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.

THE MORE THE TERRIER

5 stars out of 5

Granted, this is not a lengthy book. Still, the fact that I whipped through 35% of it in one before-bed sitting indicates two things: first, it's an easy read; and second, doing so was a real treat. In fact, I'll say it's one of the best so far (this is the 30th).

Long-time super-charged attorney Andy Carpenter is happy as a clam now that he's retired - enjoying the heck out of his ex-cop wife, Laurie Collilns, 15-year-old son Ricky, their three dogs and running his Tara Foundation dog rescue operation. On their way back home to Paterson, New Jersey, the family is surprised when their pet sitter tells them a stray dog has appeared at their doorstep and doesn't want to leave. Almost immediately, though, they're shocked to realize this isn't a stray; it's Murphy, a pup they once fostered that was adopted some time ago by BJ Bremer, who lives with his mother. They're even more shocked, though, when BJ's mother reveals that her son has been arrested for murdering one of his college professors at nearby Rutgers University.

Andy is, of course, reluctant to take on the case - besides loving retirement, he won't be making any money (not that he needs any). But under the circumstances, he just can't say no; so he quickly gathers his competent team, which includes Laurie, to begin an investigation that begins with a close look at the victim in hopes that will lead to a motive. On the downside, the evidence against BJ is strong, so it's clear that even coming up with enough to create reasonable doubt in the minds of jurors will be a challenge.

But try they will, of course, and it's an intriguing exploration that leads to some very dangerous characters. I'm sorry to say other readers will have to find out how it went for themselves, though - I can't say more without revealing too much. But for courtroom and pooch lovers, I highly recommend this book (and the entire series). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The More the Terrier by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, October 2024); 299 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.

HOLY CHOW

5 stars out of 5

Unfamiliar as I am with this series - this is the 25th book - I admit to expecting a dog-centric story on the order of the Spencer Quinn Chet and Bernie detective series that's a favorite of mine. It was clear from the git-go that I was barking up the wrong tree here, but no matter - it's every bit as doggone good. Put another way, what a thoroughly enjoyable book! 

The star of the show isn't a dog; rather, it's mostly retired criminal attorney Andy Carpenter of Paterson, New Jersey. Independently wealthy, most of his time and money have gone to the dogs; he runs the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue organization, and is the human parent to three of his own. Not too long ago, a 60-ish woman named Rachel Morehouse stopped by looking to adopt a four-legged friend and went home with Lion, an older Chow Chow (just for the record, although I'm a confirmed cat person, I do like dogs - and Chows are a favorite to root for while I'm watching the annual Westminster Dog Show). Anyway, Rachel later calls Andy to ask if he'll agree to take care of Lion should something happen to her. Her husband is deceased, and she's not sure her stepson Anthony will want anything to do with the pooch.

Not an issue, Andy tells her - never suspecting he'll be held to that promise much sooner than expected. Next thing he knows, he's in Rachel's attorney's office waiting for her will to be read; it seems she's suddenly passed away. There, he meets Anthony, who seems to be a pleasant enough guy who's not unhappy about inheriting Lion. That gets put on hold, though, when Anthony gets arrested; it seems his stepmother's death was not of natural causes, and he's been charged with her murder.

It also turns out her estate is far more than chump change, and even though Anthony may not get the (ahem) lion's share of it, he insists he's innocent and begs Andy to defend him in court. Because he was impressed by Rachel and a few things don't quite add up, he agrees to take on the case and brings his supremely talented team in to help. From that point on, the case starts to heat up as details of Rachel's vast business holdings come to light. For those, however, you'll have to read the book for yourself; all I'll say is it's a well-written, intriguing and often humorous adventure you won't want to miss. I'm sure glad I didn't, and I'm going to make sure I don't miss any more. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for leading me to a pre-release review copy of this one.

Holy Chow by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, July 2022); 269 pp.

A DEADLY BONE TO PICK

4 stars out of 5

Be still my happy heart: I read almost all the way to the end of a cozy mystery before realizing it's a cozy. Why? It's missing all the annoying hallmarks of other cozies: No hand-wringing heroine who won't listen to reason. No wacked-out loud-mouthed friend who gets her into even more trouble . No paranoia, questioning everything every other character says and does or waffling between two hunky guys. Better still, apparently it's the first of a series. My reaction? Thank you - and bring on the next one quickly, please!

That's not to say that Molly Madison isn't carrying around some serious baggage; after her husband's demise - for which some still blame her - the former Massachusetts police officer and private eye has moved to coastal California, taking very little except her beloved golden retriever, Harlow. Even before she gets settled in her new digs, she gets a visitor - in the form of a huge, exceptionally slobbery Saint Berdoodle (that's a blend of St. Bernard and, well, you know). Turns out he belongs to a down-the-street neighbor who is happy to share a dog he doesn't care much for anyway.

