Unleashed by David Rosenfelt: New Excerpt

Unleashed by David RosenfeltUnleashed by David Rosenfelt is the 11th mystery featuring New Jersey's dog-loving, but not trial-loving, criminal defense attorney Andy Carpenter (available July 23, 2103).

Andy Carpenter’s accountant, Sam Willis, is stunned to receive a phone call out of the blue from Barry Price, a high school friend he hasn’t spoken to in years, pleading for help with something too frightening to discuss on the phone. Barry needs Sam’s financial acumen and lawyer Andy Carpenter’s legal expertise—and he needs them immediately. But when Sam almost runs over an injured dog lying in the road on the way to Barry’s house, he can’t drive off without waiting for help to arrive. By the time Sam makes it, Barry’s already taken off on a private airplane headed who-knows-where.

Assuming their help is no longer needed, Sam and Andy turn their full attention to helping the dog Sam found recover from his injuries. Then they learn that Barry’s plane has crashed, and they come to the terrifying realization that Sam was also supposed to have been killed on that plane. Barry was in far more serious trouble than either of them knew, and for Sam and Andy, the trouble is only beginning.

Chapter 1

I, Andy Carpenter, am not often stunned. I'm a criminal defense attorney, and I've handled some high-profile cases with many twists and turns, so I’ve generally learned to go with the flow, to expect the unexpected.

I am therefore difficult to surprise, but at 7:34 p.m. on March 17, in my Paterson, New Jersey, office, I have just seen something that has left me shaken to the core.

Edna.

I used to think of Edna as my secretary, until she informed me she was my “administrative assistant.” Then, a couple of years ago, she self-elevated her status to “office manager.” She most often “manages” the office from a remote location, since she works maybe one day a week.

Actually, I’ve overstated it. She comes in one day a week, but she gets almost no work done even then. Instead she endlessly does crossword puzzles and considers herself the best in the world at it. She also talks on the phone a great deal, mostly with her enormous extended family.

But to see her here in the evening, outside of business hours, is disorienting. Edna simply does not work overtime. She doesn’t even work regular time.

In fact, it’s more than disorienting; it’s astonishing. It would be like walking into a bowling alley and seeing the queen of England throwing practice balls on lane fourteen. Yet here Edna is, hunched over her desk, writing on some papers, so engrossed that she barely looks up when I arrive.

With her is Sam Willis, my accountant, who has an office down the hall. He’s sitting on a couch, but Edna’s not paying any attention to him; she’s too intent on what she’s doing. Sam’s the reason I’m here. He said he wanted to talk with me about something important.

“Hey, Sam . . . Edna,” I say, which is a witty opening conversational gambit I’ve recently come up with.

“Andy, thanks for coming in,” Sam says, while Edna merely manages an “mmm,” without looking up.

I tell Sam to come into my office so we can talk. Once we get in there, I close the door and say, “It’s seven thirty, and Edna’s here.”

“So?”

“So did we turn the clocks back or something, and I didn’t realize it?”

He shakes his head. “No, but even that would be just an hour. She’d still be here late.”

“I meant, did we turn the clocks back to 1978?”

“It’s tournament time,” he says. “She’s been practicing.” “Aaahh.” Suddenly it all makes sense. Edna has long been talking about entering a national crossword puzzle tournament, held once a year in Brooklyn. She’s never actually entered, and I’ve always assumed it was due to some secret self-doubt about her prowess. But now she seems to be ready to throw her pencil in the ring.

“I don’t think you’re going to get much work out of her these next few weeks,” Sam says.

“That’s a shocker. What did you want to talk to me about?” “Well, I think I may have a new client for you.”

Sam says that with an expression and tone in his voice that indicate he thinks he is giving me good news. “Yippee skippee,” I say.

I have a lot of money, many millions, some earned and more inherited. What I don’t have is a desire to work. I’m not sure where I left it, but it’s been missing for a while, and I haven’t searched real hard.

Unfortunately, even though I don’t seek clients, I seem to wind up with some, and long trials have often been the result. Working long trials is the only thing I dislike more than working short trials.

“You aren’t interested in new clients?” Sam asks. “What tipped you off?”

“Okay. Whatever you say.” Sam seems rather chagrined at my reaction. He thought he was doing something good for a friend, and the friend just blew him off. I decide to soften the blow by act- ing half interested.

“What’s the case? Maybe I can recommend someone.”

He shrugs. “I’m not sure. I went to high school with this guy, Barry Price. Last time I had seen him was a couple of years ago, at the reunion. I think I told you about him; he’s the guy who married my high school sweetheart, Denise.”

“How come you didn’t?”

