Sudden Death

A football player is found murdered and the suspect, Kenny, is asking for Andy. Andy gathers his team together to start defending Kenny. Was Troy killed because of a drug deal gone bad? Or did it have something to do with a secret pact that Kenny, Troy and others made when they were in high school?

In the meantime, Hollywood wants to make a movie of Willie's story (he spent seven years in prison and was on death's row for a murder he didn't commit until Andy won his freedom in a retrial). Adam, a writer, is assigned to shadow Andy to get the background story. Andy's investigator and girlfriend, Laurie, went home for a high school reunion. She came back homesick and with a job offer and is considering moving home. Andy doesn't want her to go and it's breaking his heart.

This is the fourth book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. I liked the writing style as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing. It was written in first person perspective in Andy's voice. It is the fourth in the Andy Carpenter series (and the fourth I've read) and it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the first one to know what is going on).

I like Andy. He's smart and shifty and recognizes his weaknesses. He loves his dog, Tara, and thinks she's the most wonderful dog in the whole wide world. In addition to Laurie, Andy's team is made up of Kevin, his associate who also owns/runs a laundramat, and Marcus, an investigator with persuasive reasoning skills. He calls in favours from his friends, Vince, the editor of the local newspaper, and Pete, a local police officer.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2015/11/book-sudden-death-2006-david-rosenfelt.html

This fourth time out, David Rosenfelt takes his hero, Andy Carpenter, into a sport-related mystery. It’s obvious that the author is crazy about sports and he lets Andy rub shoulders with the great and near-great of the NFL (National Football League).

Andy receives a call that a potential client (Kenny Schilling) who wants to see him immediately. Arriving at Kenny’s home, he finds that Kenny (quarterback for the Giants) is holding off the police at his home. In Kenny’s closet lies a dead Jets quarterback.

As bodies pile up, Andy calls upon his friends to help him figure out the case, including: Laurie Collins (Andy’s girlfriend and case detective), strong-man Marcus Clark, sometimes secretary and full-time crossword puzzle enthusiast Edna, and a host of other eccentrics and good guys.

Of course, Andy is on surname-basis with the local Mafia boss. He tries to interest the Mafia in ‘taking-out’ the wise guy who plans to ‘take-out’ Andy – before he can defend his client in court.

Things twist and turn faster than Andy can wisecrack about the folly of his career choice. However, trouble is on the horizon; Laurie has an opportunity of a great job back in her hometown. Will she go … or stay with Andy? 4.5 stars

Andy Carpenter
1. Open and Shut (2002)
2. First Degree (2003)
3. Bury the Lead (2004)
4. Sudden Death (2005)

angst, the-mob, dogs, law-enforcement, lawyers, murder, murder-investigation *****

The body in the closet, the NFL star with a smoking gun, the clueless lawyer, the regular Mob boss, the crazed Mob boss, and the murder trial from hell all factor into this compelling read. The suspense is awful and the characters certainly are, but I just couldn't put it down! Didn't hurt that there were references to Milwaukee, Norway, and Jeremiah.

"Sudden Death" by David Rosenfelt.

This Andy Carpenter mystery had it all. My favorite so far in this series.
The running back for the New York giants, Kenny Schilling, needs Andy's services for his defense and he needs him NOW. Andy has to defend Kenny who is being accused of a high profile murder.

At the same time Laurie, Andy's long time significant other, has dropped a bomb shell in Andy's lap. She is planning on a future...a future that is without Andy. Can Andy find the words to bring Laurie to her senses?

While all this is going on in Andy's life he recognizes his most beloved Tara is showing signs of aging. Signs that are too much for Andy to accept.

The ending came out of nowhere. I totally thought the story was over and then the bottom drops out of the case with a bang.

I listened to this book on CD with Grover Gardner as Andy's voice. A perfect fit.

When a mystery writer creates an engaging character with ample opportunity for enticing cases, a series is born and readers await with anticipation each new installment of crime solving. SUDDEN DEATH, by David Rosenfelt, is the fourth mystery that features Andy Carpenter as a crime-solving criminal defense attorney. Both Carpenter and Rosenfelt appear on the way to long and successful careers in the mystery business.

