Play Dead

Play Dead by David Rosenfelt

June 2015

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

Born in Patterson, NJ; married; children: two. Education: Graduated from New York University. Addresses:Home: CA. E-mail: david@davidrosenfelt.com.

CAREER:

Writer. Tri-Star Pictures, former president of marketing; Tara Foundation (dog rescue organization), cofounder, with wife, 1995.

AWARDS:

Mystery Prize, Audie Awards, 2014, for Unleashed, read by Grover Gardner

Former film executive and screenwriter David Rosenfelt pens mysteries and suspense novels. The bulk of his work is a series featuring a wealthy, witty, deceptively easygoing attorney who loves both dogs and justice. Rosenfelt places his wise-cracking protagonist in assorted unpleasant situations -- mostly in Paterson, New Jersey -- ratchets up the danger, then takes his readers on a fast-paced ride with criminals, cops, and dramatic courtroom scenes. Rosenfelt's stand-alone novels are equally brisk and witty, although they tend to be more plot-driven and suspenseful. Start with: Leader of the Pack.

"ANDY CARPENTER" SERIES

• Open and Shut, (#1), 2002.
• First Degree,(#2), 2003.
• Bury the Lead, (#3), 2004.
• Sudden Death, (#4), 2005.
• Dead Center,(#5), 2006.
• Play Dead, (#6), 2007.
• New Tricks,(#7) 2009.
• Dog Tags,(#8) 2010.
• One Dog Night, (#9) 2011.
• Leader of the Pack (#10) 2012
• Unleashed (#11) 2013
• Hounded (#12) 2014

NOVELS

• Don't Tell a Soul, 2008.
• Down to the Wire, 2010.
• On Borrowed Time, 2011.
• Heart of a Killer, 2012
• Unleashed, ,\ 2013.
• Airtight, 2013
• Without Warning, 2014

Play Dead finds Andy Carpenter defending Yogi, a golden retriever that has supposedly bitten its owner. Carpenter posits that the dog was protecting itself from an abusive situation and ultimately wins its freedom. The story deepens, however, when the dog turns out to have belonged to another owner five years previous and holds the key to proving the innocence of U.S. customs inspector Richard Evans in the case of the murder of his fiancée.

Read-alikes  series

1.	Dismas Hardy novels  by John T. Lescroart Reason:  Realistic courtroom drama surrounding provocative issues can be found in these series, which contain sympathetic, realistic characters who engage readers in their lives, not just the courtroom. The Carpenter novels are lighter in tone, while the Dismas Hardy novels are grittier, darker, and more urban. -- Rebecca Sigmon
2.	Paul Madriani novels  by Steve Martin Reason:  Both of these fast-paced series follow the suspenseful exploits of star defense attorneys whose violent cases and complex personal lives frequently intertwine. -- Kim Burton
3.	Jason Kolarich novels  by David Ellis Reason:  The Jason Kolarich novels and the Andy Carpenter novels are fast-paced and suspenseful, certain to entertain legal thriller fans with their independent-minded defense attorney protagonists and compelling plots. Justice is alive and well in the hands of these unorthodox but ethical lawyers. -- Mike Nilsson

Read-alikes  author

1.	Evanovich, Janet Reason:  If it's the snappy banter, humor, offbeat characters, and fast-paced (and sometimes wacky) plots that draw you to David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter Legal Thrillers, you might want to try Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, which features a wise-cracking bounty hunter who never met a donut she didn't like. -- Shauna Griffin
2.	Lescroart, John T. Reason:  Rosenfelt's readers who don't mind a darker tone should try John T. Lescroart for his novels that also raise disturbing, provocative issues about the law and feature sympathetic series characters, investigative background, and grandstanding courtroom action. -- Katherine Johnson
3.	Corleone, Douglas Reason:  Corleone and Rosenfelt write legal thrillers that feature defense attorneys as their sleuths. The men are likeable and have a wry sense of humor. The stories are fast paced with intricate twists and turns in the plots. The sleuths often resort to uncovering the truth outside of court. -- Merle Jacob