Publisher's Weekly Review
In Edgar finalist Rosenfelt's winning sequel to 2020's The K Team, former police officers turned PIs Corey Douglas and Laurie Collins look into the shooting death of Lisa Yates on a street in Paterson, N.J. While on the Paterson PD, Corey was called to a domestic dispute involving Lisa and her live-in boyfriend, Gerald Kline. It was obvious that Gerald had hit Lisa, but she refused to press charges. Regretting he didn't do more, Corey is sure Gerald had Lisa killed. Though lacking a client, Corey and Laurie, who's the wife of defense attorney Andy Carpenter, the author's main series lead, decide to investigate anyway to get justice for Lisa. Rounding out the team are investigator and muscle Marcus Clark and Corey's K-9 partner, German shepherd Simon Garfunkel. The believable plot takes surprising twists as the insightful private detectives uncover an intricate conspiracy that reaches beyond a spurned lover. Andy becomes involved when Corey is arrested for a second murder. Rosenfelt smoothly mixes humor with a sharp plot and appealing characters. This series deserves a long run. Agent: Robin Rue, Writers House. (Apr.)Correction: An earlier version of this review misstated the title of the author's previous book.
Kirkus Review
A second outing for Paterson's preeminent investigators ensnares one of their own members in uncomfortable ways. It's not clear who shot Lisa Yates to death in a restaurant parking lot, but it's clear who deserves leaning on: medical services headhunter Gerald Kline, whom she refused to file charges against for domestic abuse when he was living in her place. So Corey Douglas, who, when he was a Paterson cop, questioned Kline in vain, goes to see him now, blusters at him, and broadcasts hints unwisely around town that Kline deserves killing himself. Someone promptly obliges Corey by slitting Kline's throat. But it's not that big a favor since the killer also plants a bloodstained sweat suit of Corey's along with the murder weapon in a nearby dumpster. Suddenly Corey's in sore need of the professional services of the K Team, whose members include cop-turned-investigator Laurie Collins, tough and taciturn Marcus Clark, and Corey himself since he retired from the force. Released on bail, Corey's free to join his K-9 partner, Simon Garfunkel, and his fellow humans in tying both Lisa and Kline to an elaborate and extensive scam involving her employer, Ardmore Medical Systems, and a whole lot of other folks, including two hit men, one of whom incriminates himself in a way that would be conclusive if he hadn't died immediately afterward. Andy Carpenter, Laurie's husband, takes time out from his own long-running series to defend Corey, but the real fireworks take place far from the courthouse. Though the case is a hot mess, the criminals' sublimely simple central concept is worth all those subsidiary homicides. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Computers are divine creations, giving access to the brave new world of cyberspace to anyone who can use them. Alternately, they are the work of Satan, who pounds the keys mercilessly, finding new ways to screw up the world. It's that second formulation that seems in play in Rosenfelt's second outing for PI Corey Douglas and his K-9 sidekick, Simon Garfunkel. It begins when the murder of a young woman jolts Corey into the past. Earlier, while a cop, Corey rescued the woman from an abusive husband and promised to look after her. More murders happen, and a fine, propulsive narrative gets underway. It's slowed a bit by too many characters, including one who doesn't exist. It's possible, Corey learns, to create electronic people, kill them off, and collect insurance. There's more. You're getting ordained? Oh, and a file has been found detailing your battle with venereal disease. This is a perfectly solid thriller, but it's the scary reach of those little machines on our desks that lingers.
