Thank goodness there is always a new reason for lawyer Andy Carpenter to take another case! In Dog Day Afternoon, Marcus Clark brings Andy a new client: Nick Williams is accused of mass murder, but he swears he is innocent and Marcus believes him. A point in Nick's favor is the fact that he is set to adopt an injured golden retriever puppy from the Tara Foundation, Andy's dog rescue organization, but initially Andy only takes the case as a favor to Marcus. As the case progresses, Andy starts to believe Nick is innocent but isn't sure he can prove it in court. Rosenfelt always finds a way to put a fresh twist on things, and once again delivers a strong story that showcases his wit and all the characters his regular readers know and love.

This is another great installment in the Andy Carpenter series. It is a legal mystery with a splash of humor and dogs, lots of dogs. The cast of characters are second to none. The banter and camaraderie between them makes the characters more realistic and enjoyable to read about.

Andy Carpenter is a retired attorney who started the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue, named after his favorite golden retriever. He calls himself retired, but he will definitely take on the occasional case. He likes to be engaged, and I believe, he enjoys the practice of law. When his investigator, Marcus, comes into the rescue with two young men looking for a dog, Andy learns something about his quiet, brooding investigator. Marcus assists disadvantaged young men in helping them get on their feet. One of those young men is Nick.

When there is a deadly shooting at a local law firm, where six bodies are left behind, Nick is the prime suspect. Nick was employed by the firm, and a surviving witness has pointed the finger at him. Marcus, who never asks for anything from Andy, asks him to represent Nick. Andy agrees to help him. You will soon learn that there is a lot more to this story than first appears. Six dead, one gun, one witness, lots of evidence and one scapegoat make this an interesting mystery. The answers to what actually happened on that fateful day are much deeper and complex than they appear. You can count on Carpenter and his investigative team getting to the truth.

I really enjoyed this book. Andy is one of my favorite characters. I love his courtroom antics. He plays to win. I would definitely want him on my side of the courtroom. The dogs are definitely a plus for dog lovers. I highly recommend this one if you enjoy a good mystery and a little courtroom drama.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

David Rosenfelt’s “Dog Day Afternoon” is a delightful addition to the Andy Carpenter series, blending suspense, wit, and canine charm into a highly engaging mystery. This four-star novel captures the essence of what makes the series a fan favorite, providing readers with another dose of Andy Carpenter’s reluctant heroism and the heartwarming presence of the Tara Foundation's rescue dogs.

In this installment, retired lawyer Andy Carpenter is pulled back into the courtroom when his loyal investigator, Marcus Clark, requests his help. The usually enigmatic Marcus reveals a surprising facet of his life—his commitment to mentoring disadvantaged young men. This revelation comes with a request: Marcus needs Andy to defend one of his mentees, Nick Williams, who is accused of a mass shooting at his workplace.

Rosenfelt excels in character development, and this book is no exception. Andy Carpenter remains the quintessential reluctant lawyer, whose dedication to his dog rescue organization is as strong as his aversion to practicing law. His sarcastic humor and genuine love for dogs add a unique charm to the narrative. Marcus, usually a man of few words, is given more depth in this story, and his mentorship of young men like Nick adds an emotional layer that resonates throughout the book.

The plot is well-paced, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Rosenfelt's legal expertise shines through in the courtroom scenes, adding authenticity and tension. The mystery surrounding the mass shooting is intricately woven, and Andy's investigation into the case highlights his sharp intellect and determination to seek justice.

One of the standout elements of “Dog Day Afternoon” is the relationship between the characters and the rescue dogs. Nick’s instant bond with Daisy, a dog from the Tara Foundation, is heartwarming and serves as a poignant reminder of the positive impact animals can have on human lives. The dogs in the story are not just background characters but integral to the plot, providing moments of levity and emotional connection.

However, the novel isn't without its flaws. Some readers might find the resolution a bit predictable, and there are moments where the legal jargon can be overwhelming. Despite these minor issues, Rosenfelt’s writing is engaging, and his ability to balance humor with serious themes makes this book a compelling read.

