Flop Dead Gorgeous: An Andy Carpenter Mystery

Rosenfelt’s witty, well-paced 27th courtroom cozy starring Paterson, N.J., trial lawyer Andy Carpenter (after 2022’s Santa’s Little Yelpers) sees Carpenter failing, once again, to settle into a blissful retirement. When Hollywood star Jenny Nichols returns to Paterson during a break on a film she’s shooting in New York City, she gets in touch with Andy, who for years has proudly touted the fact that the two used to date when they were in high school. To prove as much to doubting friends, he organizes a dinner party in Jenny’s honor. During the dinner, Jenny’s costar Ryan barges in and demands that Jenny, who has recently broken off their affair, leave with him. Andy’s wife, a former Paterson cop, twists the handsome actor’s arm to subdue him. The next morning, Andy gets a desperate call from Jenny: she has found Ryan dead in the kitchen of the house where she’s staying, and the police are ready to charge her with his murder. A well-constructed plot and vivid characters—both human and canine, as Rosenfelt dedicates plenty of space to Jenny’s miniature French poodle, Mamie—make this a treat for fans. Rarely does a series this long-running still feel so fresh. (July)