Series: Andy Carpenter #30
Narrator: Grover Gardner
Publisher: Minotaur Books & MacMillan Audio
Release Day: Oct. 15, 2024
Many thanks to MacMillan Audio for the audiobook version of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.
Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine
The next installment in David Rosenfelt’s bestselling Andy Carpenter series brings a lone pup to his doorstep, but when it comes to dogs, The More the Terrier. With equal doses of doggy humor and courtroom drama, as well as Andy Carpenter's traditional humbug Christmas spirit, David Rosenfelt delivers another winner.
Review:
Author David Rosenfelt returns with episode thirty in the Andy Carpenter series, THE MORE THE TERRIER, just in time for the holidays. The series is a perfect blend of cozy mystery and courtroom drama with a sprinkling of humor interspersed throughout. Add in the major cute factor with all the antics of the adorable dogs, and you've got a story that's delightful to read with an intriguing mystery to be solved. Andy and his family return home from a skiing vacation to find an additional canine waiting - one the dog sitter says showed up on their doorstep and refused to leave, choosing instead to lounge around with their three dogs Sebastian, Tara and Hunter. Struck by the familiarity, Andy engages his investigation skills to determine that the dog is Murphy, a former Tara Foundation dog, who was placed with a family two years ago. Returning the dog to its owner leads Andy, the reluctant lawyer, to defend a college student accused of murdering his professor over a dispute over grades. As they begin their investigation, Andy and his motley crew, including wife and ex-cop Laurie, Sam the computer whiz, Corey and his K-9 dog, Eddie the lawyer and Marcus the muscle, soon determine that the Russian mob are involved in payoffs and have a stake in the outcome of the trial. Further investigation uncovers additional red herrings with motives involving computer viruses, drug traffickers and abuse via the metaverse world. Throw in a shady lawyer and Andy is convinced his client was set up, and he's facing a formidable task to convince a jury of reasonable doubt. As the story unfolds, the case proves to be more complex and twisted than expected with multiple viable threats against Andy and his family, but all Andy needs is one Christmas miracle to get his client home for the holidays and save Christmas.
Fans of the series will acknowledge Rosenfelt has a signature style that the Andy Carpenter stories follow and that's okay because despite that, each story is unique and highly readable in its' own way. The familiarity of the characters along with the antics of the dogs is comforting to series' readers, offering numerous laughs to cut the tension of a life-or-death case. A steadily increasing pace keeps readers engaged as does the author's wry sense of humor with our hero Andy dropping sarcastic remarks throughout and talking through cases with his dog, Tara.
THE MORE THE TERRIER is a delightful smorgasbord of cozy mystery, comedy and courtroom drama. If you're new to the Andy Carpenter series, it's one of a very few that I can honestly recommend can be read as a standalone as all the needed backstory is included and a case is solved in each book. I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Grover Gardner as the narration is fantastic as always, bringing these characters to life right in your own living room. THE MORE THE TERRIER is perfect for fans of light mysteries, comedies and legal thrillers.
Synopsis:
Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is relieved to be headed back to Paterson, New Jersey, after a week-long family vacation in the Adirondacks. He's ready to put the holly jolly season way behind him and settle in at home with his three dogs. But when they finally arrive, there is an extra dog eagerly awaiting them, as well as one anxious dog sitter.
When the dog showed up on the doorstep a few days ago, the sitter knew Andy would know what to do. Indeed, Andy recognizes Murphy, who the Carpenters fostered before the dog went home with BJ Bremer and his mother. BJ wanted to learn all he could about caring for Murphy, which made Andy like him immediately.
When Andy goes to take Murphy back to the Bremers, though, instead of the happy reunion he expects, he finds BJ's mother in tears. It turns out Murphy ran off…after BJ was arrested for murder. Andy had hoped for a quiet Christmas vacation, but he likes Murphy’s family and his golden retriever, Tara, likes Murphy, so he can't resist getting involved. The case isn’t as simple as Andy thought it would be, though, with BJ suspected of murdering one of his professors. With nothing to go on but Andy's own conviction in BJ's dog-loving character, proving his innocence would be a Christmas miracle.
When the dog showed up on the doorstep a few days ago, the sitter knew Andy would know what to do. Indeed, Andy recognizes Murphy, who the Carpenters fostered before the dog went home with BJ Bremer and his mother. BJ wanted to learn all he could about caring for Murphy, which made Andy like him immediately.
When Andy goes to take Murphy back to the Bremers, though, instead of the happy reunion he expects, he finds BJ's mother in tears. It turns out Murphy ran off…after BJ was arrested for murder. Andy had hoped for a quiet Christmas vacation, but he likes Murphy’s family and his golden retriever, Tara, likes Murphy, so he can't resist getting involved. The case isn’t as simple as Andy thought it would be, though, with BJ suspected of murdering one of his professors. With nothing to go on but Andy's own conviction in BJ's dog-loving character, proving his innocence would be a Christmas miracle.
