David Rosenfelt
Author of Open and Shut
About the Author
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Series
Works by David Rosenfelt
Dogtripping: 25 Rescues, 11 Volunteers, and 3 RVs on Our Canine Cross-Country Adventure (2013) 272 copies, 17 reviews
Associated Works
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2009 v01 #301: Nothing to Lose / Remember Me / Don't Tell a Soul / Leaving Jack (2009) 10 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2011 v06 #318: The Orchard / Worth Dying For / How to Bake a Perfect Life / On Borrowed Time (2011) 7 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2018 v06 #360: The Bad Daughter / The Recipe Box / The First Family / Collared (2018) 2 copies
Het beste boek - 261 : Vertel het aan niemand, Grensgebied, Kijk naar jezelf!, Het eiland — Author — 2 copies, 1 review
Reader's Digest Select Editions, Volume 244, June 2025. Flop Dead Gorgeous/The Wishing Game — Contributor — 2 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions: As Darkness Falls | Don't Tell a Soul | All the Colours of Darkness | An Irish Country Village (2014) — Author — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 20th century
- Gender
- male
- Education
- New York University
- Occupations
- novelist
film writer
dog rescue - Organizations
- Tara Foundation
- Awards and honors
- Edgar Award for Best First Novel
- Agent
- Robin Rue
Sandy Weinberg (film) - Short biography
- David Rosenfelt is an author who has written nineteen novels and three TV movies. His main character in most of his mystery books is Andy Carpenter, attorney and dog lover.
Rosenfelt graduated from New York University and then decided to work in the movie business. After being interviewed by his uncle, who was the President of United Artists, he was hired and worked his way up the corporate culture. Rosenfelt eventually became the marketing president for Tri-Star Pictures. He married and had two children during this period.
Rosenfelt left the corporate industry and wrote screenplays for movies and television. He turned to writing novels and has become quite successful in that genre. In 1995, he and his wife started the "Tara Foundation" which has saved almost 4,000 dogs. He is a dog lover and supports more than two dozen dogs.
Rosenfelt, a dog lover and who worked with many lawyers in his occupation, created a character, Andy Carpenter, an attorney who faces corporate cultures and who is a dog lover.
Rosenfelt books run in the low to mid 300 pages with 15 basic beats and about 40 scenes fairly consistent with movie and television formats. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Paterson, New Jersey, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- New Jersey, USA
Members
Reviews
Dachshund Through the Snow: An Andy Carpenter Mystery (An Andy Carpenter Novel, 20) by David Rosenfelt
I have this theory that even a bad Andy Carpenter book would still be head and shoulders above the rest of the books out there—and this book is anything but bad. Rosenfelt has once again given his readers a charming holiday story that blends fast-paced action with wit and clever humor. Andy’s great instincts and intuition are a wonderful foil to his complete ineptitude in a dangerous situation—and his self-deprecating humor about his own shortcomings is icing on the cake. This novel show more begins with Andy representing a dog; literally, the dog is the client. It was charming and cute. Andy’s second client in this novel is of the human variety, and some very serious crimes are afoot. Of course, there are several twists and turns along the way. The holiday celebrations with his wife and son provide a soft, homey backdrop to this tale. If you like dogs, or mysteries, or humor, or action, or Christmas, then this is a book not to miss. show less
WHAT'S ANIMAL INSTINCT ABOUT?
Every retired police officer or PI in fiction (maybe in real life, too, I don't know), has at least one case, one incident, one moment that haunts them. If only they'd done X, if only they'd been able to solve Y, or stop Z from happening. Corey Douglas has one of those—a few years ago, he responded to a call about domestic violence. He was unable to make any arrests that night, or anything else--he was convinced that the woman had been abused, but she denied show more it.
Years later, this woman is murdered and Corey's out to do the one thing he couldn't do before—get justice for her. He keeps telling himself that he wants the killer arrested, but really, he wants to finally arrest the boyfriend for the murder. Laurie and Marcus, his partners in the private investigator business—as well as his dog, Simon Garfunkel, a retired K-9 officer, join him in this investigation that turns out to be far more than anyone expected. The team needs Laurie's smarts and ability with people, Marcus's mysterious abilities (and brute force), Simon Garfunkel's teeth, and Corey's determination—and more than a little luck—to get to the bottom of this.
Especially when more murders are committed.
