David Rosenfelt knocks it out of the park with his latest Andy Carpenter book! I absolutely loved this prequel story into Andy's life. The characters are humorous and real. The story pulls you in and won't let go until the gripping conclusion! A must read from Rosenfelt!

This is 31st installment of the Andy Carpenter series.

While, thankfully, Rosenfelt has figured out how to give Tara infinite dog years, one wonders how many more punny titles they can conjure.

As per usual, this story is more than just its silly title and cover.

I liked this one, in particular, as it fleshes out a bit more of Carpenter’s origin story.
How did he and Lori meet?
From whence did Marcus come?
Whose brilliant idea was it for Andy to pay for everything at the pub?

While I missed Ricky, I fully support this new method of storytelling.

Dogged Pursuit is the 31st book in the Andy Carpenter Mystery series by David Rosenfelt. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone mystery or as part of the series. I (still) have not read the entire series and I love that each can be read alone.

I loved that this was more of an origin story than furthering the current timeline. I had always wondered how we got to the Andy Carpenter of now and I feel like I have a better idea now. This was such a great book. I loved the storyline and the glimpse into the characters as their younger selves.

I really will be reading the books from the beginning of the series. I need to know the full story!

I highly recommend reading Dogged Pursuit. It’s a quick read that will grab hold of you on page one ad won’t let go until you reach the end!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Dogged Pursuit (Andy Carpenter Mystery #31) by David Rosenfelt
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: July 1, 2025

The first book in the Andy Carpenter series by David Rosenfelt was published in 2002, but I didn't discover any of them until a couple of years ago. Since then, I've been reading the books out of sequence, my choices depending on what is available when I am in the mood for an enjoyable reading experience, one that doesn't tax my brain too hard but doesn't bore or irritate me either.

The primary allure of all the Andy Carpenter novels are Andy's sarcastic musings about everyday things, many of which seem to hit home with me—things that I, too, find irritating. But Andy articulates them much better than I ever could. These musings are embedded in crime plots that I find equally amusing and puzzling—although some are less perplexing than others. There is inevitably an investigation into nefarious acts and a courtroom drama, because Andy is a defence lawyer. The investigation is generally spearheaded by Laurie, who in the early books was Andy's chief investigator (and girlfriend). In the later books, Laurie is his wife, but still his commanding investigator.

The settings of this set of novels always includes dogs. They play a minor role in the plot but a major role in Andy's life. Tara, a golden retriever, is Andy's main dog companion; her presence soothes him while he is contemplating about the inequities of the case he is working on, as well as the inequities of life.

DOGGED PURSUIT is a prequel. It describes a time before the first book in the series, "Open and Shut",, a time when Andy is still married to Nicole, although his marriage is floundering. in "Open and Shut" Nicole was obnoxious, and in this prequel, she is equally obnoxious; why Andy married her at all is still a mystery to me.

However, the important events in Andy's life that occur in DOGGED PURSUIT are that he meets and hires Laurie, and he adopts Tara from an animal shelter.

It is while adopting Tara that he gets involved in a murder investigation. In the shelter, Tara bonded with Sunny, whose owner, Ryan Tierney, a former trucking company employee, has been arrested for killing three of his former coworkers. Ryan becomes Andy's first defence client.

In DOGGED PURSUIT, Sam Willis, accountant and computer hacker extraordinaire, plays a major role. Sam did not appear in "Open and Shut", but became a part of Andy's investigative team in the second book in the series ("First Degree"), and it is never mentioned in "First Degree" that Sam had already conducted a major investigation for Andy. Similarly, Marcus Clark appears briefly in DOGGED PURSUIT, although Andy didn't actually meet him until the second book in the series. These appearances in this prequel disturbed me a bit, because they muddled the series timeline.

On the other hand, I enjoyed seeing a bit more of Andy's father, who died early in "Open and Shut", and has not been mentioned much in any of the books I have thus far read (other than the fact that he gave Andy an unexpected inheritance when he died).

These books are enjoyable even when read completely out of sequence, as I have been doing, so DOGGED PURSUIT is suitable for first-time readers to the series, as well as long-term ones. 4.5 stars upped to 5.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.

Another great Andy Carpenter book! Irresistible! Loved going back in time and learning about Andy's life when he first got Tara! Long live Tara!

