David Rosenfelt. Play Dead
(Andy Carpenter – 6)
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
ACCLAIM FOR DAVID ROSENFELT’S NOVELS
PLAY DEAD
“Riveting… No shaggy dog story, this puppy’s alive with reliable Rosenfelt wit and heart.”
– Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“There is no way you can read this novel without becoming completely caught up in the story. As always, Andy’s offbeat, outspoken personality shines on every page, and the balance of humor and mystery is dead-on.”
– Booklist (starred review)
“Enjoyable… Carpenter continues to amuse and engage.”
– Library Journal
“The customary humor abounds in this entertaining novel.”
– Midwest Book Review
“A steadily absorbing journey through layers and layers of deceit.”
– Kirkus Reviews
“A fun mystery novel… entertaining.”
– TheMysterySite.com
DEAD CENTER
“Entertaining… witty… perfect.”
– Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Enjoyable… entertaining.”
– Portland Tribune
“Rosenfelt is a very funny guy who’s got the gift of glib.”
– Kingston Observer (MA)
“Rosenfelt adroitly mixes drama with humor… Those who like the added complexity of character-driven mysteries will find much to enjoy in this award-winning series.”
– Booklist
“Written with flair and humor… If there aren’t any real-life lawyers as entertaining, as witty, and as willing to tilt at windmills as Andy Carpenter, Edgar®-finalist Rosenfelt’s engaging hero, then there should be.”
– Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A terrific tale… Fans of the series will enjoy Dead Center.”
– Midwest Book Review
“Witty… cleverly plotted… very enjoyable.”
– About Books
SUDDEN DEATH
“The author handles the material deftly, mixing humor and whodunit but never letting the comedy overwhelm the mystery.”
– Booklist
“Another touchdown!”
– Publishers Weekly
BURY THE LEAD
A TODAY SHOW BOOK CLUB PICK
“Absolute fun… Anyone who likes the Plum books will love this book.”
– JANET EVANOVICH
“A clever plot and breezy style… absorbing.”
– Boston Globe
“Exudes charm and offbeat humor, sophistication, and personable characters.”
– Dallas Morning News
FIRST DEGREE
SELECTED AS ONE OF THE BEST MYSTERIES OF 2003 BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Entertaining… fast paced… sophisticated.”
– MARILYN STASIO, New York Times Book Review
“Suspense just where you want it and humor just where you need it.”
– Entertainment Weekly
“Entertaining.”
– Cleveland Plain Dealer
OPEN AND SHUT
EDGAR® AWARD NOMINEE
“Very assured… packed with cleverly sarcastic wit.”
– New York Times
“Splendid… intricate plotting.”
– Cleveland Plain Dealer
“A great book… one part gripping legal thriller, one part smart-mouth wise-guy detective story, and all-around terrific.”
– HARLAN COBEN, author of
No Second Chance
“Engaging and likable… The action is brisk.”
– San Francisco Chronicle
Also by David Rosenfelt
New Tricks
Dead Center
Bury the Lead
Sudden Death
First Degree
Open and Shut
For Mike, whom I could never beat
at anything…
And for Rick, whom no one would
ever want to beat at anything.
Acknowledgments
I’m not a big fan of acknowledgment pages; most of the time I refuse to even acknowledge them. I especially hate when authors drop names of famous people as a way to impress the readers, and then go on to tell heartwarming little anecdotes to show how tight the author is with those bigshots.
Not me; that’s not what I’m about. I make my acknowledgments short and to the point, and I don’t go scrounging around for impressive names. I let my literary achievements do my showing off for me. If someone has been helpful or inspirational, I thank them… if not, I don’t. No one gets a free pass.
So, in no particular order, I would like to acknowledge…
Michael Jordan Bill Clinton
Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower Debbie Myers
Jonas Salk
Britney Spears
Clarence and Marlo Thomas Bob Castillo
Babe Ruth
Wolf Blitzer
Wolfman Jack
Stacy Alesi
Gandhi
Jessica and Homer Simpson Little Anthony and the Imperials Derek Jeter
Susan Richman
Wayne and Fig Newton Puff Daddy
My Daddy
My Mommy
Alex Trebek
Various Rosenfelts Golda Meir
The Barbara sisters: Bush, Streisand and Walters Nelson Mandela
Ozzie Nelson
Ozzy Osbourne
Les Pockell
Kevin Costner
Kevin Federline Robin Rue
George Costanza Joe Montana
The entire state of Montana David Divine
Bruce Springsteen Walter Cronkite Norman Schwarzkopf Tony Blair
Tony Gwynn
Tony Soprano
Kristin Weber
Bialystock and Bloom Ralph and Alice Kramden Bobby and Gladys Knight Doug Burns
George Burns
Henry Kissinger Trixie and Ed Norton June Peralta
The Taylors: Lawrence and Elizabeth Cal Ripken
Paris and Conrad Hilton Tokyo Rose
Al and Nancy Sarnoff The Bird Brothers: Larry, Charlie and Big Warren G. Harding Stephanie Allen Celia Johnson
Magic Johnson