“Believe it or not, I dumped her when I went off to college. Biggest mistake of my life.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Coming here is now showing signs of being one of the biggest mistakes of my life. This is already a long story, and Laurie Collins is waiting for me at home. That means that no matter what Sam was telling me, I’d want him to hurry the hell up. “Anyway, he calls me the other day and invites me to a party at his house last night; you should see this place. I’m not sure why he invited me, but as I’m leaving, he asks if I can come back tonight, that he needs my help. He sounded a little worried about some- thing, but he wouldn’t tell me what. Then he asked if I still knew you.”

“How did he know that?”

“I guess I mentioned you at the reunion, sort of name-dropping, you know? You’re famous. He said he might want to hire you, and could I put the two of you together.”

I’ve had a lot of high-profile cases over the years, many of which have been heavily covered in the media. But famous? Aww, shucks.

He continues. “He told me to pack a bag, that we’d be flying somewhere on his private plane. Barry’s really rich, in case that changes your mind.”

“Sorry, Sam. Not a chance.”

“Really? I thought you might even come out there with me to- night.”

I shake my head. “I’m retired.”

“Officially?”

I look at my watch and nod. “Effective seven forty-two p.m. But if you let me know what’s going on, I’ll recommend another lawyer.”

“As good as you?” he asks.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Sam heads off to his friend’s house, and I head home to Laurie. Edna remains at her desk, with no signs of leaving any time soon.

We have entered the bizarro world, where black is white, up is down, left is right, and Edna is in the office after five o’clock.

 

Chapter 2

Like so many of these things, it began in a bar. Drew Keller was in the right place at the right time. And while an undercover cop’s job was, in fact, to be in that right place at that right time, Drew had to admit to himself that this was more than a little lucky.

He was investigating a series of auto parts thefts in the Concord, New Hampshire, area, and had developed a relationship with a possible suspect whom he believed held some promise. The man’s name was Rodney Larsen, and he was straight out of central casting for someone in Drew’s line of work. Rodney was a walking undercover trifecta—stupid, talkative, and boastful.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to reveal information that you don’t have, and Drew was starting to believe that his instinct was wrong, that Rodney was a dry well when it came to the robberies.

And then he caught a possible break.

It took three nights and a whole bunch of beers, but Rodney said that his brother and another friend were going to “kill a big shot” and that he was a part of the team. He wouldn’t say much more, but when Drew convinced him that he had access to high-tech weaponry and the willingness to use it, he was promised an invite to meet the others and possibly join the team.

So the plan was for them to come to the bar the next night to get to know Drew and see if he was suitable to sign up for whatever they had planned. He was there at midnight, and Rodney was waiting for him.

But the plan had changed.

Rodney’s coconspirators had decided that they didn’t think the meeting should be in public, so Rodney said that he and Drew were supposed to leave the bar and meet at their “place.”

Because the original meeting was going to be in the public bar, Drew had not arranged for backup and surveillance. He was not comfortable heading into this situation, where he might be vulnerable, so he told Rodney that he would follow him in his car. That way he’d be able to call in for backup while he was on the way, and they could follow the GPS device that he would activate on his car.

But when they got to the parking lot, it all changed for the worse. Much worse. Rodney’s brother Alex was waiting there, and he came up behind Drew and held a gun to his back. Then he took Drew’s concealed weapon, forced him into Rodney’s car, and they drove off together.

Drew was alone, and he was in trouble.

They drove to a service station about three miles away. The station was closed for the night, but the back room was open and occupied. Still at gunpoint, Drew was forced into that room, where two other men were waiting for them.

One of the men was Earl Raulston, the third member of the group. The other was a man the three conspirators knew only as Carter. They assumed it was a last name, but no one was really sure. What was obvious, however, even to Drew, was that Carter did not fit in with this crew and that he was in charge.

“Where is his gun?” were the first words out of Carter’s mouth. Alex, obviously proud that he had been the one to confiscate it, rushed over to Carter to hand it to him. Carter looked in the chamber to confirm that it was loaded and then put it on the table.

“You are an undercover officer attempting to thwart our operation,” Carter said.

“Hey, man, this is bullshit,” was Drew’s response. “Rodney here said there was some action to get in on, that’s all. If you don’t want me, that’s cool.”

Carter had no intention of arguing the point. Instead he took out his own gun and, without hesitating, shot Drew in the head, killing him instantly.

The others in the room were stunned, but no one was about to offer any criticism. “I knew he was dirty,” Rodney said.

“This doesn’t change anything, does it?” Alex asked.

“Actually, it changes everything,” Carter said. He picked up Drew’s gun from the desk, and in a devastatingly quick motion, shot the other three men with it.

He had the ability to have cleanly killed each with one bullet in the center of the forehead, but that’s not how it would have gone down in a chaotic firefight. So now he fired more erratically, and in the case of Alex and Earl, used two shots to make the kill.

The three murders took fewer than five seconds, leaving Carter the only living person in the room. And he would be there for a while; this was a scene that would have to be choreographed.

