Holy Chow (Andy Carpenter #25), by David Rosenfelt

As usual, once I started reading, I couldn't stop until I finished. This is the 25th book in the Andy Carpenter series and I'd say that has pretty much held true for all of them. Now, true, I had to delay starting because, well, I needed to take my own dog for a walk. Andy would understand. I was drawn to the series because of the dog connection but have stayed for the self-deprecating humor, witty dialogue, and well-defined characters. Hey, we even learn a bit more about Marcus who, to be honest, I'm about half convinced is Superman in disguise.

As usual, the plot initially sounds simple. Andy's Tara Foundation adopted out Lion, a senior Chow, to Rachel Morehouse. Rachel calls him out of the blue one day to ask him to be sure Lion is cared for if something happens to her and her stepson can't take Lion. Andy thinks nothing more about it until he's notified Rachel has died and he should show up at the reading of her will. He goes, mostly thinking he's there to pick up the dog. He finds out there that Rachel was extremely rich and left $2M to the Tara Foundation. Then, her stepson, Tony, who actually adores the dog, is arrested for her murder just as the reading of the will is about to start.

That's when it gets complicated. Andy has been trying for years to retire, winds up as Tony's lawyer. Who killed Rachel Morehouse? Why? That's the big question Andy must answer to successfully defend his client. Speaking of his client, why was Tony estranged from the family? How is the family business connected? What does Sam discover while hacking his way through records? Do we really need to know exactly how late a plane lands each flight? What could that have to do with Rachel's murder? Dirty money? Drugs? How many times has Marcus saved Andy's life over the lifespan of this series? I don't know. The question just struck me. How do all these things connect? And, oh, there's more but you're going to have to read the book to find the answers to these and other questions.

Thank you #NetGalley and #SMB, #StMartinsBooks, for inviting me to drop in on Andy, Laurie, and the dogs. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment, well, aside from that really scary moment but, well, Marcus was there. He'd have saved me, too. 

Last Call at the Nightingale , by Katharine Schellman

Vivian sees things she shouldn't, in a place she shouldn't be.

To be honest, I think my response to this book was colored by a book set in the same era that I read recently. Author Katharine Schellman does an excellent job setting the scene. You can almost feel the sweat pouring off bodies, the crowded dance floor, and the quiet desperation of many of those at the Nightingale. Vivian, a working class Irish lass, bisexual, finds escape from her harsh reality at the club and winds up being the one to find a dead body in the alley behind the club. The dark side of the Jazz Age, with prohibition and the frequently almost forced exuberance of the era shine forth throughout the book. The characters are nicely introduced and include different races, creeds, and sexual leanings. Wealth and the role of women during the Jazz Age, not to mention the early 1900's in America, are brought out, as are the various prejudices of the times. In other words, there is a great deal going on in this book.

Despite the dark tone of the setting, again perhaps because of my previous readings and being a history major, I liked Vivian and sympathized with her situation. Many of my ancestors probably lived similar lives, making it all the more real to me as a reader. Vivian's pursuit of the truth took courage and the murder, in a weird way, took a backseat for me as the story progressed because of the bigger picture of the times. The world was already harsh and full of secrets for a relatively innocent girl like Vivian, making her courage all the more impressive. She's trying to survive but have some fun, too, and winds up caught up in a murder investigation. She even gets arrested at one point but is bailed out by friends she's made at the Nightingale. We should all deserve such friends.

I won't detail the plot, it's easily accessible in many places, but it moved along from the first page. As noted, the author does an excellent job of setting the scene and the alternating senses of hope, despair, and fear that underlie the plot. Caught between the secrets of those who inhabited the Nightingale, the whims and lack of care from those of a higher status, where lives like hers might be considered irrelevant, Vivian emerges as a strong woman in a time when strong women weren't the norm. Thus, read this one as much for a look at a dark period of American history, the roles of women, and the differences between social levels as a mystery. If you enjoy history, you'll enjoy this book and maybe, like me, find yourself looking up "The Great Gatsby" and discovering it was written the year this book is set in, only a year after the Charleston took the world by storm.

Thank you, #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for this thoughtful, occasionally troubling bit of time travel back into an era that looked so delightful on the surface but was full of darker undertones. Oddly enough, I enjoyed it.

