DOGGED PURSUIT is a prequel to the Andy Carpenter series of mystery/thrillers. I'm a loyal fan of Andy Carpenter and the crew, and I have wondered how they each found their way to the team. This book answers all those questions as Andy tries his first case as a criminal lawyer. In true Rosenfelt fashion, the mystery starts with a dog, in this case, Tara. Andy visits the local shelter looking for a little dog. When he meets Tara, there is no question she is going home with him. He offers to take Tara's cage mate, too. That's when he learns the story of a man who will become his first criminal client. This is book #31 in the series. I'm not the only one who loves the series and the excellent cast of characters who have become a family. If you love Janet Evanovich or Sue Grafton, you'll love David Rosenfelt. 5 easy stars from this happy reader.

I lenjoy the Andy Carpenter mystery series and when I start reading this one, I was confused. But then I read that it was a prequel where we learn how Andy built his relationships and got his dog Tara. But still Andy takes on a murder case, defends his client as best as he can, unearths something criminal and also solves a mystery. I love these mysteries and one has to really being on top of things to figure it out. I never do. Although, I have read all the of the series, I remember Andy being very snarky in the earlier books and seemed to mellow with age. Since this is a prequel, he acts more like is later books and not the earlier ones. Just my thoughts, but overall love the book.

Dogged Pursuit Book I have read by David Rosenfelt and when I got it I did not realize it is actually book 31 in the Andy Carpenter series. The great thing about this Story however is that since it serves as a prequal it was actually easy to jump right into and not feel like I was lost with the characters especially Andy.

This story begins with Andy Switching from a Prosecutor in New Jersey to a Defense attorney starting his own practice. Andy Decides he wants to adopt a dog and chooses Tara, however her Run mate at the Shelter Sonny is bonded to her according to the Shelter Manager. Andy decides he will adopt Sonny 2 and get double the dog however Sonny is on a hold indefinitely while his owner Ryan Tierney is tried for murder. Andy decides to call Ryans current attorney to meet about getting a letter to sign Sonny over to him. When Andy meets Ryan though he ends realizing the defense attorney set him up to have to defend Ryan. This leads to Andy Hiring An Investigator Laurie and ex Police Lieutenant to dive into the car bombing that killed the people Ryan is accused of Murdering. This however this deep dive leads to some threats to Andy’s life and causes his wife to move out.

Through the trial Andy starts to unravel more theories about who killed the victims as well as evidence of some other crimes that raise his suspicion about the company that Ryan and the Victims worked for.
This book builds very well on the characters Andy, Laurie , and Sam and somewhat Nicole (Andy’s Wife) There is no lack of theories on who done it or drama and danger to Andy and company both physical and legal danger. There are also some funny parts and of Course tara and Sonny add some pawsomeness to this story because who doesn’t love reading about dogs. Though I came in at Book 31 it was like I never missed a book and makes me wonder what other adventures await Andy, Tara , Laurie and Sam both professionally and personally. This was a great read and though it may be intimidating to Start a series of over 30 Books I am excited to see where these leads.

Thank you to NetGally, David Rosenfelt and Saint Martins Press for the advanced copy of this story to read and get me hooked on this series. The Above review is my honest opinions of this story.

Loved ,loved, loved the latest Andy Carpenter story by David Rosenfelt!. I am a big fan of the series and have read them all. This is a prequel to the series and it does not disappoint. I will have to say this was one of my favorites to date. It answers so many questions as to how Tara (the greatest dog in the world...other than my dog, Shiloh) came into Andy's life as well as how he met his future wife, Laura.

In this story, Andy has just left the DA's office and opened his office as a defense attorney. He is still married to his first wife so you get a better understanding of her and their life together. When Andy makes a trip to the local animal shelter, he falls in love with his beloved Tara. Feeling sorry for her kennel mate, Sunny ,he agrees to temporarily foster him while his owner (Frank) is on trial for several murders.
What follows is typical Andy chaos ,after he is pulled into Frank's defense. For those who love the sarcastic, tongue in cheek character Andy and his collection of colorful sidekicks, this book won't disappoint. For those new to the series, this is a great first read for a better understanding of the series and the quirky characters.

