Audiobook/Mystery: I chose this from Netgalley because my elderly aunt loves the grumpy Andy Carpenter and we could listen to this in the car together.
I always thought it would be fun to be a grumpy old woman, but after my 81 yo aunt moving in with me, I no longer feel that way. As the reader, we hear his inner monologue, which is debbie-downer. It gets old quick. I guess because I live with it everyday. Any is also an officer of the court and, for the second time in two books, gets someone killed.
My aunt liked the book, but she didn't understand a lot of it because she is a Luddite. She understands nothing about the Internet, IP addresses, nor the Meta verse. My grumpy aunt liked grumpy Andy.
As far as the mystery, plot, etc , it was okay, but not spectacular.

David Rosenfelt is one of my favorite authors and I love every single book in the Andy Carpenter series. The More the Terrier is no exception. It offers a high-quality who-done-it-mystery with Andy's fantastic sarcasm and humor. I love the wonderful repeating cast of characters who feel like old friends on this book, #30 in the series. He never disappoints and the stories always deliver. The audiobook was the best and I appreciate that Rosenfelt uses the same narrator for the series as well.

Available October 15, 2024 Audiobook 9h 45m Grover Gardner narrator

The verdict is in. It's another win for David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series. Rosenfelt even manages to do a sort of cameo in his own book, though he may not approve of Andy's review. Grin.

While some reviewers keep saying the series uses the same ol' formula, it works. What's that ol' cliche? Don't fix what isn't broken? In this case, Rosenfelt still offers up fun, satisfying reads each time. Not only is the whole gang here, even the work adverse Edna, but the humor and snark and character's relationships are solid and each contributes to the story in their own ways. Some, such as the tales of Sebastian's avoidance of walks are played for laughs while the human side of the suspects are revealed and make us genuinely glad Andy took on another Christmas holiday case. And, yes, Sebastian is a dog. There's always a dog....or many. In this case, Murphy, a former rescue of Andy's Tara Foundation (a real life rescue organization started by Rosenfelt and his wife), even helps kick start Andy's very much unwanted case. Although he's been trying to retire for years, I hope Rosenfelt keeps him working for a long, long time.

No way I can even begin to detail the plot. It's wide reaching and there is a lot going on. Like what? Well, it isn't just dog walking. Let's see, there's a shady lawyer, computer viruses, drug trafficking, mob involvement, including Russians, potential witnesses dying, and, well, more. Much more. Andy's frequently humorous commentary carries us along into and out of danger and into the courtroom where Andy's antics are well known. Maybe it was just my own more serious frame of mind during the fraught days leading to another national election, but Andy himself seemed more prone this go-round to vent about the pressures of the mountain of work ahead for both him and his investigative team, particularly on cases like this that can lead to a quite young man going to prison for the rest of his life. For all his snark, Andy takes his job seriously.

In any case, if you like mysteries and courtroom dramas, not to mention dogs, with a healthy pinch of humor and snark, this is the book for you. I was lucky enough to get the audio version and absolutely adore Grover Gardner as a narrator. The text flows and you feel like you really are hearing Andy's thoughts and the story from him. Just as importantly, the relationships between the various characters are solid. Each is likable and well-fleshed out and that includes the dogs. You'll see why Sebastian is one of my favorites as you read. You'll like them all. Well, the good guys anyway. They all get their moments and even those new to the series will quickly sort them out and fall into feeling like this is ol' home week. Many, many twists and turns, not to mention suspects, none of whom are easy to prove did it instead of BJ/Brian, the young man originally arrested. You'll also come away with a better feel for how investigation done right should operate albeit Andy's crew probably has a far bigger budget than the average police jurisdiction. Thanks #MacmillanAudio for allowing me this sneak peek into Andy's holiday gone amuck. Not of any particular significance to anyone but me but I note this is my 700th review for #NetGalley, too, so a win for me, too. Glad I got to share it with Grover Gardner and Andy's associates.

Review of “The More the Terrier”

By: David Rosenfelt

Available October 15/2024

Check it Out on Goodreads!!

Disclaimer: Please note that I received an Audio ARC from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐☆☆☆☆ (Rating System Below)

As someone who jumped into The More the Terrier without having read the earlier Andy Carpenter books, I had high hopes, but unfortunately, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The writing style was repetitive and overly simplified, with lines similar to the effect of, “I had no idea what was going on, so I asked what was going on” popping up far too often. It made the dialogue feel forced, as if the author was trying too hard to spell things out for the reader.