In conclusion, “Dog Day Afternoon” is a solid entry in the Andy Carpenter series that will satisfy long-time fans and new readers alike. Rosenfelt’s blend of mystery, humor, and heart, along with the endearing presence of rescue dogs, makes this book a memorable and enjoyable read. If you’re a fan of legal thrillers with a canine twist, this novel is definitely worth your time.

I've only recently discovered the Andy Carpenter mysteries even though this is the 29th book in the series! Andy is a defense lawyer that wants to retire, but can't turn down people who are falsely accused and need his legal help. Andy is also a dog lover and owns part of a dog rescue organization. He has a reliable team who help him with his cases, including his wife who is a former police officer.

In spite of the cute cover, I would classify the book as more of a traditional mystery with some elements of a legal thriller as opposed to a cozy mystery. In this book, as a favor for a friend, Andy defends a man accused of being a mass shooter at his place of employment. Nick has an explanation as to why he left the scene of the crime but insists he is innocent of this atrocious crime. The subject matter is intense, but Andy's sarcastic sense of humor helps lighten the mood. The plot gets very complicated, but the resolution is satisfying. I'm late to the party, but am happy to have found this series.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Minotaur Books. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Twenty-nine books in and this series continues to be pure entertainment. Andy Carpenter, an attorney who would prefer NOT to practice law, can't help but represent a young man accused of gunning down his co-workers. Something just doesn't add up and Andy and his team don't stop digging until they find the truth.

I am a stickler for starting a series with book one, but you can read this one, then go back and start from the beginning. The author and his main character both love dogs, so there is always a canine-centric subplot. What a treat!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the advance reader copy.

If you like a good mystery, then you will enjoy this book.

Can we first talk about this cover? It is one of the cutest covers that I have seen in a long time. Who doesn't love a golden retriever puppy? I wasn't sure how it tied in to the book until partway through, but I like how the picture wraps up the story.

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt is part of a series, but it is definitely a stand-alone book. You will just miss some of the background of the main characters, but you can understand the story just fine.

This is a good mystery book that keeps you guessing. I wasn't totally connected with any of the characters, but it reminded me of an Agatha Christie book where it's more about the "whodunnit," rather than the main character development. It is an easy read, once you have all of the characters figured out. I like how it all tied together in the end. I especially like that it is from the POV of a lawyer because courtroom dramas are a fun read for me.

I gave this book four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and David Rosenfelt for sharing this free copy with me. This is based on my honest review.

While this is the latest in a very long running series, it will also be the perfect standalone for fans of legal thrillers that haven't yet met Andy. Fans should know that the characters aren't advanced much in this one (no more revelations about Marcus, for example) but it's a nicely twisty mystery that sees Andy come to the defense of a man accused of a mass shooting. Marcus has never asked Andy for a favor but he's asked him to step in and defend Nick who claims he was being held by kidnappers at the same time someone who sorta kinda met his descriptions killed six people at the law firm where he worked. Implausible? Sure, but once Andy meets Nick, he agrees to investigate and what he finds- well, no spoilers. As usual, this has twists, bad guys, good guys, and liars- lots of liars. One reason I like Rosenfelt is that I never guess the real villain and this was no exception. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Great read.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S DOG DAY AFTERNOON ABOUT?
Overall, I'm not sure that the body count in this book is that much higher than in other books in this series—but the way it opens is very different. The instigating crime feels like something straight out of a mass-shooter video your HR people make you watch annually (assuming your workplace is similar to mine, I guess)—it's cold, calculated, with a casual disregard for human life we don't often see in this series. (Andy says something similar at one or two points).

So you're left wondering—how does Andy get roped into representing the accused? (although many readers are going to read that scene and pick out the places the defense is going to take advantage of). This is where Marcus comes in.

Andy learned about this earlier, but we readers learn about this now—Marcus mentors young people in his neighborhood who have had a rough time of it and have run afoul of the law in the past. They need some help, some guidance, and some favors—Marcus provides this.