What law enforcement would find would be implausible but not impossible. Which would be plenty good enough.

 

Chapter 3

Sam Willis kept his glove compartment full. In addition to the registration, insurance card, and other documents that are found in most cars, he kept a substantial number of wrapped Weight Watchers Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. He found them surprisingly good, and even though they obviously weren’t fattening, he was able to overcome that deficiency by inhaling up to ten at a time.

But when Sam was driving, the glove compartment was also an electronics warehouse. He kept his iPad, iPhone, and BlackBerry tucked away in there, which was essentially an act of self-preservation. Sam simply could not resist talking on the phone and texting while driving, so he protected himself from those unsafe activities by putting the devices out of reach.

That is why he had none of those distractions during his night- time drive to Barry Price’s house in Smoke Rise, New Jersey, about forty-five minutes from Paterson. Sam was cutting it pretty tight; with no traffic he’d get there at eight forty-five, which was when Barry told him to arrive.

Unfortunately, the forty-five-minute estimate did not take into account the accident on Route 23 that had traffic backed up for almost a mile. Sam’s GPS, the one device that wasn’t banished to the glove compartment, alerted him to the problem, and he got off the road to take back streets.

He found himself on a dark country road and basically had no idea where he was, but with his GPS he wasn’t worried about getting lost. He was more concerned about being late and considered calling Barry, but that would have meant stopping to get the phone out, which would have just taken more time.

He heard the thump more than he felt it, but it jolted him. He had hit something, there was no question about that, but he had no idea what it was. It was most likely an animal, but in the darkness Sam couldn’t be sure.

He had a momentary desire to just drive on, but he couldn’t do it. He had to stop and find out what happened.

Sam pulled over but immediately realized that whatever he had hit was behind him, in an area where it was too dark for him to see. So he did a U-turn and crossed over to the other side of the road, angling the car so the headlights might light up the area he thought he needed to search.

He got out and walked toward the brush on the side of the road, and for about a minute, which seemed like an hour, couldn’t find anything. Then he heard a noise. It was hard to tell exactly what the sound was, and he went toward it.

Sam was nervous; the noise seemed to be coming from the fairly heavy brush, and even with the car’s lights, it was hard for him to see. If a wounded animal was lying there, it could be dangerous.

And then he saw it, lying immobile but with eyes that were awake and alert. In the deep brush it was hard to tell what it was, maybe a coyote or maybe a dog, but the message in its eyes was clear: Help me.

“Shit,” Sam said and ran back to his car. He got in and pulled it up very close to the animal, so the lights would better brighten that particular area. He also turned on the hazard blinking lights, and then he got out his cell phone to call the police. It wasn’t until after he dialed 911 that he realized there was insufficient cell service in the area.

Things were not going well, and to make matters worse, it was starting to rain.

He debated whether or not to drive until he got cell service but decided not to. First, he wasn’t sure that he’d be able to identify the location when he got back. Second, the animal was fairly close to the road, and there was a chance, albeit remote, that another car could drive over it.

So he stepped out into the road to flag down a passing car. In the steady rain it was somewhat dangerous, but the road wasn’t curved there, so Sam felt that oncoming drivers would have enough time to see him.

Unfortunately, there weren’t many cars, maybe one or two a minute. The first six cars passed him by, barely slowing to avoid him, but the seventh slowed to a stop. By then the rain was coming down hard.

He went to the passenger window, and when it opened he was surprised to see that the driver was a woman. She was at least sixty years old, and Sam wanted to tell her that she was nuts for stopping.

“Car trouble?” she asked.

He shook his head, which was by then soaked. “No, I hit an animal. It’s alive, and I was trying to call the police, but there’s no cell service.”

“Oh . . .” she said, apparently upset on the animal’s behalf. She took out her phone and looked at it. “I’ve got two bars. Let me try.” And she did just that. He heard her tell the dispatcher that she was on the Canyon Road, three miles south of Kinnelon. She asked Sam his name, and told them that Sam would be waiting for their arrival. His nod confirmed that he would in fact be doing just that. When she got off the phone, she asked Sam if he wanted her to wait as well. The truth was that he did, because she seemed competent to handle anything that arose, but instead he thanked her profusely and sent her on her way.

She was barely out of sight when he realized he had made a stupid mistake. He should have asked to use her phone to alert Barry to what had happened and explain that he would be late.

It took almost fifteen minutes for the police to arrive, during which time the rain got even more intense. A single squad car pulled up, and two officers got out.

“You Sam Willis?” one of them asked. Before Sam could even respond, he asked, “Where’s the dog?”

“I’m not sure it’s a dog, but it’s over here. And it’s alive.”

Sam led them to the spot, and the officers shined a flashlight on the wounded and drenched animal. Sam saw it and said, “It’s a dog.”

