First Degree

By: David Rosenfelt

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Nominated for the Edgar and Shamus Awards, David Rosenfelt's debut novel, Open and Shut, was widely praised by listeners and critics. Rosenfelt returned with this riveting mystery, First Degree, featuring irreverent and dynamic lawyer Andy Carpenter.

When a cop's body is found burned and decapitated, the last thing Andy Carpenter expected is for a stranger to waltz into his office and admit to the crime. For the wise-cracking millionaire defense attorney suffering from "lawyer's block", the case looks like a no-brainer...until the cops pick up another suspect: Andy's lead P.I., Laurie Collins, who happens to be the love of his life.

Soon Laurie's facing conviction for the grisly murder and Andy must desperately try to save her. All he had wanted was a case to sink his teeth into. Now he gets one that's a kick in the head - and the heart.

Crack another case with Andy Carpenter.

©2004 David Rosenfelt (P)2008 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Rosenfelt should win a unanimous verdict: first-rate." ( Publishers Weekly)
"As satisfying as the nuts and bolts of the case are, it's the sheer likability of Andy and the odd assortment of his friends and staff that lifts the story from merely enjoyable to genuinely delightful." ( Publishers Weekly)

I love these books

if I ever need a lawyer I want him panda I want to visit tara.

Another wonderful tale told well

Love the whole series. Always a unique twist to keep the story fresh and interesting

best of Andy Carpenter series

glad to listen how Tara Foundation
emerged. narrator is perfect Favorite series ever.so many characters, plots. fun

Rosenfelt's Terrific Especially With Gardner

I try not to use the word, "WOW!" So I'm plucking it out of the bag, blowing off the dust and hurling it at you. Now I cannot imagine Rosenfelt NOT BEING HEARD WITHOUT GARDNER! But... but... Andy Carpenter belongs to Rosenfelt and his super smart narrative glimmers. The plot's bullet perfect. And every character in this courtroom ensemble belongs. I'm off to purchase the next Rosenfelt novel to hear his new flow of ideas and feel them through, I hope, Gardner's interpretation.

This book cannot be better in print or video. IT ROCKS in audible and why I listen to books. WOW!

Absolute fun

Andy Carpenter is a witty, clever and talented lawyer. He`,s also very rich so he can pick and choose his clients. That's a good thing for us. It ensures we always get a good story, with really good guys and really bad guys. Grover Gardner does an excellant job reading this story. This is my second Andy Carpenter and surely not the last one `I hear.

Can't take my ears off of you, David!

I had never read an author who can build a character in just a few strokes. All it takes is a couple questions and answers, a few perfectly placed adjectives and bingo!
A real joy to read (read Open and Shut first!).

Short but very satisfying

Grover Gardner narrated and did a superb job in keeping the characters recognizable by voice alone, an important talent in this book, where the author pretty much assumes you've read the first in the series. Not much time is given to introducing or describing the old characters, though they stay pretty much true to form.

Again, the heart of the book is the courtroom, where the cross-examinations of the various state witnesses are brilliant drama, and at times, high comedy. The inevitable exoneration of our heroine comes ... well, I don't want to spoil it for you. I mean, you did know he would save her, didn't you?

A secondary plot is the civil suit of the released-from-death-row-at-the-very-last-moment-before-his-lethal-injection falsely accused, incarcerated, convicted and sentenced but saved at the last minute man. Whew. Anyway, that's all going on in the background while Andy is trying to save his "only-true-love". Oh yeah. Don't forget. He's also suing his former father in law.

All in all, a good time is had by all. A great book; an easy listen and a lot of fun. I recommend it; but remember, it's just a fun book. Don't expect more than that and you'll enjoy it.

Highly entertaining

Story is engaging from the start, with further consolidation of major characters that continue in subsequent books. Interesting, entertaining and funny

North Jersey Murder, Mayhem and Humor

What made the experience of listening to First Degree the most enjoyable?

The reader is spectacular for this material. His timing of the comedic material is impeccable and the voice just works with the book.

2nd time

I usually don't read or listen to books twice. However, I am so addicted to this the sense of humor and the narrator 's performance that I am going through the series again.