David Rosenfelt infuses his fourth book in the K-Team series with wonderful characterization and humor as the private detectives pursue cold cases. Good Dog, Bad Cop features retired Paterson, NJ, police officers Corey Douglas and Laurie Collins as well as Marcus Clark and Corey’s retired K-9 partner Simon Garfunkel. Hired by their local police department to investigate cold cases, Corey immediately knows the case he wants to pursue.

Corey’s formed mentor, Jimmy Dietrich, retired three years ago, and had trouble adjusting to civilian life. When his body is found along with that of Susan Avery on his boat, the deaths went unsolved. However, there were rumors of an affair. What really happened? Corey wants to solve the case.

The author does a great job of bringing the main characters to life as well as some of the supporting characters such as Corey’s wife, Dani, and Laurie’s significant other, defense attorney Andy Carpenter. Readers of Rosenfelt’s series with Andy as the main character will see him here supporting the team. Corey follows the facts, doesn’t handle rejection well, and always aims to be fair and accurate. Laurie is a great researcher and a people person. This gives her access to people that can help them on cases. Marcus is efficient, smart, and provides muscle.

The story captivated me with the terrifying realism of the prologue. A twisty, deeply involved, and absorbing plot kept me engaged throughout this riveting mystery. With twists and turns, the investigation builds momentum until it peaks with an edge-of-your-seat finish.

The author did a great job in bringing together the investigation into the past deaths with the current activities within the story. While the writing is fluid and the story line is gripping, it meanders a little as the investigators realistically follow some false leads. However, with solid investigative techniques, the team continues to unravel the clues. The ending had a couple of surprises, and the final scene was dramatic and suspenseful. The author weaves themes of murder, relationships, cold case investigations, family, friendship, and teamwork.

Overall, this was intriguing, entertaining, and had an action packed ending with great investigative techniques along the way. I enjoyed this novel especially for its fascinating and complicated story line. It should appeal to those who enjoy mysteries or cold case investigations with great characterization and some humor. This can be read as a standalone. However, readers will gain more insight into the characters and their backgrounds if the series is read in order. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and David Rosenfelt provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for March 14, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

The prolific David Rosenfelt's two wryly funny series feature dogs and more dogs, and both are among my favorites. The latest is "Good Dog, Bad Cop," an entry in his “K Team” series centering on investigators, led by ex-cop Corey Douglas, who tackle cold cases for the Paterson, New Jersey, police department.

Things get personal for Corey in this fourth K Team book. Among the cold cases, he sees a chance to find out how his mentor, Jimmy Dietrich, was found mysteriously shot to death on his boat.

Rosenfelt’s books are charming but not cozy, with bursts of action and at least one scene of serious jeopardy in each one. If you listen to audiobooks, both these series are outstanding in that format. Grover Gardner (the voice of the Andy Carpenter series) and Fred Berman, who narrates the K Team books, are some of the best you’ll ever hear.

Corey Douglas is a retired police officer as is Simon Garfunkel, a his former K-9 partner. They team up with Laurie and Marcus to form an investigation firm called The K Team. Laurie is married to Andy, a retired criminal defense lawyer, and she and Marcus do investigative work for Andy. Laurie is also a former police officer and Marcus has "persuasive" reasoning skills and provides protection when it's most needed. Sam is Andy's accountant who is also a computer hack. Corey, as a retired police office, used to have an issue with how Sam gets his information but he has changed his mind now that he seems how much faster Sam can access it.

There have been some budget cuts in the Paterson Police Department but they still have money to hire consultants. Preferring to use it rather than lose it, the K Team are hired to investigate cold cases. They choose one that is near and dear to them ... the death of a police officer. Danny Avery had been on a stakeout when he was shot in the head. His widow, Susan, and his cop friend, Jimmy, are found dead the next year ... were they murdered or was it a murder-suicide? Corey and Laurie don't know if the deaths are connected but assume they are so they start from scratch with basically nothing and see where it takes them.

There have been 26 books so far in the Andy Carpenter series and I've read them all ... this is the fourth in the K Team spin-off series. Though it is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone as there is enough background provided.

I liked this book. I like the writing style of this author as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing. It was written mostly in first person perspective in Corey's voice but is sometimes in third person perspective when the focus is on others. I found there were a lot of characters in this book so it was hard to keep them straight at times.

This book was a great read. It has just enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages, great characters, wonderful k-9's and a mystery to solve. What more could you ask for!
I received a complimentary copy from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me this widget in exchange for an honest review.

Corey Douglas is a retired cop and along with Simon, his dog; Laurie, an ex cop; and Marcus, the muscle of the operation; they work cold cases for the local PD. This time they are working a case about a man who was murdered, followed by his wife and an ex cop who were later murdered on a boat.

