Review - The K Team

"From bestselling, award winning mystery author David Rosenfelt comes a new series – a spinoff of the much beloved Andy Carpenter mysteries – about a dynamic new investigative team featuring a determined former cop and his loyal German Shepherd."  This is a new to me author and series, but I'm a sucker for K9 dogs in stories.

Author: David Rosenfelt

Copyright: March 2020 (Minotaur Books) 301 pgs

Series: 1st in K Team Investigations series

Sensuality: Some sprinkled language

Mystery Sub-genre: Private Detective

Main Characters: Corey Douglas, retired cop now investigator with his K9 German Shepard

Setting: Contemporary time, Paterson, New Jersey

Obtained Through: Library

Book Blurb: "Corey Douglas and his K-9 partner, Simon Garfunkel, have recently retired from the police force. Not ready to give up the life yet, they come up with a proposal for fellow former cop, Laurie Carpenter, and her investigating partner, Marcus. Laurie and Marcus – who help out Laurie’s lawyer husband Andy on cases – have been chafing to jump back into investigating on their own, so they are in.

They call themselves the K Team, in honor of Simon. Their first job as private investigators comes to them from Judge Henry Henderson, who's known as a very tough but fair judge, and they've all come up against him in court at one time or another. Though it's hard to believe, Judge Henderson is being blackmailed and extorted, and he doesn't want to involve the police--he needs the K Team to figure out why."

Corey Douglas, former 25 year career cop, is a still a cop in his outlook and lifestyle. He is also a classic movie buff. Simon Garfunkel is Corey's best friend and a top notch police dog. Laurie Carpenter is the official leader of the team and a former police lieutenant. Marcus Clark is the third member of the K team, and he is the muscle: tough and scary. Sam Willis is the computer hacker that helps them out occasionally but Corey doesn't like his methods. Judge Henderson, known by lawyers as Hatchet, is no-nonsense and rather hard-nosed.

The plot has several twists and some danger lurking. The case is certainly far more involved than I suspected at the beginning. I found it a page-turner as I wanted to get to the bottom of all the revelations to the truth of the matter.  

 

The climax is more police involvement and not the traditional mystery killer reveal. That is okay since there are other tense moments throughout the book to make up for it.  

For those who have read and loved the Andy Carpenter mysteries, be forewarned.  This series isn't like the Carpenter series. It is the investigative side with none of the courtroom or legal side and Laurie isn't the main character as you might expect.  This is also a bit different style, not the snarky humor but more dry humor.  This series is a toned down, lightened up noir (bet you never thought you would hear such a combination!)  That is because Corey is that sort of character.  Since this was my first introduction to David Rosenfelt's writing, I found it funny and enjoyed the story.  I gather some who started with the Andy Carpenter books first have a hard time with Corey as the main character and the dry humor, but I am looking forward to the next in this series.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list 

  

Find out more about the author and 

his love for rescue dogs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnf677sqPl8