SIMON GARFUNKEL
The collective name for this group of investigators is The K Team, because of their K-9 member, right? So why doesn't he get more to do? I realize he's a dog. I'm not suggesting he join Sam in the hacking, or sit on stakeouts with Marcus (although I admit, I would pay good money for 10 pages or so of that). But Corey leaves him home a lot—yes, he retrieves him as quickly as possible and does what he can to spend time with him. But, I think he could do more.
When Simon Garfunkel is given a chance to do something—he's great. And even when he's just there for atmosphere, or as a conversational/narrative prop for Corey—he's a handy addition. I just think we could get some more of him. Bernie Little brings Chet to many more places that Corey tries. Maybe that's a function of Corey living in New Jersey and not the Southwest, and I think I could accept that as an explanation.
There's a scene toward the beginning of the novel where Corey takes Simon to the beach for the first time—and like most dogs, Simon loves the water and the sand. It's his enjoyment of the setting that gets Corey, who's apathetic at best toward the beach, to embrace the beach. I couldn't have enjoyed this scene more unless I was on the beach with them.
COREY'S OTHER RELATIONSHIP
Of course, the reason that Corey's at the beach for Simon to enjoy is his girlfriend, Dani. She's one of the best things about this book.
We're told in the last book that Corey's not really had any serious relationships as an adult, he's always looking for the reason to end things. He just doesn't want to end things with Dani. Whether it's because now that he's retired, he has time in his life for things other than police work; he's finally found "The One" (or a right one, depending on how you like to think of that); or he's finally maturing—or any combination of the three. Corey's letting himself grow, letting himself want things that he hasn't before—even at his age.
I love a character like that—I want to read about them, they're inherently interesting. And Rosenfelt is writing this just right—a little sappy and a little realistic.
It helps that Dani's a pretty fun character—but we could learn a bit more about her. Still, I like the way Corey seems to be changing because of her influence, I like him more than I did when we first met him in the Andy Carpenter series.
MY CONCERN...
This is about The K Team as a series as much as it is about this book specifically.
There's just too much Andy Carpenter.
Sure, this is a spin-off from that series, and as Andy's married to Laurie and they largely work out of the Carpenter house, he's going to be around. I don't mind, but he has his own series, and gets two books a year lately. Not only do we need more Simon Garfunkel, but we also need more Laurie and Marcus.
I like Andy Carpenter, I've read 22 novels about him (some more than once)—and I'm probably going to read at least two novels in that series this year. I thought Animal Instinct was a good way to use Andy, and I'm absolutely glad that I read this book. I just think for The K Team series to have any long-term success, they need to stand on their own feet more and not be propped up by Andy.
THE UNEXPECDTED HIGHLIGHT
I don't know if you typically read Acknowledgments pages/sections. I tend to glance at them, but like many people, I don't spend that much time with them. So let me draw your attention to the Acknowledgments for this novel—any David Rosenfelt novel, really. You simply must read them. They are the silliest, goofiest writing Rosenfelt ever does (and in some cases, that's saying something) and never fail to make me smile.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT ANIMAL INSTINCT?
So I have some long-term concerns with the series and a couple of things I wasn't crazy about when it comes to Animal Instinct, but I don't want those to overshadow the central point I have about this book: it's good*. I had a lot of fun while reading it, and while I was satisfied with the ending, I wish it didn't end when it did, because that meant it'd be a few months before I got to spend more time with any of the characters in this book.
* I've said it on this site before, I'll say it again: It takes few words to praise something, it takes several to fully explain a concern, problem, or even mild annoyance. As such, they tend to overshadow the praise. I think that's what is happening here. I don't mean it to.
David Rosenfelt is one of the most reliably entertaining novelists in Crime Fiction today. Every time I sit down with one of his books, I know I'm in for a good read. Characters you want to spend time with. Animal Instinct is a solid story with some great twists—and well-executed reveals. Corey's got a great narrative voice and his sense of humor (which isn't quite the same as Andy Carpenter's) permeates the book and livens up the text just enough when things are grimmest.
If you have no idea who Andy Carpenter, Corey Douglas, Simon Garfunkel, or the rest are? Don't let that stop you from trying this, it absolutely works as a jumping-on point—both to this series and the books it's spun off from. I'm in this series for the long haul, and I think you'll want to be, too. show less
Every retired police officer or PI in fiction (maybe in real life, too, I don't know), has at least one case, one incident, one moment that haunts them. If only they'd done X, if only they'd been able to solve Y, or stop Z from happening. Corey Douglas has one of those—a few years ago, he responded to a call about domestic violence. He was unable to make any arrests that night, or anything else--he was convinced that the woman had been abused, but she denied show more it.
