Cover Image: Silent Bite

Silent Bite

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This is a Crime Mystery, and this is book 22 in the Andy Carpenter series. I normally do not love books that follows a lawyer, but this book is done right. It kept you wanting to read, and it has enough drama going on to keep you wanting to read. I love the Andy character, and the other characters where good as well. This is a gripping character-driven book. I have not read all the other 21 book in this series, but I have read and review some of the other books in this series. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (St. Martin's Press) or author (David Rosenfelt) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Was this review helpful?

3.5*
Once again Andy steals the show with his witty banter. And the cameo of all the dogs a close second.

This is book 22 of the Andy Carpenter series and though I jumped in only a few books ago Andy quickly stole my heart with his wicked sense of humor.

Andy is a lawyer that is desperately trying to give up his profession. But he keeps getting dragged into cases… because he just can’t say no.

As I’ve seen in the few books I’ve read in this series the cast of characters is very long and I was once again was left confused and wishing I had kept a scorecard.

If you are looking for a mystery that will keep you chuckling along the way…well this is the perfect read for you. Don’t be scared to jump right into this long-standing series. David Rosenfelt supplies enough information on the main characters that you will feel like you’ve known them for years.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

A buddy read with Susanne.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books.

Was this review helpful?

Review posted on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

Thank goodness for Andy Carpenter!

Do you like a dry, witty, sarcastic sense of humor? If so, look no further than David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series! Truth be told, I read this series solely because of Andy Carpenter. His sense of humor makes me laugh out loud more times than I can count. I love Andy’s relationship with his wife Laurie and enjoy the storyline, but if the book simply focused on Andy trading witty barbs with others, I’d be one happy gal.

In “Silent Bite” a crime takes place (as it always does). This time, Andy’s partner Willie, asks Andy to represent a friend of his who was arrested for murder. Though Andy would prefer to stay semi-retired, as always, he agrees to represent Tony Birch, who he believes was wrongfully accused. Now comes the hard part, proving it. Thank goodness, Andy has his team behind him to assist.

A well-done mystery/suspense that kept me gripped to the storyline, while completely entertained by Andy Carpenter’s antics. I listened to the audiobook and truly enjoyed the narrator.

A buddy listen with Kaceey.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and David Rosenfelt for the arc. Thank you also to my local library for loaning me a copy of the audiobook.

Published on Goodreads and Twitter.

Was this review helpful?

I love David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series. I wish Andy Carpenter was a real person and that he was my friend. And also my lawyer if I ever break the law. I always laugh in these books, but Rosenfelt always makes me laugh while telling a good story that moves quick and keeps me interested.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I have long loved the Andy Carpenter series - it's pretty light-hearted and each installment is a genuine joy to read. In the past few years or so, a Christmas mystery has been added (like all good long-running series!), and while the series as a whole doesn't always progress for the characters, each book remains a guaranteed good time. This one introduces some new characters that sound like they will be continuing on in the series - like Eddie Dowd. He's a likable addition!

The mystery here draws Andy in because of his partner, Willie, who has an ex-con friend arrested for murder. The friend, of course, is a dog lover and has adopted one from the Tara Foundation (the rescue Willie and Andy run). The body count is a little high for the holidays - but there are plenty of moments of Rosenfelt's funny comments and observations to balance the blood. I laughed out loud, even teared up (not a norm for the series!). The plot itself holds some surprises, too (though I actually did guess the identity of the killer pretty early on - so it was nice to be right, though there are some twists that I didn't see coming). As always, finishing this one leave me anxious for the next book!

Was this review helpful?

This one was good, but not great like previous books. I have enjoyed this series from the beginning and will continue to follow, but I hope they pick back up with the next book.

Was this review helpful?

For anyone who reads this series, this book is pretty much what you would expect - Andy reluctantly takes a case, he and his team research and take the case to court during which time they cross paths with some pretty shady characters. As always, Andy is self-deprecating, and the book is funny. What is different is the exit of a regular character and the introduction of a new character who should be showing up in future installments. Overall an easy, entertaining read.

Was this review helpful?

Andy Carpenter is a semi-retired lawyer. That means he has enough money he doesn’t have to work and doesn’t want to, but cases do show up and he’s either intrigued enough to take the case or his wife Laurie thinks he should which is the same thing.

He also funds and helps with the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue named for his golden retriever, best friend, and greatest living creature ever. Her counterpart is Sebastian, a basset hound, a good boy outclassed by Tara in all ways. Andy, Laurie, and their son Ricky, are just docking from a cruise two of the three enjoyed, Andy being the holdout. When they’re back in cell phone range, Andy’s first call is from his friend Willie, who is taking care of the dogs. They’re fine, but a friend of Willie’s has been arrested. Andy doesn’t want to take the case, but Willie’s a friend and that means you step up when needed.

