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The K Team #1
The K Team
Corey Douglas and his K-9 partner, Simon Garfunkel, have recently retired from the police force. Not ready to give up the life yet, they come up with a proposal for fellow former cop, Laurie Carpenter, and her investigating partner, Marcus. Laurie and Marcus – who help out Laurie’s lawyer husband Andy on cases – have been chafing to jump back into investigating on their own, so they are in.
They call themselves the K Team, in honor of Simon. Their first job as private investigators comes to them from Judge Henry Henderson, who's known as a very tough but fair judge, and they've all come up against him in court at one time or another. Though it's hard to believe, Judge Henderson is being blackmailed and extorted, and he doesn't want to involve the police--he needs the K Team to figure out why.
They call themselves the K Team, in honor of Simon. Their first job as private investigators comes to them from Judge Henry Henderson, who's known as a very tough but fair judge, and they've all come up against him in court at one time or another. Though it's hard to believe, Judge Henderson is being blackmailed and extorted, and he doesn't want to involve the police--he needs the K Team to figure out why.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2020
1515 people are currently reading
3797 people want to read
About the author
David Rosenfelt
74 books2,899 followersI am a novelist with 27 dogs.
I have gotten to this dubious position with absolutely no planning, and at no stage in my life could I have predicted it. But here I am.
My childhood was relentlessly normal. The middle of three brothers, loving parents, a middle-class home in Paterson, New Jersey. We played sports, studied sporadically. laughed around the dinner table, and generally had a good time. By comparison, "Ozzie and Harriet's" clan seemed bizarre.
I graduated NYU, then decided to go into the movie business. I was stunningly brilliant at a job interview with my uncle, who was President of United Artists, and was immediately hired. It set me off on a climb up the executive ladder, culminating in my becoming President of Marketing for Tri-Star Pictures. The movie landscape is filled with the movies I buried; for every "Rambo", "The Natural" and "Rocky", there are countless disasters.
I did manage to find the time to marry and have two children, both of whom are doing very well, and fortunately neither have inherited my eccentricities.
A number of years ago, I left the movie marketing business, to the sustained applause of hundreds of disgruntled producers and directors. I decided to try my hand at writing. I wrote and sold a bunch of feature films, none of which ever came close to being actually filmed, and then a bunch of TV movies, some of which actually made it to the small screen. It's safe to say that their impact on the American cultural scene has been minimal.
About fourteen years ago, my wife and I started the Tara Foundation, named in honor of the greatest Golden Retriever the world has ever known. We rescued almost 4,000 dogs, many of them Goldens, and found them loving homes. Our own home quickly became a sanctuary for those dogs that we rescued that were too old or sickly to be wanted by others. They surround me as I write this. It's total lunacy, but it works, and they are a happy, safe group.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidr...
I have gotten to this dubious position with absolutely no planning, and at no stage in my life could I have predicted it. But here I am.
My childhood was relentlessly normal. The middle of three brothers, loving parents, a middle-class home in Paterson, New Jersey. We played sports, studied sporadically. laughed around the dinner table, and generally had a good time. By comparison, "Ozzie and Harriet's" clan seemed bizarre.
I graduated NYU, then decided to go into the movie business. I was stunningly brilliant at a job interview with my uncle, who was President of United Artists, and was immediately hired. It set me off on a climb up the executive ladder, culminating in my becoming President of Marketing for Tri-Star Pictures. The movie landscape is filled with the movies I buried; for every "Rambo", "The Natural" and "Rocky", there are countless disasters.
I did manage to find the time to marry and have two children, both of whom are doing very well, and fortunately neither have inherited my eccentricities.
A number of years ago, I left the movie marketing business, to the sustained applause of hundreds of disgruntled producers and directors. I decided to try my hand at writing. I wrote and sold a bunch of feature films, none of which ever came close to being actually filmed, and then a bunch of TV movies, some of which actually made it to the small screen. It's safe to say that their impact on the American cultural scene has been minimal.
About fourteen years ago, my wife and I started the Tara Foundation, named in honor of the greatest Golden Retriever the world has ever known. We rescued almost 4,000 dogs, many of them Goldens, and found them loving homes. Our own home quickly became a sanctuary for those dogs that we rescued that were too old or sickly to be wanted by others. They surround me as I write this. It's total lunacy, but it works, and they are a happy, safe group.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidr...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 667 reviews
January 6, 2020
If you’ve been a fan of David Rosenfelt then you’re surely aware of his extremely popular Andy Carpenter series. Mr. Rosenfelt has taken a few select characters and created a spin-off. But not to worry…Andy makes an appearance in this series too...he’s just not a principal player this time around.
Now our new lead voice is none other than Corey Douglas the retired policeman from “Dachshund Through The Snow.” By his side is his trusty (also retired) German Shepherd, oddly named Simon Garfunkel! Only David Rosenfelt could concoct a name like that for a dog!😂
Another character joining Corey in this series is Laurie, Andy’s wife and Marcus (all brawn - no talk). Together the 3, (and Simon) have formed a new investigative team known as The K Team!
Their first job brings them to the door of Judge Henderson. More commonly referred to in the legal circles as Judge Hatchet! I’m sure you can guess why.
The judge now finds himself being blackmailed, and quickly hires the newly formed K team to assist in rooting-out the ‘who and whys’ behind the blackmail! Can they find the answers before his reputation is all but destroyed? Or worse?
This is a fast-burn read with short chapters that will keep you saying “OK... just one more!”
It lacked some of the biting wit that we love in the Andy Carpenter series, but I have a feeling that Corey is going to make yet another lovable and quirky leading player!
A buddy read with Susanne!💖🐶
Thank you to Joseph Brosnan at Minotaur Books for an ARC to read and review
Now our new lead voice is none other than Corey Douglas the retired policeman from “Dachshund Through The Snow.” By his side is his trusty (also retired) German Shepherd, oddly named Simon Garfunkel! Only David Rosenfelt could concoct a name like that for a dog!😂
Another character joining Corey in this series is Laurie, Andy’s wife and Marcus (all brawn - no talk). Together the 3, (and Simon) have formed a new investigative team known as The K Team!
