Dead Center Review

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Dead Center ReviewIn David Rosenfelt's "Dead Center," Andy Carpenter and his beloved dog, Tara, leave their comfort zone in Paterson, New Jersey to spend time in Findlay, Wisconsin. Andy has been licking his wounds after the love of his life, Laurie Collins, dumped him to return to her hometown of Findlay, where she has become Acting Chief of Police. For the last few months, Andy has been hanging out with Tara, appearing on cable television as a legal expert, and spending time at a dog rescue operation that he runs with his partner, Willie. He also loves to socialize with his immature friends at a sports bar, sit on his couch and watch any game that happens to be on, and place the occasional bet with his bookie. In short, he has a rather pathetic and predictable life.
Laurie changes all that when she asks Andy to come to Wisconsin to defend Jeremy Davidson, a young man accused of brutally slaying two coeds. Although Laurie is technically on the side of the prosecution, she is convinced that Jeremy is innocent. After much soul-searching, Andy agrees to take the case.
David Rosenfelt has a reputation for seamlessly combining hilarious and sarcastic humor with engrossing mysteries. Andy is an appealing protagonist and narrator, a self-deprecating nebbish, and a compassionate and quick-witted criminal defense attorney. He is New Jersey's answer to William Bernhardt's Tulsa-based Ben Kincaid. Since Andy and Laurie make such a perfect couple, the reader roots for them to rekindle their romance.
The plot revolves around a town that is inhabited by a religious cult whose leader discourages dissent. Is it possible that the members of this cult would resort to violence to protect their secrets? After Andy's arrival in Wisconsin, there are additional unexplained deaths and a suicide that may have been staged. Andy uses his considerable legal expertise to try to exonerate Jeremy, and he also plays amateur sleuth. Along with his inarticulate but effective bodyguard, the formidable Marcus Clark, our hero lays his life on the line to solve the puzzle before any more corpses pile up. "Dead Center" is a mildly entertaining book with the usual red herrings and surprises, but it has a forced, "been there, done that" feel; it lacks the flavor, bite, and originality that made Rosenfelt's earlier novels such a delight.Dead Center Overview

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Doggie Day Care Murder (Melanie Travis Mysteries) Review

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Doggie Day Care Murder (Melanie Travis Mysteries) ReviewThe newest, eagerly awaited, Melanie Travis mystery is as engrossing and enjoyable as expected. This book shows that a lot has changed in the Melanie's life lately....new house, new baby, new job status and a still-in-the-honeymoon-phase new husband. As I have said in a previous review, one of the best aspects of this series is that the characters are continually growing and developing. The changes in Melanie's life are realistic and interesting and the characters so likeable, that you will find yourself cheering them on. The setting of the doggie day care center is perfect for providing a diverse and often hilarious cast of characters/suspects. Melanie's interaction with the bratty receptionist is priceless. The mystery was unexpected with such a wide cast of suspects and I enjoyed the involvement of Alice Brickman, Melanie's best friend and the mother of Davey's best friend. It reminded me of Faith/Pix friendship in the Katherine Hall Page books and was a nice development in the series.
In general, this series avoids a number of pitfalls that drive me crazy in other series in this genre.....the angry, overprotective husband/boyfriend who doesn't want the heroine to investigate, the unrealistic, cheesy love life (usually a love triangle and/or the unlucky in love), the non-passage of time, etc. The tone and progression of this series is pitch perfect. The only thing I am kind of missing is the dog show backdrop, there is just so much atmosphere to enjoy at a dog show that the books that primarily take place at dog shows are my favorites. I do, however, understand that it would be pretty silly if someone dropped dead everytime Melanie went to a show. Also, I am ready for Aunt Peg to have another boyfriend :) All in all, another pick of the litter.Doggie Day Care Murder (Melanie Travis Mysteries) Overview

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Flowering Judas: A Gregor Demarkian Novel Review

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Flowering Judas: A Gregor Demarkian Novel ReviewI've read all of Haddam's Gregor Demarkian books and have liked some better than others. Haddam always provides uniquely resonant characters, dialogue that you can hear -- even if it is so wordy and busy sometimes that it gives the characters, themselves, a headache, never mind the reader. Then, too, Haddam has the Cavanaugh Street neighborhood in Philadelphia in which Demarkian and his neighbors all live as an extended family of sorts; many reviewers have noted that the neighborhood has, itself, become a character in the books, but a multi-faceted and complex one, not the boorish and slapstick sort a few towns and their inhabitants have become in some of the rather sillier amateur detective series.
Sleuth Gregor Demarkian is fictionally the 'inventor' of the FBI's profiling section and who, now retired, is called in by local police forces that are making less progress in murder cases than is desirable. Demarkian is an extremely appealing protagonist because he thinks logically, works with authorities appropriately, handles crime scenes and evidence correctly, is polite and is also older and not an action hero; in short, he's the kind of guy you'd really LIKE to believe exists. He works the way you'd like to think someone works, within a system that needs a strong shepherding hand to bring confusion into order. You've seen the shirts "WWRD (what would Reacher do?)" I think I should have a notebook with a "WWDD" on it.
In this book, Demarkian travels to Mattatuck, New York, where the body of a man has been discovered hanging from a billboard, a billboard that happens to exist to publicize the disappearance of this same man from this same town twelve years ago. While the first question is whether the man killed himself, the bigger one is where he has been for the last dozen years. Inevitably, the reason for his disappearance as well as the drama of his showing up again -- dead -- initiate several series of events in this moderately-sized town where everyone seems to know everyone else, along with all their business.
Along the way, we see how economic stimulus funds were used to buy crime scene technology that no one knows how to use, while police radios don't work in half the county; we explore the unique economics of the adjunct instructor at the local community college, a 60-year-old PhD who receives less than $2000 to teach 14 weeks of a class but who, since adjuncts are prohibited by law in New York from teaching more than two courses a semester, is living in her car; Hard-working Albanian immigrants who have some interesting observations about the American welfare system and its inhabitants; a consideration of the importance of 'cultural context' in education as a diligent young scholar compares her own effort to that of the 'smart' kids and realizes that they just grew up knowing some things that she's had to struggle to just get into the same room with; some pretty dysfunctional families; and an exploration of the sunset of the life of one of the oldest and most beloved of the Cavanaugh street residents. Honestly, the mystery is pretty good, but it's the "getting there" -- all the meat in this book -- that makes it such a superlative read. This would make a FABULOUS book club book!!!!
Disclaimer -- One of the hardest things for me about reviewing Jane Haddam's books is that her dialogue, even the internal dialogue of the characters, is so distinct that I always find myself talking -- and writing -- like that while I'm reading the book. So if this sounds like Haddam at all, please don't think I was trying to be clever -- it just happens.Flowering Judas: A Gregor Demarkian Novel Overview

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