As always, I am excited to get my hands on the latest installment of the Andy Carpenter series - and this one doesn't disappoint! It follows the usual sort of formula for the series with Andy's love of dogs inevitably bringing him into a new case. In this instance, a fellow dog lover reaches out about an unusual phone call - in tracking down a dog's owner, she is certain that she has found the original owner... who had recently been in the newspaper for dying in a boat explosion along with two other colleagues from his pharmaceutical company.

What follows is a fast-paced and exciting read that I could hardly put down! As usual, there's plenty of Andy's signature humor, fun regular characters, short chapters and some quite unexpected turns to the plot! I must admit to having a few moments of deja vu while reading this one - but I think that his most likely from having read all of Rosenfelt's books that they are starting to feel familiar even when they are new! I don't think that this one specifically reminded me of any one novel in particular from the backlog. And unlike many long series, I really don't think that there's too much harm in diving in right here! Yes, I am glad to have read them in order, but there's not much given away about the earlier novels. And as usual, upon finishing, I am always eager to read the next one!

Murder, an explosion on a boat, big (well sorta little) Pharma, an IPO, and organized crime- and dogs! Andy Carpenter agrees to represent Alex, who is the sole survivor of murder on his boat, because- wait for it- Alex clearly loves his dog Aggie. That's the way Carpenter and his merry band, including his wife, operate. In this latest installment in the long running series (holy cow I've read all of them!) which is fine as a standalone, Andy discovers there's more going on at Pharmacon than even Alex, an executive there knew. Wait, turns out he knew but he didn't know (that will make sense). Someone wants him dead and they've gone to a lot of work to make it happen except he's alive and in jail because the police (not all of them but...) think he's the one who killed his two colleagues. I love this series because it's intelligent and you learn a little each time, this time about IPOs and pharma. Oh, and there's always dogs and food. Andy's great, Marcus is a character for sure, you'll root for Alex, and basically find yourself turning the pages. No spoilers for me about how it ends. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A great read on a hot pandemic day (or anytime) and now I'm eagerly awaiting the next one.

Intricate, fresh, and outrageously funny!

Muzzled is an absorbing, humorous mystery that transports you to Patterson, N.J. where Alex Vogel, one of three men supposedly killed in a boat explosion is arrested for murder when he reappears to claim his dog from the Tara Foundation causing the happily retired, defense attorney Andy Carpenter to once again come out of retirement to defend someone in need.

The prose is witty and crisp. The characters are multilayered, unique, and amusing. And the plot is a funny yet thrilling tale full of twists, turns, mayhem, corruption, coercion, red herrings, deduction, violence, greed, danger, and murder.

Overall, Muzzled is a clever, quirky, suspenseful mystery that kept me absorbed, entertained and laughing out loud from the very first page. It’s hard to believe that this is the first novel I’ve read by Rosenfelt, but I can guarantee it won’t be my last.

Muzzled by David Rosenfelt (Andy Carpenter #21) 5 stars

This is the 21st book in the Andy Carpenter series and like its predecessors a fun mystery. The best part of an Andy Carpenter mystery is the wry wit and snappy dialogue that is part of Andy's narration. For example, Andy compares keeping up with Laurie while walking the dogs, as feeling like he is on the Bataan Death March. Not only is reading an Andy Carpenter book a joy, but listening to Grover Gardner narrating the book makes it twice as fun. But on to the mystery, Andy's friend Beth Morris, has a dog that was owned by a murder victim. The problem is the murder victim isn't dead and has called to get his dog back. Alex Vogel, the would be murder victim/suspect is the center of this mystery. Why did someone try to kill him and barring that frame him for murder.. The twists and turns of this mystery was engrossing and brought in some colorful characters. I love all the supporting character and Laurie's new partners - The K Team. The ending wasn't what I expected, but that did not detract from the book. I can't wait for Silent Bite - the Andy Carpenter Christmas mystery that arrives in October,

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

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Wow. Andy Carpenter #21. That's pretty mind-boggling, I've got to say. The way that Andy's been ramping up the retirement talk over the last couple of books, I can't help but wonder how many more are in store—but I have to expect we'll get a few more. Rosenfelt's army of dogs takes a lot of food. The more the merrier, I say—especially if there are more like this one in the wings.

Andy's contacted by a friend also in the dog rescue biz—she's come into possession of a stray and has been contacted by the owner to retrieve the dog. Which sounds pretty straightforward and good up until the point where she tells Andy the owner's name. He's the victim of a triple murder a few weeks ago when his boat was destroyed by a bomb of some sort. Yeah, you read me right—the victim. Except he clearly escaped and after being on the run for his life a bit, has decided he can't run off without the dog. So he risks life and limb to be reunited with his pet. At this point, the reader (and everyone who knows Andy) realizes that if this man needs legal help, Andy will be his attorney. Andy needs some convincing, however.

