Oh my God, I would have never thought that I will love this book so much. A mystery-driven novel with dogs? I should have suspected that I will not be able to put it down. So you will be enamored also, rest assured. You absolutely need this in your life.

You just can’t go wrong with the Andy Carpenter series! Especially if you’re looking for a good, fun, quick read! You soon fall in love with Andy and his merry band. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book

How did I forget to review this book? I rated it 5 stars almost a year ago but didn't actually write a review. Maybe because I was so sad it was over? That I had to wait a whole year to read another new Andy Carpenter tale. Well, good news, the latest addition (Rescued) to the series is out in a few months. So, I better review this one before the next one comes out.
Collared is yet another wonderful addition to this series. A great cozy mystery with enough twist and turns to keep things interesting. A wonderful mix of laughs and tension that will keep you invested till the end. This book, at #16 in the series, has no right to be as good as it is. But it is. Rosenfelt has yet to let me down.
If you have never read a book in the Andy Carpenter series, don't be afraid to pick this one up. The story is very self-contained, making it a great jumping in point.

**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I literally could not stop reading this book! I didn't realize it was a series, now I need to go back and read the other 15 books! If you like a good mystery this is the perfect book for you. It has tons of twists and turns making you question each character and event. In my opinion it was written very similar to a James Patterson or John Sandford book, which I love!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/9258396?shelf=2017&utm_campaign=mybooksnav&utm_content=mybooks_cta&utm_medium=web&utm_source=homepage

Customer Review




4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Enjoyable, August 8, 2017



By

Scarlettleigh









This review is from: Collared (An Andy Carpenter Novel) (Kindle Edition)

Another fun book.

Rosenfelt has a formula, as do most series writers. still, it is a very successful one. His humorous voice, his quirky characters, the good guy wins --and of course the role dogs play in the story, keep me coming back for more.

Mystery book are not my primary reading so I am not that good at figuring out the "who done it" plot. With Collared I did figure it out early on but that in no way took away the enjoyment of reading the book. In fact just listening to the development of pod Hike was worth the price of the audio book.

I know that I will be re-reading and listening to this book again in the future.

If you're a fan you won't want to miss this latest release.

This series is a lighter legal read than a legal thriller, more mystery but not quite a cozy. Regardless of that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Andy Carpenter is a reluctant defense lawyer, who was not even sure he wanted to renew his licence at the beginning of the book. His wife and partner in the dog rescue foundation convince him he should. When a border collie is left at the foundation with a cryptic note, the mystery begins. When the dog is checked for a micro-chip, they determine that it is the same dog that was stolen when a young adopted child was kidnapped, three years earlier. The ex-boyfriend of the adoptive mother was tried and sent to prison for the kidnapping and the child was never found. This tweaks Andy's curiosity. His wife Laurie had befriended Jill when the crime was committed as she lived in their neighbourhood. If Cody, the dog, is still alive, what about Dylan. Andy goes to the prison to question Keith and ends up believing in his innocence. Can Andy get a new trial for Keith? Will they find Baby Dylan? Who left Cody at the foundation?

The usual characters are back with a few new additions to flesh out the story. Andy is the heart of the eccentric cast & narrates. His interactions with other characters & sly internal observations provide a lot of humour. Laurie is the steadying influence for Andy and keeps him in line. She makes sure he is safe and honest as well as keeping him protecting using Marcus. Marcus who has skills like a one man army, scares everyone and keeps Marcus safe from harm, because Laurie asks him to. Sam, Hike and the rest of the team are there working in the background to help Andy investigate and prepare his case. Rosenfelt does a great job with pacing in this clever plot with enough humour to keep you smiling. Not only do you want to find out the answer to the mystery, but you want to keep reading to spend more time with the characters. This is a story with plenty of mystery, suspense, wit, skill, and detective work. A definite must read for those that like a legal mystery with a little less violence and darkness to it.

Collared is book 15 in this amazing series based on animal rescue. I highly recommend the entire series as each book is excellent. This book is one of my favorite in the series. Andy Carpenter runs a dog rescue foundation that is his life's work. Many abandon dogs are left at the shelter. One in particular is left with a mysterious note and turns out to have a past of mystery. As Andy investigates he finds out this dog was involved in a kidnapping of a child from years ago. Andy delves further into the case and finds clues that may lead to the recovery of the case. I enjoyed the case and the sleuth. These books are always a great mystery. The characters are very well integrated into the story and the added bonus of dog rescue is fun for every dog lover
I highly recommend this series for every dog and mystery lover.

