DEAD MEN DON’T PLAY FETCH

5 stars out of 5

This has been a go-to series for me for some time now – the stories are always well-written, entertaining and a bit lighthearted even though the legal situations can get pretty complex and the investigations downright dangerous. And this, the 33^rd installment, doesn’t disappoint.

Trying-to-retire defense attorney Andy Carpenter fights to say no when old friend Lou Campanelli, who runs a rehab center in Paterson, New Jersey, calls to ask a favor. That’s because Andy knows it’s likely to drag him back to a courtroom – and he’d much rather keep his eyes on the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue operation, and/or play with the three beloved pooches that share his home in addition to his wife Laurie Collins.

Alas, that’s not to be. Lou is insistent that Jason Maddox, who was at the shelter when he heard a noise outside, went out and found a man who had been murdered, didn’t do the dirty deed. Fairly strong evidence says otherwise, though, and Jason desperately needs a defense attorney. Reluctantly, Andy and his team, which includes Laurie as chief investigator, set out to at the very least convince the jury there’s reasonable doubt and get a not guilty verdict.

While his team does a whiz-bang job of investigating, Andy shines in the courtroom. This time, he’s up against old and extremely competent prosecutor Dylan Campbell, who, as usual, doesn’t make things easy for Andy. The details of both the investigation and the trial, of course, won’t be forthcoming in this review – no way I’ll take away the fun for other readers. I certainly will, however, recommend this book (and the entire series) highly and thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to once again enjoy a pre-release copy. Loved it!

Dead Men Don’t Play Fetch by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, July 2026); 288 pp.

DOGGED PURSUIT

5 stars out of 5

For at least a half-dozen years, I've bemoaned the fact that I found this wonderful series late in the game; I've read only the most recent six, and this is the 31st. More's the pity; but I'm also not one to go back and read dozens of books that came before the one with which I started. That doesn't mean, though, that I'm not interested in how it all began. Well, that itch has now been scratched. This installment basically is a prequel to the others - answering a ton of questions as well as being a doggone good book all on its own.

As it begins, former prosecuting attorney Andy Carpenter is nearing 30 years of age, newly married and, according to his retired highly regarded prosecutor father, heading for the dark side to start his own firm as a defense attorney in Paterson, New Jersey. Readers are introduced to Tara, Andy's lovable golden retriever (and, I assume, the force behind the dog rescue Tara Foundation that keeps Andy busy in his retirement years). We're also introduced to Laurie Collins, who serves as his bodyguard (but who followers of the series know comes to play a much different role in future books).

Tara the dog, in fact, is directly responsible for the beginning of this tale. When Andy goes to the shelter to look for a small-ish dog for himself, he finds her and loses his heart. But when he sees that Tara and her shelter companion, Sunny, seem inseparable, he can't resist taking them both home. Problem is, Sunny isn't up for grabs; his owner, Frank Tierney, is in jail, awaiting trial for the murder of his former boss. Unless Frank gives the go-ahead, Sunny must stay right where he is.

Not wanting that to happen to the poor pup - and a bit curious about Frank's situation - Andy visits him in jail (Frank, that is). One thing leads to another, and poof - Andy has taken Frank's case - and as he soon learns, a difficult case to win it will be. Frank meets all the requirements for conviction: he has means, motive and opportunity - some of which has been documented by the very capable prosecution. But for whatever reason - maybe Frank's penchant for dogs - Andy is pretty sure they're barking up the wrong tree and his client is innocent. Proving that, however, will be a challenge for his entire team, and ultimately put his own life in danger.

All of this, of course, is laid out for readers like me to enjoy right up to the end - and enjoy it I did. Many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get my eyes on a pre-release copy. Series lovers, heads up - this one's a don't-miss. And it seems to me to be a great beginning for those who want to start reading a wonderful, thoroughly entertaining series.

Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, July 2025); 288 pp.

DOG DAY AFTERNOON

5 stars out of 5

Retired attorney Andy Carpenter insists he wants to stay that way, but somehow he keeps getting pulled back into court. This time, his trusted but somewhat reclusive investigator, Marcus Clark, asks for a favor - the only time in their long association that's happened. It seems that one of the young men Marcus has helped get on the straight and narrow - Nick Williams - has been identified as a mass murderer after six employees were brutally shot at the law firm where he's been working.