And Alex Vogel is going to need Andy's help—if he wasn't one of those killed, the police would like to know, why wasn't he? The explanation that makes the most sense to them is that Alex Vogel made and detonated the bomb, killing his friends. The motive is a little shaky, but that's beside the point.

Alex gives Andy one possible reason that he'd be targeted, and while he doesn't buy it, he has nothing else to go on, so while Andy tries to come up with an idea of his own, he spends a lot of time exploring that. In a long-running series like this is, it's the little differences that really stick out and keep things fresh. It took Andy a painfully long time to come up with an alternative theory of the case. And while I found it frustrating that he was so slow, I appreciated that Rosenfelt let things go that way. I also admit that it's not fair for me to judge, as the reader has access to some third-person narration portions of the novel that Andy doesn't.

Whether looking for flaws in the Prosecution's case, running down Alex's theory, or trying to find an alternative, Andy and his regular band (which includes The K Team now) are as fun as always. The narration is clever, the humor is witty, the case complex, the herrings are red, the dogs are adorable—all the elements of a solid Andy Carpenter novel are there.

As I was mulling over this book this week, I'd mentally drafted a paragraph thinking about this one in the context of the series as a whole. At some point, it seemed pretty familiar, so I looked up what I said about Dachshund Through the Snow , the twentieth novel in the series. I'd said pretty much the same thing about that book as I wanted to say about this one. It doesn't say much for my originality, but it says something about Rosenfelt.

I've read them all—some twice—and while I've never read a bad Andy Carpenter book, there were a few that were simply "fine" (that's not a complaint, I'll take a fine book over a lot of others), but there's been a resurgence in the last five or so, particularly in the last two. In both of them Rosenfelt has done something I couldn't/didn't see coming, breaking his tried-and-true formula. Rosenfelt has no reason to do that at this point, he could keep churning out these books and his fans (including me), would keep gobbling them up. But he's taking risks, he's doing relatively daring things (while remaining true to the world he's created).

I really liked this book on its own merits, I loved it in the context of the rest. Does that mean a new reader has to read the other twenty before this one? No—any of these novels are a good jumping on point, you'll end up wanting to read some/all of the earlier ones though. A smart legal thriller—great stuff out of the courtroom, and amusing antics in it (I'll never tire of reading Andy cross-examining a witness). Muzzled is one of the best in this great series.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this. As always, my opinions remain my own.

Another fascinating Andy Carpenter mystery! A boat explodes and the three bodies of the men who were on the boat cannot be recovered. Days later, a man calls to collect his dog from the Tara Foundation, a man who was presumed to have died on the boat. When the man is arrested and charged with killing the other two men, Andy now has another case that he did not want. As with all Andy Carpenter mysteries, the writing style flows effortlessly laced with humor and the mystery is always complex. Most of the beloved characters aka “his team” follow from book to book as they work together to uncover who had the most to gain from the murders. It is a pleasure to read each new Andy Carpenter mystery as he walks us through the clues and evidence until the end. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

I realized once I started reading this one that it was a part of a series. I DNF'd until I could read the previous titles in the series and will come back and edit my review when I do.

Muzzled by David Rosenfelt Reviewed on June 24, 2020 3+ stars
I am an Andy Carpenter fan. This is #21 in the series and #14 for me.
I just love this series. Andy typically has me laughing out-loud. I do enjoy his wit.
This is the first Andy Kindle e-book. Typically I get the audio as narrator Grover Gardner <b>is </b>Andy Carpenter. In fact, as I am reading this I can hear Mr. Gardner’s deadpan voice.

I enjoy courtroom drama ~ Andy typically has a twist ~ kind of a wait for it ~ as I know it is coming.

I was bit disappointed actually more than a “bit” no song or movie talk!!! (Andy fans know what I am talking about!) Like when Ricky and the dogs have a bigger role.
This was better than 3 but I just couldn’t round up :( 

Next in the series Book #22 "Silent Bite" will be out in the fall! Hmmm….