The other officer frowned and said, “We’ll take it from here.” “What are you going to do with it?” he asked, afraid that they

might shoot it on the spot.

“There’s an animal emergency hospital about two miles up the road. That’s where it’s going.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Sam asked.

“No,” he said, and then seemed to soften. “Don’t worry about it, pal. It’s dark here; you didn’t do anything wrong.”

The incident had left him shaken, and the look on the dog’s face would stay with him for a while. Sam got back in his car. It was only about seven minutes from where he was to Barry’s house, and rather than call he decided to just drive there.

It was an exclusive gated community, and a guard had to call Barry to get authorization for Sam to enter. Sam had gone through the same process the night before, at the party.

Each house in the development was impressive, and Barry’s might have been the nicest of all. The previous night there had been valet parking for all the guests, but when Sam pulled up this time, only Denise Price was there to greet him. Shielding herself from the rain with an umbrella, she went to the passenger window, and he lowered it.

“Hi, Sam. I’m sorry, but Barry asked me to tell you he couldn’t wait any longer and that he’d call you tomorrow.”

“Damn. There was traffic on the highway, so I got off the road and wound up hitting a dog.”

“Oh, no.”

“He’s alive but hurt pretty bad. Anyway, please apologize to Barry for me.”

“I’m sure he’ll understand,” she said. “Would you like to come in and dry off? Maybe have a cup of coffee?”

He laughed. “I don’t think I’ll ever be dry again. But coffee sounds good.”

“Come on in.” She looked in the backseat. “Your seat is all wet.” She opened the back door and wiped the seat down a bit.

“It’s fine,” he said. “The advantage of buying plastic.”

She laughed and closed the door. Sam got out of the car, looked up into the driving rain, and asked, “Barry’s flying in this?”

She nodded. “He’s a very experienced flier.” “Good.”

 

Chapter 4

Mine is a simple life. I don't clutter it with rules, and I refuse to be bound by rigid preset routines.

Of course, there are certain things I do and others I don’t do. I think that in the last televised NFL game that I missed, the players wore leather helmets. I will never turn off a Seinfeld or Honeymooners rerun, and if Daniel Day-Lewis is in a movie, I’m there opening day.

Conversely, I have never been to a ballet or an opera since some- one was foolish enough to invent them, I will neither read a Rus- sian novel nor eat their soup, and you couldn’t strap me into a chair to watch a soccer game.

But there is one thing I do religiously, not because I’m obligated to but rather because it gives me immense enjoyment. I cannot remember the last day I didn’t take a walk with my golden retriever, Tara.

I do it because I enjoy spending time alone with her; it clears my mind and lets me focus on that which is important. I also do it be- cause she so obviously loves it, and it’s a pleasure to watch her.

The only thing better than taking a walk, just Tara and me, is taking a walk, Tara, Laurie, and me. They are my two loves, and living under the same roof as them, and sharing walks with them, make every day the best one of my life. The only obvious excep- tions to that are the two days that the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowls.

Laurie and Tara are waiting for me on the front porch when I get home. It’s only forty-five degrees and raining lightly, but they don’t seem to mind. Within ten minutes we’re ambling along in Eastside Park, near our home in Paterson.

Once we get in the park, we take Tara off the leash. The leash is a device that I find demeaning to her, and not using it lets her roam at her pleasure, always remaining within our sight.

The park is not well lit and is said to be dangerous at night, but I’m not worried because Laurie is with us. She’s a former Paterson cop turned private investigator, and between her and Tara, I’m protected enough.

“Edna was working late tonight,” I say. “Excuse me?”

“Well, not exactly working. She was in the office until past seven thirty, preparing for a crossword puzzle tournament.”

“Wow,” she says. Then, “What were you doing in the office?”

“Sam has a friend he wants me to take on as a client.”

She shakes her head in amazement. “Edna working late and you having a client. It’s a strange world we live in.”

“I told Sam no. I said I was retired.”

She nods. “Order is restored.”

“Maybe I should make it official. You know, close the office. That way I won’t be tempted to work.”

“Are you tempted now?’ “Not at all.”

“The removal of nonexistent temptation doesn’t seem like it should be a priority.”

“But that way people would stop trying to lure me back in.”

“What about Edna?”

“She’ll be fine; I’ll give her plenty of severance. And Hike has as much work as he wants.” Hike is the lawyer who works with me on the rare occasions that we have a case.

She thinks about it for a moment. “Whatever makes you happy, Andy. It’s not like you’re working now anyway, so it won’t change your day-to-day life. You can focus on the foundation.”

“Right.” She’s talking about the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue operation that Willie Miller, a former client, and I are partners in.

“So what’s the downside?”

“I’m not sure,” I say, since for some reason I’m not.

“Let’s talk about it when I get back.”

