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First Degree  By  cover art

First Degree

By: David Rosenfelt
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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Publisher's summary

Nominated for the Edgar and Shamus Awards, David Rosenfelt's debut novel, Open and Shut, was widely praised by listeners and critics. Rosenfelt returned with this riveting mystery, First Degree, featuring irreverent and dynamic lawyer Andy Carpenter.

When a cop's body is found burned and decapitated, the last thing Andy Carpenter expected is for a stranger to waltz into his office and admit to the crime. For the wise-cracking millionaire defense attorney suffering from "lawyer's block", the case looks like a no-brainer...until the cops pick up another suspect: Andy's lead P.I., Laurie Collins, who happens to be the love of his life.

Soon Laurie's facing conviction for the grisly murder and Andy must desperately try to save her. All he had wanted was a case to sink his teeth into. Now he gets one that's a kick in the head - and the heart.

Crack another case with Andy Carpenter.
©2004 David Rosenfelt (P)2008 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Rosenfelt should win a unanimous verdict: first-rate." ( Publishers Weekly)
"As satisfying as the nuts and bolts of the case are, it's the sheer likability of Andy and the odd assortment of his friends and staff that lifts the story from merely enjoyable to genuinely delightful." ( Publishers Weekly)

Featured Article: The Best Cozy Mysteries to Keep You Warm This Holiday Season


We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best cozy mystery audiobooks to help brighten up your winter listening. Here you'll find contemporary and historical cozies, classic whodunits and ingenious heist stories. While varying in tone, plot, and setting, these picks all share an irresistible holiday atmosphere. You'll find snowstorms galore, bakeries full of tasty holiday treats, glittering get-togethers, and picturesque English villages decked out in their holiday finest.

What listeners say about First Degree

Average customer ratings
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

very entertaining

Grover Gardner and David Rosenfelt are an excellent team. The writing is funny in a consistent way and the reader sells it just right. This is not great literature, as I am sure the author would be the first to admit, but you will have infinitely more fun with it than with 100 famous books one could name. The entire series is entertaining, and, even if you aren't a dog lover, even the dog is a vivid character. It doesn't matter that you know Andy Carpenter will win in the end and get the girl, it's the ride that counts, and this is one I'll be happy to take again, ASAP.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Read series in order

Fun fast read. -just a quick caution --read his book "Open and Shut" first because its plot is revealed early on in First Degree. -Plus, if you like the author, you will want to read both.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining!

David Rosenfelt (author), Grover Gardner (reader) & Andy Carpenter (wisecracking lawyer) -- and Tara (his golden retriever) -- are fast becoming my favorites. I just wish two of his other books in the catalog weren't abridged. In this unabridged book, Carpenter is surprised when he has to defend his girlfriend from a murder. Very entertaining.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my favorites

I absolutely love this series and am always eagerly awaiting the next installment. The characters, especially Andy Carpenter, are so well-drawn I feel like I know them. The plots are interesting and the legal maneuvers, while not always credible (I'm a lawyer), are not so far out of the realm of possibility as to be too distracting. One of the best things about this series is the wonderful narrator. Grover Gardner is the best!

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Listen

I have come to really appreciate this author. The book has a great plot, all loose ends are tied together and the characters are all memorable. I started with his first book, open and shut, and liked it so much I paid the full retail price for this title. Most of all, I love the author's use of irony and sarcasm. He's a firecracker and demonstrates the author's intelligence. Wholly recommend this book for intelligent readers, especially. Wish there were more titles out there like this one, more authors with Rosenfelt's talents.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining!

David Rosenfelt (author), Grover Gardner (reader) & Andy Carpenter (wisecracking lawyer) -- and Tara (his golden retriever) -- are fast becoming my favorites. I just wish two of his other books in the catalog weren't abridged. In this unabridged book, Carpenter is surprised when he has to defend his girlfriend from a murder. Very entertaining.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

You will not stop listening

I listen books only in my car. I do not have time during days nor evenings. This time it was different. I wasn't able to stop. I came to work and waited long minutes till the end of a chapter. Finally I dowloaded the book in my iPod and finished it during my mail reading. The book is so good that I bought all the books from the author immediately. If you like good stories this book is for you.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Rosenfelt's Terrific Especially With Gardner

I try not to use the word, "WOW!" So I'm plucking it out of the bag, blowing off the dust and hurling it at you. Now I cannot imagine Rosenfelt NOT BEING HEARD WITHOUT GARDNER! But... but... Andy Carpenter belongs to Rosenfelt and his super smart narrative glimmers. The plot's bullet perfect. And every character in this courtroom ensemble belongs. I'm off to purchase the next Rosenfelt novel to hear his new flow of ideas and feel them through, I hope, Gardner's interpretation.

This book cannot be better in print or video. IT ROCKS in audible and why I listen to books. WOW!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

We loved the book and....

we especially loved the reading. What a great voice Grover Gardner has. I can't imagine any other narrator for this work, Gardner just seemed so perfect! I have listed to 20+ hour books lately and found First Degree to be fast, enjoyable and a real thrill. I'll certainly look at other David Rosenfelt novels.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Thank goodness for the narrator .

Only Grover Gardner made this worth while. As for the plot; the bad guys are ex Green Berets, cops, and FBI agents. The good guys are two women protecting truth, justice and the American Way and a wise cracking lawyer who loves stray dogs. Wildly original !!!

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4 people found this helpful