Years later, this woman is murdered and Corey's out to do the one thing he couldn't do before—get justice for her. He keeps telling himself that he wants the killer arrested, but really, he wants to finally arrest the boyfriend for the murder. Laurie and Marcus, his partners in the private investigator business—as well as his dog, Simon Garfunkel, a retired K-9 officer, join him in this investigation that turns out to be far more than anyone expected. The team needs Laurie's smarts and ability with people, Marcus's mysterious abilities (and brute force), Simon Garfunkel's teeth, and Corey's determination—and more than a little luck—to get to the bottom of this.
Especially when more murders are committed.
SIMON GARFUNKEL
The collective name for this group of investigators is The K Team, because of their K-9 member, right? So why doesn't he get more to do? I realize he's a dog. I'm not suggesting he join Sam in the hacking, or sit on stakeouts with Marcus (although I admit, I would pay good money for 10 pages or so of that). But Corey leaves him home a lot—yes, he retrieves him as quickly as possible and does what he can to spend time with him. But, I think he could do more.
When Simon Garfunkel is given a chance to do something—he's great. And even when he's just there for atmosphere, or as a conversational/narrative prop for Corey—he's a handy addition. I just think we could get some more of him. Bernie Little brings Chet to many more places that Corey tries. Maybe that's a function of Corey living in New Jersey and not the Southwest, and I think I could accept that as an explanation.
There's a scene toward the beginning of the novel where Corey takes Simon to the beach for the first time—and like most dogs, Simon loves the water and the sand. It's his enjoyment of the setting that gets Corey, who's apathetic at best toward the beach, to embrace the beach. I couldn't have enjoyed this scene more unless I was on the beach with them.
COREY'S OTHER RELATIONSHIP
Of course, the reason that Corey's at the beach for Simon to enjoy is his girlfriend, Dani. She's one of the best things about this book.
We're told in the last book that Corey's not really had any serious relationships as an adult, he's always looking for the reason to end things. He just doesn't want to end things with Dani. Whether it's because now that he's retired, he has time in his life for things other than police work; he's finally found "The One" (or a right one, depending on how you like to think of that); or he's finally maturing—or any combination of the three. Corey's letting himself grow, letting himself want things that he hasn't before—even at his age.
I love a character like that—I want to read about them, they're inherently interesting. And Rosenfelt is writing this just right—a little sappy and a little realistic.
It helps that Dani's a pretty fun character—but we could learn a bit more about her. Still, I like the way Corey seems to be changing because of her influence, I like him more than I did when we first met him in the Andy Carpenter series.
MY CONCERN...
This is about The K Team as a series as much as it is about this book specifically.
There's just too much Andy Carpenter.
Sure, this is a spin-off from that series, and as Andy's married to Laurie and they largely work out of the Carpenter house, he's going to be around. I don't mind, but he has his own series, and gets two books a year lately. Not only do we need more Simon Garfunkel, but we also need more Laurie and Marcus.
I like Andy Carpenter, I've read 22 novels about him (some more than once)—and I'm probably going to read at least two novels in that series this year. I thought Animal Instinct was a good way to use Andy, and I'm absolutely glad that I read this book. I just think for The K Team series to have any long-term success, they need to stand on their own feet more and not be propped up by Andy.
THE UNEXPECDTED HIGHLIGHT
I don't know if you typically read Acknowledgments pages/sections. I tend to glance at them, but like many people, I don't spend that much time with them. So let me draw your attention to the Acknowledgments for this novel—any David Rosenfelt novel, really. You simply must read them. They are the silliest, goofiest writing Rosenfelt ever does (and in some cases, that's saying something) and never fail to make me smile.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT ANIMAL INSTINCT?
So I have some long-term concerns with the series and a couple of things I wasn't crazy about when it comes to Animal Instinct, but I don't want those to overshadow the central point I have about this book: it's good*. I had a lot of fun while reading it, and while I was satisfied with the ending, I wish it didn't end when it did, because that meant it'd be a few months before I got to spend more time with any of the characters in this book.
* I've said it on this site before, I'll say it again: It takes few words to praise something, it takes several to fully explain a concern, problem, or even mild annoyance. As such, they tend to overshadow the praise. I think that's what is happening here. I don't mean it to.