Their first job brings them to the door of Judge Henderson. More commonly referred to in the legal circles as Judge Hatchet! I’m sure you can guess why.
The judge now finds himself being blackmailed, and quickly hires the newly formed K team to assist in rooting-out the ‘who and whys’ behind the blackmail! Can they find the answers before his reputation is all but destroyed? Or worse?
This is a fast-burn read with short chapters that will keep you saying “OK... just one more!”
It lacked some of the biting wit that we love in the Andy Carpenter series, but I have a feeling that Corey is going to make yet another lovable and quirky leading player!
A buddy read with Susanne!💖🐶
Thank you to Joseph Brosnan at Minotaur Books for an ARC to read and review
February 13, 2022
A fun spin-off with familiar characters. This is a good read especially if you're following the Andy Carpenter series. There's a development for supporting characters from Andy's series that you won't want to miss. As for being the first book in a new series, it's pretty good but not as funny as the other one. I hope things fall into place for the following books. Andy makes appearances in this one!
February 12, 2020
THE K TEAM by David Rosenfelt is the first book in a new mystery series. It is also my first book by this author. Several characters from his Andy Carpenter series are the main characters with Andy becoming a minor character in this novel. Former Detective Laurie Carpenter, former Detective Corey Douglas and his K-9 partner Simon Garfunkel, and Marcus Clark are working as private detectives. In their first case, Judge Henry Henderson hires them via Andy to find out who is attempting to blackmail him. While no specifics for what they want him to do have been detailed, they have sent incriminating documents.
From a characterization standpoint, Corey is the most compelling and has the most depth in this novel. The characters acted in a plausible manner. The plot was suspenseful, complex and full of twists and turns. The prose was engaging and well-paced. My frustration was that the K Team did not always stay on the legal side of things to get their answers. How this will play out in future books remains to be seen.
Overall, this was entertaining and a good start to a new series and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and David Rosenfelt for an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
From a characterization standpoint, Corey is the most compelling and has the most depth in this novel. The characters acted in a plausible manner. The plot was suspenseful, complex and full of twists and turns. The prose was engaging and well-paced. My frustration was that the K Team did not always stay on the legal side of things to get their answers. How this will play out in future books remains to be seen.
Overall, this was entertaining and a good start to a new series and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and David Rosenfelt for an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
June 27, 2020
I’m a huge fan of the Andy Carpenter series. There’s a great mix of snarky humor, well defined characters and interesting plots that I never figure out until the end. Unfortunately, The K Team lacks the humor and it made me realize what a key part of the equation it is in the AC books. Plus, Corey Douglas is no Andy Carpenter. He isn’t nearly as well defined and comes across as flat.
And to add to the problem, Fred Berman is not a great narrator. He wasn’t consistent in his inflections for some of the characters. And his women all sounded the same. Admittedly, Grover Gardner sets a high bar. But Berman doesn’t come close.
So, the plot was as well done as ever. But this just seemed like a pale edition compared to the color of the AC series.
And to add to the problem, Fred Berman is not a great narrator. He wasn’t consistent in his inflections for some of the characters. And his women all sounded the same. Admittedly, Grover Gardner sets a high bar. But Berman doesn’t come close.
So, the plot was as well done as ever. But this just seemed like a pale edition compared to the color of the AC series.
December 6, 2021
3.5 stars
This book is a spin-off of Rosenfelt's humorous 'Andy Carpenter' mystery series, set in Paterson, New Jersey. Andy is a criminal defense lawyer whose wife, private detective Laurie Collins Carpenter, is the investigator for his firm.
Now Laurie is part of a new detective agency that calls itself 'The K Team.' The members of The K Team are Laurie;
Marcus Clark - the toughest, scariest guy on the planet;
Corey Douglas - a retired cop; and Simon Garfunkel - a German shepherd who worked with Corey at the Paterson Police Department.
The K Team is hired by Judge Henry (The Hatchet) Henderson who's being blackmailed.
Clever extortionists have made it look like the judge takes bribes. The miscreants have sent the judge statements from a Cayman Islands bank account in his name - which Henderson never opened - that contains almost $400,000.
Now Henderson wants The K Team to find the scoundrels before they start making demands.
The K Team gets on the job, and things soon get complicated. It's clear that some well-funded entity has nefarious plans to make a fortune, and it somehow involves Judge Henderson. Moreover, the wastrels aren't above committing murder to further their ends.
The story is narrated by Corey, who infuses his narrative with humor and quips. For example, when Marcus responds 'Ynnhh' to a remark, Corey observes, "I've learned that Marcus is a man of few words, none of them remotely understandable." And when a detective interviews Marcus, Corey observes, "I'm sure (it) will go down in state police annals as the least productive interview ever."
In another scene, Corey observes that a pimp named Rico violates his "Pimpian Code" when he allows his employee to engage in a conversation with a man that doesn't involve money. All this adds a light element to the tale. 🙂
We also get a peek at Marcus's superhuman capabilities. When a pimp hits a woman, Corey notes, "Marcus has been standing silently next to me, then suddenly he is not. He has his hands on the pimp and does something I've never seen before. He lifts him off his feet and tosses him up over the car. The guy clears the car by at least eighteen inches; his ass faces the ground as he sails backward, as if he is an Olympic high jumper."
Several characters from the Andy Carpenter series make an appearance, including Police Detective Pete Stanton - who cooperates with The K Team; newspaper editor Vince Sanders, who's so devoted to free food and beer that if he wasn't invited to a celebration, he would crash the party anyway; and gray-haired computer hacker Sam Willis, who's so talented he could probably use his computer to get the national nuclear weapons codes.