A practiced dog trainer (who shares her expertise with readers, a plus for dog-lovers), Molly tolerates the drools and takes a shine to Noodle  - as does Harlow. On a beach walk, though, Noodle starts digging around, triumphantly retrieving a human hand. Uh, oh, Molly thinks - time to call the cops. When she does, she bumps into perhaps the only similarity to most cozies: A cop with an ax to grind, and it's name is Molly - and his sympathetic, good-looking sidekick who steps in to dull his partner's blade.

After that, nothing much goes according to plan except Molly's training schedule for Noodle - approved by his emergency doctor owner - and training sessions for the dog belonging to super-smart eight-year-old Amy, whose parents are, shall we say, less than attentive. This is followed by a couple of neighborhood murders (which, of course, that unfriendly cop would love to pin on Molly if he could just figure out how). The closer Molly gets to the truth, though, the more she puts her own life in jeopardy.

The whole thing is an engaging romp with plenty of action from both people and canines, for which I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the privilege of reading and reviewing. For those who enjoy an entertaining, well-written book, I have this advice: Sit. Stay. Read!

A Deadly Bone to Pick by Peggy Rothschild (Berkley, February 2022); 304 pp.

THE KEEPERS

4 stars out of 5

I love mysteries about cats and dogs, so I was excited to find and read "The Finders," the debut book in this series, last summer. I was no less excited to find this one - and even happier when, once again, I got a pre-release copy of the book to read and review (thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley). Like the first, there's plenty of nail-biting action, both on the part of the pooches and their very likable trainer, Mason "Mace" Reid. Needless to say, though, the dogs pretty much have a corner on the lovable end - any country music fan like me would be hard-pressed to resist pups with names like Delta Dawn, Elvira and Sue (yes, the latter is a boy).

They all live near Chicago, and the dogs are in demand, largely by the Chicago Police Department, for their expertise in sniffing out human remains.  As this story opens, a call from the previous summer sends Mace and a couple of his best canines to a major downtown fire, where the dogs nose out a body. Subsequent investigation determines the fire to be arson and that the dead guy, a lawyer, bit the dust before he turned up as a crispy critter (i.e., he was murdered).

Back to the present, Mace's not-yet-but-hoped-for main squeeze, police officer Kippy Gimm, calls him in to help with the murder of a local musician who, shall we say, was musically challenged and lost. Then Mace and the dogs seek and find an even more prominent - and spectacularly dead - local district attorney. That, in turn, leads to suspicions of nefarious connections that reach to the highest levels of government (hey, this is Chicago, after all). But whoever the someone or someones are behind the murder, it's pretty clear an in-depth investigation won't be welcome. Mace and Kippy soon learn that the hard way, though - putting them and the dogs in mortal danger, on the run and smack dab in the middle of an episode of "Who Do You Trust?"

For sure, this one barked right up my tree, and I'm sure it will be a hit with other readers as well. Good job!

The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton (Minotaur Books, June 2021); 288 pp.

DEVOTED

5 stars out of 5

Enchanting. Tear-jerking. Edge-of-seat scary. All this and more await readers of this exquisitely written book. If I had to describe it in a single word, it would be mesmerizing.

At the heart of the  activity is a telepathic dog named Kipp; Woody, a high-functioning autistic boy who hasn't spoken a word for all of his 11 years; and a diabolic plan to increase human longevity that goes horribly wrong. It's sort of a The Art of Racing in the Rain meets The Shining. Seriously, how can you top that?

Woody's dad was killed three years ago, leaving his mom, Megan, as a single parent who loves her son unconditionally. Woody returns her love even though he's unable to express it; what she doesn't know is that he's convinced that his dad's death was murder, not an accident. Elsewhere, an elderly lady named Dorothy has watched over her beloved Kipp for years, understanding his human-like abilities that include membership in the "Mysterium," a group of 86 golden retrievers and Labs who communicate with each other on the "Wire." 

And in Utah, a man who was an executive at that research laboratory working on longevity is on the run. Lee Shacket, who escaped a major disaster there with a ton of money, briefly dated Megan before she got married and knows she's now a widow. On the spur of the moment, he decides that she would be the perfect companion as he flees to another country to spend the rest of his life in luxury. But when he calls her to ask, she rebuffs him - triggering an intensive desire for revenge that grows stronger and more dangerous by the page.

Meanwhile, Kipp begins to intercept messages on the Wire from someone he believes may be a young boy - certainly a first among the heretofore all-doggie system. Kipp doesn't understand why the boy is intent on proving that his father was murdered, but he knows he needs help and sets off to find him. All that sets in motion the events that follow - events that kept me glued to the book almost nonstop till the end. My emotions pretty much ran wild, with the extremes tempered by a bit of humor here and there (my favorite laugh-out-loud line came when one character was described as having "the attention span of a Chihuahua with ADHD"). 

Seriously, this is one of the best books I've read this year. And for the record, I'd love to read more about the adventures of Kipp and his buddies (hint, hint). How about it, Mr. Koontz?

Devoted by Dean Koontz (Thomas & Mercer, March 2020); 381 pp.