'Twas the Bite Before Christmas is a light-hearted whodunnit. Not quite what I expected but entertaining and despite the title was not really anything about Christmas. If you like smart-alecky characters and twisty-turny plots this is a book for you. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

I’ve yet to read a David Rosenfelt novel I didn’t like and this is no exception. The plots are always good, but the real draw is the irreverent humor of Andy Carpenter. This series never disappoints.

Book Title: Twas the Bite Before Christmas
Series: Andy Carpenter #28
Author: David Rosenfelt
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Book
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: October 10, 2023
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages 304
This novel is #28 in the Andy Carpenter series and #22 for me! Although I am reading this, I have listened to many of the audiobooks in this series as I just love narrator Grover Gardner. Author, David Rosenfelt has a great wit. and Grover Gardner delivers it so well! In fact, as I am reading this story I can totally hear Mr. Gardner ‘dead pan’ voice!

Andy Carpenter stories are always entertaining~ true they are formula driven ~ in addition to dogs; there will be courtroom drama (which I love and am never disappointed!), a surprising twist, and hopefully a Victory dinner!!!

If you are new to Andy, he is semi-retired as he came into a large inheritance. He loves dogs and has helped in establishing the Tara Foundation named after he golden retriever Tara.
He typically only takes cases if there is a dog involved. He always has and needs help from his wife Laurie as well as friend!

This story starts at the Tara Foundation’s Christmas Party which is for both people and their adopted dogs and Andy’s job is doling out eggnog; Andy’s police friend Pete Stanton who is captain of the homicide Division calls and asks if he would come outside ~since Andy doesn’t like eggnog as he states - if it were any good it would be served all year - he is happy to let someone else do his serving. Pete asks if Andy would call out Derek Moore one of the guests who is there as he adopted Jake a golden retriever and Sasha a Dalmatian.
Once outside, Pete starts to give Derek the Miranda warning and begins by saying “Robert Klaster, you have the right to remain silent . . . .. Andy thinks - 'who is Robert Klaster?'

Derek – Robert is now Andy’s client and the dogs Jake and Sasha take shelter with Andy which now makes five dogs in Andy’s home!

With the help of Andy’s posse: wife Laurie and her partners in her investigation firm ‘The K-Team’ ~Marcus Clark and Corey Douglas - Corey and Laurie are both former police officers. Sam Willis is also part of this group and is a super hacker but employed as an accountant.
Together they will pull their resources in order to prove that Derek -Robert did not commit murder and is innocent.
Andy and the gang do not disappoint.
This story starts and ends with eggnog ~ curious? Now you need to read it!

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 10, 2023.

One of the things you're asked before you serve on a jury is basically if you can be impartial. Well, no, your Honor, I don't think I can be an impartial reviewer for an Andy Carpenter book. I love David Rosenfelt's humor, snarky and dry, even when it's only in Andy's head, and have come to know and like the characters quite well. That said, how did I miss that Andy's firm's other lawyer, Eddie Dowd, was a tight end for the New York Giants before joining Andy's law firm? See, just when you think you know all the answers, Rosenfelt still manages to surprise me. It's also great fun to "hear" the rational he has in the courtroom for what questions he asks or doesn't ask.

This book, #28 in the Andy Carpenter series, was an intriguing, amazingly quick read. Quick because, well, once I start one of these books I pretty much read straight through until, whoa, almost to my shock, I'm nearing the end. That was the case this time. The story opens with Andy trying to delay downing the eggnog at a Christmas gathering at the Tara Foundation that operates to rescue dogs. Almost to his relief, he gets a call from Pete Stanton, a friend and the town's captain of the homicide division, to come outside. Next thing we know, one of the party guests, Derek, is being cuffed and taken to jail. But why is Pete is calling him Robert Klaster? Soon, Andy doesn't have to worry about drinking the dreaded eggnog but he does have another client. You guessed it. Derek. Or, is it Robert? Or, Bobby? That's when the story really begins.