Andy Carpenter has a luxury that most lawyers would love to possess. He inherited $22 million from his father, and that bankroll allows him the opportunity to pick not only his clients but his cases as well. In one of his earlier novels he successfully represented Willie Miller, wrongfully convicted of murder. Miller's release and subsequent civil suit continue to make everyone around Andy financially secure. That group includes Miller, Andy's secretary Edna, his associate Kevin Randall, and Laurie Collins, who serves as Carpenter's private investigator and love interest.

As the novel opens, Carpenter and Miller are on their way to California to meet with movie producers to discuss a possible film surrounding Willie and his vindication. Prior to becoming an author, Rosenfelt had a career in Hollywood, and the opening scenes of SUDDEN DEATH are an entertaining and humorous look at the West Coast lifestyle. Soon after arrival the wining and dining commences, and within a day Andy and Willie are on a flight back to New Jersey speculating in their minds as to who will portray them in the movie that will chronicle their achievements.

But before the casting call can begin, a new client needs Andy's services. Kenny Schilling is a star running back for the New York Giants. Andy meets his new client while he is barricaded in his home surrounded by police officers. Also inside the home is the corpse of Tony Preston, wide receiver for the New York Jets. The evidence appears overwhelming, but Carpenter finds other facts indicating that Schilling was framed. Of course the reader knows that Andy will establish his client's innocence, but how he accomplishes that task makes SUDDEN DEATH great mystery reading.

Rosenfelt has two wonderful writing talents that serve him well in the mystery milieu. In addition to Andy Carpenter, a cast of quirky and interesting characters --- some previously introduced in the series, and some who make appearances only in this saga --- are portrayed. All of them are interesting individuals who add to the story and plot development. In SUDDEN DEATH Andy's girlfriend Laurie must decide whether she should return to her hometown to resume her law enforcement career. As both Andy and Laurie wrestle with that dilemma, so does the reader. Caring about characters is what distinguishes good mysteries from mediocre efforts. This series creates characters who readers genuinely care about.

Rosenfelt's other ability comes in his creation of courtroom scenes. Many legal-related novels fall apart when they enter the courtroom. For a non-lawyer, Rosenfelt has a wonderful ability to capture what transpires before a judge and jury. Sometimes Andy does get away with a few strategies that real-life attorneys would not attempt, but after all this is fiction, not real life, and plot sometimes trumps life. A future Andy Carpenter novel may find him toiling for even longer periods of time in the courtroom. It would not make Rosenfelt's effort any less readable or enjoyable.

What is the best recommendation that one can give a mystery such as SUDDEN DEATH? Perhaps there are two. The first is to observe that each new episode of the series continues to maintain the quality of previous installments. The characters and style are by now comfortable to readers. You can enjoy this book, go back to previous Carpenter adventures and get up to speed without a problem. The second recommendation is perhaps even stronger. This reader anxiously awaits Andy Carpenter's next case. There is no doubt that it will be another enticing courtroom adventure.

--- Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman

David Rosenfelt's "Sudden Death" features Andy Carpenter, a wisecracking defense attorney who has taken on a high profile case. Kenny Schilling, a star running back for the New York Giants, has barricaded himself in his house with the dead body of another football player, Troy Preston. Kenny claims that someone else killed Troy and left him to take the rap. After arranging for Kenny's surrender, Andy agrees to defend him, and the battle is straight uphill.

Andy is the first person narrator and he is a sweet and funny guy, similar to Ben Kincaid in the early William Bernhardt books. Unlike Ben, Andy is a multimillionaire who doesn't need to work for a living. Andy's lover, Laurie, is also his investigator, but she is seriously thinking about returning to the small Wisconsin town where she grew up. Andy loves his home in Paterson, New Jersey, and moving to Wisconsin is not an option for him. He spends much of the book worrying that he will lose Laurie.