She says it casually, but it feels like a two-by-four hitting me on the head, even though I’m not sure exactly what a two-by-four is. I know it’s wood, but two feet by four feet? Two inches by four inches? Neither seems right.

I had forgotten that she was leaving to spend two weeks in her hometown of Findlay, Wisconsin. It is something I’m dreading, since the last time she went back there she wound up taking a job as the local police chief, and it split us up for six months. Those were six long months.

“Do you really need to go?”

“No, I don’t need to, I want to,” she says. “I want to remain connected to my friends there. You know that.”

“It could snow.”

She nods. “Yes, there’s always that danger, scary as it is. So I’ll bring boots, and maybe even gloves.”

“When are you going?” I ask, even though I know the answer. “Wednesday morning.”

“I’ve got an idea; I meant to talk to you about it,” I say. “Let’s get married on Tuesday night. We’ve been putting it off long enough. And there’s no Knick game that night, which is God’s way of telling me that it’s the perfect time.”

Laurie turns to Tara, who is busy sniffing her way through the park. “Tara, have you ever heard anything as beautiful as that?”

Tara doesn’t say anything; she might well be too choked up to bark.

“It’s every girl’s dream, Andy, but it might be a little spontaneous for me. Forty-eight hours isn’t much time to send out the invitations, rent the hall, plan the menu, get a dress . . . all that would take at least three days.”

“Okay, you’re absolutely right, forget the wedding. Been there, done that. Let’s just go on a honeymoon instead. We’ll go south where it’s warm, lie on the beach, drink piña coladas with little umbrellas in them, do that thing where you sneak under that bar . . . what’s that called?”

“Limbo.”

“Right, limbo. I’m not sure if I told you, but I came in third in the state limbo finals in high school. I’ll teach you how to do it.”

“So not Wisconsin?” she asks.

“I’m not ruling it out, as long as they have sunny beaches, piña coladas, little umbrellas, and limbo.”

“I don’t think Wisconsin is going to work. They don’t have any of that, especially in March,” she said.

“I’m willing to be flexible,” I say. “The little umbrellas are not a deal breaker.”

“I’m going to Wisconsin, Andy. But I’m not going to stay there this time. I’m coming home to you.”

“That’s what you said last time.”

She grabs my hand and says, “Come on. Let’s go home and you can give me a going-away present.”

Copyright © 2013 David Rosenfelt

 

This sweepstakes has ended. See our feature page for current opportunities.

To enter for a chance to win a hardcover copy of both Unleashed and Dogtripping (a memoir of dog rescue and moving 25 dogs from California to Maine) by David Rosenfelt, make sure you’re a registered member of the site, and then simply leave a comment below.

 

 

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NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 or older. To enter, fill out entry at https://www.criminalelement.com/stories/2013/07/unleashed-by-david-rosenfelt-new-excerpt-dog-andy-carpenter-dogtripping-sweepstakes beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) July 21, 2013. Sweepstakes ends at 10:59 a.m. ET on July 28, 2013 (the “Promotion Period”). Void outside of the 50 US and DC and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules at https://www.criminalelement.com/page/official-rules-unleashed-dogtripping-comment-sweepstakes. Sponsor: Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010

 


David Rosenfelt is the Edgar and Shamus Award-nominated author of five stand-alones and eleven Andy Carpenter novels, most recently Unleashed. He and his wife live in Maine with the twenty-five dogs they have rescued.

Comments

  1. vanessagalore

    I’d like to check this book out!

  2. Jody Darden

    Love stories with dogs! Could be a fun read.

  3. MaryC

    Love Andy and Tara!

  4. Betty Breier

    I love this series! Can’t wait to read this one.

  5. Cathie Klampfer

    Dogs and drama – what more could you ask for!!!!

  6. Allyson Bossie

    This looks like a very interesting read! My daughter might love this too!

  7. judyskies

    Haven’t read this author, but think I’d love this series. His humor and writing style make a great combination with a crime mystery.

  8. Irene Menge

    I can’t wait to read this. The excerpt was marvelous.

  9. Christine LaRue

    @CrimeHQ — where have I been for the past 10 years? Thanks for introducing me to this series (sounds great) and for offering this giveaway!

  10. Elizabeth

    I’m a sucker for stories that include animals.

  11. Bob Keck

    I love his books – he’s cranking out new ones as fast as Stephen King in his heyday. Count me in!

  12. L L

    cute covers

  13. Lynn Marler

    Hope I win; thanks for the chance!

  14. Katherine Stukel

    I love dogs!!

  15. Jeffrey Malis

    Loved the excerpt… sounds like a great read! Thanks for the opportunity!

  16. Laura McDonald

    I will be crossing my fingers and wishing hard, because this is too good to be true!

  17. Sharon Kaminski

    would love to win, would be a great read

  18. Regina m

    Sounds great. Keep them coming.

