August 11, 2014
My Summer with David Rosenfelt
I discovered David Rosenfelt, creator of defense attorney Andy Carpenter, love-of-his-life Laurie, supremely persuasive investigator Marcus Clarke, and best-dog-in-the-world Tara (though she’s actually the second-best dog in the world–Rosenfelt hasn’t met my dog) through my Amazon Vine reading. I’d just finished Robert Crais Suspect, about a military dog named Maggie with PTSD who’s handler is killed in Afghanistan. It’s a wrenching story of how this one-man dog, bred to defend her pack, survives her failure and creates a new life. At times, we see man’s world through Maggie’s loyal, unselfish, focused eyes. I wanted more of Maggie, but Crais hasn’t cooperated. When Tara’s story arrived in my email box, I grabbed it.
I read Hounded and bought the other ten. Carpenter is clever, humorous, smart, human (he’s afraid of everything so brings his ex-cop girlfriend for protection). His characters, while typical for a defense attorney story, are uniquely-constructed with traits that are appealing and fascinating (for example, Marcus barely talks, communicates what he must with ‘Yunh’ and ‘Nunh’. Don’t expect long-winded explanations from him).
The plots don’t always revolve around dogs, but they always include Andy’s life with Tara. She’s his confidant–he hashes out cases with her while they take walks. Long walks–an hour or more. He feels she’s a good listener which inspires him to unlock mysteries.
Now, I’ve finished all of Rosenfelt’s books. Still, Crais hasn’t published a Maggie sequel. I’m flailing. Anyone know of a good dog-as-main-character book I can read?
By the way, if you’d like more information on Rosenfelt’s books, here’s a link to Tara Foundation (named for his book’s dog character) and an interview on Talking Dog.
More dog articles:
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