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this early release granted in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 7, 2020

"Muzzled" is newest book of the Any Carpenter mystery series to be released by David Rosenfelt, and it was another enjoyable read! Andy, a retired defense attorney who can't seem to stay retired, is contacted by a friend who has received a mysterious call from someone claiming to be the owner of a local dog recently brought to the shelter, only the caller was recently reported to be the victim of an apparent explosion on a boat in which he and 2 of other men were killed. They agree to meet the man at Andy's Tara Foundation, the animal shelter he opened that is his passion, and the man reports that he had escaped the boat just before it exploded and was in hiding because he believed that someone was trying to kill him. The police were alerted that the man would be showing up at the Tara Foundation about his dog, and when they arrest him, Andy gives him advice and ends up taking on the job as Alex's defense attorney, because he was so touched by Alex's devotion to his dog to come out of hiding to get him back. Andy begins investigating Alex's story, delving into the world of drug companies competing to release new medications.

As usual, Andy is a hilarious narrator to the story, and his descriptions in the narrative also left mem laughing and with a smile. You can't help but love Andy, who is devoted to his former police officer wife, Laurie, and their son, and his dogs, Sebastian and Tara, and his overall love for dogs and the shelter that he started that is named after one of his own. The members of Andy's defense team are great, and only add to the enjoyment of the book. While I am relatively new to the series, and have only read a few of the series, I look forward to reading past and future installments. A quick, fun, enjoyable read!

Thanks to New Galley and St. Martin's Press, and Mintotaur Books, for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. "Muzzled:" is set to be released on July 7, 2020.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a break from my cozy mystery fare. I really needed the laughter that only a few authors can infuse throughout their stories.
I enjoy that Andy fails at retiring and his human side takes over when he takes on a case. I can always count on good guys, dogs and humor mixed in with the case at hand. You never know who will recognize you or your voice which sets the story in motion.

Another biggie in this book is that Marcus utters an intelligent word that speaks volumes in the situation.

This is a standalone story. Without giving anything away. I highly recommend this book. It’s a great diversion from what’s happening in the news.

I was given an advanced copy from Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

Another classic Andy Carpenter legal thriller, with another dog leading wisecracking Andy down the primrose path to a legal case he doesn't want to take (but we know he will). Three men from a pharmaceutical company are believed blown up on a yacht at sea until one of them makes an appointment to pick up his dog at Andy's rescue foundation, thus becoming the number one suspect in the murder of the other two. That he puts his dog Aggie above all else just reels Andy right in, and soon the whole gang is on the case. As usual, the case jumps all over the place with Andy and his crack team in hot pursuit, each doing what they do best, and eventually getting to the real killers in the end. There is lots of action as well as pursuit of clues and legal shenanigans, and the people never fare as well as the dogs (i.e. this series is ALWAYS safe for dog lovers). Lots of fun and right up to Rosenfelt's usual standards.

Andy is a criminal defense lawyer who doesn't want any clients. Because of the money his father left him and some lucrative cases, 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.

Andy gets a call from Beth, who runs another dog rescue, who is looking for guidance. She has a dog named Aggie and Alex, her owner, has called to claim her. Beth's concern, though, is that the owner supposedly died in a boating explosion three weeks ago along with two friends/colleagues. Beth wants Andy present at Aggie's and Alex's and he's intrigued so he agrees. When Alex and Aggie meet, it's obvious they know and love each other. Alex is then arrested for the murder of his two friends and asks Andy to represent him. Because of the obvious love that Alex has for Aggie (he risked his safety in coming to claim her), Andy agrees. As Andy and his team start to investigate, he discovers the mafia and the Russian mafia may be involved and he gets a quick lesson in the pharmaceutical world and IPOs.

This is the 21st 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 very 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.

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 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 other people.

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 the K-Team (Laurie, a former police officer and now an investigator; Marcus, an investigator with "persuasive" reasoning skills; Cody, a former police officer; and Simon Garfunkel, Cody's former canine partner). Sam is his accountant who is also a computer hack who wants to be part of the action and Hike is his depressed/depressing associate. Edna is his secretary who, like Andy, would rather he not take on any cases.

Another solid mystery by David Rosnfelt. I laughed out loud in more than one spot, which is the hallmark of a good Andy Carpenter tale. If your a fan of the series, you won’t be disappointed.

Courtroom drama with lots of twists. A fast, fun read. Andy Carpenter is back at it again, drawn into the story with the usual cast of characters. Too bad there aren’t more scenes involving dogs and the Tara Foundation.

