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.

Once again, Andy finds himself needing to defend an accused murderer - this time a fellow dog lover and former gang member. It's almost Christmas and the case is complicated. Plus if he fails, they may have 2 more dogs in their house. Wonderful.

David Rosenfelt is back in the swing of things with 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas, after the disappointing Flop-Dead Gorgeous. Glad to have you back, David.

This book was amazing! I love this series so much! This is another great addition to the series, I love Andy and the storyline was interesting and the characters were well done as always! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!!

David Rosenfelt keeps on writing the most fun crime novels (and of course with dogs!) I've ever read! His humor is refreshing, his characters are so lovable you want to be friends with all of them & adopt all of the dogs! This book once again features Andy Carpenter's "crime team" and the ending is a big surprise! I always look forward to reading an advanced copy of Rosenfelt's books.

David Rosenfelt continues to spoil us with gems each holiday season. 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas is the latest example of an 'Andy Carpenter' gift that keeps on giving. The gang is all here (except for Edna who is on her neverending engagement tour) and in fine form. At this point in the series, we've come to expect the wit and charm which Rosenfelt always delivers. The mysteries continue to be engaging as he once more casts a wide net in terms of plot and bad guys. Is the new client a relapsed gang member or a hapless victim of criminal masterminds? That's what Andy Carpenter and friends have to find out before the jury reaches their verdict. You'll enjoy the journey. I know I did. This series is always a quick read because the books are fun and you can't put them down. 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas is no exception. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, & NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a Legal Mystery, and this is the 28th book in the Andy Carpenter series. I have read the other books in this series, but I do think you can read this book as a standalone without any problems. I do think that if you read the other books in this series you would like a better connection with the characters because a lot of the characters have been in a lot of the other books in this series. I loved this book and series. This book has a little bit of Christmas, but it does not have many Christmas moments in this book. I really love the characters in this book, and Andy's dry personally makes me laugh so much. The mystery in this book was really well done. I also loved all the dog moments in this book. The ending of this book was so well done. Great read and of course I will be reading the next book in this series. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Minotaur Books) or author (David Rosenfelt) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is scheduled to be released on October 10-2023.