I love this series, and always look forward to the next installment. Series get predictable over time, but the dogs are worth it. :)

*Thank you @stmartinspress @minotaur_books and @netgalley for the copy of this book*

Lawyer Andy Carpenter is hosting a dinner party for his famous Hollywood actress friend (and former high school girlfriend) Jenny Nichols. When her costar crashes the party, no one thinks anything of it. However, when that costar is found dead with a knife in his back at Jenny's house, Andy must step up to prove her innocence. He is soon dragged into the toxic world of the rich and famous.

I love a cozy mystery but somehow I always accidentally tend to read them out of order - thankfully most of them can work as a stand alone. Although this is the 27th book in the series, there was sufficient information that made jumping in just fine. My one issue is that there were wayyy too many characters they tried to introduce/reintroduce that felt irrelevant to the current story being told. The main character drove me crazy with his repetitive dialogue although I understand that's his little quirk. I will say the murder mystery in this story was one of my favorites but the buildup was so long and the resolution felt rushed. One of my favorite aspects of cozy mysteries are the cute animal side kicks but the animals in this story weren't really highlighted.

Flop Dead Gorgeous

by David Rosenfelt

There are lots of things reading can and should be, but in the case of Flop Dead Gorgeous, it is FUN! I enjoyed this legal mystery with a dollop of cozy and a heavy dose of humor. The dogs add animal charm, and now I’m addicted. That is okay because this book is the 27th book in the Andy Carpenter Mystery Series!

Out to dinner with a starlet, lawyer Andy and his retired cop wife Laurie experience some real life drama when Jenny’s demanding and irrational ex-boyfriend shows up. Thanks to Laurie’s reflexes, all seems well until Jenny discovers his body on the floor of her kitchen in the middle of the night. Andy, who dated Jenny a few times in high school (as he humorously reminds the reader multiple times), is convinced Jenny did not kill Ryan, but the only way to persuade the jury of her innocence is to find out who did kill him. Sam, his cyber investigator who has a way of “entering” off limit computers is called upon to track phones, to find out what the authorities know, and to learn what those active in the dark web are up to. Andy also has his team safe guarding himself and Jenny—a smart move since some really nasty foreign mobsters may be involved.

I enjoyed Andy’s persistence and his straight-faced wise cracks in the face of a probably negative outcome for his lovely client. He has a number of loyal friends that include a police chief and a local newspaper editor. They are ethically sound, but they also will help when they can. Andy has an excellent record as an attorney, but he maintains a fairly rundown office above a fruit stand that successfully throws some off guard.

The author’s love of rescue dogs is reflected in this mystery in which he has three dogs living with him. Mamie, Jenny’s dog, adds to the pack when Jenny and Mamie live with his family during the trial to avoid the press. As a Basset hound aficionado, I particularly enjoyed these quotes about his Basset Sebastian:
“…Mamie runs around him, trying to get him to play. She doesn’t know it yet, but she has more chance of getting a response from a clothes hamper.”
and
“Ricky always holds Sebastian’s leash because there is no danger that Sebastian will pull free and run off. It’s like walking a barking turtle.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Legal Mystery, Humor

Notes: 1. #27 in the Andy Carpenter Mystery Series. This could definitely be read as a standalone. This is my first book by David Rosenfelt, and I had no problem with bouncing into this large series.
2. There is some inappropriate language which could have been left out, but not enough to keep me from reading another in the series.

Publication: July 4, 2023—St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books)

Memorable Lines:

“I’ve got water, flavored water, and flavored carbonated water.” “None of the above,” I say. Just because I’m in California, it doesn’t mean I am going to abandon my principles and start being health conscious.” …“You’re representing the person who killed Ryan.” “Apparently the innocent until proven guilty concept hasn’t worked its way west?” “It’s probably somewhere over Nebraska at this point,” he says.

…people who invest in movies are not usually the killer types. They certainly are not above stabbing people in the back, but they do it metaphorically.

He spit at Marcus Clark. As stupid maneuvers go, that ranks well above tugging on Superman’s cape and pulling the mask off that old Lone Ranger.

Andy Carpenter is always a fun diversion from life.

I loved that the gang is all together here. Marcus is one of my favorite minor characters, even though (or maybe because?) he rarely says much.

As with all the books in this series, the dialogue leans toward cheesy. The problem for me is that Andy’s constant quips are repetitive, with almost the same lines lifted from one book to the next. I need something new with character growth, or at least new quips.

The plot is a bit over the top, and you can’t examine details too closely. But that’s fine. I read these books for the lightness and easy entertainment.

