A nice Story about a lawyer and an actress and her poodle. The actress is faced with a murder Charge. The lawyer and his wife help her to prove that she is not guility. Easy to read and entertaining.

Another good book by David Rosenfelt! in this book, Andy defends a Hollywood movie star (who he dated in high school, by the way) who is accused of stabbing her ex-boyfriend in the back. No spoilers, but all the usual gang was there, doing their best to help out. My one criticism is that I felt that the word charismatic was used way too many times in describing what kind of person the boyfriend was. I knew who the villian was early on, but that did not detract from the story for me. Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book.

Published: 07/04/23

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for accepting my request to read and review Flop Dead Gorgeous.

A solid four star read. While being the 27th book in the Andy Carpenter series, this can be read as a standalone. I have read 3 or 4 books in the series, and enjoyed them all.

Andy is a somewhat retiring attorney. He has cop and private eye friends, a wife and son. In addition, he loves sports and has a passion for dogs. All of these characters and elements have reoccurring roles in each of the books.

I find the bantering smart, and the writing/humor comparable to Seinfeld not Roseanne. The key dynamic between Andy and his cast of characters is class and respect. Thus making the stories read quickly like a really good short story, yet 270 plus pages of mystery, intrigue and fun.

These books slay me.

I wonder if the ridiculous covers and punny titles are meant to lower your expectations.

So, when you read them, you're surprised and charmed by their sly wit and tight plot.

I love the main character: Snarky and wry and clever.

The dogs never play in as much as I'd like, but I'll forgive the author, as his call backs "Did I tell you we dated in high school?" always made me SOL (snort out loud).

My favourite part, though, is that the author is PROLIFIC and I get to enjoy several of his books a year. I'm already looking forward to T'was the Bite Before Christmas.

7.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this droll ARC.

Another winner in the Andy Carpenter series! I have always been impressed by David Rosenfelt's ability to keep Andy's character consistently sarcastic and funny throughout the long series. I'm always excited to see a new Andy Carpenter out!

I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Andy Carpenter is a retired lawyer who is happy to run a dog rescue organization and enjoy time with his wife and son in Paterson, New Jersey. However, when a friend, who he actually dated in high school and is now a famous movie star, needs his help, Andy comes out of retirement to take her case.

Jenny Nichols has been arrested for the murder of her co-star, who she briefly went out with, and is also a wealthy movie producer as well. Now it’s up to Andy and his team, which includes his wife Laurie who is a private investigator, to prove that another one of Ryan Griffin’s enemies is actually the killer.

Flop Dead Gorgeous is the twenty-seventh Andy Carpenter mystery. Even though this is my first introduction to this series, it was easy getting to know the main characters.

I enjoy the close and supportive relationship between Andy and Laurie, both at home and on the job. The plot kept my interest and was more complex than I had expected. There are a few different suspects in Ryan’s murder that will keep you guessing. The highlight of the book is how funny it is – I love Andy’s sense of humor! The fact that he and Jenny dated before she was famous and Andy’s pride in that fact becomes a running joke throughout the book.

Despite the fact that Andy is always joking around, he takes his cases seriously and proves himself to be an intelligent and skilled attorney. The courtroom scenes are entertaining and suspenseful, with an unexpected outcome. I am definitely interested in reading other books by this author.

~ Christine

This is the first Andy Carpenter book I’ve read. If it’s the 27th book in the series, then I have obviously been missing something and David Rosenfelt is doing something right.

This is a neat plot. It has a retired lawyer, neat animals, a mystery, and of course, a dead body. More than anything, it has humor. Lots of humor.

I know I sound as if I enjoyed this book. I did, but I had difficulty getting through it. My attention seemed to lag, and I’d put it down. But then…time would pass, and I’d pick it back up.

Here’s my basic feeling. I don’t think an author can write a series of 27 books with the following Rosenfelt has without having writing talent. I think the time and place might have been an attention span problem of my own. Maybe this was a little slower, but I intend to start from Book 1. In fact, I just bought it. Time to give a series like this a chance.

Another wonderful mystery by David Rosenfelt. What will happen when a girl Andy dated a couple of times in high school comes to town? What happens when Marcus if faced with someone bigger than Marcus? What crime will get Andy out of semi-retirement again?

Read Flop Dead Gorgeous and find out!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

The series has had me hooked since the first one and most of the books are a hit with a few being a dud. This one wasn’t a hit nor a dud…just meh. The usual characters are in it and Andy’s humor is present, though not as often as it’s been in the past. The supporting characters don’t play a huge role as they have in previous books, but they are there. I think part of the reason why I wasn’t a huge fan of this book in particular is because it’s centered around a Hollywood actress and some relationship drama. While I’d give this book 3 out of 5 stars, it won’t stop me from reading them! I can’t wait until the next one arrives!

