I am attracted to books that take place in New Jersey. I lived there for a while and I was a newspaper reporter and got around a bit, from Franklin Lakes to Paterson, Teaneck to Loveladies. So when I read Marcia's Goodreads review ( http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... ) of David Rosenfelt's Open and Shut, and realized that the protagonist has a Golden Retriever, I borrowed the book from the library that very day.When I got the book home I realized that I had already read it and that I enjoyed it so much I gave it a 5 out of a possible 5 on my rating scale. In fact, I liked it so much I have just re-read it. It's still a 5.Booklist gave the novel a starred review and said this about it: Written with the skill of a veteran, Rosenfelt's debut legal thriller boasts fresh characters, an engaging narrator, and a plot that forces readers to keep flipping the pages. Andy Carpenter, a defense lawyer, takes on a new client: a man on death row, appealing his conviction for the murder of a woman nearly a decade ago. Andy takes the case as a favor to his father, the district attorney who originally prosecuted the inmate. When Andy's father dies, leaving him 22 million dollars and a 35-year-old photograph, Andy has some tough questions to answer. Where did his father get the money? Who are the men in the photograph? And could one of them have some connection with the murder for which Andy's client was convicted? Andy Carpenter is a welcome addition to the lawyer-as-sleuth roster; he's a charming and witty hero whose literary allusions and snarky asides keep us thoroughly entertained. In addition, the present-tense, diary-style narrative voice adds another layer of dramatic tension, because--as he's writing--Andy has no idea what's going to happen next. As soon as readers finish this remarkable first novel, they will begin clamoring for a second Andy Carpenter adventure.Blurbs on the back of the dust jacket are from Donald Westlake, Harlen Coben, and Margaret Maron.
I picked this book up after reading and loving the 6th book of this series. That said I think that I enjoyed the 6th book more than this one but still liked this one a lot and will continue to read the rest in the series in order including probably rereading the 6th one as I was somewhat confused by a couple of the events that happened in the main character, Andy Carpenter's life. I was unsuccessful when I tried to go back to Play Dead to find the answers to my questions hence the reason I will probably re-read it. David Rosenfelt is a witty and entertaining writer whose skills have grown since he wrote this first book. The development of his character Andy from this to the 6th book is also evident. I picked up book 6 of the series first because it was recommended to me by my Kindle based on another book I had read. I am a huge dog lover and the only disappointment I had with this book is that Andy's dog a Golden Retriever named Tara did not play a bigger part in this book.
What do You think about Open And Shut (2003)?
David Rosenfelt writes about a defense attorney in New Jersey. My roommate read this book and then got the audio of book #2, which I listened to with her (breaking one of my "rules" about reading a series in order). So, reading this book, the first in the series, I had the voice of the narrator in my head. Sometimes this is bad, but in this case it was great. I would never had read the lines with the same amount of "smart ass sarcasm" that appear in the book, and I loved that I managed to put that into the book since the author obviously meant it to be read that way.In this case lawyer Andy Carpenter is faced with defending someone who has been on death row for seven years. When his father, a retired District Attorney, gives him some information about the case and asks him to file for a retrial, Andy can't say no.What follows is a complicated case that involves Willie in the current case but for some reason seems to stretch back almost forty years and involve his father, somehow.Having heard the 2nd book I know that these characters continue and will stay true to what occurs in this first in a series.Now, on to #3
—Patty
This was the promising start to new series. Andy is a criminal lawyer with a heart. His wife has left him recently. His father, who is the District Attorney asks Andy to make an appeal on a murder case that he himself had won several years earlier. Shortly after, Andy's father suffers a heart attack while they are attending a ballgame and he dies.As Andy sorts through his father's papers, he comes across an old photo of his father and three other men. As Andy works on the case his father asked him to take on, he comes to realize that his client, Willy, was set up and sent away for a murder he didn't commit. And somehow the old photo of his father and three other men, ties into the case.Some good twists and turns. A satisfying and enjoyable mystery.
—Susan Earle
I really enjoyed this mystery - and am very excited about it being the first book in a currently running series. I really like the narration style - it is clever and definitely funny. The book made me laugh and kept me guessing until nearly the end about how it would all turn out. I really enjoyed reading this - my only complaint is more about my own schedule than the book - I would have loved to have open and shut it in one sitting only! All in all, it is a fast and fun read - and I am really looking forward to the sequel!
—Victoria