"Sudden Death" features nasty mobsters, courtroom wrangling, media hype, and, on every page, Andy's one-liners. Rosenfelt has a gift for spare writing and deft characterization. Marcus, Andy's fierce bodyguard, who grunts rather than speaks, can frighten the most hardened criminal with his stony stare. Tara, Andy's beloved golden retriever, would be the one true love of his life were it not for Laurie. Edna, Andy's secretary, sidles in to work when she feels like it; her true passion is crossword puzzles. "Edna is to crossword puzzles what Gretzky was to hockey."

As the case against Kenny becomes more watertight, Andy digs into his bag of tricks to cast suspicion on some nasty New Jersey gangland types. This would be a brilliant idea, except for the fact that Andy is quickly targeted for death. Rosenfelt's ending is both far-fetched and predictable, but "Sudden Death" is so entertaining that it scarcely matters. David Rosenfelt's easygoing and amusing writing style makes this novel a pleasure to read.

Not going to win the Nobel prize for literature, but as always entertaining, with a few surprises. It’s got a great mix of humor, love interest and a good ensemble cast. I’ve already signed up for the next one.

We love this series! Books are all different which is a plus in a series. The author will make you laugh out loud in one chapter and cry in the next, fortunately there is more laughter than tears. Best supporting character is Tara, his dog. Even though this is relax reading I feel I learn something in each one, a plus in my 'book'.

Another great novel. I couldn't stop reading. It's well written and the ending is great (even though I suspected it quite early in the book it was still a surprise). If you enjoy an easy read with some suspense, I recommend it.

I Love Andy, Laurie, Marcus, Willie, and all the other characters Mr. Rosenfelt writes about in the Andy Carpenter books. The courtroom drama and the investigation to solve the crime is outstanding. Love the clever dialog, too. Great legal mystery in every book.

Wisecracking but lovable Andy Carpenter is at it again in David Rosenfelt's fourth book, Sudden Death, featuring this lawyer and sometime detective.Along with a group of friends who haev helped him before Andy is up to some of his old tricks when called upon to defend a would be murderer. And while its been three months since his last high profile case, Andy is once again up to the occassion not only employing all of his skills but his wonderful sense of humor and take on life. But Andy really needs to be tournament tough for this trial as it may be his hardest one yet.

In the home of Kenny Schilling, a quarterback for the Giants, police find a missing and very dead quarterback from the Jets. While Kevin

Schilling maintains he is innocent, things may not be that way at all. And as if Andy doesn't have his hands full with his canine rescue partner Willie, his somewhat interesting lawassociate and his not too hardworking and crossword puzzle secretary, Andy's long standing girlfriend and private investigator is thinking of leaving New Jersey and taking a job in the hometown where she grew up.

In the tradition of characters like Myron Bolitar from the

Harlan Coben series and Patrick Gennaro from Dennis Lehane's

series, David Rosenfelt takes his rightful place next to

these men in the fast paced world of suspense sprinkled with

both humor and pathos.

Reading this series is like eating popcorn, you keep reading, you keep eating until you still have more book than popcorn. You take a break, make an other bowl and go back to reading. Your not finished yet, there are more surprises to discover. I love these books and I love popcorn. so I will move back to Book 3 because it was not available. I will say that it is important to read Books 1 and 2 in order. If you like dogs and romance and suspense Andy Carpenter should be your date for the evening. David Rosenfelt is a gifted writer with lots of stories to share. I look forward to each one. More popcorn please. FranE

Another enjoyable Andy Carpenter book by David Rosenfelt. These books are a guarantee light and interesting read with enough plot twists and witty banter to keep a reader entertained. The pace is quick and the books are satisfying.

I very much enjoy Rosenfelt's style, which is reminiscent of Robert Parker and Harlan Coben in the style of humor. Real strengths, to me, are the secondary characters surrounding Andy and courtroom scenes which are interesting and yet don't overwhelm the story. I like that Andy isn't as overwhelming macho as some characters, but he's almost too insecure for me. But, I found the story interesting; I liked the twists along the way and didn't see the killer until the end. To me, the weakness is that in each book, he kills off a significant secondary character. Once or twice, I can deal with, but done each time, it become predictable and loses its impact. But that's not enough to keep me from having enjoyed the book, continuing to read the series and recommending it to others.

