Book ~ "Open and Shut" (2003) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Whether dueling with new forensics or the local old boys' network, irreverent defense attorney Andy Carpenter always leaves them awed with his biting wit and winning fourth-quarter game plan. 

But Andy prefers the company of his best friend, Tara, to the people he encounters in the courtroom. Tara, a golden retriever, is clearly smarter than half the lawyers who clog the courts of Passaic County. 

However, just as it seems Andy has everything figured out, his dad, New Jersey's legendary ex-D.A., drops dead in front of him at a game in Yankee Stadium. The shocks pile on as he discovers his dad left him with two unexpected legacies: a fortune of $22 million that Andy never knew existed ... and a murder case with enough racial tinder to burn down City Hall. 

Struggling to serve justice and bring honor to his father, Andy must dig up some explosive political skeletons-and an astonishing family secret that can close his case (and his mouth) for good. 

Andy Carpenter is a lawyer.  He and his wife, Nicole, split up six months ago and he's living alone with his dog, Tara.  He has recently started dating his investigator, Laurie.  Nicole wants to get back together and he's honour-bound to give it a try.

His dad, who is a former D.A., convinces him to take on the case of Willie Miller.  Willie is on death row with less than two months to go for the murder of a young woman eight years ago.  Andy's dad tells him to file an appeal to have the case reopened and Andy does.

Then Andy's dad suddenly passes away and Andy discovers that his dad had $22 million in an account and he has no idea where the money came from.  He also discovers an old picture from more than 30 years ago with his dad and three other men, each denying they are in the picture.  Does the picture have anything to do with the mysterious $22 million and if so, what?

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  Though the story lines were serious and intense, I enjoyed the writing style as it was funny and sarcastic.  It was written in first person perspective in Andy's voice.  As a head's up there is some swearing.

I liked Andy.  How can you not like a guy who who loves his dog?!  I liked that he uses non-traditional ways to defend his clients.  I also liked Laurie.  She's smart and doesn't take any sh$t from anyone.

This is the first in the Andy Carpenter series (there are 13 as of July 2015) and I look forward to getting caught up on them plus read other books by this author.