He also helps a couple of those he mentors to adopt a dog from the Tara Foundation. One of these two is accused of the crime—Marcus comes to Andy for help, and he gets it. That Willie also vouches for the accused helps—there's no chance that Willie agrees to let one of their dogs go to someone capable of this crime.

That's not evidence he can introduce in court, but it's compelling for Andy. Now he just needs to find something that will be compelling in court.

MARCUS
Marcus can't become too well-rounded of a character—we need him in the shadows, doing things that defy belief. But we can learn more about him than we have prior to this.

We see that he can have attachments to people other than Laurie (and by extension, Andy). We see just how far he's willing to go to help someone.

I was interested in this book because I've enjoyed almost every one of its predecessors enough that I don't bother to see what they're about before I add them to the TBR list. But once I noted that this one featured Marcus like that—my excitement grew. I love watching the character at work, and to see him in a different situation than we're used to made my day. Also, we got just what the doctor ordered from a Marcus-centric book.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT DOG DAY AFTERNOON?
I cannot believe that I've read 29 books in this series (plus a few in a spin-off). Twenty-nine. That's just insane. Now, am I going to say that they're all as fresh as they were in 2002 when Open and Shut came out? Of course not. But they have their moments when they feel that way.

* According to my logs, I read it in 2011—I've been with these characters for 13 years. Mind-boggling.

So, Rosenfelt has his work cut out for him to do something to keep the audience engaged. Over the last few books, he's worked on deepening the relationship between Andy and Marcus, which has been nice. This book takes a big step forward in that. I don't know that we're going to see much more than this anytime soon—you need to preserve some of Marcus' mystique to keep him nearly-superhuman in Andy's (and the reader's) eyes. Similarly, we readers can know Hawk a little better than when Spenser first ran into him in Promised Land—but not too much.

So, we'd better enjoy what we get here, right?

And naturally, that's really easy. Other fun bonuses—Andy getting along with the prosecutor. Cory clearly being annoyed with Sam Willis wanting to get in on the action. Even some of the Andy and Tara interactions felt a little different (not unusually so, and not negatively). There was also the attempt of a law firm to hire the most reluctant lawyer in the world—that did bring a smile to my face.

There's a good mix of the tried and true Andy bits, fun material with our old friends, a clever mystery, a new side of Marcus, and Rosenfelt's trademark zippy prose. It's easy to see why this series has gone on as long as it has—and may it continue to do so.

Can you hop on here? Absolutely—and you'll have the fun bonus of a healthy backlist to work your way through once you get done with this one.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley—thanks to both for this.

Another great entry in a fun series! Andy, Laurie, and the gang always keep me entertained. This cas was as good as all the others. I had a hard time putting down my kindle. I love all the dogs too! One can tell that Mr. Rosenfelt is a dog lover! Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to #Netgalley for a free Arc of this David Rosenfelt book. I listen to the audiobook version and loved the narrator, he had plenty of humor for a mystery. While I usually 9nly prefer cozy mystery to read or listen to the story was so engaging I was able to overlook the multiple dead body part. This will not be the only Andy Carpenter book I read because I really enjoyed David’s writing style and humor thought a great mystery.

Dog Day Afternoon was a fun read for me. Rosenfelt's way of storytelling is a little different than the usual way of storytelling I read, and is always nice, fresh way to read a story. I struggled to get into the book for the first bit, but once the mystery started to become bigger (as well as my list of questions!), it had me captivated until the end.

As usual, I have enjoyed this latest book by the author. I was happy to see that Marcus played a some what bigger part in this book, simply by being the one to ask Andy to help one of his friends. In this book we get to see a little bit behind the scenes of what Marcus is like as a person...that he truly tries to sponser and help other people. He's not just the big, bad, scary person. We also know that he follows through on what he believes is the right thing to do. I do miss having more interaction with the dogs in the story but was glad Daisy gpt adopted to the people she truly belonged to. Can't wait for the next book. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this.

Andy is a criminal defense lawyer who doesn't want any clients. Because of the money his father left him and some lucrative cases, he is able to not work and spend his time with his friend, Willie, running the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue that he and Willie formed. He is married to Laurie, they have a teenage son, Ricky, three dogs and he is enjoying his life.

