New Tricks

By: David Rosenfelt

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

Andy Carpenter gains possession of an adorable Bernese puppy whose owner was brutally murdered. Few can rival Andy's affection for dogs, and he will do whatever it takes to insure that this little pup doesn't fall into the wrong hands. However, his playful new friend is valued by several people, many of whom are willing to resort to violence to get what they want.

It will take more than Andy's usual courtroom theatrics to save this dog, including a little help from his beloved Golden Retriever, Tara. Andy soon discovers that anyone around him is in danger, including his longtime girlfriend, Laurie, and he will have to muster all of his wits to save those he holds most dear.

David Rosenfelt, a native of Paterson, New Jersey, is a graduate of NYU. He was the former marketing president for Tri-Star Pictures before becoming a writer of novels and screenplays. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife and 35 dogs. Grover Gardner, a Washington, D.C.-based actor, director and audiobook narrator, has been a member of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, as well as resident director at Everyman Theatre in Baltimore. Recently, he has been active in educational theater, directing student productions for local universities, and teachings graduate-level courses in acting and voice-over work. He has recorded over 450 audiobooks and was named by AudioFile magazine as one of "Best Voices of the Century".

©2009 David Rosenfelt (P)2009 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Rosenfelt injects this clever installment with courtroom twists, a peek into some scary DNA research and a romantic surprise." ( Publishers Weekly)

Dog-lovers, rejoice!

I only recently learned to appreciate dogs, since I love cats better; but, all the same, I recommend Mr. Rosenfelt's legal thrillers, all of which have dogs as protagonists. "New Tricks" features a darling puppy, a grouchy judge, and a wealthy, dog-loving attorney. That attorney, Andy Carpenter, has an enviable, fun, long-distance, relationship with his girlfriend, who plays a prominent role in this book. We end up rooting for the relationship, as well as the dog. Although I don't like Grover Gardner's voice as much as some of the other actors who narrate audiobooks, I have to admit he does a pretty good job reading the story.

New Tricks

I love all of David Rosenfelts Books, especially as he preserves his same cast of loveable characters from his equally good past offerings. Grover Gardener's readings brings the entire cast to an enjoyable life. Life is full of stresses & David's stories bring an enjoyable relief, plus some excellent knowledge of legal proceedures. Well done & worth the price of admission. I highly recoment this, & all of Rosenfelts Books. I don't know how the author does it but the endings are always full of suprises. John Wagner, Professional Grandpa

A Friendly lawyer

I like this series, I have only read three but i gave it 5 stars because I will definitely read the next in the series.

Andy and his dog tara are gentle and kind with a dry sense of humor that makes me chuckle. The mystery plot is well written and all of the clues are there if you can catch them. I can never figure out the murderer but once revealed it is an obvious choice.

The other reviews are right, there could not be a more perfect narrator.

A great act, starting to wear a little thin.

Funny is hard. David Rosenfelt and Grover Gardner are a good team, and this book represents the most recent product of the two. Andy Carpenter is a lovable and engaging character, and the relationships he has with his friends and co-workers, by now starting to get a little stale, still keep you listening happily. The persistent dog angle really must go, though; I understand that he likes dogs, but the lengths to which he must push himself in order to get the dog into the very middle of each plot is getting old. The relationships among the humans could develop in many pleasant and unpredictable ways, but the next dog book is going to try my patience, sorely. It may not be a gimmick to Mr. Rosenfelt, but it's beginning to go there, in my view. Try writing a whole book without a canine. I know you can do it.

Love this author

This installment isn't the best of the Andy Carpenter series, but it is still wonderful. It is a tad different because it "resolves" some things (no hints) for some characters I have come to "care" about. I think Grover Gardner is one of the best narrators out there. This story doesn't solve the world's problems, but it is an interesting and entertaining yarn. I love the humor and familiarity of the characters. I've read them all and look forward to the next one by Mr. Rosenfelt.

Fast, light, detective story

This was a quick read that kept a good pace. The dogs added funny moments, but this was not a "dog" story. It is a murder mystery, "who-done-it", that has enough characters to keep you guessing but not so many that you can't remember who people are. It is light on the gore, violence and romance and heavy on the problem solving and clues.
If you are looking for a simple and enjoyable read, give it a try, it is worth the credits!

What's the big deaal with Andy Carpenter?

I purchased two books in this series expecting to find really great books because they are so wildly popular. What I found were smart aleck remarks and bad puns in decent but not great stories. I'm unimpressed.

Fantastic!

I love Andy Carpenter. These books are so funny. I love listening to Grover Gardner. I'm off to find more David Rosenfelt and/or Grover Gardner books.

another great book in a series

Andy is back! another great book with all the great characters!
be sure to listen to this one

Another terrific book in the Andy Carpenter series

This has become one of my all time favorite mystery series. And I am very picky - very. Good mysteries are hard to come by - and a writer who can add in humor and interesting characters has got me in his fan club - David Rosenfelt is as good as anyone out there and I can't wait until another book in this series comes out. Rosenfelt has discovered what so many topnotch mystery writers know - a good mystery works better with an "ensemble cast" rather than just one all knowing - or all muscle! - detective with a cohort. Alas, the one non-series book Rosenfelt came out with was really terrible - so I hope he stays where his voice is: with Andy Carpenter in New Jersey with his dog and his friends. Incidentally, totally by coincidence, we adopted a 2 year old golden retriever mix last year - although I have a hunch that Carpenter's love of goldens was in my mind, unbeknownst to me. If so, I owe him a lot of thanks for opening my eyes to my beloved Cooper. And thanks for many hours of happy reading and listening to audio books by Rosenfelt. Although, it is painful to know that some of his books are only available in abridged versions - and that is a travesty committed on any book. No more abridged Rosenfelt, I beseech you. And no more non-series books either.