Page 16 - Stuart Exposure - December '24

Page 16, Stuart Exposure
Book Review

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

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