Andy Carpenter (and David Rosenfelt) does it again. A sweet #16!
When a border collie is abandoned at the Tara Foundation, no one is especially surprised. After all, lawyer Andy Carpenter founded the foundation as a shelter for homeless dogs. Things become much more interesting when a microchip scan identifies the collie as a dog that disappeared three years earlier during the abduction of a baby and the beating of the baby’s nanny. The baby’s mother, Jill Hickman, is a successful businesswoman, and the crime had received wide publicity. She is also a friend of Andy’s wife Laurie, which gives Andy a second reason to delve into the mystery. Although Jill’s former boyfriend, Keith Wachtel, was convicted of the kidnapping, baby Dylan has never been found. The more Andy and his team learn, the stranger the case becomes. Soon Andy is trying to prove Keith’s innocence and learn who was behind the baby’s disappearance and perhaps even a murder or two.
David Rosenfelt's legal thrillers featuring wise-cracking New Jersey defense lawyer Andy Carpenter and an array of lovable canines and quirky humans are favorites of mine. They have interesting plots, likable characters, and a quiet but sassy humor that provokes more smiles than guffaws. A special feature is how Rosenfelt's own love for dogs (He and his wife founded a dog rescue foundation in real life.) shines via Andy's love for his Tara and the reliable involvement of dogs, even if they are in the background . These are not cozies, but they do NOT have the level of gore and grittiness common in urban mysteries today.
Narrator Andy is always at center stage in the book, but his faithful team members add color as usual. In this book, the terminally morose Hike, the only other lawyer in Andy’s firm, takes the investigation to South Carolina and becomes infected by Southern friendliness and courtesy, to the bewilderment of all who know him.
In Collared, Rosenfelt’s many devoted fans can be reassured that narrator Andy (and Rosenfelt) is still at the top of his game, both at solving crimes and delivering his low-key witticisms. The introductory opening scene was both saddening and intriguing, as a guilt-ridden woman drops off a dog at the Tara Foundation, but then narrator Andy took over and soon had me smiling as he described the interplay at the Carpenter breakfast table between Andy, his wife Laurie, and their adopted son Ricky. As usual, Andy provoked a final smile with the closing line. And there were plenty of smiles in between, whether Andy is at Charlie’s bar with his friend Police Captain Pete Stanton or annoying the judges and opposing counsel in court.
If you are new to the series, you can enjoy this book very much without reading any of the others, but I would suggest you read the first book, Open and Shut, to get the background for Andy’s team and their circumstances, after which you can enjoy them in any order. There’s not a bad one in the bunch.
Andy’s cases are always interesting, but this one was especially suspenseful, with some very unexpected twists and surprises. As I neared the end of the book I wondered how Rosenfelt was going to take all the loose ends and weave them into a plausible conclusion, but, by golly, he (and Andy) did it again. Andy may be a self-described “reluctant lawyer”, but he can’t resist a puzzle or ignore injustice, so I have every hope and expectation that he and his team will soon be at work again solving cases and entertaining his many readers.

Andy is a criminal defense lawyer who doesn't want any clients ... he's even considering not sending in the paperwork to keep his license up-to-date. Because of the millions his father left him, he is able to not work and spend his time with his friend, Willie, running the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue that he and Willie formed. He is married to Laurie and they recently adopted eight-year-old Ricky, so he is enjoying family life.

A dog is abandoned at the dog rescue and a chip and DNA show that it is Cody, a dog that has been missing and presumed dead. Three years ago, Laurie's friend, Jill, had broken up with her boyfriend, Keith, and then adopted a baby named Dylan. Cody and Dylan were kidnapped shortly thereafter and evidence pointed to Keith to be being the one who took them. He ends up being convicted and sent to prison. With the dog reappearing, Jill asks Andy and Laurie to investigate. Andy eventually is hired by Keith when the case is reopened and sent back to court.

This is the sixteenth in the Andy Carpenter series (I've read them all). I enjoyed this book and am really enjoying this series. The story was interesting and there were some twists and turns along the way. Even though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the ones before it to know what is going on). I like the writing style of this author as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing. It was written mostly in first person perspective in Andy's voice.