When Marcus gets a call from Nick, who's been missing, to say he was kidnapped on the day of the murders and spent several days tied up in some kind of warehouse before his kidnappers inexplicably set him free. Marcus then calls Andy, who really doesn't want any part of the case, but he can't say no to Marcus. Reluctantly, Andy gathers his super-competent team around him, including Marcus and Andy's ex-cop wife, Laurie Collins - and they begin to plot their strategy despite misgivings that include a couple of witnesses who are for the most part convinced that the man with the gun they saw was, in fact, Nick.

As usual, the story is narrated by Andy, who enjoys talking to his own dogs while taking them for walks. He's an extremely personable guy with a sense of humor and a penchant for acting up in the courtroomwith both adding a bit of fun to each adventure (and eliciting an occasional giggle from me). Since the motive attributed to Nick seems thin - and both he and Marcus are so insistent that Nick wasn't involved in any way - the team begins to look for another reason for the murders. As clues turn up, Andy shares them with readers (and I'll leave those reveals up to him, thank you very much) right up to the somewhat surprising conclusion. 

Speaking of thank you very much, all that's left for me to say is that - to the publisher, via NetGalley - for giving me the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of another installment in a favorite series. Well done, as always!

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, July 2024); 298 pp.

'TWAS THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

4 stars out of 5

Honestly, I'm not altogether sure what Christmas has to do with the story here except that the events transpire over the holiday season, but it's a fun tale anyhow - especially since it's got plenty of the courtroom drama I love best. It does begin at an early holiday party at the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue organization founded and run by Andy, a canine lover who's also an attorney. Near the end of the evening, foster volunteer Derek Moore, a local businessman, is arrested for murder.

Needless to say, Moore vehemently denies he did the dirty deed. He does not deny, however, that he's in New Jersey's Witness Protection Program under his new name after having ratted on a nasty gang to which he admittedly once belonged. But the evidence against him is almost overwhelming - almost too much to be believable; but clearly, Moore (actually Robert "Bobby" Klaster) desperately needs a lawyer, so who better than his friend Andy?

Even though there's a real possibility that Bobby is being framed for the murder, Andy quickly realizes that proving it will be an uphill battle; the best he can do, most likely, is create reasonable doubt. As the investigation moves along - aided by Andy's wife, ex-cop Laurie Collins, and other familiar (this is the 28th book in the series) and likable team members Cory, Sam and Marcus (the latter a bruiser capable of giving anybody a bump in the night to remember), they may not be much closer to finding a motive - or who's out to get Bobby - but they do discover that a plan with far-reaching ramifications may be in the works.

So carefully, Andy and the crew follow clues, with the primary objective of keeping Bobby out of jail for the rest of his life. As I mentioned before, much of the story - narrated by Andy - takes place in the courtroom, where Andy can show off his considerable chops and humorous asides. It's a very entertaining addition to the series, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

'Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, October 2023); 304 pp.

FLOP DEAD GORGEOUS

4 stars out of 5

I may have come late to this series, but I've quickly become a fan; as long as uber-likable retired attorney Andy Carpenter plays a prominent role, I can't turn the pages fast enough. This one finds him back in the courtroom to defend Hollywood film star Jenny Nichols, who's been charged with murder. She's talented, beautiful and, despite Andy's love of his ex-cop wife Laurie, irresistible; after all, he dated Jenny back in high school (as he's fond of reminding anyone who's within earshot).

When Jenny returns home to Paterson, New Jersey, where Andy lives and runs the dog rescue Tara Foundation, Andy arranges a private dinner party so some of his closest friends can meet her. It's almost spoiled by the appearance of Jenny's ex-husband, a big-shot movie producer who apparently didn't get the memo that divorce means she's no longer his wife. Andy's friends save the day and Jenny, but the next day doesn't go quite as smoothly when the ex-husband turns up dead in Jenny's recently deceased mother's home, where she's staying. Jenny, of course, denies any involvement - she was the one who found his body in the kitchen, yes, but she insists she didn't do it despite a ton of evidence to the contrary.

But hey - Andy dated her in high school, remember? So he makes it his mission to polish up his lawyering skills and try his best to prove to the jury that she's innocent. Given that preponderance of evidence, it won't be easy; but Andy calls in his team of experts - including his wife - and spends the rest of the book investigating, strategizing and arguing (the latter in court, where readers get to see the "old" Andy in action). How it turns out, of course, you'll have to find out for yourself (I will say that a very early guess I made turned out to be spot on). Now I just have to wait for the next installment and thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

Flop Dead Gorgeous by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, July 2023); 272 pp.