The plot itself wasn’t much better. It relied on the outdated “I’m old and confused by technology” trope, which made it feel like it was stuck in the past. At this point, this kind of joke feels tired, and in a modern setting, it just doesn’t hold up well. The mystery surrounding BJ’s arrest for murder wasn’t particularly gripping, and there wasn’t much suspense to keep me hooked.

While I appreciated the dog-centric elements of the story, which added some charm, the overall pacing felt slow, and I found myself losing interest. By the halfway point, I seriously considered not finishing the book. All in all, it wasn’t a terrible read, but it didn’t do enough to keep me fully engaged. If you’re a die-hard fan of Andy Carpenter, you might enjoy it more, but for me, it fell flat and I generally would not recommend this read.

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*Star Rating Guide*

⭐

The writing style didn’t appeal to me.

The characters didn’t resonate with me.

I pushed myself to the limit to avoid DNF’ing.

I wouldn’t suggest this book to anyone I’m acquainted with.

⭐⭐

The book was passable, but it won’t stick in my mind.

Although I didn’t abandon the book, my mind wasn’t fully immersed in the story.

I discovered that it was easy for me to stop reading it and not feel compelled to continue promptly.

When everything was said and done, I was unsure of my immediate opinion on this book.

⭐⭐⭐

If someone is actively seeking a book in this general premise, I would suggest this.

While it was good, I don’t think I’ll ever pick up this book for a second read.

If it were part of a series, I’d probably venture into the next book.

Reading it was time well-spent.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was brilliant.

I had the urge to keep reading and turn to the next page.

The book stayed on my mind for days after I finished it.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was actively engaged in wanting to finish reading this book.

My thoughts are consumed by this book after completing it.

I want to have a physical copy as a trophy that I can display on my shelf.

I felt a strong connection and investment while reading this book, would definitely recommend.

It has been a while since I spent time listening to a David Rosenfelt book and enjoying Andy Carpenter’s trademark humor and commentary and his discussions of the case with his dog, Tara. As usual Grover Gardner is Andy Carpenter and I felt like I was really listening to Andy. Once again this is a complicated and well plotted mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. While this is book #30 it can easily be listened to as a standalone as all of the players are explained simply and without dragging down the current story. And the mystery itself begins and ends in this book. So, if you love a good mystery, watching how a defense attorney works and thinks, and enjoy dry humor and wit (and of course dogs). Then you will definitely want to check out David Rosenfelt if you haven’t already.

This book is a great suspense book. I enjoyed listening to this story and was always eager for it to continue. This is a book you just want to keep reading.

Another Andy Carpenter book #30 in this incredible series. I have read a few but not really in any order and I always enjoyed them. This book is narrated by Grover Gardner and he does an incredible job. I love the cover of this book as well. The terrier is so cute in the Santa hat. I would have to say my favorite part of the Andy Carpenter series is Andy himself. I laugh out loud at much of what he says and just shake my head at the rest. David Rosenfelt even takes a laugh at himself the author in this book and it was my favorite little part of the whole book. I would recommend this series to anyone. It's a clean well written story with a laugh here and there.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The More the Terrier is the 30th book in the Andy Carpenter series and it continues Rosenfelt’s seven year tradition of writing a Christmas themed book along with a regular one. This doesn’t cover any new ground as far as the characters. Andy still hates Christmas, Laurie still starts celebrating months in advance. All the gang's here, in their normal roles.
This time, the family returns home from a skiing vacation to find an extra dog. Andy recognizes the little terrier as one they fostered until he was adopted by a mother and college aged son. Well, as is always the way with these stories, the young man has been arrested for the murder of one of his professors and Andy signs on as his defense attorney.
I will say I’m getting a little weary of the mafia playing a part in the story. Rosenfelt would have you think that New Jersey is riddled with mobsters, although this time the Russians also have a role. But the “rationale” behind the murder was different and unique. These books definitely have a formula, but I never tire of them.
But the trademark humor is there. I had to chuckle that Rosenfelt even managed to insert himself into this book. And this is a series that makes for a fabulous audio experience thanks to Grover Gardner who is fabulous as Andy. I both read and listened to this and even when reading, Grover’s voice was in my head.
And I have to give it to Rosenfelt. He always leaves me guessing as to how it will all come together.
This can easily work as a stand-alone as Rosenfelt provides sufficient background on each character.
My thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book.

Another charmer from David Rosenfelt.

The titles and covers are still ridiculous, but the plots, dialogue, and characters are all tight.

My favourite moments generally involve Marcus and/or the pub scenes with his friends, and, while there’s defintely a formulaic feel to these mysteries, I’ll keep adding to my collection, for as long as he keeps cranking them out.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for this droll ARC.