I have read many of the Andy Carpenter books and I like them a lot. They are short and have some humor throughout. Andy is also over the top about dogs and so am I. All of these characters are in the Andy series so I know who they all are, despite this being my first read in this series. I think Corey is a slightly less funny and therefore less entertaining character than Andy and honestly, I don't think Simon had a big enough part solving things. I didn't dislike this book. It was a good quick read, but I definitely like Andy as a main character better.

This is the 4th book in the Andy Carpenter spin-off series featuring Corey Douglas, his K-9 partner Simon Garfunkel, Laurie Collins, and Marcus Clark, AKA the K-team. The team has been hired by the Patterson police department to investigate (close) cold cases; the first case they choose is technically a closed murder-suicide involving Corey's mentor, a retired cop by the name of Jimmy Dietrich, and Corey has never believed Jimmy did it and wants to find out who was really responsible for the killings. As the team works to uncover new evidence and clear Jimmy's name, they realize there is something bigger, more sinister going on. Rosenfelt combines his trademark wit, an interesting story, likeable characters (including Corey's K9 partner, Simon Garfunkel), and a fast-paced plot to deliver a story that gives you enough pieces of the puzzle to make you think you have it all figured out. Or maybe he will throw a couple surprises your way at the end. Either way, you'll enjoy the "ride".

I enjoyed this book, just not as much as I enjoy the Andy Carpenter series. Unfortunately I think the author has written a second character very similar to Andy, so, while I know they aren’t the same person, it was hard to distinguish our narrator in this story from Andy.

I think this series would be better told from Laurie’s point of view to fully establish that this series is different.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

This author was recommended to my by a friend and I can tell you that I enjoyed it so much. The story and mystery kept me hooked the whole book. Simon Garfunkel is my absolute favorite, but I am partial to German Shepherds. The relationships between the partners and Laurie's husband, Andy, had me giggling. "Hey Andy, can you bring me lunch?"

This is book 4 in the K-Team series, but the author gives you enough background in a non annoying way that you can read it as a standalone, but I plan on going back and reading them all.

This is also book 4 in this series, but the first I have read! I lov the idea of retired cops and their K-9s working on cold cases- it's such a great idea (even in real life!!), plus the characters are funny and smart, and remind me of people I know in real life, so it was even more fun to read. The mystery at hand is solid, with enough twists and turns, to keep you turning the pages! Be sure to pick this one up, and check out the whole series, if you like police procedurals, with a little something different!

I always really enjoy David Rosenfelt books. His characters are down to earth, and I like the dry humor. The mystery in this one revolves around a cop who was murdered, and then several months later, Corey's mentor and the former cop's wife, although their case is considered a murder-suicide. Corey and his team don't buy that though, and they set out to find out what really happened with all three deaths. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! Simon always steals the show in whatever scenes he's in, and I wouldn't want it any other way! Since Laurie is on Corey's team, I also liked all the cameos from Andy Carpenter and mentions of Tara and Ricky! Sam also constantly proves his worth, and Marcus is the lovable but silent and wouldn't-want-to-get-on-his-bad-side sidekick. Corey is cool under pressure, and doesn't get rattled by anyone that's after him. I love the K Team!

Good Dog, Bad Cop is book 4 in the K Team Novels series by David Rosenfelt. Do yourself a favor and get the entire series; you will not regret it; although, this edition does work well as a standalone.

My favorite thing about this series is that the story is told through the thoughts and experiences of the main character, Corey Douglas. It gives the book a realistic feel about his work and personal life. The addition of his thoughts about people and the situations he finds himself in greatly add to the story.

Moreover, I also appreciate the fact that this author can tell a story that I become completely wrapped up in, but he doesn't feel that the police officers have to curse all through the book. Why do so many authors portray the police like that? The ones I have known over the years don't talk like that. He also leaves out those very detailed sex scenes that add absolutely nothing to a good story.

I give this book 5 stars.

Simon, the K9 dog star, was not featured too much in this volume. The story, however, was still a fun read and a great addition to the series. I really enjoy the character's humour and smiled often while reading. Note that this book can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Retired Detective Corey Douglas is a member of the K Team - a group of investigators hired as consultants by the New Jersey Police Department to solve cold cases. The team sorts through the cold case files applying different criteria to decide which cases they'll accept. With backing from the police department, they have access to records and experts to utilize as needed in solving cases. Corey is determined that his team take on the cold case murder of his original police mentor Danny Avery - a detective who was shot execution style while working solo on a case he shared with no one. Unfortunately, that means that clues are scarce and/or nonexistent as no one has any idea why he was parked on the dark street down from a restaurant on the night he was murdered. Stranger still is the fact that both his wife and friend Jimmy Dietrich are found dead a few short weeks later in what appeared to be a murder-suicide. Are the three murders connected? Corey knows in his gut that Jimmy didn't commit suicide so the K Team take on all three cold cases. Things quickly heat up as it becomes obvious they're rattling skeletons and coming dangerously close to secrets that someone will kill to keep buried. What follows is a convoluted mystery with more twists and dead-ins than a curvy country road.