Title: Dogged Pursuit
Series: Andy Carpenter #31
Author: David Rosenfelt
Publisher: St. Martin Press- Minotaur Book
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: July 1, 2025
My Rating: 4. 5 Stars
Pages 304

This novel is #31 in the Andy Carpenter series and I have read nearly all of them.
This one was fun as it was a refresher for me. Yes! If you are new to Andy, this is great story to start with as it is a prequel.
It is before his inheritance and got the K-team together- Although; he was friends with Sam and Pete. We go back to when he adopted Tara and how he met his now wife Laura and her side kick aka body guard Marcus.
Andy was first married to Nicole Grant- he said it was almost an arranged marriage as his parents were close to Nicole’s parents. In fact, his father was longtime friends with her father Senator Philip Grant. You will find out more about Nicole when you read this story.

Andy’s first defense case was Ryan Tierney who was accused of being responsible when a car blows up after an employee party at Morelli’s Restaurant in Paterson. There were three people in the car - Stephen Pearson owner of Pearson Trucking and two of his colleagues – they all died in an explosion that occurred when the ignition was turned on. The police believe Stephen was the target and the other two were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Ryan Tierney worked at Pearson Trucking and was recently get go. .

Andy agrees to take his case and also to take care of his dog, Sonny. Sonny was being held at the shelter when Andy found Tara. Again a story you need to read for yourself.

~Present day Andy typically only takes cases involving a dog. However, he always has and needs help from his wife Laurie as well ‘The K-
Team’ ~Marcus Clark and Corey Douglas - Corey and Laurie - former police officers. Sam Willis is also part of this group and is a super hacker
but employed as an accountant.

Andy Carpenter stories are always entertaining~ I liked this trip down memory lane as we also got a chance to see Andy’s interaction with his Dad.
The story are usually formula driven ~
 dogs;
 courtroom drama (which I love and am never disappointed!),
 a surprising twist, and
 hopefully a Victory dinner!!!

Although this story was before Andy could afford the Victory dinner the courtroom drama and the twists were part of this story!!!

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 1, 2025.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC of #DoggedPersuit. This author is one of my favorites and this story does not disappoint! If you are a dog lover, you will love these books! If you are not a dog lover, you will love these books! Every book is such a joy to read, with a little humor and thrill sprinkled in. The real life dog rescue situation of the author just makes every book more heartwarming.

Author David Rosenfelt sweeps fans of the Andy Carpenter series away with a nostalgic journey back in time to the beginning of it all in DOGGED PURSUIT. Readers are introduced to a young Andy along with a few of the main characters that play significant roles in the many books that follow. Perhaps more importantly, we get our first look at Andy's beloved dog, Tara, and learn about the events that brought him to adopt her from the shelter. This prequel is the perfect entry point for first time readers and an absolute must read for longtime fans of the series.

Andy Carpenter is feeling a bit untethered as he and his wife Nicole are finagling their way through some marital issues that have her living at her parents' house while he roams around the empty rooms of their home. Andy has turned down yet another offer from Nicole's dad to come work for his firm - a move that would secure their financial future but contribute nothing to Andy's mental health and personal satisfaction. Since finishing law school, Andy has spent three years working as a prosecutor but has now chosen to switch sides by becoming a defense attorney to serve as a voice for the accused. All he needs now is a client. In Nicole's absence, Andy decides a small dog will make the perfect companion, so he heads to the local animal shelter where it's love at first sight when he spies Tara, a golden retriever, who is most definitely not a small dog. As it turns out, Tara has a little sidekick, Sonny, a beagle who belongs to a man arrested for a triple murder. Not having the heart to split the pair up, Andy seeks permission from the incarcerated man to take Sonny home and in doing so winds up taking the man on as his first client as a defense attorney. Frank Tierney stands accused of planting explosives under the car of his former boss thereby blowing him and his two passengers to smithereens. Tierney swears he's innocent, but the prosecutor’s unsurmountable evidence says otherwise. Andy needs to sift through an array of red herrings to unmask a murderer to prove his client's innocence. Things are about to get complicated...and dangerous for Andy and those he cares about.

DOGGED PURSUIT is a delight to read! Fans of the series are transported back to the beginning of it all to witness Andy’s first connection with several series' favorites like Laurie, the ex-cop investigator, Sam, the computer whiz, along with an "almost meet" with the enforcer, Marcus. And, of course, we meet a young, enthusiastic, gung-ho Andy as he hones his courtroom skills utilizing what later becomes his signature sharp wit and charming personality to irritate the judge, win over the jury and successfully wrap up his first case as a budding defense attorney . . . all while navigating his turbulent personal life with all the bumps and bruises of a young, floundering marriage. If this is your first Andy Carpenter book, this book serves as the meet-cute foundation for the rest of the series, and I promise you'll be hooked! If you're a longtime fan, what a gift!

