Book ~ "Sudden Death" (2006) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ First at the crime scene, Andy Carpenter wishes he never saw the folded torso with the large red stain on its back. The victim is Troy Preston, wide receiver for the New York Jets, and the suspect is Kenny Schilling, the New York Giants’ star running back who is clamoring for Andy’s services. The upcoming high-profile murder case will be the benchwarming Andy’s chance to get back into the legal game. It will also prove a handy distraction from the awful possibility that Laurie Collins - the private investigator and living creature Andy adores most next to Tara, his cherished golden retriever - is about to leave Paterson forever. 

 Digging into the case, Andy stumbles onto some of the seamier undercurrents rushing beneath the large-guy camaraderie, big-buck cushiness and bone-mashing fun that is pro football. And he discovers that Preston’s death is similar to a series of other mysterious murders - all seemingly unrelated yet connected by a horrible secret from many years ago. Despite the crushing evidence, Andy begins to believe in his client’s innocence. 

 But when danger finds someone close to him, the unperturbed defender knows he’s attracted the attention of a powerful enemy - one who will do anything to take Andy permanently off the field…

A football player is found murdered and the suspect, Kenny, is asking for Andy.  Andy gathers his team together to start defending Kenny.  Was Troy killed because of a drug deal gone bad?  Or did it have something to do with a secret pact that Kenny, Troy and others made when they were in high school?

In the meantime, Hollywood wants to make a movie of Willie's story (he spent seven years in prison and was on death's row for a murder he didn't commit until Andy won his freedom in a retrial).  Adam, a writer, is assigned to shadow Andy to get the background story.  Andy's investigator and girlfriend, Laurie, went home for a high school reunion.  She came back homesick and with a job offer and is considering moving home.  Andy doesn't want her to go and it's breaking his heart.

This is the fourth book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing.  It was written in first person perspective in Andy's voice.  It is the fourth in the Andy Carpenter series (and the fourth I've read) and it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the first one to know what is going on).

I like Andy.  He's smart and shifty and recognizes his weaknesses.  He loves his dog, Tara, and thinks she's the most wonderful dog in the whole wide world.   In addition to Laurie, Andy's team is made up of Kevin, his associate who also owns/runs a laundramat, and Marcus, an investigator with persuasive reasoning skills.  He calls in favours from his friends, Vince, the editor of the local newspaper, and Pete, a local police officer.