The book is a fine beginning to a new series, recommended to fans of amusing mysteries.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (David Rosenfelt), and the publisher (Minotaur Books) for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
January 6, 2020
3.5 Stars (rounded up).
When “The K Team” is hired for their first assignment, they have no idea how dangerous it will be.
Good thing several members of the PI team are former cops!
“The K Team” is comprised of the following Partners: Former Detective Laurie Carpenter, Former Detectives Corey Douglas and his K-9 partner Simon Garfunkel, and Marcus (a/k/a “the muscle”).
Judge Henry Henderson (a/k/a Judge Hackett) has been receiving blackmail notices and is running scared. Thus far, no ransom has been requested, however, every day the notices, emails and threats get more personal. Several high profile cases are coming up on Hackett’s docket and someone has the inside track.
Intimidation tactics don’t work with the members of The K Team, after all, they’ve got Marcus to protect them. If only the same could be said for everyone else whose lives are in danger.
“The K Team” is the first installment in a new series by David Rosenfelt. It features several characters from David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series (and specifically the latest book in that series “Dachshund Through the Snow”). While I liked this novel, and enjoyed the mystery itself, I have to admit that I missed Andy Carpenter! I missed his snark, sarcasm and wit and hope David Rosenfelt will continue to write that series. I do however love the character of Simon Garfunkel and can’t wait to see more of the German Shepard’s adventures!
This was a buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to Joseph Brosnan at Minotaur Books and David Rosenfelt for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 1.5.20.
When “The K Team” is hired for their first assignment, they have no idea how dangerous it will be.
Good thing several members of the PI team are former cops!
“The K Team” is comprised of the following Partners: Former Detective Laurie Carpenter, Former Detectives Corey Douglas and his K-9 partner Simon Garfunkel, and Marcus (a/k/a “the muscle”).
Judge Henry Henderson (a/k/a Judge Hackett) has been receiving blackmail notices and is running scared. Thus far, no ransom has been requested, however, every day the notices, emails and threats get more personal. Several high profile cases are coming up on Hackett’s docket and someone has the inside track.
Intimidation tactics don’t work with the members of The K Team, after all, they’ve got Marcus to protect them. If only the same could be said for everyone else whose lives are in danger.
“The K Team” is the first installment in a new series by David Rosenfelt. It features several characters from David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series (and specifically the latest book in that series “Dachshund Through the Snow”). While I liked this novel, and enjoyed the mystery itself, I have to admit that I missed Andy Carpenter! I missed his snark, sarcasm and wit and hope David Rosenfelt will continue to write that series. I do however love the character of Simon Garfunkel and can’t wait to see more of the German Shepard’s adventures!
This was a buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to Joseph Brosnan at Minotaur Books and David Rosenfelt for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 1.5.20.
January 8, 2020
3.5*
The K Team is officially open for business. When I heard about this series, I thought the premise was great. Laurie Carpenter, Marcus Clark, ex-cop Corey Douglas & his 4 legged partner Simon Garfunkel are Paterson, New Jersey’s newest private investigators. Now all they need is a client. Be careful what you wish for…
If you’re a fan of the Andy Carpenter series you’ll already be acquainted with his nemesis, Judge Henry “the Hatchet” Henderson. Seems the judge has a wee problem….someone is trying to blackmail him & he wants them to find those responsible. His instructions for their meeting are clear: it must be completely confidential & he’ll require the presence of Laurie’s annoying husband.
I won’t get into the main plot line. It’s ingenious & complex & has our rookie PI’s chasing their tails. The first half of the book deals with setting the stage & introducing all the players. At the 50% mark, the pace picks up considerably following 2 pivotal events….the introduction of one character & the loss of another. As the frustrated team begins to make connections, you’ll be kept guessing as to who is behind it all.
I’ve always enjoyed the Andy Carpenter books but was looking forward to Marcus & Laurie being in the driver’s seat. I assumed the 3 human MC’s would split story telling duties with Simon contributing the occassional growl. (I know what you’re thinking…..Marcus? using words? Ok ok, so maybe not actually speaking but I was hoping for some internal dialogue to balance out his pithy grunts.) And seeing events through Laurie’s eyes would give us a fresh approach.
Alas, it was not to be. While Marcus & Laurie play their parts, the story is narrated by Corey. And while he’s a smart & earnest guy, I’m not sure his character is dynamic enough to carry it off. I’m glad the author chose to make him completely different to avoid comparisons with Andy but the result is he’s a bit like vanilla ice cream. Nothing wrong with it, just no surprises. Hopefully his character is fleshed out in the next book so more of his personality shines through.
There are some holdovers from the original series. Andy pops in & out of the story as do Pete Stanton & accountant/hacker Sam. And of course Tara is always there to provide quiet wisdom & support. But the big surprise is the loss of a well known character & it will be interesting to see how the author fills their shoes. It’s a solid start to the series & I look forward to spending more time with these characters in book #2.
The K Team is officially open for business. When I heard about this series, I thought the premise was great. Laurie Carpenter, Marcus Clark, ex-cop Corey Douglas & his 4 legged partner Simon Garfunkel are Paterson, New Jersey’s newest private investigators. Now all they need is a client. Be careful what you wish for…
If you’re a fan of the Andy Carpenter series you’ll already be acquainted with his nemesis, Judge Henry “the Hatchet” Henderson. Seems the judge has a wee problem….someone is trying to blackmail him & he wants them to find those responsible. His instructions for their meeting are clear: it must be completely confidential & he’ll require the presence of Laurie’s annoying husband.
I won’t get into the main plot line. It’s ingenious & complex & has our rookie PI’s chasing their tails. The first half of the book deals with setting the stage & introducing all the players. At the 50% mark, the pace picks up considerably following 2 pivotal events….the introduction of one character & the loss of another. As the frustrated team begins to make connections, you’ll be kept guessing as to who is behind it all.