I like Andy ... I think he would be a hoot to be around and he's quite generous with his time and money. He loves his dog, Tara, and thinks she's the most wonderful and smartest dog in the world. He also has another less lively dog named Sebastian who came with Ricky. Part of Andy's team is Laurie, his wife and former police officer and now his investigator. Hike is his associate who is the most depressed and downer person ever but in this book we see "Pod Hike". Marcus, an investigator with persuasive reasoning skills, continues to provide protection when it's most needed (which is often since Andy is a self-professed coward). Sam is his accountant who is also a computer hack but wants to get more action like shooting people.

Good Lord, is this really #16? I can’t believe I’ve been reading the series for so long but I guess that’s a testament to this author’s winning formula. This is one of those series where if you enjoy one, you’ll enjoy them all.

The beginning made me think of that old book “The Cat Came Back”. Substitute a canine & you’ve got Cody, a loveable Border Collie found outside the Tara Foundation dog shelter one morning by Willie Miller. After Willie scans him for a microchip, his next call is to partner Andy Carpenter. Turns out Cody is a bit of a celebrity.

Almost 3 years ago, Jill HIckman’s nanny Teresa was assaulted while on an outing with Cody & Dylan, Jill’s adopted baby son. Teresa identified the attacker as Keith Wachtel, a scientist who worked for Jill’s company & her former lover. The most damning evidence came when dog hair found in Keith’s car & home was DNA matched to Cody. Keith was convicted but Dylan & Cody were never found.

As it happens, Jill is friends with Laurie, Andy’s wife & while she’e overjoyed to see Cody, she’s also hopeful this will lead to Dylan. Reluctantly, Andy agrees to poke around & begins by giving the heads up to Det. Pete Stanton. Pete worked the original case & is sure they got their man but after visiting Keith in prison, Andy’s not so sure.

From here, the plot stretches out in multiple directions as more players are introduced. The underlying conspiracy is complex & there are several sneaky twists that’ll catch you off guard. It’s not long before Andy’s worst fear is realized….yup, he’ll have to dust off a suit & be a lawyer. Oh the horror! The only person more distraught about this turn of events is Edna, Andy’s “office manager”. This will seriously cut into a strict training regime for her next run at the crossword puzzle title.

Rosenfelt’s books are always cleverly constructed but for me, at least half the reading pleasure comes from spending time with characters that have become old friends. Andy is the heart of the eccentric cast & narrates the story with a self deprecating voice. His interactions with other characters & sly internal observations provide much of the humour.

As usual, Laurie is the voice of reason & Marcus continues to scare the bejeezus out of anyone smarter than a house plant. Who am I kidding…plants are afraid of him, too.

The author is a master of pacing & interspersed with the laughs is a cleverly plotted mystery that clips right along. Besides wanting to know how it all shakes out, you’ll keep reading because it’s just so darn entertaining.

Like other authors with long running series such as John Sandford, Janet Evanovich or Lee Child, Rosenfelt has a distinctive style. They all contribute to the same genre but have found their own niches by creating signature characters who inhabit stories that run the gamut from grit to humour. You may have your favourites among their books but picking up the next instalment is a no-brainer. This author is one of my go-to’s when I’m in the mood for familiar faces, witty dialogue & genuine laughs all wrapped around a smart mystery.

★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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I know I take dog-loving to a somewhat absurd degree, but what he just said pleases me. Someone who doesn’t care about dogs, or this one in particular, would have said, “It’s about the dog being found.” But he said Cody instead of the dog, which to me is a sign of respect and caring.

I may need to get out more.

Cody has been assumed to have been one of two victims of a kidnapping -- the other was the baby the dog's owner had recently adopted. It's been two and a half years, with no trace of either. The mother's ex-boyfriend and ex-employee has been convicted for the crime, on some pretty flimsy evidence. Now Cody has been left at the front door of The Tara Foundation. Naturally, once Andy is told about this, he brings in the police and the dog's owner (a friend of Laurie's, as coincidence would have it). The question at the front of everyone's mind is: can the dog somehow lead to answers about her son?