  19. Tammy Z Evans

    I hope to win, books with dogs are my favorites.

  20. Vicky Boackle

    looks fun to read.

  21. Starr Greenwell

    I would love to read this one, looks like a great read.

  22. aimee

    Sounds like such a great book. Would love to read it!

  23. Gwen Ellington

    What real dogs are capable of doing has begun to fascinate me!

  24. jane

    Would love to try this book!

  25. Jessica Jones

    I would love a copy of this book! My dogs have been lifesavers to me!

  26. Jenna Papaleo

    I’d like to check this one out!

  27. Deb Mosora

    I haven’t read any of his books before. Would love to!

  28. Karen Appleby

    Great combo, would love to win.

  29. J Anders

    A book about dog lovers and dogs. Sounds like a win, win.

  30. Karen Elsass

    Sounds like a great book!

  31. Candice

    I love Andy and Tara and I cannot wait to read the adventures of the real life cross country move! Wish I’d been there.

  32. Mary Gleason

    I love adventure stories about dogs!

  33. Heaven Kelough

    [b]Awwww, these seem so awesome! I love dogs, and I love to read! It’s a win win situation! Plus the cover is soo cute! :D[/b]

  34. Kate Encinas

    I am a huge fan of Andy, Tara, and the assorted cast of characters. Also followed Dave’s journey to the new home. It was fun, for me anyway!

  35. Deborah Dumm

    Unleashed sounds like a great book! I can’t wait to read both Unleashed & Dogtripping!

  36. JULIE BENNETT

    I need another good author, and this looks like a great book, I love thrillers!

  37. Cheryl Greenleaf

    How exciting, a new author to add to my list of must reads!

  38. Dan Carr

    Ruff Ruff

  39. Lynn Jarrett

    Yeah, a new one by Rosenfelt!! I look forward to winning it AND reading it.

  40. Phyllis Gronewold

    I really enjoy the Sam and Andy books; thanks for a chance to win a new one.

  41. Ceil Hook

    I love the stories; it would be great to win the latest one.

  42. Rose Milligan

    I’ve recently realized I enjoy books that have dogs in them. I would love to read this. Thanks for having the sweepstakes.

  43. Pam Howell

    This looks great. A dog on the cover is definitely a way to get me to notice!

  44. Sharon Shumway

    I read your interview in the Sunday paper. Loved reading about your dog rescues. I would love to win your books.

  45. Anne Joyce

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  46. Chrystina Williams

    Sounds good! Can’t wait to read, count me in 🙂

  47. Ilene Harris

    I like dogs, so this looks like a book I would love to read, hope I win.

  48. Melissa Dials

    Enjoy mysteries involving animals!

  49. Jeffrey Tretin

    Both books sound great. Thank you for the giveaway.

  50. Allison Moyer

    You had me at dogs! Thanks for the giveaway!

  51. Phoenix

    I’ve heard great things about this series.

  52. Lois Powell

    Love to read books with dogs as part of the storyline. Great giveaway!

  53. Sheila Korman

    I love David Rosenfelt’s books—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of his latest work!
    [b] [/b]

  54. Ann Powers

    Is the release date wrong on this site? 2103 not 2013?

  55. Bob Alexander

    I can’t resist mysteries or dogs. SIT!

  56. peter gladue

    My Mom loves Mysteries and good dog stories, I would like to win this and share this with her

  57. Desmond Warzel

    Count me in, please!

  58. Lara Truesdale

    Dogs plus mysteries, works for me.

  59. mosaix

    Dogs, dogs in a murder mystery ! Yes!

  60. Kathleen Evans

    I’m another dogcentric reader who hadn’t heard about this book – and would love to read more!

  61. pearl berger

    Thanks for this great giveaway. Dogs are precious.

  62. Mike zinn

    Sure sounds like a fun read. It was hard enough just taking our dog to Florida for a vacation, much less moving several dogs cross country. Must be a great story.

  63. Anita Yancey

    I just love books about dogs and mysteries! Please enter me. Thanks!

  64. Josh Masters

    Sounds great

  65. Patricia Nicklas

    I enjoyed the excerpt and would love to read. I have two rescue dogs and appreciate anyone who helps dogs in need.

  66. SisterMary912

    What a great read. Dogs and a mystery!

  67. Mona

    I skimmed and enjoyed the excerpts. I like books with dogs.
    Thanks 🙂

  68. Jeff Johnson

    Thanks for the excerpt – now I have to read the book to find out what happens! Dogtripping looks intriguing as well. Please enter me into the contest.

  69. Angela Dyrcz

    I love stories with animals! This looks like a great one.

  70. Mary Snyder

    What a great combination…dogs and a mystery.

  71. Suzanne Gonneville

    Love . . . .