I’ve always enjoyed the Andy Carpenter books but was looking forward to Marcus & Laurie being in the driver’s seat. I assumed the 3 human MC’s would split story telling duties with Simon contributing the occassional growl. (I know what you’re thinking…..Marcus? using words? Ok ok, so maybe not actually speaking but I was hoping for some internal dialogue to balance out his pithy grunts.) And seeing events through Laurie’s eyes would give us a fresh approach.
Alas, it was not to be. While Marcus & Laurie play their parts, the story is narrated by Corey. And while he’s a smart & earnest guy, I’m not sure his character is dynamic enough to carry it off. I’m glad the author chose to make him completely different to avoid comparisons with Andy but the result is he’s a bit like vanilla ice cream. Nothing wrong with it, just no surprises. Hopefully his character is fleshed out in the next book so more of his personality shines through.
There are some holdovers from the original series. Andy pops in & out of the story as do Pete Stanton & accountant/hacker Sam. And of course Tara is always there to provide quiet wisdom & support. But the big surprise is the loss of a well known character & it will be interesting to see how the author fills their shoes. It’s a solid start to the series & I look forward to spending more time with these characters in book #2.
April 27, 2020
Rosenfelt has launched a new series. This time Andy Carpenter’s wife, Laurie Collins, is the protagonist along with retired cop, Corey Douglas, and his canine partner, Simon Garfunkel. They opened a detective agency called The K Team. There first client is Judge Henry Henderson.
The book is well written. I have read one of the Andy Carpenter’s books so I had an idea what this book would be like. It has the humor of the other series but is different as it is a detective story rather than a legal story. The characters are interesting. I wish there was more about Simon Garfunkel, but maybe Rosenfelt is building his characters. I am looking forward to the next book of the series.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is six hours and twelve minutes. Fred Berman does a good job narrating the book. Berman is an actor and voice-over artist. He has won multiple Earphone awards for his narration of audiobooks.
The book is well written. I have read one of the Andy Carpenter’s books so I had an idea what this book would be like. It has the humor of the other series but is different as it is a detective story rather than a legal story. The characters are interesting. I wish there was more about Simon Garfunkel, but maybe Rosenfelt is building his characters. I am looking forward to the next book of the series.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is six hours and twelve minutes. Fred Berman does a good job narrating the book. Berman is an actor and voice-over artist. He has won multiple Earphone awards for his narration of audiobooks.
April 15, 2020
I am a big fan of the Andy Carpenter series by David Rosenfelt. Andy, a defence lawyer has a sarcastic sense of humour, takes on investigations and court cases when a dog is somehow involved and also runs a dog rescue foundation. I was pleased when I learned that Rosenfelt had a new series, the K-Team and preordered this book. I was disappointed.
We have met the members of the K-Team in previous books At its head is Corey Douglas, a retired policeman, and now head of the new private detective agency. Andy met him in an early book. Corey was retiring and had been the handler of police dog, Simon. The department refused to permit his dog to retire with him, so Andy took Corey’s case, charging the police department of species discrimination. Also, as part of the K-Team, are Andy’s wife, Laurie, a former policewoman, and Marcus a huge, strong man who communicates mainly by grunting. He is a dependable bodyguard and protector of the team.
As a narrator, Corey lacks the snide, snarky humour which makes the Andy Carpenter series so amusing. He did not come across as dynamic enough to be a leading personality. His retired police dog, Simon Garfunkel, was almost a non-entity in the book except for the handsome illustration of German Shepherd on the book’s cover.
Judge ‘The Hatchet’ Henderson is being blackmailed and hires the K-Team to find out who Is blackmailing him. These persons seem to have been concocting false evidence for an extended time. The team feels there is a complex conspiracy to influence his decision in an upcoming trial or to destroy his career. Andy is hired as his lawyer to ensure confidentiality. The K-Team has a daunting task to protect the judge from scandal or worse. There were so many minor characters’ names in the story: lawyers, criminals, financial managers, police, adding to the complexity of the plot and slowing its pace.
I have read many of Mr. Rosenfelt’s books, and this is the first one that failed to engage me completely. I still have hopes for the series and will try the next one. I just Simon gets more police work to do!
We have met the members of the K-Team in previous books At its head is Corey Douglas, a retired policeman, and now head of the new private detective agency. Andy met him in an early book. Corey was retiring and had been the handler of police dog, Simon. The department refused to permit his dog to retire with him, so Andy took Corey’s case, charging the police department of species discrimination. Also, as part of the K-Team, are Andy’s wife, Laurie, a former policewoman, and Marcus a huge, strong man who communicates mainly by grunting. He is a dependable bodyguard and protector of the team.
As a narrator, Corey lacks the snide, snarky humour which makes the Andy Carpenter series so amusing. He did not come across as dynamic enough to be a leading personality. His retired police dog, Simon Garfunkel, was almost a non-entity in the book except for the handsome illustration of German Shepherd on the book’s cover.
Judge ‘The Hatchet’ Henderson is being blackmailed and hires the K-Team to find out who Is blackmailing him. These persons seem to have been concocting false evidence for an extended time. The team feels there is a complex conspiracy to influence his decision in an upcoming trial or to destroy his career. Andy is hired as his lawyer to ensure confidentiality. The K-Team has a daunting task to protect the judge from scandal or worse. There were so many minor characters’ names in the story: lawyers, criminals, financial managers, police, adding to the complexity of the plot and slowing its pace.
I have read many of Mr. Rosenfelt’s books, and this is the first one that failed to engage me completely. I still have hopes for the series and will try the next one. I just Simon gets more police work to do!
January 11, 2020
Corey (and Simon,his canine partner from his days on the police force), Laurie, and Marcus, names you may recognize from Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series, have decided to go into business as private investigators: The K Team. Their first client is Judge Henderson, who some lawyers referred to as "Hatchet." The judge is being blackmailed, but there is much more going on than that. Evil financiers, hit men, and layers and layers of careful cover up point to a scheme that is making some wealthy people even wealthier, and eliminating anyone that gets in the way. A great start to a new series by one of my favorite authors. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2024
How many of you love the Andy Carpenter series?