As always, Andy's a reluctant lawyer but, well, Derek, er, Bobby is a foster failure for the Tara Foundation. That translates to him having agreed to temporarily foster a dog, two in this case, but changing his mind and deciding he can't give them up later. They're now inside, happily mixing with the other rescues and potential rescues in the shelter as Derek/Bobby is led away. Oh, the identity confusion. I won't detail how or why as that is part of the plot, but let's just say "witness protection program". From that moment on, it's a roller coaster of events, including drugs, mob lords, questions upon questions, poisoning, and, well, much, much more. The usual crew is there. In addition to Andy, we have his tough as nails wife, Laurie, ex-cop Corey and his also retired police dog Simon, Marcus, who'd give King Kong a run for his money in a match up, and Sam, the mild-mannered accountant and master hacker. Edna is still on hiatus but gets a few mentions of her travels. And, oh, the dogs: Tara, who Andy deems the world's best dog ever, Hunter the pug, and Sebastian, who's favorite speed is nap. Toss in Bobby's two, Sasha and Jake and Andy has a house full of dogs, which is just fine with him once he figures out how to walk four energetic dogs without Sebastian being an anchor.

That's about as much of the plot as I'll share....the blog does an excellent summary ... but will say that it is, as always, complex and involves as much legal eagle time as investigation. Fortunately, they aren't trying to kill Andy in the courtroom, just beat his sometimes seemingly off-the-cuff defense. Mobster ties and rivalries abound and, wow, even a mob biggie has serious admiration for Marcus's skills. Let's just say, those silly enough not to just throw up their hands and immediately surrender when he's there live to regret it. Laurie may make a pancake to make Sam drool, but she's also tough and no-nonsense, a real plus as a private investigator, but even she takes a backseat to Marcus. She loves Christmas, however, and seems to take buying presents for not just son Ricky, who shares none of Andy's love of football and baseball, but herself. Andy's always amazed at the good taste he's supposedly shown in gift buying.

That said, aside from taking place during the holiday, this isn't really a Christmas based story. It's a legal mystery. I quipped online to some friends that I recognized some of the legalese being tossed around online by commentators because of this series, so it's taught me a few things, too. But, no, I'm still keeping it to one dog. She's a rescue, tho', so Andy would approve. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for allowing me to spend some of the virtual holiday season watching Andy in action. I'm reading for the next case, even if Andy isn't.

5 stars
Twas the Bite Before Christmas
David Rosenfelt

Rosenfelt has knocked it out of the park with this Andy Carpenter series book. I believe this is book 28 in the series, and it is perhaps the best one yet.
I did miss some of the regulars from his books, such as the senior helpers and Edna, but Marcus is definitely part of the book.
I absolutely did not see the twist ending coming. Rosenfelt is a master of writing suspense, dogs, criminals and twists at every turn.
One of my favorite things about this series is that a reader can pick up any book in the series and read it as a stand alone.
I recommend this one (as well as his entire series) highly!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

I apologize, but family responsibilities are keeping me from doing reviews for an indefinite period. I have read the book, but won't be able to review it. I am rating it.

Andy Carpenter is at the Tara Foundation’s annual Christmas party serving eggnog. Homicide detectives arrive and arrest one of the attendees, Derek Moore. He’s one of the Tara Foundation’s best foster dog parents. He asks Andy to take care of his dogs while he is in jail. Andy learns that Derek is actually Robert Klaster, a former gang member who is in the witness protection program.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, I love Andy’s snarky sense of humor throughout the story. Andy and his team are looking into Derek’s past through legal and less than legal means. There are several suspects and more dead bodies, all seemingly related to Derek. But with Derek being in the Witness Protection Program, how was he found and why would someone want to set him up for murder when it would have been easier to just kill him? Andy and his team are determined to solve the case.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another wonderful book for the Andy Carpenter series! I love all the characters and the dogs are so much fun! A fast and all around enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of, "Twas the Bite Before Christmas by, David Rosenfelt, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 28 in the, An Andy Carpenter series. Andy who is a lawyer, but not by choice, is a t a Christmas party, when he would rather be anywhere else. Andy has a friend who needs his help, because he is a suspect in a murder case. What a tail-wagger of a read. I enjoyed finding out the mystery in this book, and reading about the dogs.

