Andy Carpenter is such a great character. Be prepared to laugh at his wisecracking ways and to feel all the feels by the end of this book. Filled with court room drama and an action packed criminal investigation, this book was fast paced, heart warming and one you won’t want to miss! ❤️

When David Rosenfelt writes another Andy Carpenter mystery I run to order my copy. i don't need to know anything about the plot,- if it's Andy, Laurie, the team and dogs, there isn't anything else I need to know. On top of that, it is one of the few series I have re-read. To say it's a 'must have 'hardly covers it.
Andy is in great form again. Doing his level best to not practice trial law, something that makes Edna very happy - she loves her crossword puzzles and working on a case with the team cuts into her pleasure. Now she's warning Andy that she may want to retire. Not a chance, Edna. The rest of the legal team is always up for the challenge and not matter what Andy says or does to avoid the courtroom, a case always finds him. Cue the dogs. This doggie is a French Bulldog named Truman and he is the draw for Andy. A dog in need of help just has to get onto Andy's radar and Andy can't say no. Too bad this sweet little pup brings along a huge, twisted set of homicides for Andy to untangle. He has three of them right out of the gate and in two states, no less. It isn't long before all three homicides are connected and that connects to Andy's human client even though he was in jail already for some of the killing.
From Paterson, NJ to suburban Philadelphia in scope and involving both local police departments, the FBI and other federal agencies, Andy has his hands full. From what started out as a simple rescue call from his vet about a relinquished dog about to be put down (not on Andy's or the vet's watch) the case morphs into a case of national security. It's a good thing that Andy continues to have connections to all of the major law enforcement agencies and that, sometimes reluctantly, they still agree to take his phone calls. Andy is very good at practicing law - even though he longs to be permanently retired - but, for many, he can be a real pain in their collective butts.
Bottom line, if you like legal mysteries, dogs, humor - lots of good humor - strong relationships, twisted, multi-layered puzzles - then put down whatever you are reading now and make haste to your nearest purveyor of books and get a copy of Bark of Night. Set aside a block of time to become lost in a five stars mystery. You won't regret it.

Andy Carpenter, the world's most reluctant criminal defense lawyer, gets a call from his veterinarian, asking him to come in. Andy is terrified something is wrong with Tara, his golden retriever. But, the vet has a dilemma: a man dropped off a French Bulldog and signed papers telling the vet to euthanize the dog. The vet cannot bring himself to kill a perfectly healthy dog, so Andy takes the dog to his dog rescue operation. Turns out Truman maybe the answer to several murders that happened around Paterson NJ. If you like dogs, you need to be reading this series; the author is runs his own dog rescue operation.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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I know it's practically de rigueur for me to start off talking about how difficult it is to talk about yet another Andy Carpenter book, but I'm going to try to resist this time (no promises that I won't resort to it next time).

Instead, I want to focus on people who read this blog and haven't picked up a book in this series -- let's see if I can help you come to the light. Andy Carpenter is a defense attorney -- thanks to some high profile cases, some lucrative lawsuits, (and some other things), he's an independently wealthy defense attorney (see the first couple of books for details). He's also lazy. These two traits generate a lawyer/protagonist who doesn't want to take on clients who doesn't want to go to work (he's the anti-Lincoln Lawyer). He'd rather watch sports, hang out with his wife, kid, friends and dog (especially the latter) and maybe check-in on the dog rescue he runs with a former client. He only takes on a case when he likes the potential client, he feels an injustice is being done, his wife talks him into it -- or the life of a dog lies in the balance (there's a strong link between the first reason I listed and the last). This time out, it's pretty much a combination of those motivations. Nevertheless, when he takes on a client, he pulls out all the stops for him or her. Much like with Perry Mason, you have to wonder why prosecutor's don't just drop charges when Andy shows up in court -- you can bet his client will be exonerated.

Andy's vet calls him to his office to talk about something -- namely, this dog that had been brought in to be euthanized. Before he did that, someone in his office scanned the microchip in the dog. The man who paid for the euthanization, wasn't the owner f the dog -- because he'd been murdered shortly before the dog appeared. After some digging, Andy discovers that the man who brought the dog in is very likely connected to the murder (especially when they look at his rap sheet). No one's sure why he wanted a vet to take care of destroying the dog rather than doing it himself. But someone completely different has been charged with the crime, and Andy knows that this man is innocent -- he has to be, there's no other explanation how the would-be dog killer got involved.

From there, Andy and his team (his PI wife, her PI friend/Andy's bodyguard, Andy's CPA/hacker, his associate attorney) set out to defend their client, figure out why anyone would want to kill the victim (a documentary filmmaker, and not a particularly successful -- or good -- one), and maybe answer a few questions about the victim's dog. Like most Carpenter novels, the mystery is just twisty enough to keep you guessing to the end. Andy's courtroom antics are pretty subdued this time, but watching him in action is fun -- particularly as he battles the Assistant D.A.