Like all the rest of the books that follow, DOGGED PURSUIT is a highly entertaining, humorous whodunit rendered via complex characters, adorable dog scenes and an intriguing murder mystery. While it would be easy to label it as another lighthearted mystery, Rosenfelt's expertise at weaving weighty themes throughout a convoluted, twisted plotline while challenging readers and Andy to figure it out is evident. The end result is a page burner, often funny, always heart touching story that's impossible to put down. Narrator Grover Gardner delivers a star performance on audio. In my eyes, he IS Andy Carpenter! Highly recommended to fans of the series, first time readers and any reader who enjoys a good mystery with a healthy dose of laughter.

Dogged Pursuit shakes things up and takes us back in time — a long ago, pre-Tara time — in which a young Andy Carpenter has just switched sides to start a new practice as a defense attorney. As always, Andy takes on a hopeless-seeming case and defends his client with determination and wit. (Once again, the client appears guilty but gives evidence of good character by clearly loving his dog.) The real treat of this book, especially after reading so of the others in this series, is watching Andy first meet so many of the supporting characters we know will turn out to be hugely important. Sure, readers new to the series could start with this prequel, but there’s a particular delight in going back in time when we already know the characters well. Even Laurie is not yet in the picture, and the famous Tara first appears in Andy’s life. Marcus is not officially introduced but plays a key role behind the scenes. Other ancillary players and recurring hangouts also debut here. How does Andy always end up paying the tab for burgers? How is he buddies with a zillionaire? Tune in here to find out. 5 stars for this highly entertaining and special entry in the Andy Carpenter series.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for a digital advance review copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book. I had previously read several books in the Andy Carpenter series by David Rosenfelt and was delighted to receive this one. Each enjoyable book has entertained me. Dogged Pursuit is number 31 in the series, and is a prequel, describing Andy's first case as a defence attorney. Andy, thirty years old, has switched from prosecuting to defending people accused of crimes, feeling that they deserve justice.
Readers drawn to the beautiful, eye-catching covers, which always feature a dog, may mistake the books for cozy, relaxing mysteries. Be aware that they are serious, complicated, intricately plotted crime thrillers with added courtroom drama. The featured dog is only tangentially related to the story. He cannot resist a case involving dogs. His mission is to rescue owners of dogs from possible death sentences or lengthy periods of incarceration.

In this first case, Andy displays his snide, sarcastic sense of humour, often directed toward himself. He is married to Nicole, who comes from a wealthy family, while Andy struggles financially. She is concerned about the potential dangers to her husband in his new position and her reduced standard of living. The marriage seems on shaky ground, and she is seldom home.. Andy has moved into a dingy apartment over a fruit store, and wants a small dog. When he goes to the animal shelter, he immediately bonds with the beloved Tara, a golden retriever, who will become his companion for many years. Tara was immediately adopted by Andy, but had been roomed in a pen with Sunny, a beagle. Andy did not want to separate the two animals, so he also requested Sunny. Andy enjoys following baseball and walking his dogs. It is on these walks that he does his best thinking before trials. We learn how he meets Laurie, a former police officer who becomes his skillful investigator. His accountant, Sam, aspires to be a detective, but in the meantime, he serves as a computer (hacking) expert with formidable skills. He hasn't met the gruff, tough Marcus yet, but Laurie has him protecting Andy. Enid is recommended as a hard-working office administrator, and readers will learn how well that turned out later in the series.
He was told that the dog Sunny could not be adopted because its owner was in prison for killing three people, and until convicted, the dog was legally unavailable. Undeterred, Andy visits Ryan Tierney in prison and offers a good home for his dog, promising to return Sunny to him if he is released. He will take Ryan on as his lawyer, and he becomes Andy's first defence client. It looks like a daunting case. Ryan was laid off by a trucking company and told the boss that he would regret it. The remaining workers had a party, and the boss offered two of the partygoers a ride home. The car exploded, and Ryan was blamed for it. His car was parked nearby, and dynamite was found in his house. Andy offers a clever defence at Ryan's realistic trial, but the suspense awaiting the jury's verdict is intense.


The series parallels the author’s life and interests. Rosenfelt and his wife started the real Tara Foundation and have rescued over 4,000 dogs. One of his books chronicles their adventure moving from California to Maine with 25 dogs. It is no wonder his books reflect his love of these animals.

This is a great starting point for readers new to the series and will be readily enjoyed by those interested in how it all began, as well as how Andy starts to assemble a crew that appears in later books.

Another great David Rosenfelt, Andy Carpenter book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I will devour anything this man writes, as evidenced by the fact that I have read his previous 30 books in the Andy Carpenter series. This is the 31st book, and is actually a prequel. It takes us back in time. Back to when Andy is married to Nicole, and has just decided to switch from being a prosecutor to a defense lawyer. In this book we are treated to his first case as a defense lawyer. We also learn how he came to adopt Tara, and why he always treats Pete Stanton to dinner at the sports bar. We meet Laurie, and while Andy does not formally meet Marcus in this book, he is mentioned and does in fact save Andy's life. Thank you for the chance to read this book in advance, NetGalley and St.Martin's Press. I really enjoyed it and am waiting for book 32!