Doggoned good job, Andy!
When you’ve been following a longstanding series like this one, it is not surprising that you would approach the book with excited anticipation but also with some trepidation. Will Andy still be up to his game? The opening paragraphs of Twas the Bark Before Christmas provided reassurance. Referring to the New Jersey State Prison, narrator Andy says, “Most of the inmates are not counting the days until they get out. If anything, they are counting the years, and quite a few of them can’t count that high.” Andy’s dry sarcastic humor is front and center as always , even in the most serious circumstances, but that does not mean Andy treats those circumstances lightly.
When Derek Moore, one of the Tara Foundation’s best foster dog parents, is arrested for murder at the foundation’s annual Christmas party, there is no question that Andy will defend him and, of course, take care of his dogs while he is in jail. Andy learns that Derek is actually Robert Klaster, a former gang member who is in the witness protection program. The murder victim was also a member of the gang.
In preparing the defense, Andy must dig deep into the mobster culture and the competition both within and between rival gangs. These are some nasty people; more murder follows; and I learned more than I really wanted to know about gang nastiness..
Fortunately for both me and Robert Klaster, the trial begins, and Andy shines as always. His wry humor irritates the judge and the prosecutor as usual, and his legal prowess ultimately saves the day for his client (Sorry for the spoiler!). I was especially impressed at the questioning of the state’s forensics expert, in which Andy took advantage of the state’s evidence to uncover evidence that helped clear his client.
Still unsolved, though, was the mystery of how the mob learned where the witness protection program had relocated Klaster. This was revealed in a surprise ending that was either VERY clever or my least favorite part of the book.
The Andy Carpenter series is my go-to read for well done entertainment, but since this is book 28, it may come as no surprise that I do not recommend you start with this one. New readers should begin with Open and Shut to get Andy’s background , and after that you can enjoy them in any order.

Andy Carpenter is at it again, much to his dismay since he prefers not to work in a lawyer capacity. However, he can’t sit by when a friend (owner of a couple rescue dogs) is accused of murder. Turns out this friend is in the state witness protection program and therefore, has lied to Andy as to his true identity casting suspicion on his innocence. The book involves gangs and two previous murders that happened a couple years earlier to which the defendant was able to ID the suspects, the reason for the witness protection program. As the book unfolds, the classic twists and turns in the mystery leaves the reader guessing until the very end. I always enjoy Andy’s snarky and self-deprecating sense of humor, giving me some laugh out loud moments. I love the characters in the books that make up Andy’s legal team. All of these books can be read as stand alones but it is fun to get to know everyone. I highly recommend this book and the rest in the series!

It follows the same formula as the rest of the series. Plenty of cute dogs to enjoy in the middle of the action and the mystery is intriguing and keeps the plot moving.

- [x] I love all things Andy Carpenter. This one was no different. This installment included more dogs, more twisted bad guys, and more family growing pains, and when you think you are finished, hang on, there is one more crime to be solved.

One thing I have noticed through the years with Andy is that unlike many other serial authors, David Rosenfelt has slowly shown the growth of the character of Andy. While I still miss the song-talking, snarky comments from Edna, and the oddities of his former lawyer assistant, watching Andy handle a son who doesn’t like the same sports he does and Laurie making incredible pancakes seems like a natural evolution. Rosenfelt’s long-time characters, even the minor ones, have lives that grow and change. Thank you #Net Galley

A friend of Andy’s is arrested during a Christmas party. This friend has a big secret. He has been part of a witness protection program since he testified against gang members years before. Now he is accused of killing another of the gang members. Andy agrees to take on his case and to take care of his two dogs while doing that. What’s two more dogs when you already have three? Plus, Andy loves dogs. The case is, as usual, somewhat involved and includes things far beyond the obvious. Andy and his crew manager ferret out the clues, eliminating some red herrings in the process. His dogs welcome the other two and make them part of their lives. As usual, everyone has his/her own part in the case/mystery as it moves on to conclusion.