This is a Suspense/Mystery, and this is the 27th book in the Andy Carpenter series. I have read all the other books in this series before picking up this book, but I do think you can read this book as a standalone without any problems. This book is all about a movie star that Andy dated in school being arrested for the murder which causes her to need Andy as her lawyer. I enjoyed this case unfolding, but I wish some of the secondary characters and the dogs were in this book more. This book had me guessing and trying to figure out what was going on, and I did not guess the reveal before it was revealed. This was another fun read. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Minotaur Books) or author (David Rosenfelt) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

5 HUGE STARS
How does this author do it? How does he continue to write this series and make each story so fresh, invigorating and exciting? Andy carpenter is a legend among lawyers. He is hated by police and judges throughout New Jersey, but man is he a fantastic at what he does.
Did you know Andy dated a woman named Jenny in high school who is now a major movie star.? Andy might have have mentioned this once or one hundred times. Jenny is accused of murder and Andy is there,perhaps reluctantly as he just can'tseem to stay retired.
He knows his client is innocent but the evidence is staggering. I love his focus and drive. Behind the snark is a brilliant mind that knows the clock is running out for Jenny's freedom.
This book made me laugh and even cry. I highly recommend this page turning mystery. Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for my reading pleasure.

Thanks to @NetGalley, @macmillan.audio and @minotaur_books for gifting me an audio ARC as well as an eARC. I love these books they keep me engaged and make me laugh!
It is absolutely fascinating to me how David Rosenfelt can keep a consistent high quality in this series of now 27 legal procedurals - they are still witty, fun and compelling ! When I have read a new installment in this series I hand it right over to my husband, we both love them and we both work in legal professions
In this book we have defense attorney Andy
Carpenter still unsuccessfully trying to retire for good when yet another case drops in his lap. A former Highschool girlfriend turned actress is in town and after an evening out with Andy, his wife and friends wakes up to a dead colleague in her kitchen how did he get there? Who killed him ?
Suddenly the actress is in jail and Andy is on the case and taking her of her poodle Mamie, of course.
I love this series for it's keen insight into legal proceedings and legal thinking and it's quick witty banter - it is much smarter than the at times cutesy covers or titles would have you believe ! This is so fun!

Twenty-seven books into the best-selling Andy Carpenter series and our defense lawyer protagonist may have finally reached his breaking point. It begins simply enough, when an old friend from high school comes back to the Paterson, New Jersey area to sort through her recently deceased mother’s estate. Staying in Englewood Cliffs also affords Jenny Nichols relative anonymity while shooting a movie in nearby New York City.

Decades earlier, Jenny followed her dreams to Hollywood and became a huge star, with all the media attention that comes with it. As Andy wryly notes:

QUOTE
Like all beautiful actresses, there is huge media speculation and reporting on Jenny’s love life. I sometimes notice it when I see a story on a magazine cover at the supermarket, but I’m not that interested.

I’ll occasionally skim through them, but to my knowledge they have yet to mention the fact that she dated Andy Carpenter in high school. It’s a sad commentary on the state of American journalism that no reporter has dug out that fact, especially since I would be willing to give interviews.
END QUOTE

All kidding aside, Andy and Jenny have remained friends, with Andy even introducing Jenny to her beloved miniature French poodle Mamie as part of his work with a dog rescue foundation. Jenny and Laurie, Andy’s wife, have also become friendly, so it’s only natural that the Carpenters hold a small dinner party in her honor when she comes back to town.

Unfortunately, their pleasant gathering of friends is crashed by her co-star Ryan Griffin, who is also a producer on her latest film. He’s not there in a professional context, however. Jenny recently decided to end their romantic relationship, and he hasn’t taken that well at all. Unhappy that she’s been dodging his calls, he tracks her down to the restaurant where the dinner is being held and insists that she leave with him. To assist in this endeavor, he’s brought along some hired muscle. They’re no match for Andy’s friends though, who swiftly escort Ryan and his goons off the premises.

The rest of the evening passes much more peacefully, so Andy is alarmed to be awakened in the wee hours of the morning by a distraught phone call from Jenny. She had gotten up in the middle of the night to soothe a restless Mamie, and found Ryan stabbed to death in her kitchen. She called the police but is worried that they think she might have killed Ryan herself.

Jenny is right to worry, as she’s swiftly arrested and charged with first degree murder. Andy knows that his kind-hearted friend could never have killed anybody, and not just because they dated in high school. Trouble is, he’ll have to convince a jury of the same:

QUOTE
Because of the circumstances, the jury will view Jenny’s guilt as likely, and the only way we will be able to refute that definitively is to demonstrate someone else’s guilt.

To feel good about themselves, to feel like they have accomplished something, the jury will have to leave the trial believing that the guilty party will be punished for plunging a knife into Ryan Griffin’s back. If that is not Jenny, then it will have to be someone else.

Our job is to find the someone else.
END QUOTE

In order to do this, Andy and co will have to dig into Ryan’s background so that they can come up with a viable alternative killer. Unfortunately, their efforts soon unearth some very dangerous people who would have no qualms about getting rid of Ryan or anyone else who gets in their way, Andy included. Will he be able to clear Jenny’s name without running afoul of a criminal conspiracy that, it soon becomes clear, will do whatever it takes to achieve its nefarious aims?