  72. Anna Mills

    “the look on the dog’s face would stay with him for a while..”
    I have to read this!

  73. ravensfan

    Would love to win this.

  74. Darlene Murphy

    A dog-lovers book FINALLY!! The damn cats are always getting al the attention!

  75. Charlee Griffith

    What fun!

  76. Andrew Beck

    Yea! Stopping to save a dog saves a person’s life! Now that’s karma at it’s best! Thanks David Rosenfelt!

  77. Joyce Mitchell

    Great mystery series. Thanks for the giveaway.

  78. Barbara Bibel

    Sounds like a fun read. Dogs are the best!

  79. Vernon Luckert

    I would love to win this; my son would love to read it also!

  80. Kris Kaminski

    so little time and another one to read

  81. Timothy Anderson

    I love the excerpt. It would be nice to win. One of my favorite “Me Time” things to do is sit on the couch reading while my black Lab “Luna” is next to me with her head in my lap, snoring away.

  82. Joanne Mielczarski

    I’ll tak two please!

  83. Mildred Bromberg

    Sounds great

  84. Connie Ruggles

    Sounds fun. I live in Maine and love to read books connected to here.

  85. Karen de Gennaro

    Can’t wait to read!

  86. Diane Castiglione

    Love books that have animals in them
    Thank you for a chance to win.

  87. Janet Stewart

    I’m a doglover. Please enter me to win.

  88. Judith Barnes

    I can’t think of a better combination than a dog with a mystery.

  89. Anne Marie

    I’m looking forward to Dogtripping I do feline rescue but I know the canine is quite different.

  90. Mary Ann Brady

    Cannot wait to read this. Thx.

  91. elizabeth findlay

    Anything with dogs & I’m there!! I read alot of cat mysteries, but I would love to check out a dog mystery.

  92. Connie Saunders

    Nothing better than a good story involving a dog. Or in this case, 2 good stories involving many dogs!!

  93. Kathyk52

    I’m a new fan of David and Tara and would LOVE to win a copy of the Unleashed. But if I don’t win it I will still read it. 🙂

  94. Kathy Fannon

    David’s books are very popular at my library- can’t wait to get these.

  95. Kathy Kiley

    I am a new fan of David. Love Tara and Andy too. I would be thrilled to win Unleashed!

  96. Lynn Vandergriff

    sounds like one both my husband and i would like.

  97. Patty

    I have read all of the Andy & Tara books. Loved them. Would be great to read David’s real life story of traveling with the dogs.

  98. Michelle Archer

    Every story is improved by including a dog! Would love to read it.

  99. SALLY GASS

    BOTH LOOK AND SOUND LIKE GOOD READS…NOTHING LIKE HAVING MAN’S BEST FRIEND BECOME WOMAN’S HOME COMPANION…….

  100. Jhonne Jones

    Can’t have a dog, but love to read stories about them. Looking forward to reading this book.

  101. Allison Evans

    What a fantastic pairing! A mystery and a non-fiction, both with dogs! I would love to win these books.

  102. Mary Ann Woods

    Sounds interesting to me. Sign me up!

  103. Merikay Noah

    These sound fantastic – and I love the book cover with all the dogs peeking out of the top of the camper shell! Fingers crossed that I win!

  104. susan beamon

    Oh, this is getting interesting, kind of a mix of a cozy and a thriller with dogs thrown in. I like dogs in books, then I don’t have to deal with them. I like cats in real life.

  105. Sally

    This is my perfect contest. A mystery, a dog, and then a dog rescue story. I am adopting a rescue dog myself, so would love to read both novels.

  106. Saundra K. Warren

    I’ve read his books and love them!

  107. Kelley Tackett

    Criminal Element – going to the dogs. I love it. I can’t wait to read this book!

  108. Heather Martin

    Anyone who promotes rescuing dogs with their writing is worth supporting. Adding a fun mystery is just a bonus.

  109. Susan P.

    Sounds like a good book, especially with a dog!

  110. kathleen eddy

    Love books with dogs!

  111. Shana Skaletsky

    This is a great series–I’d love to add these books to my collection! Thanks for the opportunity.

  112. Deanna Stillings

    Moving is difficult at any time, but all those animals – sounds like a great book!

  113. Sheryl Jeffries

    What a wonderful series! I woud love to win these books!

  114. Linda Haas

    These are really fun books to read!

  115. Carolyn Moy

    I am a huge fan of this series and have been waiting for the next installment. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

  116. Donna Bruno

    These both look like great reading!

  117. Gregory Sparks

    I have been drawn in. Please appease me.

  118. vicki wurgler

    I’d love to read this

  119. Barbara

    I absolutely LOVE his books. Please let me win!!!

  120. Lisa Garrett

    I have not read any of this series but would love to start!

  121. JTA

    I would love to win these books. Great review and covers. Thanks for the giveaway.