The more Andy learns about the case, the more likely it is that Tony Birch, Willie’s friend, did in fact kill Frankie Zimmer. In the past, Tony and Frankie were in a gang together, both low level shot callers working for the Dragon’s Blood gang run by Luther, no last name. Tony got out but was involved in a fight where a man died and Frankie and another guy testified against Tony, a definite no-no in gangland. Now Tony’s served his time, owns a garage, and fixes cars, legit. Frankie, well, he’s dead, of course, shot in the back of the head late one night.

The more Andy investigates, the clearer it becomes that Tony is either the stupidest killer ever or the unluckiest. There are two things in Tony’s favor: Willie’s certainty of his innocence and the fact Tony loves his Nova Scotian duck-tolling retriever as much as Andy loves Tara. Now, the only thing to do is prove it without getting them all killed.

Andy has a sarcastic sense of humor which is often ignored by those who know him well. Regular readers will notice a change in the cast of Andy’s investigative team and will be pleased with the result. This is a series I always look forward to reading and regret when I reach the last page. Luckily for me, rereads are just as satisfying as the first. Who could go wrong with crime and dogs?

This is book 22 of 23. Look for the next book, Dog Eat Dog, in July 2021, available for pre-order now.

Was this review helpful?

Up front let me say that though the setting and timeframe for this book is the Christmas season, the book really is not a Christmas book. Andy Carpenter agrees to take on a case of a friend, Tony Birch, of Willie Miller, Andy’s partner, who runs the Tara Foundation dog rescue shelter, who has been arrested for murder. Though Andy prefers not to take on new cases, referring to himself as “retired”, as is always the case, he agrees because Willie believes Tony is innocent—and that is enough for Andy to believe the same and decide to prove it. The story revolves around a time long past when Willie and Tony were in a local gang, involved in all sorts of nefarious and illegal gang-type things. At that time, Tony, when hearing he was found guilty in a trial, angerly shouted at the dead man, as he passed by, that he was going to someday see him dead for ratting on him during the trial. Thus, the police naturally look at and arrest Tony for the murder. The story takes Andy and his cohorts on a long and dangerous trip into the past, into the inner workings of the local gangs and how they work and affect the members and their lives, even long after they have ceased to be members of the gang. As usual, Andy and his team work diligently at the case, delving deeply into gang actions and events that occurred years ago, to search for answers. However, can they be thorough enough and dig deep enough to figure out what actually happened and whether Andy’s client is guilty as charged or not.

This was as good a mystery as the other in the series. Once again, though they do figure occasionally, I wish there had been more involvement for the dogs. However, watching Andy Carpenter and his crew in action, uncovering clue after clue, and trying to avoid red herrings, made for a good story, which I enjoyed. If you are not familiar with the characters or storyline of the series, this reading could become confusing quickly, so I recommend you read at least some of the earlier books, so you do not feel so lost. There is not a lot of backstory, but, at this point in the series, I am not sure there needs to be. This is another good addition to the series. I love the characters and how Andy Carpenter, though he insists he is “retired”, ends up in the middle of a court case all the time. His crew is also memorable and each distinct in his/her own way. I received this to read and review from NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a free e-arc of this title for review.

This was my fourth Rosenfelt read. I don't think it quite lived up to the others in the series I've enjoyed, but it was still an enjoyable way to pass a few hours.

In Silent Bite, once again, Andy Carpenter comes out of retirement to defend someone he's hoping is innocent - and Andy's in large part motivated by the defendant having adopted a dog and loving it dearly. (While there are several dog appearances, they don't play a role in the main plot.)

This is book #22 in the series but you don't need to have read other books in the series to appreciate it. (I.e., it can be read as a stand alone.)

The best element of this series for me is Andy's dry humor. This also is a great series to turn to when other books are feeling overwhelming - they're short, and rather formulaic, which is exactly what I'm looking for once in awhile.

Was this review helpful?

There’s no doubt that Andy Carpenter will do whatever it takes to avoid taking on a new client. But when his friend and business partner Willie Miller asks for help for a friend how can Andy say no?

So begins this new installment of one of my favorite series. And to add a little more excitement Andy welcomes a new lawyer to the team!

A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to enjoy and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

I enjoyed the latest mystery starring Andy Carpenter and his team. I love the snark and the twisty cases in this series, and the latest book didn't disappoint on either count. Even though this takes place around Christmas, it wasn't a big factor in the story. I enjoyed the dog in this one, and, as always, I loved spending time with the team. There's a new team member in this book, which was a nice way to change things up a little, but otherwise this does follow the usual formula used in the series.

Series fans will want to check this out. I was proud that I was able to solve the case before Andy did, but the case was satisfying. Newcomers should be able to follow the action without issue, but if you like the crew as much as I do, you will want to go back and read the rest of the series. (Language)

Was this review helpful?

An Andy Carpenter mystery set at Christmas and offering al, the homespun insight that is the basis for this series. Happy to be back from an forced vacation Andy is at home among the dogs he loves and helps through his foundation. A partner in need spurs the next adventure for Andy and Tara his dog. It is a story with mystery and a animal owners insight. Although Andy doesn’t necessarily believe the story of Tony Birch he gives his all to learn the truth,and discover a few surprises along the way.