There is a shooting at a local law firm and six people are killed. The two people who manage to escape say they recognized Nick, a co-worker, as the killer and he has suspiciously disappeared. Nick is a friend of Marcus', one of Andy's investigators, and Marcus asks Andy for help. When Nick reappears a couple days later, he says he was kidnapped and held hostage. On Andy's advice, he turns himself in and is arrested. Marcus has helped Andy many times over the years so he can't say no when Marcus asks him to defend Nick (plus Nick wants to adopt a dog from the Tara Foundation and Andy loves dog lovers). As Andy starts to investigate, he has to figure out who and why one of those killed was the target.

This is the 29th in the Andy Carpenter series ... I've read them all and I'm still enjoying this series. Even though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the ones before it to know what is going on). I like the writing style as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing. It was written mostly in first person perspective in Andy's voice.

I like Andy ... I think he would be a hoot to be around and he's quite generous with his time and money (he never charges for his services and he always picks up the tab for his friends at his favourite restaurant whether he is there or not). Andy admits he is a bit of a wimp so part of his team is the K-Team (Laurie, a former police officer and now an investigator, Marcus and Cory, a former police officer). Sam is his accountant who is also a computer hack who wants to be part of the action.

Andy Carpenter, thanks to an inheritance, is a retired lawyer, and his wife is a retired police officer. They have often paired up with a special team of investigative people, including the mysterious and reserved Marcus Clark. Shockingly, Marcus comes to Andy with a new client with a somewhat sordid past. He's accused of a mass shooting at a local law office, but swears of his innocence and Marcus believes him 100%. All of the obvious signs point to Nick as the shooter, so they've got their work cut out for them. There's humor woven in which is mostly enjoyable, though a bit campy on occasion. The cover completely caught me as a dog lover, and the doggie cameos were fabulous.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and David Rosenfelt for the eARC.

4.5 stars. These popular, best-selling books are always entertaining. Lawyer Andy Carpenter is an independently wealthy defence lawyer who is reluctant to return to the courtroom unless a dog is remotely involved. His narration involves a sardonic, snide sense of humour, often directed towards himself. His sarcastic remarks add to the entertainment value. Andy Carpenter is a partner in a dog rescue project called the Tara Foundation. Author David Rosenfelt has developed a repetitive but winning formula.

The eye-catching covers of dogs pictured in the stories make the books hard to resist, and they could be mistaken for cozy mysteries. The stories involve complicated investigations into the lives of his clients where a guilty verdict seems overwhelming and leads to a suspenseful, complex court case. The intense past crime cases have involved money laundering, complicated conspiracies, drug trafficking, mob violence, cybercrime, gang-related killings, terrorism, and Interpol's most wanted. Andy's clients have been made to seem guilty with solid evidence against them. He must cast suspicion on others who might have a motive to commit the crime.

Recurring characters assist Andy Carpenter in the investigation before going to court. Among them are Laurie, Andy's former police officer wife; Cory, a retired police officer with his police dog Simon Garfunkle; Sam, an expert hacker; and Marcus Clark, a large, strong, intimidating protector.

Marcus rarely speaks, usually barely grunting his approval of the team's procedures, and Andy is unaware of his personal life. He is surprised that he mentors disadvantaged youths and gets them jobs and prospects for a better life. One day, he brings two young men to the Tara Foundation. The men are friends and live in neighbouring apartments. They want a rescue dog to share between them. They fall in love with a dog who underwent major surgery for a broken leg and will need to be isolated at the shelter, but the two men are determined to wait until that particular dog is ready to leave the shelter. One of the young men, Nick Williams, has found a job (through Marcus's efforts) at a law office doing deliveries and repairs.

There have been multiple murders at the law office, six shot dead, and Nick has been identified by witnesses as the killer. A man dressed like him with his unique walk and tattoo but with a face mask is blamed for the atrocious crime. Nick has gone missing for three days until apprehended. His explanation about where he was is hard to believe. Is he guilty, or has a far-reaching group of conspirators set him up? This will be a challenging case to defend. It looks like Nick will be spending a long time in prison. His dreams of leading an everyday life and sharing a rescue dog with his friend have evaporated. Will there be a cheerful, happy ending?