Well, if you do you will probably love this one, too!
This one features Andy’s wife, Laurie, as she is part of a private investigative team consisting of another retired cop, Corey, that also includes a retired police dog, Simon Garfunkel, and a non-communicative muscle man, Marcus. (Their description, not mine!)
Andy comes in and out of the story, in a minor role, which allows for continuity in characters and story flow.
It’s nice to see Laurie take center stage in this new series. And perhaps, Simon will play more of a role in future series.
It’s a great start to a new series, and I have already got the second book ready to begin next!
Well, if you do you will probably love this one, too!
This one features Andy’s wife, Laurie, as she is part of a private investigative team consisting of another retired cop, Corey, that also includes a retired police dog, Simon Garfunkel, and a non-communicative muscle man, Marcus. (Their description, not mine!)
Andy comes in and out of the story, in a minor role, which allows for continuity in characters and story flow.
It’s nice to see Laurie take center stage in this new series. And perhaps, Simon will play more of a role in future series.
It’s a great start to a new series, and I have already got the second book ready to begin next!
March 22, 2020
Thank you to Minotaur Books for the ARC! I really wanted to like this one! In fact, I did like the opening of the book! But then something went horribly wrong. I don’t know if it was just the POV, the fact that I was expecting more, the constant repeating of facts, or the kind of annoying thoughts from our narrator Corey and how the men handle the talking to suspects and Laurie (the only woman on the team) handles the other stuff...but not because she’s not tough, only because a suspect might not take her for the tough person she is *major eye roll*.
Maybe I’m not the kind of person for cozy mysteries like this one, but I do think that has to do with the writing style, I just wasn’t a fan.
Maybe I’m not the kind of person for cozy mysteries like this one, but I do think that has to do with the writing style, I just wasn’t a fan.
March 22, 2020
I finished reading 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 by David Rosenfelt. This is the first book in this new series which is a spinoff of the Andy Carpenter mysteries. The K Team is made of four members: Laurie Collins, a retired police officer and also married to Andy Carpenter; Marcus Clark, a legendary investigator and now the enforcer in the team; Corey Douglas, a retired police officer with a short temper; and Simon Garfunkel, a retired German Shepherd police dog. A local judge is being blackmailed and hires the K Team to find out discretely who is involved. The K Team soon discovers that this is much bigger than they expected. The plot is full of surprises and unexpected twists and turns. The author keeps you guessing right the end. It is an exciting debut for this new series.
If you like old-fashion detective novels, you will love this series. It has that no non-sense feeling with all the new investigational tools. It is a fantastic and enjoyable read.
🙋🏼♀️ Thank you, Minotaur Books for sending me an ARC of this spectacular novel. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 by David Rosenfelt will be available at your favourite bookstore on March 24, 2020.
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April 9, 2020
There is a new dog on the block and on the case; enter the “K Team.” Corey Douglas is an easy-going, recently retired Patterson New Jersey cop who is one of the world’s foremost film-trivia experts. His first person present tense narrative is casual and comfortable; he talks to readers and talks to himself. Readers get to know him well as he shares thoughts about criminals, lawyers, and life in general. His fellow “K-Team” members include Laurie Collins, Marcus Clark, and German Shepherd Simon Garfunkel, also recently retired from Paterson P.D. Readers recognize these characters from Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series, and in fact, those familiar characters make appearances in this new series, but in slightly different roles.
Behind the friendly banter and friendship with dogs, Rosenfelt created a solid, complex plot involving gangsters, blackmail, financial fraud, computer hacking and killers for hire. The narrative alternates between Douglas’s first person account and a third person view so readers know details the team does not. People disappear then turn up dead. Unrelated actions and people weave in and out of the story, so the K-Team must ferret out the truth from the pack of lies. The team struggles to discern how all this fits together, and fit together it does. The questions are answered, the unexpected is explained, and the dogs live happily ever after; that is what readers really want after all.
“The K Team” reflects Rosenfelt’s conversational writing style and easy enjoyable prose. He gave Corey Douglas and Andy Carpenter the same attitude, sarcastic humor, realistic approach, and love of bogs. They could have best friends if they had not spent so many years on opposing sides. I received a review copy of The K Team” from David Rosenfelt and Minotaur Books. The K-team “family” is entertaining and compelling, and this new series shows great potential. Sign me up for the next installment.
Behind the friendly banter and friendship with dogs, Rosenfelt created a solid, complex plot involving gangsters, blackmail, financial fraud, computer hacking and killers for hire. The narrative alternates between Douglas’s first person account and a third person view so readers know details the team does not. People disappear then turn up dead. Unrelated actions and people weave in and out of the story, so the K-Team must ferret out the truth from the pack of lies. The team struggles to discern how all this fits together, and fit together it does. The questions are answered, the unexpected is explained, and the dogs live happily ever after; that is what readers really want after all.
“The K Team” reflects Rosenfelt’s conversational writing style and easy enjoyable prose. He gave Corey Douglas and Andy Carpenter the same attitude, sarcastic humor, realistic approach, and love of bogs. They could have best friends if they had not spent so many years on opposing sides. I received a review copy of The K Team” from David Rosenfelt and Minotaur Books. The K-team “family” is entertaining and compelling, and this new series shows great potential. Sign me up for the next installment.
December 15, 2019
It really doesn't matter if you've read any of the Andy Carpenter books, this stands alone as a winner! Corey Douglas and his K-9 partner, Simon Garfunkel, have recently retired from the police force only to join up with a former colleague, the ex-cop wife of early retired lawyer Andy Carpenter. Together they and some other consultants take on a case for a highly respected judge who is being blackmailed by an unknown entity for unknown purposes. The body count almost reaches the snark count, and the plot is devilishly twisty, full of misdirection and red herrings. LOVED IT! It's clear that this is the start of an active, fun series.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
September 3, 2023
This is the first book in the series, a spin off from the Andy Carpenter series. I almost never read series in order, so I read the second book first.