This is one of many Andy Carpenter mysteries I have read and enjoyed. It makes a good addition to the series. The court sessions and prep work move along smoothly as usual. There are a lot of differences in this case, which made the story interesting. Andy is, as usual, a stunning lawyer for the accused. Ther dogs, though they did not play as big a part as I would have liked, also do their thing throughout the book. This is a great series and book for a reader looking for a good story. However, there is not much Christmas in it, so do not expect a christmasy story. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

It amazes me that David Rosenfelt has written such a long string of convincing legal mysteries without being a lawyer himself! And each story is more exciting and complicated than the last. It's a pleasure to follow defense attorney Andy Carpenter as he thinks through a case, analyzing every detail and "what-if," deploying his trusty team of investigators and analysts to bring a successful result for the client. The courtroom scenes, in particular, are always compelling and suspenseful. But the real attraction of these novels is Andy's first-person narration, chockful of hilarious asides, snarky commentary, and outrageous behavior, combined with a sincere affection for the people who desperately need his help, for his family, his staff and friends, and for his own dogs and those rescued by his foundation.

In the 28th (!) in the Andy Carpenter series, 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas, one of the foundation's patrons is inexplicably arrested for murder, and Andy learns that he has been living under a new name in New Jersey's witness protection program after turning state's evidence on fellow gang members two years before. Of course, his previous gang affiliation must have something to do with the trouble he is in now, but it appears that the deck is stacked against him. As wealthy Andy reluctantly takes on another client, he despairs of being able to wade through all of the evidence (or lack thereof) to come up with a "not guilty" verdict.

I absolutely love spending time with Andy and all of the supporting characters and will continue to do so until the series ends (hopefully, never). Oh, and is it a Christmas book? Not really, although it takes place during the holiday season.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Andy Carpenter is celebrating at the Tara Foundation Christmas party, when a guest (and adopter of two dogs) is arrested for murder. Andy gets out of drinking eggnog, but gains a client. His new client has a secret past which complicates matters for Andy and there’s a lot of gang politics involved. With the help of his friends and defense team, Andy always gets to the truth. The client’s two dogs stay with Andy while he is locked up, so they have a houseful of happy dogs.
I love these characters and the dogs and Andy’s sly sense of humor. Even after so many books in this series, the stories are still fresh and enjoyable.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is another complex and entertaining mystery featuring Andy Carpenter, defense lawyer. Reluctant as he is to take on clients, he steps up,when a friend (and rescue dog adopter) is accused of murder. This story involves gangs and there are many players to sort through. The story moves through a labyrinth of details, and there are twists and turns along the way. I enjoy this author’s style of writing - not normally a fan of first person narrative, I enjoy these books because they allow Andy Carpenter’s unique style and personality to come through. His books make me smile.

‘‘Twas the bite before Christmas is the 27th book in the Andy Carpenter book series and this particular book is situated during the holiday season, as you can see by the title. I love reading David Rosenfelt’s mystery books because even though they have quirky titles, they are a excellent and well written mystery book and they keep me on edge of my seat, right until the very end and there are always dogs involved. What more could you ask for? The great characters on Andy’s legal dream team work so well together with their own individual skill sets, so they can help and lead Andy to freeing his client, so he or she can go home with their dog. Andy and his legal crew will not disappoint you with this entertaining story and I highly recommend this book as well as all his other 26 books he has written and any other books he will write in the future. Bravo David and thank you to David’s publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this latest e- copy and please don’t miss this holiday mystery. It’s a great read and I only have one question, When is Edna stop being engaged and get married? 🙋‍♀️🇨🇦👏📚🐶🥰🙏

It 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas when all through the house, people were reading this book, even my spouse. It was this great legal thriller about mobsters, you see. My husband loves gang stories, and its court scenes for me.

It’s the twenty-eighth book in the Andy Carpenter series and one of the better entries. There are multiple mysteries to solve, several cold-blooded murders as well as a jury trial. Plus, a plethora of dogs, of course. During the trial, Andy explains why he asked certain questions and even gives insight into why he doesn’t ask other questions. It was an interesting look into an attorney’s brain. My husband loved all the mobster action and felt it rang true. He would know because he has watched all the famous mafia movies multiple times.

Overall, if you like your legal thrillers with some humor and an interesting setting of Jersey mob land, you will enjoy 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas. 4 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

What more can one say about a David Rosenfelt book than keep them coming. 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas is the latest Andy Carpenter and is as entertaining as the previous books in the series. With the rescue dogs as main characters and a bit of courtroom drama and some police work, this hits all the targets for a winning mystery.