The Lost (Mace Reid K-9 Mystery #3), by Jeffrey B. Burton

I tend to stick to cozy mysteries as opposed to those, like this book, with a darker, more sinister feel. It was definitely that but, hey, I mean, how can I not be drawn to a book with such a beautiful Golden Retriever on the cover. After reading the prologue, however, which was chilling, I wasn't so sure about my decision but decided to press on. I'm glad I did. Oh, not that the story line got any less dark or less chilling, but Mace and Kippy, along with Golden Retriever Vira, as in Elvira, the Oak Ridge Boys' song, won me over.

As for the plot, well, it basically comes down to don't tick off foreign mobsters. Mace, who was only recently and reluctantly talked into carrying a concealed weapon and hates guns, seems badly outmatched. But, he has police girlfriend Kippy, who keeps her gun handy and loaded, watching his back. Even more importantly, he has Vira. Her uncanny ability to not just find dead bodies but then somehow lead her team to the killer is no longer in doubt. She does exactly that this time, too. The hard part seems to be finding the necessary evidence to stand up in a court of law. In the meantime, there's a dead mother and missing child, not to mention missing jewels. All tied up in the mesh that involves the foreign mob.

The initial murderer is evident immediately, especially given Vira's talents. But, why murder Calley? Where is the missing daughter? Could Vira be mistaken? Nah. Not likely. Who is the body found in the park? Is it connected? Who is calling the shots of the ransom attempt?  Druckman is beyond rich, so why the connection to a pawn broker, of all things? Has the foreign mob moved in on pawn brokers? Will the missing daughter's escape plan work? Who is the blond woman with her? How do Kippy and Mace find the hiding place? Is Mace brave or foolhardy when he launches himself at attempted abductors? Wait, where are Vira and Scarf, the missing-again daughter? Scarf? What do hot air balloons have to do with anything? How will Mace find Vira? Not telling. You'll have to read the book for the answer to these and so many other questions.

Overall, although a bit out of my comfort range, I enjoyed the story although the frequently changing view points threw me off momentarily each change. Despite this, while it was disturbing to ponder such heartless scheming and murder,I liked Mace and it was interesting the watch Mace's behavior and pride in Vira and the rest of the pack. Vira and "The Finders," as Mace has dubbed them, emerge just as distinctly as characters as Mace and Kippy. Far from being superheroes, they emerge as down-to-earth people who love dogs and, hmm, each other? I think I may have to take a deep, calming breath and read the next book when it comes out.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress - #MinotaurBooks for introducing me to Vira and her human friends. Loved how Mace came up with their names, especially Sue. 

Best in Snow, by David Rosenfelt Andy Carpenter series, #24

First, as painful as it is, I have an admission. I'm batting zero on figuring out whodunnit in any of Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter books before the big reveal. What is surprising is that somehow that doesn't matter. I'm long since stopped trying to figure things out and just enjoy the ride.

Oddly enough, since I normally avoid books about messy murders and things like explosions and mob hits, I absolutely adore this series and have discovered that once I start reading I'm almost compelled to finish asap. Even more amazing, it's reluctant hero/lawyer Andy Carpenter's self-deprecating sense of humor and the well rounded characters who surround him that keep me coming back, not the desire to figure out the guilty party before the author discloses it.

I won't even attempt to detail the plot, which is complicated with many twists and turns and corruption in the highest places, but will simply say it starts with his beloved Tara finding a body in the snow during their regular walk. Although Andy is trying his best to retire, he finds himself the defense lawyer for the accused, a friend and associate of one of Andy's best friends. All the usual faces are there, including the inscrutable Marcus, and his team sets out to do what they do best, find the truth. Oh, did I mention Andy almost gets killed in the process.

Finally, of course there are dogs. The Andy Carpenter series has been built around the love that Andy (and author David Rosenfelt) have for dogs. Not only does Tara set things in motion by digging through the snow and finding a body, but there's a new Golden Retriever in town, Duchess. She and her reluctant care-taker, Vince, provide several humorous moments.

So, if you like dogs, complicated mysteries that somehow manage to combine humor and mayham, people you'll wish you knew, and the dynamics of friendship and family, you'll enjoy "Best in Snow". Daisy, who I have cautioned against finding any bodies during our daily walks, gives this one four paws up and a tail wag. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the advanced copy. #BestInSnow