Corey Douglas and his k-9 have recently retired. They're already bored, so they form a PI group with Andy Carpenter and his cronies. Their first client is Judge Hatchet, a recurring character in the Carpenter series.
Someone is trying to blackmail the judge. Nobody is quite sure why. The team digs in and finds a vast conspiracy.
Not bad, but I like the Andy Carpenter series better.
Corey Douglas and his k-9 have recently retired. They're already bored, so they form a PI group with Andy Carpenter and his cronies. Their first client is Judge Hatchet, a recurring character in the Carpenter series.
Someone is trying to blackmail the judge. Nobody is quite sure why. The team digs in and finds a vast conspiracy.
Not bad, but I like the Andy Carpenter series better.
March 20, 2021
At just under 300 pages, this is a quick read mystery.
The main characters are all transplants from the Andy Carpenter series also by Rosenfelt,. This one is told mainly in the first person with a lot of personal thoughts of the narrator.
The main characters are all transplants from the Andy Carpenter series also by Rosenfelt,. This one is told mainly in the first person with a lot of personal thoughts of the narrator.
January 24, 2022
This is my 2nd book by this author. I’m totally hooked on his writing style. Love his MC - he’s a bit of a tough guy l(reminds me of a clean no frills Dirty Harry). This story mixes a great mystery plot, a judge who has been setup and blackmailed, and the new K-Team Private eye service right in the thick of things with tongue and cheek humor. (The dog, Simon Garfunkel, only has a small part in this opening series.)
Audiobook has great narration and this book is just easy fast paced fun . Recommended! Looking forward to next in series!
Audiobook has great narration and this book is just easy fast paced fun . Recommended! Looking forward to next in series!
February 9, 2024
Just what you want from a Rosenfelt novel, fun, dogs, witty banter, a crime to solve, even an appearance by Andy Carpenter. I had a problem with it, though. The crime itself, if it were possible or plausible, would completely destroy our world's financial markets.
Yeah, these guys got caught, but if they thought of it, what if someone else does?
Yeah, these guys got caught, but if they thought of it, what if someone else does?
March 21, 2020
In this first book in a new series from David Rosenfelt, we see everything through the eyes of retired cop Corey Douglas, and I found his jaded sense of humor to be only mildly amusing. He's also an award-winning commitment-phobe, and how he deals with his growing relationship with Dani did bring a smile to my face.
For me, the best part of The K Team was figuring out the mystery-- who was blackmailing the judge and why. That really kept my interest. Other than that-- being familiar with Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series-- I found the book to be lackluster. I'm willing to read the next book in the series, but if it doesn't liven up either, I'll stick with Andy. Of course, your mileage may vary.
For me, the best part of The K Team was figuring out the mystery-- who was blackmailing the judge and why. That really kept my interest. Other than that-- being familiar with Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series-- I found the book to be lackluster. I'm willing to read the next book in the series, but if it doesn't liven up either, I'll stick with Andy. Of course, your mileage may vary.
October 11, 2020
This read was a bit of a slogfest for me.
I wanted more dog bits.
Well this was a tough first case for the K team.
LOTS of murders, dead bodies in this tale.
Motive: greed for money.
Corey narrates and Andy is a secondary character.
A twisted tale indeed and try to keep up with the many names of characters that pop up .. it was challenging.
Lots of feints in this duel as well.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Not a quick read at all !
[Don’t let those short chapters of spare writing fool you.]
I wanted more dog bits.
Well this was a tough first case for the K team.
LOTS of murders, dead bodies in this tale.
Motive: greed for money.
Corey narrates and Andy is a secondary character.
A twisted tale indeed and try to keep up with the many names of characters that pop up .. it was challenging.
Lots of feints in this duel as well.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Not a quick read at all !
[Don’t let those short chapters of spare writing fool you.]
March 31, 2020
I didn't like this as much as I do his Andy Carpenter series.
February 7, 2023
A light, fun mystery. I laughed multiple times throughout.
The author writes what could be called a cozy or maybe a step or two away from cozy.
I found the characters interesting, liked their personalities, and their values. The decisions they make are reasonable; retirement, financial security, and personal relationships.
This is the first of four books in the series. I will be continuing on with the series.
There is some swearing.
The author writes what could be called a cozy or maybe a step or two away from cozy.
I found the characters interesting, liked their personalities, and their values. The decisions they make are reasonable; retirement, financial security, and personal relationships.
This is the first of four books in the series. I will be continuing on with the series.
There is some swearing.
March 6, 2020
If you’re familiar with the Andy Carpenter series then you know it’s apt to be quite a challenge for the fast-talking, somewhat smart-aleck, criminal defense lawyer, to step back and let the spotlight shine on the K Team.
If you’re not familiar, that’s just fine too. This new series doesn’t require that you know the characters from the Andy Carpenter books.
The K Team consists of Andy’s wife Laurie, who is a former police officer. Cory and his German Shepherd, Simon Garfunkel, both retired police officers that Laurie worked with. And lastly, Marcus who is a bodyguard in the Andy Carpenter books.
Spinoff Plot
In this spinoff, one of the judges in the Carpenter series is being blackmailed and wants the team to do some “quiet” investigations. Obviously, due to his position, he needs to count on the confidentiality of those on the team. In order to ensure that, he hires Andy to represent him. Of course, that means attorney/client privilege, and the team will then be legally bound to the same terms since technically they will be doing research for Andy. This is more or less a cameo appearance for Andy.
I was familiar with everyone on the K Team except retired cop Cory and his dog, Simon. And I was excited to see how Rosenfelt would weave a police dog into the story.
I hate to admit it, but I wasn’t all that happy with the characters. And here are the reasons why:
Cory – I kid you not, at the beginning of this book, Cory reminded me so much of Andy that I had to go back and make sure who was telling the story. That’s not a good thing. As I continued to read, he did start to veer away from what I considered to be Andy’s thoughts and humor. But Cory just didn’t stand out enough to be the key character in this book. In my opinion, Cory needed to have a very distinct voice, which he didn’t.