Andy may have wanted to quit the legal profession even more than usual following the events of this novel but he simply mustn’t. His brilliant mind is needed by the wrongfully accused of his fictional world and by the discerning readers of this one! As clever and hilarious as the twenty-six other books in the series, Flop Dead Gorgeous brings a touch of Hollywood glamor to the proceedings, as Andy delves into Ryan’s life as both an actor and financier. The running joke about Andy’s prior relationship with Jenny goes through several entertaining permutations over the course of the novel, which seamlessly blends legal and investigative savvy with Andy’s self-deprecating humor. I devoured this book in a matter of hours and am already looking forward to the next.

Another book in the series about Andy Carpenter, a lawyer who is trying to stay retired but keeps catching cases. This one is about a movie star that he dated in high school who is accused of murder.

This book brings all the characters back from previous books but doesn't include Tara, Andy's dog or Marcus or Willie as much as in previous ones. I love all the characters but the earlier ones include them much more. Also Laurie is not included as much.

Hollywood glitter, money laundering, cybercrime and love gone wrong are what this book is all about. It takes right up until a few days before his client is sentenced (yep, he lost the case) before the pieces fall into place for Andy.

Intense court scenes, Hollywood backstage drama, sardonic humor, and a multitude of cute dogs fill Flop Dead Gorgeous.

This legal mystery is the latest novel in the Andy Carpenter (wannabe retired, but keeps being dragged back into the courtroom) lawyer series. This time he is forced to defend a former girlfriend and now a famous actress named Jenny. She is accused of killing her co-star and ex-boyfriend, Ryan. The evidence is stacked against Jenny but Andy is determined to prove her innocence.

Another breezy and humorous entry in this fun series. It is recommended as a perfect beach or shady patio read. 4 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

I have enjoyed the books I’ve read in the Andy Carpenter series. There is always drama … courtroom and real life as well as humor. I particularly enjoyed Andy’s constant reminding the reader that he had dated Jenny Nichols, the person accused of murder. The mystery has you hanging in through to the end. Andy’s brain works a little different than most people and so it is fun to see how he interacts with people and how he works out the clues to come up with the final “whodunit.” This is a good mystery series and I look forward to additional books by the author, David Rosenfelt.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Andy is a retired lawyer and an animal rescuer. When his old high school girlfriend, Jenny, comes to town to film a movie, he invites her to have dinner with him and his wife. Things do not go as planned. Jenny’s costar is found dead and Jenny is arrested for his murder. So, Andy comes out of retirement to save his friend.

I have never read this series. And I just might have to go back and pick a few up. I enjoyed how quickly this tale moved and the characters were fabulous. It is a bit predictable and simple but that just added to the charm! And there are definitely places that had me giggling in my chair!

And the dogs are such a treat! I wonder if the author has visited my house and decided to use Peanut and Lulu as characters!

Need a quick, laugh out loud mystery…THIS IS IT!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

In the book Flop Dead Gorgeous, author David Rosenfelt continues his bestselling Andy Carpenter Mystery series. Once again Andy is coming out of retirement. And this time he is helping Jenny Nichols, a girlfriend from high school, who is now a famous actress. But when Jenny’s costar and ex-boyfriend is found stabbed in the back, in her house, with her kitchen knife, will Andy be able to save her from prison?
This was a great fun story that continues the series. I would recommend this book and the series. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Andy Carpenter had a few dates with Jenny Nichols in high school. It is something to brag about since she is the best known alumna of Paterson NJ high school. She also adopted her dog from Andy's dog rescue operation, The Tara Foundation. Now, she is accused of stabbing her co-star to death in the kitchen of the house she is renting while filming a movie in NYC. Andy knows she could not have done that, so he is once again hauled out of his retirement. He organizes the whole team: Laurie, his wife; Corey, and his retired police dog, Simon Garfunkel; Marcus Clark; his accountant, Sam, who knows a thing or two about hacking, and Edna, the world's laziest secretary. As the investigation continues, it becomes apparent the victim was dabbling in money laundering and a hint of blackmail. All good motives for murder. But who actually wielded the knife? That is the question. Another entertaining read in the Andy Carpenter series.

The newest Andy Carpenter mystery Flop Dead Gorgeous might be his highest profile case yet. He’s defending none other than famous actress Jenny Nichols. For those who don’t know they dated in high school.

So when she is arrested for murder of her ex-boyfriend when she finds him stabbed in the back in her home. Of course Andy will help her fight it.

What Andy finds is not just the glitz and glamour of Hollywood but a Russian oligarch, money laundering, a hitman, and a slew of unanswered questions.

With the trial looming the pressure is on to find the real culprit, to set Jenny free.

The last few chapters didn’t go how I expected but also was satisfying to the whole story.