Was this review helpful?

This is another satisfying win and read in the Andy Carpenter Series. My rating 4.25.

As an independently wealthy criminal attorney, Andy Carpenter still considers himself a semiretired lawyer and he isn’t seeking new clients. Andy doesn’t rouse himself much unless it has to do with dogs. And Christmas is no exception as he leaves all the decorations and shopping to his wife, Laurie. Shortly before the holiday, Andy’s friend, Willie, a former client and his partner in their dog rescue foundation, asks Andy to do him a favor – represent Tony Birch, a former cellmate, recently accused of revenge murder.

Tony has a rough past, having served time after being wrongly accused of murder as a young man and leader in a gang. Another gang member who testified against Tony has turned up dead and the police were quick to charge Tony. Andy isn’t positive that Tony is innocent, and he isn’t sure Tony is telling him everything which is a major problem. Still, Andy doesn’t want to disappoint Willie and Tony has the unwavering support of his dog, Zoey.

Andy begins to pull together his usual team when he learns that his second attorney is off in South Carolina getting married! The recommended replacement, Eddie, a big guy and retired football player who speaks in sports terms, is introduced to the team. Laurie and another retired cop, Corey (with wonder dog Simon) are the investigative team, Sam is the computer information hacker, and Marcus, as always is the big, scary muscle.

When a second member of the gang is found dead the case gets stronger against Tony. But Andy is always ready to search out alternative suspects to create reasonable doubt. This time his search takes him to local crime gang boss, Luther, who was also the head of the group that oversaw Tony’s ‘boyz’ gang. Andy exercises his usual snark and twists in court, stepping on the edge of propriety and finding more clues than expected.

As normal, I enjoyed the characters and the mystery. The story is told by Andy in the first person with his usual self-deprecation and dry wit. I often listen to this series on audio and I could hear Andy’s voice in Grover Gardner’s deep narration. My only disappointment with this episode was that, even with the dog on the cover, the dogs didn’t play that much of a role. This might be read as a standalone as each story has its own mystery to be solved. Still, I recommend reading at least the first couple of stories of the series to get the character history. And they are fun reading too.

Source: Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

David Rosenfelt meshes Andy Carpenter in another difficult murder trial in Silent Bite because he likes the dog who belongs to the accused. Gritty gangbangers are being killed and a reformed gang member is arrested; bodies drop all over. Nothing seems to free the accused from being tagged for the crime. Andy has his work cut out.

Was this review helpful?

I always look forward to reading a book by David Rosenfelt. I know it will be a good mixture of mystery, courtroom drama, and humor - with dogs!! What could be better?

Andy Carpenter is a great character. He doesn't take himself too seriously and yet his brilliance at his job always shines through. In this story, it seemed the odds were against him and he was reluctant to take on Tony Birch as a client; but Tony is a friend of Willie and Willie is Andy's friend - not to mention their ties to the Tara Foundation dog rescue. How could he say no?

There are the usual twists and obstacles in defending Tony and I had an inkling of what might happen - and yet it was a surprise. A very satisfying mystery - as usual!

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Andy Carpenter, wealthy man and reluctant defense attorney, is back. This time he is defending Tony Burch, ex con and friend of Andy's good friend Willy, on murder charges. Of course Tony has a dog cause everyone has a dog in these books and that is why I love them.

This was a solid mystery but the real appeal of this series, to me, is Andy's wit and his love of all dogs. Can't wait for the next installment.

Was this review helpful?

Silent Bite, 22nd in David Rosenfelt's mellow and deservedly popular Andy Carpenter series, opens (as the title suggests) in the Christmas season.

Willie Miller, Andy's partner at the dog rescue Tara Foundation asks for his help after Willie's old cellmate, Tony Birch, is arrested for murder. The fact that Tony adopted a rescue dog from the Foundation seals the deal and Andy takes on the case, even though it's a daunting one against his client.

As usual, Andy wins his case and gathers with friends, client and canines to celebrate at the Tara Foundation. Silent Bite is yet another engrossing and engaging holiday read from David Rosenfelt.

Was this review helpful?

A Christmas cozy with a bite, SILENT BITE was the first book I've read by author David Rosenfelt. Once I got to know the characters, the story came to life. I'll checkout more books by Mr. Rosenfelt.

Was this review helpful?

This is the 22nd book in the Andy Carpenter mystery series by David Rosenfelt. Andy is a defense attorney, and semi-retired. He's not looking for any new cases, but Willie asks Andy to defend his friend and former cellmate accused of murder. Willie is Andy's friend and business partner - they started the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue organization. Andy isn't thrilled about the case, but he decides to take it on.

This is a series I enjoy, and I'm always excited to read the latest addition to it. I recommend reading the series in order, but this book can be read as a standalone.

A fast-paced mystery with interesting characters and a gripping plot. Recommended for fans of legal thrillers and books featuring dogs. Complex, humorous, and exciting.

received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?