Simon Garfunkel – Cory’s police dog’s participation in this story was next to nothing. Quite disappointing. Knowing Rosenfelt’s deep love for dogs, I expected much more.
Lauri – What can I say? Lauri is Lauri. I have nothing negative nor positive about her character.
Marcus – Could be just my sense of humor or lack of, but when a character speaks only in grunts, he doesn’t add that much to a team, or a story. In fact, if Marcus got paid for every recognizable word he speaks, he’d be left asking for handouts on the street corner.
So with that cast of characters, it was difficult for me to get too excited regarding the plot. Don’t get me wrong, I was interested in the reason that Judge Henderson, alias Hatchet to many lawyers, was getting anonymous, incriminating mail, it just wasn’t enough.
What Concerned Me
1. I thought this cast of characters was weak.
2. And I want investigators to always solve mysteries with practices that are within the boundaries of the law.
What I Liked
Rosenfelt is a good writer, and I’ve appreciated his writing throughout the last few years. With some tweaks to the characters, I see The K Team as developing into another fun series.
My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for providing an ARC and the ability to post my thoughts.
For more reviews go to https://pickagoodbook.com
If you’re not familiar, that’s just fine too. This new series doesn’t require that you know the characters from the Andy Carpenter books.
The K Team consists of Andy’s wife Laurie, who is a former police officer. Cory and his German Shepherd, Simon Garfunkel, both retired police officers that Laurie worked with. And lastly, Marcus who is a bodyguard in the Andy Carpenter books.
Spinoff Plot
In this spinoff, one of the judges in the Carpenter series is being blackmailed and wants the team to do some “quiet” investigations. Obviously, due to his position, he needs to count on the confidentiality of those on the team. In order to ensure that, he hires Andy to represent him. Of course, that means attorney/client privilege, and the team will then be legally bound to the same terms since technically they will be doing research for Andy. This is more or less a cameo appearance for Andy.
I was familiar with everyone on the K Team except retired cop Cory and his dog, Simon. And I was excited to see how Rosenfelt would weave a police dog into the story.
I hate to admit it, but I wasn’t all that happy with the characters. And here are the reasons why:
Cory – I kid you not, at the beginning of this book, Cory reminded me so much of Andy that I had to go back and make sure who was telling the story. That’s not a good thing. As I continued to read, he did start to veer away from what I considered to be Andy’s thoughts and humor. But Cory just didn’t stand out enough to be the key character in this book. In my opinion, Cory needed to have a very distinct voice, which he didn’t.
Simon Garfunkel – Cory’s police dog’s participation in this story was next to nothing. Quite disappointing. Knowing Rosenfelt’s deep love for dogs, I expected much more.
Lauri – What can I say? Lauri is Lauri. I have nothing negative nor positive about her character.
Marcus – Could be just my sense of humor or lack of, but when a character speaks only in grunts, he doesn’t add that much to a team, or a story. In fact, if Marcus got paid for every recognizable word he speaks, he’d be left asking for handouts on the street corner.
So with that cast of characters, it was difficult for me to get too excited regarding the plot. Don’t get me wrong, I was interested in the reason that Judge Henderson, alias Hatchet to many lawyers, was getting anonymous, incriminating mail, it just wasn’t enough.
What Concerned Me
1. I thought this cast of characters was weak.
2. And I want investigators to always solve mysteries with practices that are within the boundaries of the law.
What I Liked
Rosenfelt is a good writer, and I’ve appreciated his writing throughout the last few years. With some tweaks to the characters, I see The K Team as developing into another fun series.
My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for providing an ARC and the ability to post my thoughts.
For more reviews go to https://pickagoodbook.com
December 10, 2019
This book was received as an ARC from St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I am always a fan of dog stories and the impact they have on our lives. I am always on the lookout for more books on the K-9 unit and their impact for not only serving the community but for the bonds they form with their human companions just like Corey and Simon Garfunkle The K Team! Corey retires from the force and catches up with former cop and friend Laurie and her friend Marcus and they form The K Team! They are tasked to assist Laurie's husband Andy who is a lawyer with solving the case so he can defend his clients. Their first case involves judge Henderson involved with a blackmail case that could end his career. The K team is on it having worked with him before as police officers and the case takes a new turn that no one is prepared for and the job they once loved is in question. I could not stop being fascinated by the bond of Corey and Simon and how they stuck by eachother every step of the way. I know a lot of our readers will enjoy this book very much.
We will consider adding this title to our Adult Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I am always a fan of dog stories and the impact they have on our lives. I am always on the lookout for more books on the K-9 unit and their impact for not only serving the community but for the bonds they form with their human companions just like Corey and Simon Garfunkle The K Team! Corey retires from the force and catches up with former cop and friend Laurie and her friend Marcus and they form The K Team! They are tasked to assist Laurie's husband Andy who is a lawyer with solving the case so he can defend his clients. Their first case involves judge Henderson involved with a blackmail case that could end his career. The K team is on it having worked with him before as police officers and the case takes a new turn that no one is prepared for and the job they once loved is in question. I could not stop being fascinated by the bond of Corey and Simon and how they stuck by eachother every step of the way. I know a lot of our readers will enjoy this book very much.
We will consider adding this title to our Adult Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
March 28, 2020
Good, but Too much like a regular Andy Carpenter book
This book was good in the sense that it was typical David Rosenfelt - funny, witty and a good whodunit. But the voice of the main character in this spinoff series (Corey, the former cop), was so very similar to the usual main character (Andy Carpenter), that most of the time I thought it WAS Andy...so there was nothing different or unique about the new main character. I would have preferred that this just be another book in the Andy Carpenter series...it would have been less confusing, and less disappointing in not having a unique new first person character.
This book was good in the sense that it was typical David Rosenfelt - funny, witty and a good whodunit. But the voice of the main character in this spinoff series (Corey, the former cop), was so very similar to the usual main character (Andy Carpenter), that most of the time I thought it WAS Andy...so there was nothing different or unique about the new main character. I would have preferred that this just be another book in the Andy Carpenter series...it would have been less confusing, and less disappointing in not having a unique new first person character.
June 20, 2020
Andy Carpenter spin-off.
March 31, 2020
What can I say about The K Team? Well, it didn't wow me. I liked it okay but it wasn't anything special. If I continue with the series, I'll check the books out from my library. I admit, the dogs on the cover were a selling point for me when I requested the book. Sadly, the dogs, including Simon, are a small part of the story, secondary characters at best. Also, the blurb says the team is named in honor of Simon, the former K-9 dog, but that's not actually mentioned in the book.
What I liked:
1) The main characters are all middle aged, 40s and 50s. Hell yeah! Older characters are more common in mysteries than they are in romances but it still makes me happy to see them.
2) Realistic pacing. While the pace of the story sometimes frustrated me, it seemed real for what was actually happening.
3) Grounded in reality. I read this after several suspenseful, action filled mysteres. I enjoyed them, but they didn't always feel real. This had one heck of a criminal conspiracy that sometimes stretched credulity, but even so it felt more real-life and plausible.
What I disliked:
1) The main character, Corey, was in some respects a cliche - single, afraid to commit, a player, a loner. He evolved a bit during the story but it was hard to warm up to him at first as he was...bland. He could have been any cop turned PI in any mystery novel. We don't get POVs from the rest of the team, but we got them from some of the villains, and a couple times from the K Team's client.
2) The pacing. I know, I know, I said earlier that it was realistic, and it was, but it was also slow as heck. I expected a more action oriented mystery, and there is action, but it's much more a procedural. SO if that's your jam, this is your book.
3) I didn't actually care what happened. I mean, I did finish the book so I guess I was mildly interested, but I wasn't invested. It wasn't a page turner, it's not a must read.
Verdict:
"The K Team" is a decent story with a pretty clever mystery. It's a not a must read but it will help you while away a few hours.
What I liked:
1) The main characters are all middle aged, 40s and 50s. Hell yeah! Older characters are more common in mysteries than they are in romances but it still makes me happy to see them.
2) Realistic pacing. While the pace of the story sometimes frustrated me, it seemed real for what was actually happening.
3) Grounded in reality. I read this after several suspenseful, action filled mysteres. I enjoyed them, but they didn't always feel real. This had one heck of a criminal conspiracy that sometimes stretched credulity, but even so it felt more real-life and plausible.
What I disliked:
1) The main character, Corey, was in some respects a cliche - single, afraid to commit, a player, a loner. He evolved a bit during the story but it was hard to warm up to him at first as he was...bland. He could have been any cop turned PI in any mystery novel. We don't get POVs from the rest of the team, but we got them from some of the villains, and a couple times from the K Team's client.
2) The pacing. I know, I know, I said earlier that it was realistic, and it was, but it was also slow as heck. I expected a more action oriented mystery, and there is action, but it's much more a procedural. SO if that's your jam, this is your book.
3) I didn't actually care what happened. I mean, I did finish the book so I guess I was mildly interested, but I wasn't invested. It wasn't a page turner, it's not a must read.
Verdict:
"The K Team" is a decent story with a pretty clever mystery. It's a not a must read but it will help you while away a few hours.
August 28, 2020
So I've never read the Andy Carpenter series and even though I intend to eventually, there are currently 22 books so it might take a while. However, I thought this spin-off might be a decent place to dive in an wet my feet. The K Team features Andy but only in a supporting role. His wife Laurie, an ex law enforcement officer, has teamed up with two other individuals to form a private investigation agency called The K Team. This book is told from the POV of one of those individuals, Corey. Corey has just retired and doesn't know how to adjust so he figures this job will fill the void. And along with Corey is his retired police dog, Simon Garfunkle, who he fought to keep and with Andy's help, managed to do so. So seriously, how awesome is that name? So obviously Simon is the 4th member of the team as he should be!
So in this first book, someone is blackmailing a prominent Judge and it is up to the team to figure out all the details. I won't go much further into the plot other than to say it was a fun ride of twists and turns, some of which really threw me. Mentioning much more might be giving things away. However, I will say that I love Corey. He is somewhat sarcastic and his sense of humor is dry but great nonetheless. For example, he is dating a woman throughout the book and he is occasionally mentioning how he will find a reason not to like her because that's what he always does, even though the reader can tell he really doesn't want to not like her. Corey also has a great relationship with Simon and goes as far as almost killing an individual who tried to poison him. That I can get behind.
So if you like mysteries and dogs, then I can't see how you could go wrong picking up The K Team. It was a thrilling read and I'm very much looking forward to the next installment.
So in this first book, someone is blackmailing a prominent Judge and it is up to the team to figure out all the details. I won't go much further into the plot other than to say it was a fun ride of twists and turns, some of which really threw me. Mentioning much more might be giving things away. However, I will say that I love Corey. He is somewhat sarcastic and his sense of humor is dry but great nonetheless. For example, he is dating a woman throughout the book and he is occasionally mentioning how he will find a reason not to like her because that's what he always does, even though the reader can tell he really doesn't want to not like her. Corey also has a great relationship with Simon and goes as far as almost killing an individual who tried to poison him. That I can get behind.
So if you like mysteries and dogs, then I can't see how you could go wrong picking up The K Team. It was a thrilling read and I'm very much looking forward to the next installment.
December 22, 2022
This is the first in the spin off series based on characters from the (much loved) Andy Carpenter series. There are several familiar faces here but this seems to be darker (though not without humor) than its predecessor. The K Team is made up of Laurie, Marcus, retired cop Corey and his retired canine Simon Garfunkel. It is told from Corey's perspective and Corey is rougher around the edges than our witty Andy. It is a dark and murderous tale but I enjoyed this first book and will read more.
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