the door. But things change when a cop of questionable ethics is killed. The same cop, Alex Dorsey, that Andy's lover, PI Laurie Collins, turned in when she was on the police force. Then a man strolls into Andy's office, confesses, and asks Andy to represent him. Meanwhile the police have arrested someone else, someone Laurie is sure is innocent. One suspect after another fizzles out until Laurie becomes the chief suspect. Circumstantial evidence abounds, and Andy finally has a client he can get behind. It's personal now and the stakes have never been higher as Andy has to find the real killer and exonerate Laurie. Somehow the laughs keep coming as tension mounts and the bodies pile up, no easy feat but a sure testament to Rosenfelt's skill. This fast, funny read will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more.

Rating:
Summary: Sequel Time: First Degree
Review: This second book from Author David Rosenfelt finds lawyer Andy Carpenter dealing still with various events of the first book titled "Open And Shut." I am not going to explain those events or how they figure into the back-story of this book and thereby ruin this book for those so inclined to read it. Suffice it to say that this is a series and therefore this book should be read after the first.

It has been six months as this novel opens and Andy's notoriety while fading somewhat seems to be bringing him clients that he does not want. This is especially true of one perspective client, Mr. Geoffrey Stynes. Andy wants to believe his clients are innocent and in a few minutes the strange Mr. Stynes not only makes Andy afraid for his own life, but completely shatters the illusion of innocence by confessing to the gruesome murder of Alex Dorsey.

Alex Dorsey was a very crooked cop who apparently had connections in high places, which allowed him to get away with various activities for years. The discovery of his decapitated and burned beyond recognition body as well as the hunt for the murderer has been a major media story. Even if it weren't for the intense media coverage, Andy would know about the case thanks to his lead investigator and love interest, Laurie Collins. Laurie knew Alex was dirty and turned him to Internal Affairs. Soon she was labeled a "rat" as everyone in the Department knew what she had done. Her life as a Police Officer went downhill and when Alex Dorsey got essentially cleared of the charges; Laurie resigned in disgust several years ago. Andy isn't about to defend a confessed killer and that reason along with others, causes him to turn the case down and refuse to defend Stynes.

Within a matter of days, Laurie is suddenly arrested and charged with murder in the death of Alex Dorsey. Andy begins to investigate in order to defend Laurie, secure in the knowledge that she didn't do it, and begins to have major problems. Not only is he unable to locate the strange Mr. Stynes because it seems that he doesn't exist, but what little he does find out makes it clear that Laurie as well as Andy are victims of an elaborate frame. A frame that may prove impossible to break as various parties at distance from the case begins to die.

David Rosenfelt writes with a witty sarcastic style using various one-liners while at the same time weaving an intense thriller. His first book "Open And Shut" was very good and most of the characters involved in that book are back again in this one. His books are split between the ongoing mystery as well as courtroom drama and while he makes fun of Perry Mason style moments, he does have a few that border on the edge of that kind of situation. At the same time, his writing style gives depth and breadth to the characters and brings the major as well as minor characters to life. His books, including this one, are not peopled with stock characters but instead feature real characters that are fully drawn and evolving throughout the course of each intense book.