This is book #27 in the series, but you can read them each as stand-alone novels.

Flop. Dead Gorgeous Was such a fun read. The cover is the cutest and I absolutely love the story.. I really had fun with this one and it made me laugh and smile but kept me on my toes as well. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Fun Read!!!

Andy Carpenter is his usual breezy, just-the-right-side-of-too-flippant self, taking care of his beloved dogs and bragging about having gone to high school with (and briefly dated) actress Jenny Nichols, who is in town shooting her latest film. Andy and his wife, Laurie, get together with Jenny at a restaurant, where her costar finds them, makes a scene, and is escorted off the premises. When the costar turns up dead in Jenny’s kitchen the next day, the famous actress becomes the prime suspect, and Andy gets serious and takes on her defense. The pool of suspects is limited enough that it isn’t difficult to guess who did it, but in this series that hardly matters. As expected from this long-running series, this is a well-paced, entertaining story told with humor and plenty of references to the troop of dogs (now temporarily including Jenny’s) inhabiting Andy’s home.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital advance review copy.

Flop Dead Gorgeous is the 27th (!!!) Andy Carpenter legal procedural mystery by David Rosenfelt. Released 4th July 2023 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in July 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.

For current fans of the series, this is a good one. It's full of the same sarcastic, warm humor and the same ensemble cast as previous entries in the series (and it's nice to see Edna again, who's been mostly absent for a while, doing perpetual wedding planning). Andy Carpenter is, of course, central to the story and still trying to figure out how to stay retired and avoid working. This is such a long running and consistently well written series that saying it's "more of the same, worked around a different mystery" should be enough of a recommendation by itself. Although it's the 27th book in the series (hard to believe it's still so consistently good), the mystery is self contained and the necessary back-story is written in without major spoilers for previous books. I heartily recommend the whole series, but this particular entry is quite strong.

This is pure comfort reading. It's got a likable protagonist, an engaging mystery, humorous dialogue, and a solid climax, denouement, and resolution.

The audiobook has a run time of 6 hours and 43 minutes and is expertly read by series narrator Grover Gardner who manages to juggle the various accents and characters of all ages and both sexes without problems. I found myself grinning and laughing along several places with the wonderful narration. The read was definitely enhanced by the narrator. The sound and production quality are high throughout the recording.

Four and a half stars for both the text and audiobook versions. All around fun read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Oh this was such a cute and fun book!!! I haven't read many books by this author but now I want to go back and read others. Also I just love the cover on this.

A fun and humorous mystery with dogs and engaging characters. The plot was decent too. The book was lightweight but enjoyable and I will probably seek out some of the others in the series (I read it as a standalone and it worked fine.)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Mix a little Tara and Andy with a little Hollywood, along with court room drama, a good dose of sarcasm, great characters and you've got a star on your hands! The Andy Carpenter series never disappoints.

Both series of David Rosenfelt are fun and enjoyable. My only complaint is when there isn't enough with his wonderful dog Tara in the story. As always Andy Carpenter gets drawn into another murder case where he has to save the day. This had a charming twist as he had dated a girl in school who became a famous actress and Andy needs to come to her rescue as she is suspected of murder. It's a good story with all our favorite characters. Read all his books and read them in order. You are in for alot of fun.

Andy is involved in another case, this time it's a former high school sweetheart, and now famous actress, Jenny. After a night out with Andy and friends she came home to discover her ex murdered in her kitchen. Jenny is arrested and needs Andy’s help.

I always enjoy this series that involves a murder mystery, investigative work and dogs along with a little humor on the side. In addition this one had money laundering and mob connections among other things. This was a fast paced, entertaining book that kept me captivated throughout as Andy raced against time before the trial approached.

While this is a long going series, I think the books can be read as stand alones.

Really enjoyed this one!

I love the cover!
Flop Dead Gorgeous is #27 in the Andy Carpenter series.
worked well as a stand-alone but I'm curious about some of the characters so will be reading more of the series now. Definitely a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Andy Carpenter is an attorney and not nearly as retired as he’d like to be. Although he tries to avoid work, cases seem to find him. Take for instance, his most recent involving Hollywood actress Jenny Nichols. Andy doesn’t like to brag but does take the opportunity to mention as many times as possible, he and Jenny dated in high school. She’s in New York shooting a movie and letting on that she’s staying at a hotel there. In reality, she’s staying in the house she inherited from her mother. It’s in Paterson, New Jersey, where Andy still lives with his wife, Laurie, son Richie, and their three dogs.

