Dead Center

by David Rosenfelt

Book Overview

Edgar Award finalist and author of Bury the Lead, a Today Show Book Club pick, returns with a tale of murder and deadly secrets in an ultra-secretive religious community.
DEAD CENTER finds Andy Carpenter reentering the dating scene with comic results. He is surprised at what a hot ticket he seems to be, and this proves to be a mixed blessing at best. His friends are all too eager to provide advice and guidance, but of...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446614513
• ISBN13: 9780446614511
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.5" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

A first-rate courtroom mystery

Many attorneys battling the stress and anxiety of their daily travails often contemplate what life might be like if only they were granted the unique luxury of a lawyer such as Andy Carpenter, David Rosenfelt's fictional courtroom warrior making his fifth appearance in DEAD CENTER. When first introduced to readers in OPEN AND SHUT, Carpenter found himself to be the beneficiary of two fortuitous events that changed his life and legal career. He inherited $22 million from his father and then parlayed that event with a large civil recovery for a wrongfully convicted client. Carpenter now has a double whammy that allows him to lead a life that most lawyers would envy. Unlimited financial resources, coupled with egalitarian financial needs, give Andy Carpenter the luxury of picking and choosing only those cases where the client and the crime make Carpenter committed to righting a legal wrong. While life is good for Andy, it is not perfect. DEAD CENTER opens with Andy in the throes of a romantic calamity. The love of his life, Laurie Collins, who served as his investigator in previous cases, has returned to her home in Wisconsin to become acting Chief of Police. The distance between the Badger State and Andy's home in New Jersey has all but snuffed out the fire of their romance. Events in Laurie's hometown allow Andy and Laurie to reestablish their relationship while Andy continues in his neverending battle against injustice. Laurie has arrested Jeremy Davidson for a multiple homicide. The victims of the brutal murder are Davidson's girlfriend and another young woman. The evidence appears substantial against Davidson, but Laurie has doubts. She calls Andy and requests that he consider taking Davidson's case. Perhaps it is the nature of the case or maybe the young defendant that finally lures Andy to travel to Wisconsin. One factor that cannot be denied is the opportunity for Andy to reconnect with Laurie. He heads to Wisconsin with his faithful dog Tara and his cast of supporting investigators and attorneys to represent a man he firmly believes to be innocent of wrongdoing. While Findlay, Wisconsin, may be Laurie's hometown and place of work, the real action for DEAD CENTER occurs in nearby Center City, a closely knit religious community that zealously guards its community and the lives of its residents. Andy must pierce that shell of privacy and in his desire to accomplish that task he acquires many enemies. In Andy's previous legal adventures only his spirit and legal ability were tested. In Center City he finds his life in serious physical danger. David Rosenfelt has a wonderful ability to create characters, action and plots that are faced-paced, witty and just plain enjoyable. DEAD CENTER follows the pattern established by Rosenfelt in the series's four previous mysteries. The author has a substantial resume for television and movie script-writing. That expertise shows in the interesting plots and characters that occupy the pages of these novel

Perfect blend of humor and plot

This was the first Rosenfelt book I purchased, but it will not be the last. You can't help but laugh out loud at some of the observations of the main character as he solves the crime and frees his client.

Great addtion to a great series!

This book is such a great read....like I said in my title, a great addtion to this wonderful series. I could not put it down. There were the ususal laughs, Mr. Rosenfelt has a great sense of humor, the regular characters are great, and the "bad guy" characters involved in the story were just creepy enough to make you wonder who did what to whom. I thought I had it all figured out, but the story took a little twist at the end that surprised me. If you have not read any of this series, it would be okay to start with this one, not like with some series that you have to start with the first book to know what is going on. Of course, if you do start with this one, be warned, you will want to go back and read all the others, they are addictive.

Irresistible!

I just love Andy Carpenter, the smart-ass New Jersey lawyer with the huge inheritance that allows him the luxury of working - or not. When his ex-girlfriend Laurie calls to say she thinks she's arrested the wrong guy for murder and needs some help, Andy and his beloved dog Tara are on their way to Findlay, Wisconsin to lend a hand. Laurie dumped Andy and moved back home when she was offered the job as Findlay Chief of Police, but Andy still has feelings for her. Nevertheless he gets to work, investigating the victims who were both members of a religious sect called the Centurions. Smart, engaging characters, lots of laughs, some nice plot twists and simply superb storytelling make Dead Center irresistible. ?