This was my first book in this series & I was hoping the dog storyline played a much bigger role in the book. Unfortunately for me, the book wasn’t what I expected. Overall, it was okay. It just didn’t capture my interest until towards the end & then it felt a bit rushed.

Great narrator, well woven story and a satisfying ending. All of the hallmarks of a David Rosenfelt mystery are in evidence and that’s what makes it a winner!

I love listening to Andy Carpenter ! This series never disappoints. There is always a new dog that introduces us to a new case. If you are looking for a fun cozy mystery this is a great one.

This was another quick and fun addition to the Andy Carpenter series. I had a fun time figuring out who the bad guy was and how it all connected. My favorite part of this series is always Andy's commentary. It never feels that I have to giggle out loud at some point in the book.

Somehow we have gotten to #30 in this series and I am still looking forward to the next one. The stories are pretty formulaic with themes that repeat, but Rosenfelt has managed to keep it from feeling repetitive or getting stale. I still get excited when I see a new addition to the series is coming out.

For anyone wanting to jump into this series, you can really start at any point. Rosenfelt does a nice job of explaining who the players are and how they came to be associated with Andy without going into too much detail. Each story is a standalone mystery so you will see how the current situation begins and get closure to the story by the end.

As usual, the audio was narrated by Grover Gardner, who did a wonderful job. His intonation and timing with the humor in the series is spot on. I absolutely recommend the audio for any audiobook listeners.

This series has the cutest covers.

This is the typical Andy Carpenter book. We’ve got a rescue dog, an innocent client, and a possible mob connection. That being said, the formula works every time, mostly because Andy is a great character. He’s funny, smart, self-effacing, sarcastic, and loves dogs. And the narrator, Grover Gardner, pulls it off wonderfully. Andy’s friends and family are also likeable and well-developed, if a bit quirky at times.

The mystery itself is well-done, with plenty of red herrings and potential suspects. I like how all of Andy’s team gets in on the action.

While the story takes place around Christmas, the holiday does not impact the story much. It’s not a book I would feel the need to save till December.

I’m a big fan of the Andy Carpenter books, but this one didn’t deliver the way I’ve come to expect. While the series is formulaic, Andy’s quick wit and sarcastic humor is often hilarious, unfortunately, the humor was dialed back in this book, way back!! That being said, the story itself came across on the mundane side. This was an audio book for me and I wasn’t that enamored by the narrator. Perhaps if I’d read it instead I’d have liked it a bit better🤷‍♀️Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

5 stars out of 5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sooooo, how did I never come across this book in all the cozy mystery that I have read I have been a cozy reader for longer than I care to admit. Luckily I came across this on Netgalley1 this was a super fun and cozy book. I loved that this took place at Christmas time. Who doesn't love a cozy set during any holiday? I will be catching up on all the Andy Carpenter novels! I really liked how Grover Gardner narrated this book. I hope that he has narrated all the other books in this series.

In this 30th book in the Andy Carpenter series, the Paterson, New Jersey attorney defends a college student accused of murdering his professor.

*****

Ever since he inherited a large fortune, defense lawyer Andy Carpenter takes very few cases. Instead, Andy prefers to hang out with his wife Laurie, 15-year-old son Ricky, and dogs Tara (a golden retriever), Hunter (a pug), and Sebastian (a basset hound). Andy also likes to watch sports; help run a canine rescue operation called 'The Tara Foundation'; schmooze with his friends at Charlie's Sports Bar; and so on.

As the story opens, Andy, Laurie, and Ricky are enjoying a Christmas vacation in the Adirondacks. Andy is winter-averse, but he and the family have gone ice-skating, snowmobiling, and sledding. Andy hasn't gone skiiing because, as he notes: "As best as I can tell, a good day on the slopes is not suffering broken bones, frostbite, or worse, which is why I have spent many good days in front of the television or reading a book. You never hear about a medevac helicopter picking someone up from their den and flying them to a trauma center."

On the way back from the Adirondocks, Andy is looking forward to seeing his three dogs, who've been in the care of dog-sitter Jenny Bedell. However, when the Carpenters arrive home, there aren't three dogs....there are four! Jenny explains that the new pooch showed up on the front porch, and she hasn't been able to locate his owner. It turns out the visiting canine is a terrier-mix called Murphy, who was cared for by the Carpenters before being adopted by Doris Bremer and her son BJ. Andy promptly returns Murphy to Doris Bremer, who's distraught because her son BJ has been arrested for killing his college teacher.