Good Dog, Bad Cop is a highly entertaining crime thriller with a healthy side of humor which I wasn't expecting. While I haven't read but one of the previous series books, I had no issues settling right in with this motley crew and following the clues. However, I'm sure one would greatly benefit from reading the series in order while getting to know the characters as they're introduced and developed. The who-done-it presents quite the challenge to both the K Team and readers as red herrings are plentiful even if motives are not. Characterizations are spot-on with a hefty team of support characters helping carry the load. The main characters are unique and well-developed with their own set of skills to bring to the team. And I'd be amiss if I didn't mention Simon Garfunkel, the retired police dog now part of the K Team. I've read some of the Andy Carpenter series books by this author, and I know fans of that series are going to love the appearance of those characters in this one especially Andy as the husband of K Team member Laurie. I really enjoyed the addition of wry humor in Good Dog, Bad Cop as it lightened the mood as team members grow frustrated at their lack of progress in the ongoing investigation.

David Rosenfelt's Good Dog, Bad Cop is an intriguing crime procedural that challenges readers to solve the cold cases right alongside the K Team. The story line flows swiftly even when the investigation doesn't. I wasn't sure where this one was going until near the end as the clues are few and far between for both the team and readers. Highly recommended to fans of lighter crime thrillers!

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the eARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is the 4th in a series, but reads well as a stand alone. This was a convoluted murder mystery (cold case), but I found it interesting. I really liked the characters. 4 stars

An interesting group of investigators known as K-Team include retired cops, one of whom is Simon Garfunkel of the Patterson Police Dept. K-9 Unit. Corey Douglas, Laurie Collis (wife of lawyer Andy Carpenter), & Marcus Clark are now Private Investigators hired by PPD to solve cold cases. Two cases are being opened jointly and if they are connected, solving this would clear three murders.

The cold trails do warm up and each clue takes the team closer to danger. The final action pulls everything to a surprise ending. There are a lot of characters to follow. If and when they finally interconnect it is a 'win'.

I rated this 4/5 because I found myself confused a few times, but a flu bug was active so it might have been me. The ending was definitely 5/5.

This was an interesting mystery by new-to-me author David Rosenfelt. The K Team takes on two cold cases that have personal meaning to the members of the team. There were few clues at first and nothing seemed related to the case. Then the bodies started showing up. Corey finds himself in a bit of trouble with the wrong type of people.

Does any of what the team uncovers relate to the cold cases? The team keeps digging for information and uncover more than they imagined.

I enjoyed the humor throughout the book. Simon is a sweetheart.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Good Dog, Bad Cop is the fourth in The K Team series. I’m a huge David Rosenfelt fan, but had been so-so on the first two books in the series that I’ve read. I noticed one thing right away. Rosenfelt has ramped up the humor in this book. Smart move!
I don’t recommend reading this book as a stand-alone. Rosenfelt expects the reader to already have a firm grasp on who the characters are and their personal traits.
The K Team is investigating the cold case of a cop’s murder. And shortly after his death, his wife and partner are also dead. The police think those two deaths were a murder-suicide, but the team doesn’t think so. Slowly, they find evidence that brings in a diverse group of characters but no way to tie them to the murders. Suffice it to say, during the book there are multiple attempts on Corey’s life, so Marcus and Simon are required to save him. As with all of Rosenfelt’s stories, it’s a convoluted plot and I didn’t see how it would come together. But one thing for sure, Rosenfelt’s plots might not be believable but they always come to a satisfying ending.
This is an enjoyable bit of entertainment. It’s not nearly as good as Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series, but that’s a high bar.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin”s Press/Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book.

An enjoyable addition to the series-in true form, Dave Rosenfelt creates believable characters and interesting story lines that keep you guessing til the end.

Rosenfelt scores again although not as successfully as the Andy Carpenter series. There just wasn’t enough Simon for me. I do like the connection with Andy, even though it’s a small one. Keep them coming. Rosenfelt..

This book Rosenfelt brings back the great K9 team of Corey, Laura, Marcus and Simon…and of course Andy who is their personal DoorDash! Always look forward to reading Rosenfelt’s book! Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!