David Rosenfelt has produced another fun, fast-paced Andy Carpenter novel in his newest book, “Muzzled”. Andy is a “retired” defense lawyer who, much to his chagrin, keeps getting pulled into accepting new clients.
Andy owns a dog rescue organization called the Tara Foundation . Andy receives a phone call about a dog whose owner was allegedly killed. Alex Vogel had been on his boat with two colleagues when it exploded. The police discover he is alive when he comes to claim his dog at the Tara Foundation. Naturally, he becomes the prime suspect for the killing of his colleagues. Alex proclaims his innocence and Andy reluctantly agrees to represent him even though the evidence is stacked against Alex. The book moves quickly, keeping the reader involved with all the twists and turns of an Andy Carpenter mystery. Will Andy succeed or is the evidence just too strong against Alex. Although he does not want to spend the rest of his life in jail, Alex’s biggest concern is for his dog. What will happen to her? A man’s love for his dog is enough to give Andy the motivation to do all he can to prove his client is innocent! Just when you think Andy will solve the mystery, a shocking twist is thrown in. I highly recommend this book!

I liked this book. I like the characters, especially the main character Andy. I like how the investigating is done, it is straightforward and leads to an defense for the accused. I was sorry when the defendant Alex was killed. I liked the ending, it was a good ending and exciting. #Muzzled #NetGalley

Reading "Muzzled" I was able to get a healthy dose of snark and wit which is a trademark quality of the Andy Carpenter series.
A large luxury boat explodes in what appears to be a cover up for multiple homicides. Alex Vogel the owner was on board and naturally presumed very dead. So why did a pet rescuer named Beth just get a call from him as she is currently fostering his dog and he wants said pet back? That's an intriguing question that Andy decides the authorities need to hear when Beth reaches out to him for help.
Poor beleaguered Andy is always trying to reach the elusive title of retired lawyer. Once again he feels compelled and perhaps a bit forced to take on Alex as a client when he is arrested for murder. This case looks really bad for the defense, The odds of winning seem ridiculous, but hard core fans of Andy knows he secretly thrives on this kind of pressure. Andy may have flaws but he is one amazing lawyer which you should not say too loudly as this will go straight to his head.
The book was fast paced with lightening sharp comebacks. I found myself amazed that with the fair amount of violence in this story, I was able to laugh and smile quite a bit. The bad guys are lurking in the shadows and extremely deadly as once again our favorite defense lawyer gets caught in the cross hairs.
As the bodies pile up so does the tension. Who blew up the boat and why are they so frantic that no one involved is left alive to be a witness?
The pharmaceutical world with all it's complexities may be the crux of the murders.. Andy believes in his client and he is racing to show what seems like an easy case for the prosecution is really a complex series of killings that are all interconnected.
This was a fantastic read and I can't recommend it enough. It was a bittersweet tale that totally absorbed me.
Happy reading! Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. A copy was given for my reading pleasure.
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David Rosenfelt is back (although he never really left) with his 16th book in the Andy Carpenter mystery series. Andy is a lawyer who would much rather forego the practice of law and spend time with his family, friends, and dogs. But, when one of his friends, Beth, asks for help, he can’t say no. Beth has found a stray dog that appears to belong to a murder victim. However, the victim really isn’t a victim (yet), but he claims to be in danger, and has contacted her in order to reclaim his dog. Reluctantly, Andy agrees to help a man who is willing to risk his own life so that he can reunited with his pooch.

The Andy Carpenter mysteries are filled with lots of good characters, good dialogue, and plenty of humor. They have been, and continue to be, great books. Muzzled also has an interesting plot, with plenty of twists and convolutions. And, if that’s not enough, the covers of the books are always a notch or two beyond adorable. Just take a look at Muzzled. I rest my case.

As a long-time fan of David Rosenfelt’s, I recommend his latest book. Once again, thank you, Mr Rosenfelt, for providing so many hours of reading enjoyment. Long may you write!

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

Disclaimer: I love David Rosenfelt's books. I have read all of them. All of the Andy Carpenter, the new K Team and all of the stand alones and the nonfictions. And so have many of my friends and family because they receive his books as gifts from me. The Carpenter world is a cast of characters that over the years have come together as a family. The community they live in may not be perfect but they will keep it safe and rescue those in need. Along the way, Andy keeps us entertained, he's human and not afraid to show it.
This story starts, as most of the Andy Carpenter books do, with a crime that is unusual and a rescue that defies logic....at least Andy's logic. I always read carefully for clues and have yet to solve the mystery before the reveal, but I'm pretty sure it's because I'm enjoying the book too much. There are a couple of different scenes in this book, we actually get to hear Marcus say a word!!!! I'm always sorry to finish the book because now I have to wait for the next one. If you have not read any David Rosenfelt books, you are definitely underprivileged.

These books, along with Quinn's and the Miss Julia series, are the perfect feel good books for me and I enjoy every one of them. Haven't been let down yet and honestly, don't see it happening