Page 10 - Hobe Sound Reflections - December '24

Page 10, Hobe Sound

book review

’Twas The Bite Before been living among them as a good parent, so as much as I hate soccer and hate even
“I’ve known this for a while, but it’s still jarring. I’m
part of the government’s
Christmas witness protection program more that he likes it, I’m not about to say anything or
after having earlier been a be critical. He has to live his own life and make his own
By Nils A. Shapiro part of the mob but who choices, even a ridiculous one like this.
When I was trying to “turned” and gave evidence “What are you watching, Rick?”
decide on an appropriate at great personal risk. “It’s a Premier League game. Liverpool is playing
book to review for this With his friend and Chelsea.”
December column, several client declaring himself to “They’re five hours ahead there. Are they playing at
features on the cover of this be completely innocent of midnight?”
month’s selection attracted the new charges, Carpenter “I taped it.”
me: the obvious connection must get to the truth about “You taped an English soccer game? Voluntarily?”
to the Christmas holiday, the “evidence” and find “Yup.” …
the cute twist of the “Bite” the real killer. (He also “Does it bother you that they score about once every
for “Night” in the title and takes on the responsibility couple of months?
the adorable Dalmatian of caring for his friend/client’s two dogs while he is in “Nope.”
with the Gingerbread Man cookie in his mouth—an prison.) This won’t be an easy case: The victim was found … “I watch along with him for a minute or so,
irresistible draw for the doggie lover I am. dead in the trunk of his client’s car, and his bloodstains on pretending to be interested, then I leave. I could watch
What I did not realize until I arrived home, opened the the client’s clothing. It’s a well-told tale with a surprising, until someone scores, but by then Bobby’s trial might have
book, noted the author’s credentials and began reading satisfying and credible ending. started. …
this novel is that I had struck literary gold in my selection! What makes this book special is Rosenfelt’s writing “I can’t sugarcoat this or enter a state of denial …
Within the first few pages I understood why David style. But there are so many reasons to love this author the simple fact is that I have a son who prefers soccer to
Rosenfelt has developed a massive fan base of readers for it is difficult to know where to begin. Most importantly, good old American college football.
his more than 40 already published novels, over half of his tongue-in-cheek humor will keep a grin on your face “I am raising a Communist.”
them about Andy Carpenter, the same attorney who stars from first page to last. I kept thinking that he would make As if David Rosenfelt’s delightful writing style weren’t
in ’Twas The Bite Before Christmas. a great writer for the Saturday Night Live TV show. enough to have me join his vast base of admiring readers,
In this novel, Carpenter is serving as defense attorney Here, for example, are just a couple of examples early how about the following: He and his wife live in Maine
for a friend and excellent neighbor who, shockingly, on when Andy Carpenter is describing how he feels about with 25 of the 4,000 dogs they have rescued. Do I need
has been arrested and charged with the murder of a certain aspects of his family life. (I have omitted large to say more?
high-ranking mobster. It turns out that his friend, to the sections of the text for lack of space here and substituted
surprise of Carpenter and everyone else in town, has ellipses. …) *****
“I don’t like eggnog, and I don’t think anybody does.
It’s too thick and too sweet for my taste … like drinking On a doggie note, my
melted chewing gum. I just tried some again anyway and wife Linda and I will be
found that sucking some of this batch through a straw sharing our first holiday
requires either a serious pair of lungs or a hydraulic season with Lacey, who
pump; it’s not nearly good enough to justify that amount joined our family three
of work. months ago. Lacey, a
“But the reason I doubt that anyone really likes it is “teacup” Maltese who
that it’s only popular at Christmas. Good food or drink weighs just 3-1/2 pounds,
should not require a holiday to justify consumption … I will celebrate her first
feel the same way about fruitcakes and candied yams; if birthday on December 20,
you like them, eat them all year. Otherwise, I don’t want and is already completely
to hear about them.” bonded with my wife
Or this passage about his son, Ricky. Linda, as you can see here.
“Ricky is watching a soccer game.
“He likes soccer.