First I love the dog rescue theme of this book. The Christmas theme is pretty much just in the title and not really a focus of the book. This was more legal focused than mystery focused. Still it was enjoyable if you are a dog fan.

As anyone who’s met Andy Carpenter knows, he does not like being a lawyer. However, pesky cases keep turning up, and when they involve a dog, well, he has a softer spot for dogs than people.

His latest case comes up just before Christmas. Andy runs the Tara Foundation with his friend Willie. During their holiday party, Andy gets a strange phone call from Pete, captain of the homicide division of the police department. Pete is right outside the building but won’t come in. One of the foundation’s best volunteers, Derek, is about to be arrested for murder.

Derek is in the witness protection program after testifying against members of his former gang. Now the police believe he killed one of the gang members. Derek says he didn’t do it, and Andy is inclined to believe him. After all, a guy who fosters two shelter dogs and then is so attached, he has to adopt them, can’t be all bad. Or not bad enough to murder someone.

Jake and Sasha, Derek’s dogs, stay with Andy, his wife, his son, and their three dogs for the duration of the trial. It’s a complicated matter, with two more gang members found dead.

This is one of the more difficult cases Andy’s had, what with so many moving parts: gang members coming to town, ending up dead, and suspects and motives all over the place. What Andy needs is a surefire win so Derek can be with his dogs again.

This is one of my favorite series. Dogs, great human characters, plots that aren’t easy to unravel but that make perfect sense, and enough suspense, you want to know what happened but don’t want the story to end. Luckily, Rosenfelt publishes a couple of books a year, so readers can visit their favorite characters.

This is book 28 in the series. A prolific writer, Rosenfelt also has written four K Team mysteries, a spinoff of this series, nine thrillers, and two nonfiction books. In real life, he lives with his wife and an increasing number of very large, older, special needs dogs.

I have been provided with a review copy of 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas from NetGalley for an impartial review. Awwww this was such a cute story. I was just captivated by everything that was taking place. It was just so easy to get into these characters lives and you just can't help but fall in love with them. I can't wait to see what's next from this author.

The past few David Rosenfeldt books in the Andy Carpenter series have been a bit of a let down but this one rejuvenated it with the dad humor courtesy of the one and only Andy Carpenter. One of Andy’s best volunteers, Derek Moore is arrested for a murder that he committed, or did he? Andy’s got to weave through the maze with the ins and outs and with his team to figure out what happened. Is Derek who he says he is? Are there more people involved than we think? With his usual suspects on his team & not so dry humor, he’s on the case again that, shockingly, he happens to find his way into. Giving it 4/5 stars! Can’t wait for the next one!

Why am I always surprised how much I like David Rosenfelt’s books?

I’ve read every single book from the Andy Carpenter collection and every single time, I’m nonplused.

Is it that they all have can’t-take-this-book-seriously, doggy covers?

Is it that they all have Dad Joke worthy punny titles?

Is it that I’m generally not a fan of Cozy Mysteries?

All of the above?

Regardless, this one did not disappoint. The story, the characters, the comedy (Andy’s dry wit is the delight of my bookish life), all on point.

I side-eye authors who crank out more than a book a year, but for these, I’m giddy at seeing the newest GoodRead’s addition.

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

I eagerly await David Rosenfelt’s books and this one didn’t disappoint. Always laugh-out-loud, these books are quick fun reads. I look forward to his main cast of characters and while the stories are somewhat formulatic, they are always fresh and original.

One of my favorite mystery series!
*Andy Carpenter book 28
*Lawyer/courtroom twist
*Full of humor-fun read!
*Complex plot-lots of stories to solve at the same time
*The audiobook read by Grover Gardner is also wonderful ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC and Minotaur Books for the Audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

A Christmas mystery starring dogs? I’m in!

Wait. Toss that expectation out the window. The title has absolutely no relevance to the story. And while Christmas does pass at some point, the holiday gets about a paragraph of coverage. So, not a Christmas story.

All books in this series feature dogs, and this one is no exception. None play a big role here, but they're still a fun addition.

If you’re familiar with this series, then the plot follows the familiar formula of previous books. This is a light legal mystery, with entertaining courtroom scenes, some laughs, and a fairly predictable path.

An enjoyable read any time of year!

