Carpenter was a successful mystery novelist in the 1970s and 1980s. One of his books, Deadhead, was turned into a Broadway musical. Other books he wrote include Games Murderers Play, Cat Got Your Tongue?, Only Her Hairdresser Knew, Sleight of Deadly Hand, The Peabody Experience, and Stumped. His memoir, The Absolute Joy of Work, was published in 2016.