Available October 15, 2024 Audiobook 9h 45m Grover Gardner narrator
The verdict is in. It's another win for David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series. Rosenfelt even manages to do a sort of cameo in his own book, though he may not approve of Andy's review. Grin.
While some reviewers keep saying the series uses the same ol' formula, it works. What's that ol' cliche? Don't fix what isn't broken? In this case, Rosenfelt still offers up fun, satisfying reads each time. Not only is the whole gang here, even the work adverse Edna, but the humor and snark and character's relationships are solid and each contributes to the story in their own ways. Some, such as the tales of Sebastian's avoidance of walks are played for laughs while the human side of the suspects are revealed and make us genuinely glad Andy took on another Christmas holiday case. And, yes, Sebastian is a dog. There's always a dog....or many. In this case, Murphy, a former rescue of Andy's Tara Foundation (a real life rescue organization started by Rosenfelt and his wife), even helps kick start Andy's very much unwanted case. Although he's been trying to retire for years, I hope Rosenfelt keeps him working for a long, long time.
No way I can even begin to detail the plot. It's wide reaching and there is a lot going on. Like what? Well, it isn't just dog walking. Let's see, there's a shady lawyer, computer viruses, drug trafficking, mob involvement, including Russians, potential witnesses dying, and, well, more. Much more. Andy's frequently humorous commentary carries us along into and out of danger and into the courtroom where Andy's antics are well known. Maybe it was just my own more serious frame of mind during the fraught days leading to another national election, but Andy himself seemed more prone this go-round to vent about the pressures of the mountain of work ahead for both him and his investigative team, particularly on cases like this that can lead to a quite young man going to prison for the rest of his life. For all his snark, Andy takes his job seriously.
In any case, if you like mysteries and courtroom dramas, not to mention dogs, with a healthy pinch of humor and snark, this is the book for you. I was lucky enough to get the audio version and absolutely adore Grover Gardner as a narrator. The text flows and you feel like you really are hearing Andy's thoughts and the story from him. Just as importantly, the relationships between the various characters are solid. Each is likable and well-fleshed out and that includes the dogs. You'll see why Sebastian is one of my favorites as you read. You'll like them all. Well, the good guys anyway. They all get their moments and even those new to the series will quickly sort them out and fall into feeling like this is ol' home week. Many, many twists and turns, not to mention suspects, none of whom are easy to prove did it instead of BJ/Brian, the young man originally arrested. You'll also come away with a better feel for how investigation done right should operate albeit Andy's crew probably has a far bigger budget than the average police jurisdiction. Thanks #MacmillanAudio for allowing me this sneak peek into Andy's holiday gone amuck. Not of any particular significance to anyone but me but I note this is my 700th review for #NetGalley, too, so a win for me, too. Glad I got to share it with Grover Gardner and Andy's associates.
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