*Thanks to Minotaur Books for the free copy!*

Oh, what fun it is to listen to a new Andy Carpenter mystery, read by Grover Gardner! Another conspiracy, several murders, and a drug bust for the ages punctuate this latest story. Sadly, there isn’t enough Tara on the pages, but there is a lot of mystery to follow instead. Another winner for David Rosenfelt. Thanks to libro.fm and Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 28th book in the Andy Carpenter mystery/legal series and, although I’ve only read a handful of them, it left me wanting to read more. Andy is a reluctant lawyer and dog rescuer whose friends seem to keep getting into legal trouble. Although set at Christmas time, it really wasn’t Christmasy (mostly the cover, to tell the truth). What it did have was murder, organized crime, drugs, and a lot of suspense, humor, and sarcasm. .When you need a fun page-turner, this is a great book to discover!

Every one of David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter mysteries is a treat, and his annual Christmas-themed entries are as tasty as eggnog. Andy himself isn't much of a fan of Christmas, but fortunately a legal case involving a popular Tara Foundation volunteer keeps him distracted through the holiday season. I half read "Bite" and half listened to the audiobook because Grover Gardner is one of the best-matched narrators in the business. Extra points for a final twist, but a minor deduction because I figured it out.

This is an adorable read. I have read a couple in this series and this is my favorite. 8 love the characters and especially the dogs. I got this in audio form from my library and the narrator is fantastic! He delivers some of the punch lines so expertly! I laughed out loud. Need a cute Christmas read for the holiday…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

This book is another hit for David Rosenfelt. When a volunteer at Carpenter's Dog Rescue is charged with murder secrets come to light. Namely, the volunteer has been in the witness protection system. Andy leaps into the investigation to uncover the killer and save the day. “Twas the Bite Before Christmas”, like all of David’s stories is easy to read, filled with twists and turns, with enough red herrings to keep the reader jumping from suspect to suspect, with one conclusion after another. Readers don’t need any guidance or massive backstory to enjoy this book.

This was my first read in the Andy Carpenter series. They don’t need to be read in order from what I realized. I really enjoyed this one! I like the humor in the way Andy talks, also it was a quick and easy read that kept me interested the whole time. Also bonus talking about cute dogs! I’m actually going to want to read more in the series now.

4 stars = Great! Might re-read

Another great, twisty Christmas story in the Andy Carpenter series. There are some great surprises in this, and I enjoyed trying to puzzle the mysteries out on my own. Series fans should definitely pick this up! Newcomers can probably start here - my first Andy Carpenter was a Christmas one and it launched my love for the character and the series.

Every Andy Carpenter book is like visiting old friends. While many may think this series is formulaic, I enjoy the characters so much that it doesn’t bother me. I always recommend David Rosenfelt’s books to anyone looking for their next book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This book is a part of a series but can be enjoyed as a standalone. The novel is q quick, light read that is perfect to enjoy over the weekend. I guessed the ending but enjoyed the journey towards it. The author's humour shines through his writing and is shown as part of thr main character's personality. An enjoyable read.

David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series is such a fun read. Clever, witty & the endings provide a surprising twist. I have read every one and while there are some predictable, formulaic dialog uecker, it's always an entertaining read with clever plot twists & lovable characters. I look forward to the next book in the series.

David Rosemfelt has done it again. I always wait with anticipation for his next book. This time he writes about a gentlemen who had been mixed up in the mob. His stories are always have heartwarming characters. and his humor is nonpareil .My absolute favorite author!!!!

'Twas the Bite Before Christmas is book 28 in the long-running Andy Carpenter series. Andy, a semi-retired lawyer, is the founder of the Tara Foundation named for his rescue dog Tara. It’s the foundation's annual Christmas party and every dog that's come through the rescue—and their families—are invited to celebrate. This year, however, homicide detectives ruin the evening when Derek Moore, one of the foundation’s best foster volunteers, is arrested for murder.

I loved the aspects of the dog shelters and love and admire Andy's commitment to his dogs. But honestly, the dogs are only a minor aspect of the story. Sebastion the basset hound is hilarious and reminds me of a former coworker's dog! Also of note, the Tara Foundation really exists. It was formed 14 years ago by author David Rosenfelt. I also had no problem following along although this was the first Andy Carpenter story I've read.

The real story, however, is the murder - who really killed a mobster and member of a notorious New Jersey crime family? Why was Derek in witness protection? And who leaked his new identity?

The cover and title are a bit misleading. This not a Christmas story although it begins around Christmas time. The story was a fun, cozy whodunnit written with wit and ease. The mystery was solid and I enjoyed unraveling the full story with Andy and his team.

I can recommend this one to dog lovers and cozy mystery fans everywhere as long as you're not expecting a real Christmas story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my complimentary eARC.