Andy's team -- and his friends who aren't on the team -- are as enjoyable to spend time with as ever. With some long-running series you stick with it because the characters are so near and dear to you. With some, you put up with characters because the author puts out great mysteries/adventures/whatever. It's with the best series that you get both -- a good mystery (in this case) and a cast of characters you look forward to seeing again. That's definitely what we have in the Andy Carpenter books, and Bark of Night is a prime example of it.

As a capper, if the last few paragraphs don't provoke a warm fuzzy or three in you, there's something wrong with you and you should probably seek professional help. Rosenfelt is good at the heart-warming stuff, and he's at the top of his game here.

Newcomers will get enough information along the way to hop on board here -- there's no need to feel like you need to go back to Book One (Open and Shut) and read them in order to catch all the nuance. Start here, and you'll easily see why this book has charmed and entertained audiences enough to last for 19 books (and counting!). It's a clever mystery, featuring characters that are reliably comfortable and funny -- with just enough moments of seriousness and displays of skill that you can believe they'll be defending someone and bringing a killer to justice at the same time. This is one of the better installments in the last few years (both for being enjoyable and for the mystery) and should move right to the top of your TBR (note that a "lesser" Andy Carpenter book is still fun, engaging and entertaining).


Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this opportunity.

This is a captivating mystery and it all begins with a dog. Andy Carpenter is a defense attorney who works when he feels like it as he is independently wealthy. He is deadpan and sarcastic. He comes across somewhat as incompetent. His wife Laurie is an ex-cop who protects him when they are together and then they hire another man to protect him when he is away. The mystery is good, but because of Andy's characters, things seem to plod. However, there are lots of events that happen, that appear to be non-related, but Andy is able to pull them all together.

Another utterly fantastic Andy Carpenter book! This series just keeps getting better and better. I have been going back and reading the books in order and thoroughly enjoying each one. Every time I read a David Rosenfelt book I think this one is my favorite until I read the next one.
One of the best things about this series is the ability to read each book without having read the others along the way. The writing is superior, the characters are real and the dogs are the best part of each book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good witty mystery.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book was just not for me. I was expecting something light and fluffy and this was just confusing from the beginning. I wasn't expecting the whole mob connection to the whole story. I didn't like Andy as a character he comes across as a weakling with lots of money who just pays people to do his work for him. He is self-deprecating which I typically like in a person, but in this character it made me not care for him at all. He has Marcus who is his muscle who mumbles to the point he can't understand him, and his wife an ex-cop who is also his protector.

This is the 19 book in this series, and I don't plan to read anymore. I did care for Joey who is basically set up to take the fall for the murder and seeing if he would succeed in getting out was the only part I truly enjoyed. Again, just not for me but maybe others will enjoy.

I am an Andy Carpenter groupie. I am sure if Andy was a real person he would be loving this! I have never read a book from this amazing series that did not engage me from page one till the very end. If you like a complex plot that you can easily follow due to the authors great writing skills and plenty of dry wit, you are doing yourself a giant disservice if you do not enter the world of this reluctant but brilliant lawyer. Andy is married to the love of his life Laurie who is one badass ex police captain. She loves Andy and is his protector though Andy will deny this. Together with Andy's unique staff they are racing to prove a young man is innocent in the murder of a film maker. The odds seem insurmountable but Andy and his team risk their own safety to connect the dots on a series of what appears to be unrelated deaths. The action is amazing, the bad guys are incredibly scary and the dogs are just too freaking adorable. Yeah it is a wild mix of people and canines thrown at you but trust me every page is worth it. Even though this book is far along in the series I believe you can read this and not be lost. Just be forewarned, an Andy Carpenter novel is like eating your favorite snack food, you will not be able to stop with just one and I heartily recommend the entire series. Happy reading!

Andy is a criminal defense lawyer who doesn't want any clients. Because of the money 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, they have a young son, Ricky, and he is enjoying his life. He loves their dog, Tara, and thinks she's the best dog in the world. They also has another less lively dog named Sebastian.

When Andy gets a called from his vet, he thinks the worst ... that there is something wrong with Tara. Thankfully Tara is great! His vet actually wants to talk to him about a dog that was brought in to be euthanized. It turns out the dog is micro-chipped and is named Truman. His real owner was recently murdered and a young man named Joey has been arrested. Because someone callously wanted to have a young healthy dog euthanized, Andy gets involved and realizes an innocent young man may go to prison for life for a murder he didn't commit.

This is the nineteenth in the Andy Carpenter series (I've read them all). I enjoyed this book and am enjoying this series. I find with most series that by the time an author has come this far, the series isn't good and the author is pounding out the books just to get a paycheque. That's not the case with this series ... the author is able to keep this series fresh and fun.

