Rating: 
Summary: Open and Shut - This Is One Good Book!
Review: In the tradition of Harlan Coben and Nelson DeMille's characters, David Rosenfelt introduces us to Andy Carpenter, a lawyer based in New Jersey. And be prepared because once you begin this book you won't be able to put it down.
When Andy's father, a former District Attorney, suddenly dies, Andy never expected to inherit 22 million dollars. Neither did he expect to be seeking a new trial for a man on death row who is there after Andy's father successfully prosecuted him. Then while Andy is going through his father's things, Andy finds a photograph which was hidden behind another photo which shows his father with three men. The photograph which was taken in 1965 shows one man who looks vaguely familiar but the other two are unknown to him. Now confused by the size of his inheritance and the surprising photograph while seeking a new trial for Willie Martin, Andy decides to investigate not only where the money came from but who else is in the picture. Unfortunately for Andy though as he gets deeper and deeper into his investigation along with some colleagues, some disturbing events occur. His home is broken into, he's assaulted in his office by a man wearing a ski mask and then a bullet meant for him mistakenly wounds somebody else, Andy begins to wonder if somehow all of these events aren't
connected.
This is one terrific book which I couldn't put down. It is a roller coaster of a read which although convoluted is easy enough for readers to follow and enjoy. And as improbable as it may seem, I couldn't help but think that the plot of this novel could very well have happened.
I found this book exciting, entertaining and well written. And the author certainly knew that readers would look forward to more books about Andy Carpenter since there are now two more titles in this series. I can hardly wait to begin the second book, First Degree and only hope its as good as Open and Shut. And than I will look forward to more books by David Rosenfelt either in this series or as stand alone titles.
Rating: 
Summary: Rosenfeldt and his hero, Andy Carpenter, are the new kids...
Review: in town. Rosenfeldt worked in marketing for Tri-Star pictures before trying his hand at screenplays, and this, his first novel. He has a smooth, confident style and a hero steeped in courtroom shenanigans. Like Coben's hero, Myron Bolitar, Andy Carpenter is a sports nut and a smartass, but a loveable one. Like Koontz's heroes, Andy is hung up on his Golden Retriever, Tara, and much of the charm and humor of the character comes out in his frequent references to her. Carpenter's first story (I say first, because the book cries out for a sequel or two or thirteen) involves an appeal in a case of capital murder. His case is tangled in his past with his beloved father, and his feeling that there is more than meets the eye to his dad's request for him to defend a man that he, himself, had convicted. Tangled with the defense of his client, Willie Miller, is Andy's own broken marriage and his attempt at reconciliation after he's already fallen in love with someone new. The plot to prove Willie's innocence is less than original, and a little shallow, but the witty repartee and diarization style of writing adopted by Rosenfeldt is charming and breezy. Many small humorous passages will make you laugh, even though the scene is serious. Carpenter's explanation to Miller of why he will probably still lose the trial..."suppose Dinky University's football team goes down to Florida State and loses ....but the game doesn't count because FSU's water boy wasn't eligible....Dinky is still Dinky". Carpenter's rants against DNA, his soliloquy to the Yankees and his betting contests with his father, courtroom antics such as the stunt with Kevin's cousin -- all are irreverent and totally New Jersey in their origin and humor. It's not a great novel, but it ranks as a great and entertaining first effort, and Rosenfeldt will have a terrific career if there are more like this to come! Read it, enjoy,laugh!
Rating: 
Summary: A very raw but promising first novel...
Review: It should come as no surprise that Rosenfelt is a former Hollywood marketing executive. If this book were a movie (and it does read like a typical screenplay) it would be a solid "rental," two and half stars. The book is about as deep as my finger nail, but the story flies by. Andy is a good guy. You can't help but like him. For that reason, I will probably read more of the Andy Carpenter books. The disappointing thing is, of course, the lack of depth. I hoping that Rosenfelt grows a novelist. Because Carpenter is worth keeping around.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific!
Review: It's hard to believe this is David Rosenfelt's first novel, but that's what the book jacket says. New Jersey attorney Andy Carpenter's biggest problems are fretting over whether to work things out with his estranged wife or move forward with pretty PI Laurie Collins. He's good in court, wins most of his cases, and is popular with judges and prosecutors alike. He lives with a Golden Retriever named Tara in a house he likes a lot, and life is pretty darn good. And then Andy's father, Nelson, a retired prosecutor, asks him to take on the appeal of Willie Miller, on death row for a murder Nelson himself prosecuted. Before Andy can ask his father what's going on, Nelson dies. Finding himself heir to a mysterious fortune and a troubling photograph, Andy plods ahead with his new client's appeal. And that's when the threats start. Andy himself had always believed Willie Miller was guilty, so who could feel so threatened by a re-trial? As the investigation of the murder Willie was convicted of, that of young newspaper reporter Denise McGregor, progresses, evidence of an old and ugly murder gradually comes to light. What are the connections, and what could Willie Miller have had to do with it? More intriguing, what about the photo of Nelson Carpenter and his powerful friends? And where did Nelson Carpenter get all that money which he never touched? This novel is artfully constructed and superbly plotted and, if this is a first novel, I hope it's only the first of many to come. This author is uncommonly talented and this is a spectacular debut.
Rating:
Summary: Predictable
Review: It's obvious from the beginning how this case is going to turn out so its all about getting there and I'm afraid its not too convincing in that area since the clincher comes out of fiction writing left field. The characters are all there and the read is light and easy but its basically empty. Not bad tho to kill time on the beach or lounging somewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Short novel and easy to read
Review: Just about right for a good novel with suspenseful plot. Good start for author's debut. I noticed the author wrote Andy Carpenter's sarcastic and smart aleck dialogue is almost similiar to Robert Parker's Spenser.
Rating:
Summary: Fun to Read
Review: Maybe you gotta be from Jersey to like this book. Maybe not. But I really enjoyed it. This was a fun mystery that kept me turning pages from beginning to end. Rosenfelt has a good sense of humor and comes through with snappy dialogue and entertaining plot developments. No, its not the most original story of all time and some of the plot developments are a bit far fetched. But the book is very entertaining and Rosenfelt shows a real gift for the court room based mystery genre. I look forward to his next work!
Rating:
Summary: The Verdict - A Fine Read
Review: Most first novels read like first novels. Not David Rosenfelt's OPEN AND SHUT. Rosenfelt offers up a rarity - a lawyer you like and a lawyer you want to root for. Attorney Andy Carpenter's musings are more than worth the price of admission for this novel. The read works on a number of fronts, with good plot, subplots, and a nice supporting cast. "Legal thrillers" aren't usually my first choices when selecting crime fiction, but to this book's credit it goes more for heart than power lunches and three piece suits. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I've Read Recently
Review: Once you start reading this book you will not want to put it down. Open and Shut is an excellent book packed book full of suspense, loads of action and a few twists and turns. I am looking forward to David's next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining enough, but not riveting:
Review: Open & Shut is an acceptable "who done it" mystery with moderately likable characters, but is in no way a masterpiece. The lead character is entertaining in the beginning, but is quickly tiresome because his particular brand of humor is a bit overdone. The development is quite slow, so the story does remain still at times. Open & Shut is at its best in the last quarter of the book, so the venture was not a total loss.
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