Andy treats Jenny and all his friends (so they’ll believe he really does know Jenny) to an evening upstairs at Charlie’s Sports Bar, where it’s nice and private. Somehow, Ryan Collins, Jenny’s co-star and former boyfriend, finds them and makes a scene when Jenny won’t leave with him.

Just before 3 a.m., Andy gets a phone call from Jenny. She’d gone home, went upstairs to bed, and when she went to kitchen later, found Ryan dead on the floor. All evidence points to Jenny as Ryan’s killer. It’s a media circus as soon as word gets out. Can Andy save her? With Sam the computer expert, Corey ex-cop and Simon Garfunkle (K-9, retired), Laurie wife and ex-cop, and Marcus (the muscle) on the case, it should be easy but there are complications.

There are always complications. This time, they’re at a whole new level.

This is book twenty-seven in the popular series. Filled with twists, turns, suspense, and dogs, every time I read, I wonder how Andy is going to pull this one off. Somehow, he always manages with clues that are cleverly laid out, but in my eagerness to read more, they are subtle enough to be easily missed. It’s a good excuse to read the book a second (or third) time. Be advised, you’ll want all of the books plus the spinoff series, The K-9 Team (four books so far), and will be glad you did. As always, expect to see Andy on my Best of 2023 list next January.

This is 27th in David Rosenfelt's cozy Andy Carpenter canine mystery series.

Episodes follow a typical plot - reluctant lawyer agrees to defend someone (with a canine connection) whose guilt seems clear. This time, though, Andy is in no way reluctant.

That's because he 'dated Jenny Nichols in high school' and Jenny is now a major star. After she's arrested for murder, Andy rallies his associates to her defense.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Retired lawyer Andy is once more called into action, this time by a movie star whom he dated in high school and is fond of telling everybody. Andy is a great combination of smarts, savvy and self deprecating humour. In other words, he is a highly entertaining read. And this book does not disappoint.

Movie star Jenny is having dinner with Andy, his wife and some friends, when her co-star and former lover bullies his way in only to discover that Andy has tougher friends than he does. When the actor is found in Jenny’s kitchen with a knife in his back by Jenny, she becomes the prime suspect. Things get desperate after she is arrested and Andy needs to figure what got the deceased killed. There will be shady dealings and Russian oligarchs on the periphery but Andy must connect the dots in order to provide the jury with a feasible alternative. Without telling too much of the plot, he is going to have some exciting challenges before he twigs to what truly happened.

It is a fast paced and enthralling story that I enjoyed very much. Five purrs and two paws up.

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

This was so fun! Laugh-out-loud snark from Andy and a twisty and satisfying mystery that kept me on the hook until the very end. Newcomers could probably start here without much trouble - the mystery stands pretty well on its own, and Andy's team is fairly self explanatory (although I always love seeing what Marcus is going to do in each book.

Love this series - and this was a fun addition to it. (Language)

David Rosenfelt continues to illustrate why Andy Carpenter is one of his best characters to date. Full of wit and charm, Andy is able to bring the reader along for the ride of yet another murder trial where he is trying to do his best to get his client off the hook.

In Flop Dead Gorgeous, Andy and his co-workers defend a former girlfriend turned movie star against murder charges of a Hollywood acquaintance. In true Andy Carpenter fashion, he is able to demonstrate his legal knowledge while still keeping a relatively low profile. Andy's heart is always in the right place and I find him to be an enjoyable character in book after book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this latest installment of the Carpenter mystery series.

Andy Carpenter once dated film star Jenny Nichols and he’s not too shy to remind us😉he also helped her adopt her poodle, Mamie, through his foundation.
When Jenny comes to New York to work on her newest film project, she stays in her home town in New Jersey. Jenny joins a group of old friends from Paterson for dinner one evening, including Andy and his wife Laurie, they are having a marvelous time … until Jenny’s co-star shows up and demands she leave with him. She does not, but the next morning she finds him dead in her kitchen. It’s looking pretty cut and dried and Jenny is arrested for his murder. With little to go on Andy has to dig deep, but is there any way he can prove that Jenny is innocent, after all he did date her once😜Andy Carpenter is such a great character, sarcastic to a fault, you can’t but love his quick wit and banter. Throw in a few dogs and a superb cast of supporting characters and you have a great read that’s pure fun all the way through. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

David Rosenfelt involves Andy Carpenter in Hollywood director murder with the star accused of the murder. The star was one of Andy's dates in high school visiting Andy and his wife when the movie director/costar barges in and tries to coerce the star to leave with him. Then the director is found murdered where Jenny the star is staying. As the trial approaches and starts Andy uncovers money laundering and murder by an international mob; is it connected Clever fast moving plot.