Always fun, always entertaining, always justice prevails…Andy Carpenter returns in Dogged Pursuit. This is the prequel to the series, going back in time to introduce us to Andy, Laurie and Tara while they all pursue the bad guys and girls. We learn about Andy’s start as a defense attorney and about Tara’s adoption. Can be read as a standalone or as part of the heartwarming series.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

In Dogged Pursuit, we have the story of Andy’s first case as a lawyer for the defense. Even more importantly, we learn of the day he adopted Tara, the best dog in the world.
Andy and his wife, Nicole, are spending more time separated than together. Andy decides to adopt a dog and discovers Tara at the shelter. It’s love at first sight and he’s even willing to adopt her beagle cage mate. Andy learns the owner of the beagle is in jail, awaiting trial for murder and ends up taking the case and bringing the beagle home temporarily.
The case is complex, we meet Laurie for the first time, find Andy and Pete eating at Charlie’s, and meet Stan, his accountant. It’s fun to read about how Andy’s life as a defense attorney got started and, as always, I enjoyed the Andy Carpenter mystery very much. Reaching the end of the book left we with a warm, happy feeling as the good guys won.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Rosenfelt in this 31st entry, writes the prequel as to how Andy became a defense lawyer. This is a good read. It's fast paced and follows as Andy defends a man accused of making a car bomb that kills three people. Andy begins his defense career by getting a dog much to the surprise of his wife. The marriage is on rocky ground and being a defense attorney does not add to stability of the marriage. Andy doggedly investigates the case and bends the law but works for the client at all times. The first person narration adds to the atmosphere of the novel. Another good one from Rosenfelt. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

A peek into the past! Andy is just beginning his career as a defense attorney, still married to his wife, Nicole, and just adopting Tara. Getting to see his interactions with his father and meeting Laurie and Sam the way Andy did made a great book. Marcus was there in a peripheral role, Edna “the dynamo” was mentioned, and I enjoyed every minute. Cannot wait for the next book! Thanks for the ARC!

I was given an early copy of this book in return for a review.

Another fun read in the Andy Carpenter series. This one was a bit different in that we went back to the beginning when Andy starts working as a defense attorney. Andy adopts Tara from the shelter and their long standing relationship begins. Laurie also enters his life as an investigator but they aren't in a romantic relationship in this one. Sam and Marcus are also introduced in this one and we hear about Edna but she isn't part of the team yet. Pick this one up to find out how it all began in July 2025!

Dogged Pursuit, an Andy Carpenter novel, by David Rosenfelt.

We get to go back in time and meet Tara for the first time! The author openly points out the time discrepancy with having Tara in the book during the time period this takes place. It's my opinion that it wouldn't be an Andy Carpenter novel without Tara, so I am completely ok with that discrepancy. That said, I was hoping to see some of Andy's old superstitions come out or the old movie banter between Andy and Sam, but the characters in this book were closer to the matured characters of later books.
Of course there is a murder and Andy defends the accused and babysits a dog while solving the case. But... this one also let's us peak into Andy's life when he was married to Nichole. We meet Laurie for the first time and sort of meet Marcus. We also see how his friendship with Pete starts out. So much to love about this book!

I love David Rosenfelt’s writing style - full of wit and humor, with so many twists, questions, and suspense. I found myself almost as nervous as Andy Carpenter must have been waiting for the verdict. If you’re a fan of his Andy Carpenter books, this one is a great one to fill in lots of backstory as it explains his first case as a defense lawyer, how he came to get Tara, and how he and Laurie, Sam, and Marcus all started working together. If you’ve never read one of the Andy Carpenter books, this one is a great place to start! His books are compelling mysteries and delightful entertainment!

Story of Andy Carpenter's first case as a defense attorney, book 31 in the series.
When Andy goes to the shelter to adopt a dog, he chooses Tara, a golden retriever. He meets her pen mate Sonny. Not wanting to separate the pair, Andy learns the dog's owner is in jail on the charge of murder and not eligible for adoption. When he gets permission to adopt Sonny from alleged murderer Frank Tierney, it is with the understanding that Sonny will be returned when Frank is released, Andy ends up taking the case over from the public defender. As he looks into the trucking company Frank worked for, dangerous business associates are revealed along with suspicious business dealings, putting Andy's life in danger.
Well developed characters and interesting plot.
#DoggedPursuit #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley