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Andy Carpenter #5
Dead Center
Edgar Award finalist and author of Bury the Lead , a Today Show Book Club pick, returns with a tale of murder and deadly secrets in an ultra-secretive religious community.
DEAD CENTER finds Andy Carpenter reentering the dating scene with comic results. He is surprised at what a hot ticket he seems to be, and this proves to be a mixed blessing at best. His friends are all too eager to provide advice and guidance, but of course they know just as little about the dating world as Andy. Whether the woman he is dating at the moment is terrific or far from it, the spectra of Laurie always hangs over his head. He has strong feelings of bitterness towards her for leaving, but she is, after all, the love of his life. He has had no contact with her at all, and can only assume she is back in Findlay, serving in the number two job on the local police force. Then one day he returns to the office to find Laurie waiting for him. Laurie has arrested a young man for murder and, though the evidence clearly called for his arrest, she believes he is innocent. The accused is the son of Laurie's oldest friend and she believes Andy is the best person to represent him. Andy follows Laurie back to Wisconsin where he must explore a secretive religious community that seems to hold the truth about what really happened to the deceased.
DEAD CENTER finds Andy Carpenter reentering the dating scene with comic results. He is surprised at what a hot ticket he seems to be, and this proves to be a mixed blessing at best. His friends are all too eager to provide advice and guidance, but of course they know just as little about the dating world as Andy. Whether the woman he is dating at the moment is terrific or far from it, the spectra of Laurie always hangs over his head. He has strong feelings of bitterness towards her for leaving, but she is, after all, the love of his life. He has had no contact with her at all, and can only assume she is back in Findlay, serving in the number two job on the local police force. Then one day he returns to the office to find Laurie waiting for him. Laurie has arrested a young man for murder and, though the evidence clearly called for his arrest, she believes he is innocent. The accused is the son of Laurie's oldest friend and she believes Andy is the best person to represent him. Andy follows Laurie back to Wisconsin where he must explore a secretive religious community that seems to hold the truth about what really happened to the deceased.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2006
550 people are currently reading
1536 people want to read
About the author
David Rosenfelt
74 books2,894 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 595 reviews
November 19, 2017
Thrills, chills, kills, humour, and a Golden Retriever named Tara.
The thrills: after four and half months of being separated from Laurie due to their jobs, Andy receives a phone call from her. A case comes up in Wisconsin where she has been filling in for the Chief of Police. Even though she officially arrested the suspect in a brutal double murder, Laurie isn’t convinced he did it. She asks Andy to come and see if he can help determine the truth. Andy is not thrilled to give up his angst about the separation – until he is thrilled at their reunion.
The chills: it’s a very cold October in Wisconsin. Yes, the air is fresher; yes, the people are friendlier; yes, there are some great restaurants to go to; and yes – Tara is loving it. The other kind of chills come through with a more sinister connotation.
Kills: as they continue to occur Andy is baffled in his efforts to tie these murders to whoever is behind them so his client can be freed. However, there are more curve balls ahead and the plot thickens, pours over the sides of the pan in different directions and just when I thought I had it all figured out – I didn’t. Maybe it was that drip over there . . . . ?
Perfect pacing and Andy’s unique sense of humour combined with crazy glue moments of tension make this a great, entertaining read. I only finished the book a while ago and I’m already missing everyone – including Tara! I am looking forward with great anticipation to #6 in this series.
The thrills: after four and half months of being separated from Laurie due to their jobs, Andy receives a phone call from her. A case comes up in Wisconsin where she has been filling in for the Chief of Police. Even though she officially arrested the suspect in a brutal double murder, Laurie isn’t convinced he did it. She asks Andy to come and see if he can help determine the truth. Andy is not thrilled to give up his angst about the separation – until he is thrilled at their reunion.
The chills: it’s a very cold October in Wisconsin. Yes, the air is fresher; yes, the people are friendlier; yes, there are some great restaurants to go to; and yes – Tara is loving it. The other kind of chills come through with a more sinister connotation.
Kills: as they continue to occur Andy is baffled in his efforts to tie these murders to whoever is behind them so his client can be freed. However, there are more curve balls ahead and the plot thickens, pours over the sides of the pan in different directions and just when I thought I had it all figured out – I didn’t. Maybe it was that drip over there . . . . ?
Perfect pacing and Andy’s unique sense of humour combined with crazy glue moments of tension make this a great, entertaining read. I only finished the book a while ago and I’m already missing everyone – including Tara! I am looking forward with great anticipation to #6 in this series.
August 24, 2021
This is a Legal Mystery, and this is the 5th book in the Andy Carpenter series. I love Andy's character and the dog. The mystery in this book as a weird religious community, and I really enjoyed the mystery in this book. This book does not have a lot of the courtroom settings and legal stuff. This book as more of the trying to find out what happen. I really like the beginning and the ending of this book. There are some twists and turns I did not see coming.
September 22, 2024
4.5 Stars for Dead Center: Andy Carpenter, Book 5 (audiobook) by David Rosenfelt read by Grover Gardner.
Andy Carpenter takes a case in Findlay, Wis., just by chance this is where the love of his life has moved to and has been made the acting chief of police. Andy has his hands full this time trying to help a young man charged with murder.
Andy Carpenter takes a case in Findlay, Wis., just by chance this is where the love of his life has moved to and has been made the acting chief of police. Andy has his hands full this time trying to help a young man charged with murder.
July 29, 2022
Good entry in the Andy Carpenter series. Andy goes to Wisconsin to help Laurie with a case. I disagree with one aspect of the story: Tara cannot be the best dog in the world because My affenspincher, Jordy, is. Now there's a dog. I highly recommend the book.
September 29, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to the audiobook and it was fantastic!
I listened to the audiobook and it was fantastic!
September 20, 2015
I have read an awful lot of terrible books lately, so I decided to go back to a series which has never disappointed me, and once again it did not.
Andy Carpenter, Laurie, Marcus, Kevin, Sam et al... are entertaining as always here, the fresh setting of Findlay provides some ripe comedic situations, and while the plot isn't the most innovative, the witty dialogue and clever writing keeps the story zipping along and makes the whole journey an enjoyable one.
Andy Carpenter, Laurie, Marcus, Kevin, Sam et al... are entertaining as always here, the fresh setting of Findlay provides some ripe comedic situations, and while the plot isn't the most innovative, the witty dialogue and clever writing keeps the story zipping along and makes the whole journey an enjoyable one.
November 4, 2019
Another great Andy Carpenter story - a 4 star read and I added another one for his dog! Only on number 5, looking forward to picking up number 6 in this great series!!
December 25, 2023
Beset with the aches and pains associated with old age (and the improper bracing of an iPad), there was a period when I just wanted to read, without writing reviews. I am trying to catch up now.
Often, I was trying to choose books that would keep me entertained, where events moved quickly but didn’t insult my intelligence with lazy writing (overdone plots and stock characters). Strong 4-star novels.
This Andy Carpenter tale met my needs. I’m reading this series out of order but that doesn’t seem to matter much. Andy’s sarcastic wit is as sharp as ever. Tara is as loving and intelligent as ever. I was unaware that Andy and Laurie had separated for awhile as the series progressed, but the “will-they-or-won’t-they” get back together question didn’t seem important in this book; it seemed a foregone conclusion that eventually they would find a way to resolve their differing circumstances.
Laurie is an acting sheriff in Findlay, Wisconsin when she asks for Andy’s help with a situation that is bothering her. She has arrested a young man for a brutal double murder. The evidence against him is strong but she doesn’t believe he did it. In order to assist with the defence, Andy must pair up with a Wisconsin lawyer, Calvin, who shares Andy’s sense of humour.
The murdered girls came from a religious cult located nearby in a self-sufficient town. I did find the description of this cult a bit wacky. It was ruled by the Keeper of the Wheel, who interpreted the word of God by spinning a wheel. Cult members were not encouraged to interact with outsiders and their future marriage partners were decided by a spin of the wheel. This is an extreme parody of religious cults (although admittedly, I find all religious cults to be absurd).
However, the plot has plenty of twists and turns, as per the usual Andy Carpenter novel, and it kept me both amused and engaged as I followed it to the end. There was even a Canadian connection that many Americans might not be aware of but is a well-known scam that occurs all too frequently to the detriment of Canadians.
Often, I was trying to choose books that would keep me entertained, where events moved quickly but didn’t insult my intelligence with lazy writing (overdone plots and stock characters). Strong 4-star novels.
This Andy Carpenter tale met my needs. I’m reading this series out of order but that doesn’t seem to matter much. Andy’s sarcastic wit is as sharp as ever. Tara is as loving and intelligent as ever. I was unaware that Andy and Laurie had separated for awhile as the series progressed, but the “will-they-or-won’t-they” get back together question didn’t seem important in this book; it seemed a foregone conclusion that eventually they would find a way to resolve their differing circumstances.
Laurie is an acting sheriff in Findlay, Wisconsin when she asks for Andy’s help with a situation that is bothering her. She has arrested a young man for a brutal double murder. The evidence against him is strong but she doesn’t believe he did it. In order to assist with the defence, Andy must pair up with a Wisconsin lawyer, Calvin, who shares Andy’s sense of humour.
The murdered girls came from a religious cult located nearby in a self-sufficient town. I did find the description of this cult a bit wacky. It was ruled by the Keeper of the Wheel, who interpreted the word of God by spinning a wheel. Cult members were not encouraged to interact with outsiders and their future marriage partners were decided by a spin of the wheel. This is an extreme parody of religious cults (although admittedly, I find all religious cults to be absurd).
However, the plot has plenty of twists and turns, as per the usual Andy Carpenter novel, and it kept me both amused and engaged as I followed it to the end. There was even a Canadian connection that many Americans might not be aware of but is a well-known scam that occurs all too frequently to the detriment of Canadians.
June 2, 2020
Typical Andy Carpenter novel, always entertaining, with good characters, and lots of humor.
In this one, there is a strange religious group that is used as a base for some philosophical discussion of religion in general. This one is basically a cult that avoids outsiders, and is ruled by someone who interprets the spin of a sort of roulette wheel that they believe is a message directly from God. Their future marriage partners are decided early on, and they mostly just stick together and avoid outsiders. But then it's presented in a way that makes it sound like any other faith. They believe the wheel is the word of God, much like Christians believe the Bible is the word of God. It's interpreted by their holy man much like Christians, too. In a way, it puts religions in the same light as a crazy cult, and shows that there really isn't much difference. But of course, the various religions won't see themselves in this cult.
In this one, there is a strange religious group that is used as a base for some philosophical discussion of religion in general. This one is basically a cult that avoids outsiders, and is ruled by someone who interprets the spin of a sort of roulette wheel that they believe is a message directly from God. Their future marriage partners are decided early on, and they mostly just stick together and avoid outsiders. But then it's presented in a way that makes it sound like any other faith. They believe the wheel is the word of God, much like Christians believe the Bible is the word of God. It's interpreted by their holy man much like Christians, too. In a way, it puts religions in the same light as a crazy cult, and shows that there really isn't much difference. But of course, the various religions won't see themselves in this cult.
February 23, 2016
Dead Center by David Rosenfelt.
Andy Carpenter and his significant other, Laurie Collins, are separated...but that's soon to change. Laurie is currently the acting Chief of Police in a small town in Wisconsin and she needs Andy's help. There have been two brutal murders of college students. Both these girls lived in a strange cult-like community.
Andy hears Laurie's request and he and Tara are packed and ready to go. Andy is there in no time after alerting his usual back up especially Marcus Clark. The situation Andy finds himself in is not what he's been acquainted with in the past and it's all new territory to him in more ways than one.
I found this book to begin on a slow start for me but the depth and intensity of the mystery drew me into the mystery solving with Andy. Great addition to an extraordinary series.
Andy Carpenter and his significant other, Laurie Collins, are separated...but that's soon to change. Laurie is currently the acting Chief of Police in a small town in Wisconsin and she needs Andy's help. There have been two brutal murders of college students. Both these girls lived in a strange cult-like community.
Andy hears Laurie's request and he and Tara are packed and ready to go. Andy is there in no time after alerting his usual back up especially Marcus Clark. The situation Andy finds himself in is not what he's been acquainted with in the past and it's all new territory to him in more ways than one.
I found this book to begin on a slow start for me but the depth and intensity of the mystery drew me into the mystery solving with Andy. Great addition to an extraordinary series.
April 22, 2021
#5 in series - I read Dachshund Through the Snow awhile ago, just because I have Dachshunds. That was the first book I read by David Rosenfelt and I promptly went back and started the series with #1. I love his Andy Carpenter series. Andy is a lawyer who received $22 million dollars when his dad died, so he only takes cases he is really interested in. He is funny as all get out, and has a great cast of characters to go along with him.
In this book, he travels from NJ to WI to look into a case his former girlfriend asked him to check out. It involves a town in which people have a very strange religion and the utmost privacy. No outsiders are welcome. What is going on then, when 3 teenagers from this town are murdered?
In this book, he travels from NJ to WI to look into a case his former girlfriend asked him to check out. It involves a town in which people have a very strange religion and the utmost privacy. No outsiders are welcome. What is going on then, when 3 teenagers from this town are murdered?
March 8, 2016
Andy and Tara are distressed as Laurie has moved to Wisconsin. Some time later Laurie asks Andy to come and consult on case she feels person arrested is not guilty. Andy runs into a town who religious beliefs are contray to the normal belief. This belief makes in investigation difficult as he not welcome to interview witnesses. There are a number of twists and turns in the story. The ending might surprise you.
August 4, 2024
In Andy Carpenter #5, Andy joins Laurie in Wisconsin to defend/investigate a murder allegation against a young man accused of killing his girlfriend and her friend. This book was a little odd, in that it had a religious 'cult' type of town in WI in which the murder victims lived. It meandered a bit with different subplots and I had an inkling about a reveal I expected but I was totally wrong lol. Andy is funny as always, but this one was not as strong for me. 3.5 stars rounded up.
December 1, 2021
I don’t know if I would enjoy reading the print version of these as much as I do the audio version with Grover Gardner. He is Andy Carpenter! Perfect voice for this wisecracking, millionaire defense lawyer. I may have to try it one day but in the meanwhile I’ll just keep enjoying these. Because the story’s always good and Tara is always a sweetie!
March 5, 2019
Although the premise of the case Andy is working on is a little wacky and some incidents a bit improbable, I still loved the book. Can a plot that has several murders be considered a light, fun read. It’s the way I see this series. It’s because of Andy Carpenters humor and some of the bizarre characters. There wasn’t as much courtroom action, and I missed that. I’m so glad Rosenfelt has written so many of these books. Look forward to more laughs and trying to figure out the mystery!
September 14, 2018
Always a good laugh with Andy Capenter books. In this installment he goes to defend a young client per Laurie's request at her hometown Findlay, WI where she is now Acting Chief of Police.
October 24, 2022
I gave this book four stars but there were things in this book that have been repeated in the last four book - I am hoping that this does not become a pattern if it does I will have to really consider if I want to keep reading.
That being said these are easy reading legal mysteries that well crafted and well plotted. The pacing is perfect and the build up to the finale is quite suspenseful once it gets going. Worth picking up.
That being said these are easy reading legal mysteries that well crafted and well plotted. The pacing is perfect and the build up to the finale is quite suspenseful once it gets going. Worth picking up.
August 19, 2017
At Laurie's request, Andy takes on as a client a young man accused of murdering two coeds, one of whom was his former girlfriend. The evidence against him is overwhelming, which is why Laurie as chief of police had to arrest him. But it didn't sit well with her; hence her plea to Andy to defend him. Andy is easily talked into the case. A religious cult figures in, and something smells to high heaven to Andy. Yet he gets to be in the same town as Laurie, so for Andy, things are looking up. Andy wants to prove his client innocent, but that would mean he would be free to return home. Andy's life seems to be one delemma after another. But he always has Tara, his dog, to come home to, so how bad could it be? Great writing and wonderful characters in a complex plot will keep you turning pages until the end.
September 20, 2008
Andy Carpenter, a New Jersey attorney, travels to Wisconsin to help his ex-lover Laurie Collins, the acting chief of police in her hometown. She has arrested a young man for murder but she believes he is innocent. She wants Andy to represent him as his lawyer.
Andy Carpenter is a unique and very entertaining character! This is the fifth book in the series. This book has it all with its lively, witty dialogue, interesting characters and a well-paced plot. Andy is also a pet lover! Highly recommend.
Andy Carpenter is a unique and very entertaining character! This is the fifth book in the series. This book has it all with its lively, witty dialogue, interesting characters and a well-paced plot. Andy is also a pet lover! Highly recommend.
February 15, 2015
Normally I read a book, think about it overnight, then write a review. I'm not doing that this time as there really isn't much to think about.
This book is mildly amusing, reasonably fast paced & the only interesting character (other than Andy himself)
If you want to read something entertaining by Rosenfelt, read his bio on GR. Now that had me chuckling!