Andy offers to speak to BJ, and hears the following story: BJ argued with his computer science teacher, Professor Stephen Rayburn, about a grade. Afterwards, BJ got a phone call telling him to go to Rayburn's house, to discuss the matter. When BJ arrived at the professor's home, Rayburn was dead, and BJ became an immediate suspect. Later, when the cops found Rayburn's $642 in cash and Rolex watch in BJ's dorm room, the young man was arrested for murder. BJ goes on to explain that his lawyer, James Howarth - who showed up out of the blue - is pushing him to take a deal. This whole business sounds VERY DICEY to Andy, who learns that attorney Howarth is being paid by two gang bosses, Gregori Borodin and Thomas Nucci, to 'defend' BJ.

It's clear that BJ is being framed, and Andy makes short shrift of Howarth and takes over BJ's defense himself. Andy assembles his usual team, which consists of lawyer Eddie Dowd - who's great with paperwork and filings; accountant Sam Willis - a computer hacker extraordinaire; office manager Edna - who goofs off more than she works; and The K-Team, a private detective firm consisting of: Andy's wife Laurie Collins - an ex-cop; Corey Douglas, also an ex-cop, and Corey's police dog, Simon Garfunkel; and Marcus Clark - the toughest man on the planet, whose job includes getting information out of suspects and protecting Andy.

Andy needs Marcus watching his back because the mobsters, Nucci and Borodin aren't about to sit back and do nothing. As Andy proceeds to unravel a complicated conspiracy, and prepare a SODDI (some other dude did it) defense, the thugs make witnesses disappear, and even contemplate killing Andy.

As always in this series, Andy does well at BJ's trial, making points when he cross-examines witnesses, and presenting a strong defense. This time, though, the prosecution case seems airtight.....so what's Andy to do?

The Andy Carpenter mysteries are formulaic, but entertaining, with Andy constantly making funny quips and sarcastic remarks. In that respect, this book was disappointing, because Andy wasn't as hilarious as usual. I'll admit it was fun to read that Andy's wife Laurie likes the David Rosenfelt mysteries, while Andy himself isn't a fan. I also liked that the pooch Murphy, who must be a genius dog, showed up at Andy's house to get a good lawyer for BJ.

I hope author David Rosenfelt rejuvenates Andy's jokey character in the next book.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Grover Gardner, who does a great job.

Thanks to Netgalley, David Rosenfelt, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

The More the Terrier, the new Andy Carpenter mystery, by David Rosenfelt is brilliant!
All the quirks I have come to come to love about Andy as a successful, albeit reluctant, layer who loves his family and his dogs are back. He has a tough exterior, but when it comes to family or friends, he will do whatever necessary to see justice delivered. Sometimes this means he crosses the mob, other crime groups, the cops, or whoever else may be involved; he’s not selective. He’s consistent with little thought to who the bad guys might be. However, he’s incredibly smart and diligent, and as a result, he’s successful and gets results. He also has full confidence in his team, notably his wife and Marcus. In this case, Andy enters the world of academia and advanced computer technology. The concepts are well researched and explained in a way that makes to anyone. Andy’s dry, sarcastic humor shines as expected, and his loyal supportive team with all their nuances are present as well. If you’ve never read a book in the series, you can pick this up and be fine. There is enough explanation given along the way that you won’t feel lost. If you’ve been reading this series, you will love hearing about known characters along the way.
I love Grover Gardner as the narrator. He paces it well and gives all the characters great vocal representation, both male and female.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

What a wonderful book. The More the Terrier had everything that I love. Dogs, holidays, mysteries. A great read!

The Andy Carpenter series is part cozy, part lawyer-procedural, part traditional mystery. It's really hard to classify, but maybe that's why I enjoy it so much. I love Andy's dry humor and wit, it's refreshing and fun. This is a perfect read between darker suspense novels that I usually read.

This particular story starts off with a dog Andy and Laurie rescued last year who shows up on their doorstep before Christmas. When Andy returns the dog, he learns the owner is in prison for killing his college professor. Andy, ever the reluctant defense attorney, takes the case. It's interesting and twisty -- more twisty than the usual cozy -- and I probably figured out the killer about the time the author wanted me to, which was before Andy figured it out. No spoilers from me -- just saying that it was a well-crafted, interesting story with great characters and solid mystery.

Finally, I listened to the audio book which was given to me by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. These opinions are my own. The narrator Grover Gardner is fabulous and has become Andy Carpenter to me -- he made what is a good story wholly entertaining.