The story was interesting and it didn't come together until the end. 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 but is sometimes in third person perspective when the focus is on the bad guys.

I like Andy ... I think he would be a hoot to be around and he's quite generous with his time and money (his two best friends continue to take advantage of his tab at their favourite bar). Part of Andy's team is Laurie, a former police officer and now his investigator. 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 and Hike is his depressed/depressing associate. Edna is his secretary who, like Andy, would rather he not take on any cases.

For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of reading Mr Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series, you are in for a real treat. Andy is a defense attorney who has inherited money and, instead of practicing law, would prefer to spend time at an animal center he and a former client founded.

In the latest installment in this series, Andy becomes involved in yet another murder, after his dog’s veterinarian alerts him to a French Bulldog that was brought to the office for euthanasia (which didn’t happen). Before long, it is discovered that the true owner of the dog has been murdered and a young man is in custody.

There is little doubt that this author uses a basic formula for this series. And, I have no problem with that whatsoever. The variety of characters are entertaining and well-drawn, the writing is crisp, the trade-mark humor is witty, and the story is always fresh and well-paced. Even the book covers are something to look forward to.

I am a longtime fan of Mr Rosenfelt’s and I was hooked when I read his first book. This is book #19 and I hope that there are many more to come. Thank you, Mr Rosenfelt, for giving both my husband and I many hours of reading pleasure.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

This is another series that I have been following for a decade now - and I always look forward to the latest installment! Andy is, despite what the fictional prosecutors, judges and cops of Paterson think, a very likable character. He's funny and these books never fail to make me laugh and keep me fully engaged and entertained! I am also impressed with how Rosenfelt also manages to make dogs so central to each of the plots!

In this case, Andy gets involved when a murder victim's dog is surrendered to his veterinarian with payment to put the dog down. But the man who turned in the dog, isn't the man who is arrested for the dog owner's murder. Andy manages to save the dog, and gets involved in the investigation on behalf of his new client. It's a quick read - and perfect to escape into! This one is perhaps not the most complex plot-wise in the series, but it is fun to read and solidly entertaining! I am already looking forward to reading the next installment (which should be just in time for the holidays, so I am glad that I don't have to wait a full year)!

David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series is a delight to read, every time. Bark of Night is a fast-paced, quick read that is smart, witty, and heart-warming and leaves the reader feeling satisfied. The characters are like returning friends that I can't wait to hear from again, and the ending is absolutely perfect.

While the books in this series can be read as stand-alones, I love the series so much, I hope you will read them all.

Thank you to NetGalley, David Rosenfelt, and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

From the engaging title to the end of the book, this is pure magic! I have been a long-standing fan of Mr. Rosenfelt’s writing and if you have not read the “Andy Carpenter” series (and other books by this author) then it is your loss. Andy inherited a large sum of money and is a lawyer who really doesn’t want to take cases. He wants to spend time with his wife Laurie (a former cop), their young son Ricky and his golden retriever Tara, but crime always seems to get in the way. This non-case starts with a dog named Truman who has been turned in to Andy’s veterinarian to be euthanized although there is nothing wrong with the dog. To Andy, who is a complete dog lover, this is an outrage and he is now on the case. It turns out that it was not the owner who brought the dog to the vet as the owner had been murdered. The case widens from that point and the reader is taken along for the ride as Andy, with his extraordinary wit and brilliance (and protection by Marcus), proceeds to find clue after clue that ends in an amazingly complicated and thrilling ending. I always start a book by this author at the beginning of the day as I know I will have finish it before bedtime! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Kind of cute but super cheesy. Could be considered a "cozy mystery" since there really wasn't much suspense or true action. It was almost painful having to read how technologically inept the main character was, as well as slightly sexist. Not a fan of this book.

Bark at Night is intriguing story that will keep you reading until the end. Lots of plot twists. The characters are definitely interesting and intense. You'll find yourself trying to solve the mystery along with the characters.

Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt. 5 stars

Bark of a Night is the newest Andy Carpenter book for 2019. Tara would definitely give this 5 barks. David Rosenfelt has been able to sustain the level of humor and mystery in every Andy Carpenter book and this one is no exception. Andy takes Tara to visit the vet for a small problem; a request for a discussion has Andy imagining dire circumstances. The vet got a request to euthanize a healthy dog and he needs Andy's advice. Truman, a French bulldog was owned by a recent murder victim and there is a mystery surrounding his appearance at the clinic.

So, Andy Carpenter, reluctant defense attorney is now on the case.. This series is great because of Andy Carpenter's dialogue and the other characters that inhabit his world. There is a part early in the book that states diving for sponges in the ocean feels like a suffocating and nightmarish experience. Andy compared it to visiting IKEA with Laurie. That part had me laughing on the bus and there were other moments that I had to stifle my laughter. Andy and his team solve the mystery and there is a happy ending. I can't wait the hear the audiobook narrated by Grover Gardner.