This book is mildly amusing, reasonably fast paced & the only interesting character (other than Andy himself)
If you want to read something entertaining by Rosenfelt, read his bio on GR. Now that had me chuckling!
December 16, 2021
Another satisfying read from this author. I might be biased, but I really enjoy the series a lot. It makes me laugh and I am invested in the outcome of the story relative to the characters going forward.
It makes me want to get the next one. I think that is a testament to the writing and the author's ability to hit the marks on several areas in a story. I will surely keep reading this series. Can't get enough of it.
It makes me want to get the next one. I think that is a testament to the writing and the author's ability to hit the marks on several areas in a story. I will surely keep reading this series. Can't get enough of it.
July 17, 2021
Another fun one with Andy Carpenter. I liked the fish out of water stuff in Wisconsin, and the humor was entertaining as always. The ending was pretty rushed, and I wasn’t a big fan of the weird religion in Center City, but the book was still mostly a winner.
July 20, 2021
This book finds Andy going to Laurie’s hometown to help her with a case. Two girls have been killed and she is sure the boy charged didn’t do it. There is a strange religion that isolates their people so facts are hard to come by.
January 19, 2023
I really am enjoying this series and the narration in the audiobooks is so good. This one has Andy off to Wisconsin where he takes on a case at the request of his lost-love Lori. Some familiar characters follow and Andy and Lori navigate their feelings for each other. I really liked this one a lot!
February 26, 2018
I really enjoy all of the Andy Carpenter stories. And love his dog, Tara!
April 29, 2024
I think this was one the best in the series so far. I laughed out loud multiple times and enjoyed the story line. Such a fun series. 4.5★
November 25, 2022
Continuing to enjoy this series.
January 22, 2023
Another great Andy Carpenter novel. This mystery takes us west to Wisconsin from New Jersey where Andy lives. Laurie left Andy to take a job in the police department in Findlay and they broke up. But now she needs help solving a double homicide. The evidence points to a young 19 year old college student who was dating one of the victims, but Laurie doesn’t believe he did it. So, Andy packs up Tara and they head to Findlay.
Not far from Findlay is a town called Center City. The city is made up of a religious group who believe the city is sacred and God speaks to them through a spin of this big wheel. They do not like strangers and try and keep their town wholesome.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this one. I have to say, I was a bit disappointed with the end because I don’t think all the questions were answered. But I love the characters so much and Andy’s humor is stellar.
Marcus saves the day a few times. He is something like Hawk from the Spenser series or Pike from the Elvis series except he barely speaks.
I am really into this series. It’s become one of my favorites. Can’t wait till the next one.
Not far from Findlay is a town called Center City. The city is made up of a religious group who believe the city is sacred and God speaks to them through a spin of this big wheel. They do not like strangers and try and keep their town wholesome.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this one. I have to say, I was a bit disappointed with the end because I don’t think all the questions were answered. But I love the characters so much and Andy’s humor is stellar.
Marcus saves the day a few times. He is something like Hawk from the Spenser series or Pike from the Elvis series except he barely speaks.
I am really into this series. It’s become one of my favorites. Can’t wait till the next one.
November 2, 2025
Very few books are worth a second or even a third read but David Rosenfeldt's Andy Carpenter series fits that bill and Grover Gardner is simply the best narrator one can ask for. I have finished listening to the audiobook for the third time and still find it a compelling listen. Between his gripping court room drama and light hearted depiction of the criminal justice system, these books never grow old. Here our beloved Andy travels to Wisconsin in the winter to get back with his beloved and to represent yet another falsely accused murderer. (The only unbelievable portion of this book was why anyone would deliberately travel to Wisconsin in winter when Minnesota is one state to the west). I only wish other writers could learn how to keep a series entertaining--maybe it's the choice of a golden retriever as the co-star!
May 4, 2016
Full review at Smoke & Mirrors: http://books-n-music.blogspot.com/201.... This is the fifth installment in the Andy Carpenter series and for me, the funniest! I laughed more while reading this one than the preceding four! Of course, there was excellent material for humor, given his relationship (or lack thereof) with Laurie. This series is a winner in my book. Always enjoyable, always a good mystery. Perhaps a few more dead bodies than I typically prefer, but not so much that it detracts from the wry wit and humor! And who couldn't love Tara? :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 595 reviews