Jill, the boy's mother and Cody's owner, asks Andy to look into this for her. Almost as soon as he begins, Andy uncovers some evidence that leads him to become Keith's attorney and get him a retrial. Andy is pretty clueless (as is everyone) why someone would kidnap the boy and the dog (and return the dog), not to mention frame Keith for the crime. But while he can't answer that, he can chip away at the evidence that put Keith behind bars -- the only hope the boy has is that by doing so, someone may stumble on an explanation for what happened to him.

Along the way, Andy's associate Hike has to go down to North Carolina to do a little research. While there, something happens to him -- I won't ruin anything for you, but it's a lotta fun for people who have been around since Hike's introduction -- you will enjoy it. Laurie does what Laurie does, ditto for Marcus (who might be his most-Marcus-y here) and Sam. I do worry that Rosenfelt isn't doing much with these characters beyond their regular heroics and chuckle-worthy antics, but we got some good Hike material this time, maybe it'll be someone else's turn to shine next. I don't think the addition of Ricky to things added that much to the series, and that's the last major change since Hike came along.

I really would've appreciated a little more courtroom action, but I'm not sure what else could've happened. It just seems like less time is being given to the courtroom lately -- maybe I'm wrong. I can't imagine that Andy would approve of someone doing the work to determine if I'm right or not -- he sure wouldn't -- so let's just assume I am.

I sound like I'm complaining about the book -- that's not really my intention. I wouldn't expect so much from it if I wasn't such a fan. Collared has a clever mystery, some funny moments, a nice twist or two, and we get to spend time with characters that readers have come to know and like. For a series 16 books in, that's pretty good. Where else are you going to get a friend of the protagonist describe a potential suspect like this?

“Because Kaiser is a bad guy— a very bad, very dangerous , very evil guy . He might even be a Cardinals fan.”



It's a fun read -- from the moment that Andy assembles the family to help him decide if he'll renew his law license to the party at Charlie's, Rosenfelt keeps you turning the pages with a smile on your face.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.
N.B.: As this was an ARC, any quotations above may be changed in the published work -- I will endeavor to verify them as soon as possible.

David Rosenfelt has done it again with his latest, Collared. In this book, a border collie is left at Andy Carpenter’s Tara foundation for abandoned dogs. This border collie is a long-lost dog that, along with a baby, was kidnapped two years before in a well-publicized case. The baby, Dylan, was in the care of his nanny and was the son of an entrepreneurial woman who owns a well-known, important DNA company. After a trial, her ex-boyfriend was convicted of the kidnapping and sent to prison. In this case, Andy Carpenter, working with his crew of would-be misfits, discovers clues that lead them to wonder if the man in prison was falsely accused and convicted, and if the truth about the kidnapping still remains to be uncovered. In his mercurial way, Andy sets about figuring out what really happened the day the dog and baby were kidnapped and who is really responsible and why. As he pushes from clue to clue, Andy unravels a fascinating mystery, with a myriad of twists and turns until he figures out what really occurred.

I have read most of the other Andy Carpenter books and found this one as enjoyable as the rest. If you love dogs and a good, light mystery, with none of the sex themes that so often fill mysteries, this one is a good one for you. Andy may come across as a bit lazy, but he is clever and smart—and rich enough not to really worry about costs or money, as he delves into his case. His is a solid, down-to-earth character, a lawyer who is fighting for compelling causes, and most of these involve dogs in some way shape or manner. This one involves both the newly found lost border collie and a baby. The story moves along at a good clip—Andy and his cohorts are never dull. I found it as entertaining as every other Andy Carpenter story I have read, and it only made me eagerly anticipate the next in the series. If you enjoy dogs (or even if you don’t) and a good cozy Collared will make for a great summer/vacation/beach read. I highly recommend it. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

I have been a fan of David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series since the first book. It's a winning formula - smart aleck lawyer (low on energy but high on smarts), dogs and a good mystery. These are light, fun books. They won't have you on the edge of your seat but they always bring a smile to your face. And for as light as these books are, the mystery is always well thought out.

Rosenfelt has done it again. Collared starts off when a border collie is left at the doors of the Tara Foundation. Turns out this dog was stolen, along with an adopted baby, three years ago. The baby was never returned or recovered. A man, the ex-boyfriend of the adoptive mother, was convicted of being the abductor. Andy agrees to investigate what the return of the dog means for the case. There are lots of twists and turns along the way. You are given glimpses to know some but not all of the story.

Anyone who enjoys Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum or Nelson DeMille’s John Corey series would do well to check out these books. It's not necessary to read them in order but it will flesh out certain relationships and provide the background that Rosenfelt doesn't reiterate like some authors always feel the need to do.

My thanks to netgalley and Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book.

I loved this book. Collared is a very well written mystery. The book has a good plot, character development and dogs. If you love a good mystery this just might be the book for you.

Andy Carpenter, a lawyer and fervent dog lover, is called by his friend, who, along with Andy, runs a dog rescue organization. A collie was found tied up in front of the rescue center, along with an anonymous note. The dog, upon a checkup, is found to be the dog who was kidnapped, along with a baby, 2-1/2 years ago. The baby and dog were whisked away in a car, leaving the nanny hurt after being pistol whipped.
The mother, a successful business woman, had recently adopted the baby after he was abandoned. Her ex-fiancee, convicted for the kidnapping and serving a lengthy jail sentence, hires Andy to look into the surprising return of the dog, in the hope of proving his innocence.
Andy reluctantly takes the case, hoping to also discover the fate of the baby.
A baffling series of events, an attempt on his life, and the realization there is a high-level, untouchable crime boss involved, makes for one of Andy's toughest cases.
I love this series! Andy and his wife Laurie, an ex-policewoman, are such likeable characters; there are lots of dogs in the books 💖, many chuckles and the cases are always fascinating. The end of this book is so surprising (,at least it was to me), what a great read!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Sped through it. Loved it. One of those authors you wished could write more, faster.

Another great mystery novel from David Rosenfelt, starring everyone’s favorite rich lawyer with a sense of humor, Andy Carpenter. A border collie named Cody is found outside the rescue Andy and Willie run; when his microchip is scanned, the information leads back to a sensational abduction case from several years prior. Is the man who was jailed really guilty? Where was Cody the dog since the trial, and who left him at the rescue? Andy pieces together the facts of the case, while someone is trying to kill him. A plot with many twists and turns and great writing make this a must-read.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Collared by David Rosenfelt. This is part of a series and for those of us who are fans of Andy Carpenteer, you will not be let down by Rosenfelt's latest edition.
A woman is seen leaving a dog stranded by the roadside, which is not unusual in itself. This dog is brought to the Tara Foundation - the dog was last seen three years ago when a young boy was with him when he disappeared.
Andy Carpenter, the owner and founder of the Tara Foundation, realizes that something is wrong with this picture - why is the dog appearing now and where is the young boy that was with him at that time.
The familiar cast of characters return as well as Andy's great sense of humor. I really liked this book - Rosenfelt never disappoints with this series.
I am ready for one of his standalone novels - but this one will suffice for now!
RECOMMEND.

Very Entertaining
Collared is the 16th book in David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter Mystery series and is a great book that can be read as a standalone. I really enjoy this author’s writing style and witty dialog. Mr. Rosenfelt has written a fast paced, well thought out and interesting mystery, with a good story line, excellent character development, intriguing characters, and unexpected twists and turns that keeps the reader engaged. I highly recommend this book to all cozy mystery fans.

Andy Carpenter is a reluctant attorney who also runs the Tara Foundation, an animal rescue organization, with Willis and Sondra Miller. Andy lives in Paterson, New Jersey with his wife, Laurie, their adopted son, Ricky, and two dogs, Tara and Sebastian. Andy calls their first family meeting because he’s trying to decide if he should renew his to practice law and spend more time with his family and the foundation. Everyone, including Willis and Sondra, say they love him but to please renew his license because sometimes he gets more than a little cranky if he isn’t busy. One morning Willis and Sondra find a border collie tied to the foundation’s door, along with an odd note. When they scanned the dog to see if he was chipped, they learned his name was Cody and his owner was Jill Hickman. Jill’s adopted infant son, Dylan, and their dog were about abducted three years ago from Eastside Park while with his nanny, Teresa Mullins, who was pistol-whipped. Strong evidence pointed to her ex-boyfriend, Keith Wachtel. Keith denied having anything to do with Dylan’s disappearance, but evidence pointed to him and he was convicted, receiving a lengthy prison sentence. They uncover that the case is far more complicated and dangerous than they originally thought.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.