David Rosenfelt is one of the most reliably entertaining novelists in Crime Fiction today. Every time I sit down with one of his books, I know I'm in for a good read. Characters you want to spend time with. Animal Instinct is a solid story with some great twists—and well-executed reveals. Corey's got a great narrative voice and his sense of humor (which isn't quite the same as Andy Carpenter's) permeates the book and livens up the text just enough when things are grimmest.
If you have no idea who Andy Carpenter, Corey Douglas, Simon Garfunkel, or the rest are? Don't let that stop you from trying this, it absolutely works as a jumping-on point—both to this series and the books it's spun off from. I'm in this series for the long haul, and I think you'll want to be, too. show less
Two years ago, Jeff Wheeler’s soon-to-be fiancée tragically lost her life in a gas explosion at her office. Jeff arrived at the scene right after the explosion but was only able to save a caged puppy he found in the lobby and later adopted. Consumed by grief and anger, he blamed his girlfriend’s boss for her death and never let go of his accusation. Now, he has been charged with killing that man and seeks out reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter to take his case.
This is the 32nd in the show more mystery/legal thriller series featuring the irascible but somehow charming Paterson, New Jersey-based attorney Andy Carpenter. Independently wealthy, he and his wife, a retired member of the police department, operate the Tara Foundation for rescue dogs. Surrounded by a support system of colorful characters to assist, Andy takes on occasional legal cases when he thinks the accused is innocent.
This installment has a well-paced and engaging plot. What truly sets Rosenfelt’s writing apart is his ability to infuse humor throughout his stories, particularly through Andy’s witty and sarcastic remarks. This is one of the few series I have ever read (and I have read many) that always has me laughing out loud. This is an entertaining blend of mystery and legal thriller with comedic elements. What more could you ask for?
As a side note, for those unfamiliar with David Rosenfelt, he and his wife actually have a real-life Tara Foundation for rescue dogs. They’ve rescued thousands of dogs. How can you not adore this author?
Thanks to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress @minotaur_Books for the DRC. show less
This is the 32nd in the show more mystery/legal thriller series featuring the irascible but somehow charming Paterson, New Jersey-based attorney Andy Carpenter. Independently wealthy, he and his wife, a retired member of the police department, operate the Tara Foundation for rescue dogs. Surrounded by a support system of colorful characters to assist, Andy takes on occasional legal cases when he thinks the accused is innocent.
This installment has a well-paced and engaging plot. What truly sets Rosenfelt’s writing apart is his ability to infuse humor throughout his stories, particularly through Andy’s witty and sarcastic remarks. This is one of the few series I have ever read (and I have read many) that always has me laughing out loud. This is an entertaining blend of mystery and legal thriller with comedic elements. What more could you ask for?
As a side note, for those unfamiliar with David Rosenfelt, he and his wife actually have a real-life Tara Foundation for rescue dogs. They’ve rescued thousands of dogs. How can you not adore this author?
Thanks to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress @minotaur_Books for the DRC. show less
Dogged Pursuit is the 31st entry in the Andy Carpenter Mystery series by David Rosenfelt but, interestingly, it is really a prequel. Andy had just switched from Prosecution to defence lawyer and he adopts his first dog, Tara. While in the shelter, Tara had bonded with another dog, Sonny, so he offers to adopt him as well but he is told that Sonny’s owner, Ryan Tierney, is incarcerated awaiting trial and has not released his dog for adoption. He is charged with the fire bombing of a car show more which led to the deaths of three people. Andy visits him in prison to discuss Sonny’s adoption and, in the process, he finds himself, albeit reluctantly, taking over his first big case as Ryan’s defence attorney. And all of this leads to Andy’s hiring of Laurie Collins as investigator.
Andy Carpenter mysteries are always great fun and Dogged Pursuit is no exception. There is an interesting mystery with plenty of twists and turns and action with Andy facing death threats as he navigates the new territory of defence. And, as always, there is a nice touch of dry humour running through it. For anyone who is a long time fan of the Andy Carpenter Mysteries, we finally get to see how it all began and, for anyone who has never read one, this is a great introduction to a very entertaining series. Loved it!
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review show less
Andy Carpenter mysteries are always great fun and Dogged Pursuit is no exception. There is an interesting mystery with plenty of twists and turns and action with Andy facing death threats as he navigates the new territory of defence. And, as always, there is a nice touch of dry humour running through it. For anyone who is a long time fan of the Andy Carpenter Mysteries, we finally get to see how it all began and, for anyone who has never read one, this is a great introduction to a very entertaining series. Loved it!
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review show less
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- Works
- 56
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- 11,702
- Popularity
- #2,009
- Rating
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