Andy Carpenter, a defense lawyer is called the scene of cop stand off. The shooter is the star running back of the New York Gaints,, Kenny Schillings.athere he finds Kenny and the body of the Jet's wide receiver. This book is hard to put down as the action is fast moving and intriguing. Laurie is thinking of mvoving back to the town where she grew. I recommend ythis book highly.

I read the 10th book on a recommendation, which I enjoyed, so I decided to start from the beginning to watch the characters develop. I like the writing style, not too wordy and moves along. I find myself laughing out loud at some fun things that are said.

I also read the author's book call Dog Tripping which is not fiction. Very nice.

Rosenfelt's first three books in the Andy Carpenter series were tightly written capers with lots of humor sprinkled in, and a minimum of overtly obvious suspects and plot twists. I can't say the same for Sudden Death. The red herrings are obvious, as are the suspected culprits. This would have been okay if Mr. Rosenfelt had kept the book as tightly written as the others, but the narrative went on for too long as Carpenter repeatedly went through a litany of thoughts regarding the possiblility of his significant other moving away from him, and his fears of being killed by a noted drug dealer. The humor that was so abundant in the other books in this series is also not as evident, and the text could have used more to compensate for the psychobabble.

Enjoyable, but not as much as the others.

This series gets better and better. I really enjoy finding out more about the recurring characters, and the new ones introduced are intriguing. Though the procedures are pretty much the same in each, the different milieu from which the defendants come makes them seem fresh and the book impossible to put down.

"Sudden Death" is the second Andy Carpenter book that I've read(I was introduced to the series last year when I read 'Bury the Lead'). As with the previou book, the charaters are inteesting, well-developed and quirky without being too annoying.
The plot is the biggest problem with 'Sudden Death'. There's a lot of build-up, but very little payoff. This won't stop me from reading other entries in this series, but Rosenfelt needs to tweak things a bit. Some of the similarities to Robert B. Parker and the 'Spenser' cast are rather obvious here. Maybe Rosenfelt needs to work on finding his own 'voice' and motivation for these characters, rather than simply emulating what others have done before.

Good story but Rosenfelt includes too much "cute little cliches and thoughts" by his main character. I found myself skimming some and wanting to get to the conclusion. A little of that goes a long way; it got really tiring.

Sudden Death is another wonderful entry by David Rosenfelt.

Featuring lawyer Andy Carpenter and his trusted friends this legal thriller is a wonderful mixture of humor and suspense.

Nobody does humor as well as Rosenfelt. Every page has some degree of sarcastic humor and it blends wonderfully into the storyline.

The suspense builds and builds and you don't know until the end who the guilty party is.

This is a great buy.

A great mix of mystery, crime, humor, and a plot that keeps unraveling in unexpected directions...a good choice for those who enjoy legal/crime drama for the analysis of the crime, without the graphic details of gore.

Great book. Easy read. This author has created the Andy Carpenter character as so funny, lovable, fallible, yet brilliant. I read the books and listen to the audio books. Very enjoyable. The twist at the end of this book was unexpected!

David Rosenfelt just has a way to combine dry humor with a classic mystery. Being a pet lover helps as he (in real life) is a dog lover and is actively involved in efforts to help shelter and find homes for abandoned/abused dogs. I have since read several of his other writings and thoroughly enjoyed them all.

Another fun and fast-paced courtroom mystery from one of my favorite new authors. This one and First Degree are the best of the bunch. Some of the scenes in Sudden Death jumped out at me and caught me of guard. I love it when that happens in books. Doesn't happen enough.

The witty Andy Carpenter returns in a very satisfying and fun to read novel. You'll get the 'whodunnit' story as well as the courtroom drama scenes. A fun and entertaining way to spend some of your summers hours.

Recommended.