  122. Jeanne Agee

    I would love to win these books. Great review and covers. Thanks for the giveaway.

  123. patricia gibby

    I have read all his books and would love to read these

  124. Smbirds

    Love books about dogs and mysteries! The excerpt makes me hope I win.

  125. Brenda Tucker

    Seems like a great read – dogs and a mystery, I love them both.

  126. Darcy Odden

    Sounds like a good read. Thanks for the chance.

  127. mary robinson

    Love dogs and mysteries. Would love to win this one!

  128. Tiffany Duncan

    Love dogs! These look really good.

  129. MARY Mclain

    Sounds interesting.

  130. Beth Talmage

    Maybe I should read this aloud to the five dogs at our house? Sounds like it would hold their interest, and mine.

  131. Laura McLendon

    I want to win UnLeashed and Dog Tripping, they look like great reads!! Thanks for the chance to win new reads!! 🙂

  132. sue brandes

    New author to me. I would love to read these books. They sound wonderful.

  133. Julie N.

    I feel lucky.

  134. John Clark

    The short description at the top of this blog really grabbed my attention. I’d love to win a copy.

  135. Daniel Albert

    The fact that the author is an Edgar Award nominee caught my eye, so he must be someone that knows how to tell a good story, and what better story than to have man’s best friend as the main protagonist!

  136. Dorothy Hayes

    The plot is dynamic –grabs your interest from the start.
    Would love to read this book.

  137. Eva Moller

    Would love to read both books.

  138. Diane Furst

    Would love to try this author. I work in a bookstore and my customers are always recommending this author. His nonfiction book looks great too.

  139. Melissa Darwin

    I’m a huge fan and can’t wait to read both of these!

  140. Debra Harris

    I’m a David Rosenfelt fan, having enjoyed reading the Andy Carpenter series. Keeping my fingers crossed for a big win!

  141. Mary Lauff-Thompson

    Love dogs!

  142. judy oliver

    I like Rosenfelt. I need a good detective to tell me why my password keeps changing………

  143. Leigh Davis

    I don’t follow many series, but I do follow Andy Carpenter. I love the humor that Mr. Rosenfelt infuses into this series and of course the mystery keeps me on my toes too.

  144. Cheryl Peterson

    Love the dog novels, but the other book might make me cry!

  145. Julie Bockstiegel

    I’ve read all the the Andy Carpenter series and recently enjoyed the standalone “On Borrowed Time”. I would like to read Dogtripping.

  146. Colleen Welander

    Oh no you had to end it there. I really want to read more:(

  147. Joyce Benzing

    Woof!

  148. Mary Ann Brady

    Would love to win this. Thx.

  149. Linda Rodriguez

    Both books sound great!

  150. Summer Grinstead

    Looks like a great book!

  151. Peter Tomaszewicz

    Did someone say DOG?

  152. Karl Stenger

    I would love to read this book

  153. Daniel Morrell

    sounds like a fun one!

  154. Susan Smith

    I love dogs and these books sound great!

  155. Marisa Young

    Love the excerpt – love books with dogs.

  156. Patricia

    Any book with animals in it makes me happy. 🙂

  157. Ed Nemmers

    I would love to read the work of David Rosenfelt!

  158. Kari Flores

    This looks like a great book.

  159. Lori Walker

    adorable- i love books with dogs

  160. Wendi Morris

    Simply love the style of writing. What a great teaser with those first few chapters. Thanks.

  161. kathy pease

    Thank you for the great giveaway please count me in 🙂

  162. alyce poalillo

    I love mysteries and stories involving pets, cats and dogs so this would be perfect.

  163. Debra Kidle

    Love the excerpt, now I want to read the whole book!

  164. Heather Cowley

    Excellent stuff! They both sound like wonderful reads. Thank you!

  165. Brenda Elsner

    Sounds like both of these will be great reads!! Count me in!!

  166. Buddy Garrett

    It sounds like a great mystery. Thanks for the giveaway.

  167. Sand Lopez

    This sounds like a good one!

  168. Lisa Pecora

    These sound like great books. I need new books to read!

  169. Janet Gould

    this looks like a great book!

  170. Tim Moss

    We love dogs & would love this.

  171. Jacki Robertson

    Love David Rosenfelt’s books!

  172. Daniel Vice

    This would be great

  173. Mihaela Day

    Can’t wait to read, count me in 🙂

  174. Clydia DeFreese

    Looks interesting! Just as long as the dog doesn’t TALK!

  175. Samantha Cox

    Looks like a great read….

  176. Mallory Bailey

    Would love to read this book 🙂

  177. Kayce Crews

    I love dog stories. Count me in.

  178. Sherman Hughes

    Both of these books look interesting.

  179. Michael Lee Smith

    Cool!!!! Dog story

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