Play Dead

by: David Rosenfelt

Published by: Warner Books

Reviewed by Diane Keye

You just have to love a guy who spends his inheritance rescuing homeless dogs and then defending them in court. This is the setting for Play Dead, an entertaining, light-hearted and yet surprisingly complex murder mystery.

Author David Rosenfelt was obviously paying close attention the day his writing class explored ways to create appealing protagonists. Andy Carpenter is a charming combination of intelligence, humor, sex appeal and compassion--with a touch of the rakish huckster thrown in for good measure.

Rosenfelt was also paying attention when the writing teacher covered scene-stealing dogs. With Reggie as the poster dog for man's best friend, this lovable, loyal and slightly goofy golden retriever captured my heart from the start. And when I found out he'd been abused, well as my friend would say, "that tears it.

Add to the canine perfection, a hypochondriac sidekick, a computer hacking, adventure-loving accountant who talks in movie dialogue, a monosyllabic Ironman bodyguard, an irascible newspaper editor, and a street savvy, police chief girlfriend. All this combined, Andy and his pals create a compelling cast of disarmingly eccentric characters to curl up with on a lazy afternoon.

But strong characters are not all Play Dead has to offer. David Rosenfelt tells a great story. With shadows of organized crime, the Afganistan war and government cover ups, he has woven an intricate plot that stands up well against the current crop of more popular mystery writers.

My only disappointment with Play Dead comes at the end of the book. In this area, the author reminds me a lot of John Grisham who, in my opinion, always ends his books as if he's tired of the story and just wants to move on. I'm well aware that Mr. Grisham has scraped by rather nicely without my input. But I like my loose ends neatly tied, and I was hoping for a short and sassy wrap-up with Andy and his police chief girlfriend. Maybe next time.

Armchair Interviews says: A sharp read that will really entertain you, dog lover or not.