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy of the book in return for an honest review. The publication date is set for July 2. This is the 29th book in the series, but it works well as a stand-alone. Readers will want to pursue other books featuring Andy Carpenter.

Andy Carpenter is back on a case with his entourage. He takes a case that seems unsolvable. A young man is accused of multiple murders in a law office. He says he is innocent. Andy's friend, Marcos, believes in the young man. Andy begins an investigation that uncovers fraud, hired killers, and mob connections. With all of this, will he get his client off? The first-person narration by the main character adds to the feel of the story and helps build suspense. Lots of lawyer stuff, lots of Andy and his unlawyerly like character. Read this one in a day. Was a good read and I look forward to the next Andy Carpenter. Oh, yes, the dogs are in the novel. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I am a huge fan of the Andy Carpenter series. I love the characters and how they work together to help Andy defend the accused murderer. Andy’s snarky comments have me chuckling as I scour the pages to see if I can figure out who really is guilty of committing murder. The characters are well developed and entertaining. There are lots of twists and turns and crazy moments that had me flipping through the pages quickly. I adore Andy’s canine companions and the way he talks to them as if he expects an answer. This is one of my favorite series and I can’t wait for the next adventure with Andy and the gang in Paterson, NJ.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Retired attorney Andy Carpenter insists he wants to stay that way, but somehow he keeps getting pulled back into court. This time, his trusted but somewhat reclusive investigator, Marcus Clark, asks for a favor - the only time in their long association that's happened. It seems that one of the young men Marcus has helped get on the straight and narrow - Nick Williams - has been identified as a mass murderer after six employees were brutally shot at the law firm where he's been working.

When Marcus gets a call from Nick, who's been missing, to say he was kidnapped on the day of the murders and spent several days tied up in some kind of warehouse before his kidnappers inexplicably set him free. Marcus then calls Andy, who really doesn't want any part of the case, but he can't say no to Marcus. Reluctantly, Andy gathers his super-competent team around him, including Marcus and Andy's ex-cop wife, Laurie Collins - and they begin to plot their strategy despite misgivings that include a couple of witnesses who are for the most part convinced that the man with the gun they saw was, in fact, Nick.

As usual, the story is narrated by Andy, who enjoys talking to his own dogs while taking them for walks. He's an extremely personable guy with a sense of humor and a penchant for acting up in the courtroomwith both adding a bit of fun to each adventure (and eliciting an occasional giggle from me). Since the motive attributed to Nick seems thin - and both he and Marcus are so insistent that Nick wasn't involved in any way - the team begins to look for another reason for the murders. As clues turn up, Andy shares them with readers (and I'll leave those reveals up to him, thank you very much) right up to the somewhat surprising conclusion.

Speaking of thank you very much, all that's left for me to say is that - to the publisher, via NetGalley - for giving me the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of another installment in a favorite series. Well done, as always!

Another winner in the Andy Carpenter series. Rosenfelt is consistent - he uses the same elements in each story: annoying, clever and funny Andy, his skilled team of investigators and legal backup, DOGS!, and a seemingly impossible to win case that he always pulls out of the bag. And yet the story is never the same (though I actually did have this one figured out before he did), and the humor reliable and irresistible.
This time the client that Andy never wants comes from Marcus. Which luckily is good enough for Andy, because nobody argues with Marcus. Nobody. And the case sounds preposterous. All the evidence points to Marcus' young friend, but he says he was abducted the morning of the multiple murder and held captive for several days and then released. Pretty clever frame job actually. So the investigators start investigating while Andy begins his legal hijinks. And off we go. And whoosh, it reads really fast (as they all do). When I want sheer fun, this is my favorite series. Highly recommended.

Loved it. Once again charming Andy keeps a murder trial from becoming boring. The subtle humor that David Rosenfelt puts into his stories makes it such an enjoyable experience. We may think we know what all is going on in the case, but there is even more. What a delightful surprise. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.