I look forward to Dachshund in the Snow the Andy Carpenter mystery for the holidays.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) for this ARC

law-enforcement, lawyers, family, friendship, murder, snark-fest

***** Andy Carpenter is the snarkiest un lawyer you'll ever meet. His greatest fans are dogs, his wife, and his son. Wife is a private investigator and former homicide lieutenant with lots of connections, Andy is a defense lawyer who (sort of) picks his cases, hates going to court, and always wins for the good guys (his clients). The publisher's blurb is pretty good and sets up the early part of the story, but it's hard to say more without doing the spoiler thing. Whether you've read any of the earlier books or not, you can't miss with this one. But I have to warn you, I read a fairly recent one and promptly headed off to get the rest!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

If you’ve read any of this series then you’re familiar with Andy Carpenter, the wisecracking MC. He’s been trying to quit practicing law pretty much since he took the bar exam & it’s not going well. It’s just that those pesky clients keep showing up at his door. Luckily for us, it looks like his retirement plans have been foiled again.

When he takes beloved dog Tara for a visit to the vet, somehow he ends up leaving with a new client. He’s a little French guy named Truman & he’s a good boy, yes he is. He’s also an orphan after his human was recently murdered.

Through bizarre circumstances, Truman ended up being brought in for euthanasia & if there’s one thing Andy hates more than working it’s someone throwing away a perfectly good pupper. He begins looking into the owner’s death & before he knows it, he’s representing a 20 year old local man charged with murder. Now he just has to break the news to his team. All the usual cast is back & respond in typical fashion. Sam is elated, Edna is horrified & Hike believes they’re doomed. As for Marcus…well, who knows what he thinks. Probably something scary.

Truman’s owner was a guy named James Haley. He made his living shooting documentaries on various subjects. No one is sure just why he was in Paterson, New Jersy but odds are good he filmed something he shouldn’t have & it’s made a bunch of of seriously bad guys very nervous. In alternate chapters we spend time with these paragons of society & gradually learn what they’re up to. Needless to say, it’s not good. In fact it’s a plan that has repercussions for communities right across the country & before long, bodies are popping up all over. Andy & his crew will need the help of law enforcement on all levels if they’re to survive long enough to clear their client.

This series has become an annual delight for me. If you haven’t picked up any of these books, stop reading immediately & get thee to a bookstore. There’s a reason the series has made it to #19. This outing has everything required for a fast paced, entertaining read….great cast of characters, twisty suspense, plenty of dogs & a guy named Fat Tony. Can’t ask for more than that.

I admit it- I am a sucker for just about any book with a dog in it. So when I first saw the cover of "Bark of Night" on NetGalley, the cute French Bulldog on the front made me put in my request right away. I devoured the book in 2 days, and was not disappointed! "Bark of Night" is the 19th book in the Andy Carpenter mystery series- I have not read any of the previous books in this series, but they are now on my "To Be Read" list! Even though it is a part of a series, it certainly read fine as a stand-alone book. "Bark of Night" begins with the book's storyteller, Andy Carpenter, a semi-retired defense attorney whose passion is the dog shelter that he runs, being asked by his veterinarian about an issue he is having regarding a French Bulldog that was brought in to be euthanized- the problem is that the dog is completely healthy, and the man who brought him in to be put down paid in cash, and left. Andy agrees to hold on to the dog, and when they scan him for a chip, it turns out that the dog's owner, a documentary film-maker has been murdered in town. In his quest to find out how Truman, the dog, came to be brought to the vet's office, Andy is led to Joey Gamble, a local teen who has just been put in jail for the murder of Truman's owner. Andy agrees to become Joey's defense attorney, and his search for how Truman came to be in the vet's possession leads Andy to solve the murder.
I absolutely loved the motley group of characters in this book! Andy Carpenter has a sarcastic side to him that kept me chuckling throughout, and his wife Lori, and ex-cop, is the perfect sidekick to him. Andy's private investigator, the elusive Marcus, was also a hilarious and provided some good laughs throughout the story.
"Bark of Night" was a quick read, and it left me wanting to read more of Andy Carpenter, and his canine -related mysteries!
Thanks to NetGalley, and St Martins Press and Minotaur Books, for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. "Bark of Night:" is scheduled to be released on July 16, 2019

Andy Carpenter is a wealthy lawyer who would be glad just to walk his dogs watch sports, and hang out with his family instead of taking a case. Occasionally, a case comes up where he feels someone is innocent and is being set up to look guilty, and he will step in for the defense. Did Joey Gamble really murder a documentary film maker? Andy sets out to discover the truth, and it goes a whole lot farther than a murder in Paterson, NJ. This series, with its trademark humor, compelling plots, entertaining characters, and always a dog or two, is one of my favorites. You can also read this novel as a stand-alone.