Thank you NetGalley, David Rosenfelt and St Martin's Press for the privilege of reviewing this ARC. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Fun flashback to Carpenter's early days. This series is always enjoyable to read!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Dogged Pursuit is the 31st in the Andy Carpenter series, but the story takes us back to when Andy was just starting out as a defense attorney. Consider it a prequel to the first 30. It literally harkens back to his adopting Tara. This is Andy before money. A few recognizable names are already friends- Sam and Pete. We learn how he meets Laurie. And Edna and Marcus are tangentially mentioned.
Andy’s client has been accused of murdering his ex-boss and two ex-coworkers when a car bomb blows them to smithereens. As always, Rosenfelt manages to throw a twist or two in at the end. I did feel the ending didn’t quite entirely hold together but that’s a minor quibble. And I always feel Rosenfelt does a strong job of realistically portraying the courtroom scenes.
Andy isn’t quite the smart aleck he later becomes. Part of that is he doesn’t have the confidence yet, this case is literally his first murder case. But we can definitely see hints of how he will develop.
Fans of the series will enjoy learning how everyone came into Andy’s life. But it could also serve as a great way to jump into the series.
I got a kick that Rosenfelt admits he is taking license with Tara’s aging. I’m so glad! All dog parents wish we could do the same for our own pups.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

When Andy met Tara…
Thirty-year-old lawyer Andy Carpenter has had his fill of serving as a prosecutor, so he quits that job and opens a practice as a defense attorney in a small office above a fruit stand in Paterson , NJ, with the goal of getting fairness for the little guy. He also goes to a shelter to adopt a dog to make his own life better. There he meets golden retriever Tara, who becomes his beloved sidekick, but Tara is best buddies with a beagle, and Andy cannot bring himself to separate them. As a result, he acquires his first big case, which involves the beagle’s owner, who is in jail awaiting trial for the murder of the boss who fired him.
This is the 31st book in one of my FAVORITE series. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Andy, Tara, and their friends in the 30 previous books, so it was fun to hear about Andy’s earlier life and the launching of his career and to learn how Tara entered his life. He hasn’t changed a bit!
David Rosenfelt writes very fine legal thrillers with interesting cases but without the on-screen violence that seems so common currently. What his books do abound in is humor. Dogged Pursuit is narrated by Andy and he shows fully the sarcastic but never mean humor that makes him so popular with readers and unpopular with judges and prosecutors. Early on I noted in my Kindle that I might have to stop making “Ha ha” comments because they were slowing down my reading too much!
Andy indeed pursues his investigation into the murder his client is accused of doggedly, but Andy is always at his best (or worst) in court, and the scene does not shift there until quite late in the book. Andy’s fans can rest assured, however, that Andy will prevail, justice will be served, and Andy’s client will be reunited with his beagle. Tara loses a housemate but has found a home and a doting human.
Reading this episode in Andy and Tara’s past lives and learning how they met some of the other major players in later books will delight fans of the series like me. The publisher’s description for Dogged Pursuit says it is a terrific entry point for newcomers, and I agree. Nevertheless, if you have never read this series I recommend you begin with the first book in the series, Open and Shut. After you have that introduction to Andy and his crew you will enjoy learning about their past lives even more.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Minotaur Books.

What a lovely surprise Dogged Pursuit turned out to be. Though it’s not my usual genre, I genuinely enjoyed this prequel to David Rosenfelt’s long-running Andy Carpenter mystery series. As someone new to the series, I found it to be a welcoming entry point—an engaging read with a great balance of humour, heart, and suspense.

In Dogged Pursuit, we meet Andy Carpenter just as he’s stepping away from a short-lived career as a prosecutor in Paterson. Disillusioned by a system that often fails the underdog, he makes the bold decision to switch sides and launch his own defence practice—much to the disappointment of his respected, hard-nosed prosecutor father.

Andy’s first case quite literally walks into his life when he visits an animal shelter to adopt a dog. There, he meets Tara, the golden retriever who becomes his beloved companion. Noticing Tara’s bond with another dog named Sunny, Andy wants to adopt both. But Sunny’s situation is complicated—his owner, Frank Tierney, is in jail, accused of murder. Andy needs Frank’s written permission to temporarily care for Sunny, and that’s how he finds himself face-to-face with the man who becomes his first client.

Despite the seemingly damning evidence against Frank, Andy sees something in him—maybe it’s his clear love for his dog, or maybe it’s just Andy’s natural instinct to fight for the underdog. Either way, Andy takes on the case, and what follows is a fast-paced legal mystery filled with shady characters, calculated risks, and a few twists along the way. Andy puts not just his career, but also his safety and marriage on the line in pursuit of justice.

What stood out most to me was Rosenfelt’s clean, purposeful writing. The pacing was spot-on, with short, punchy chapters that made the book hard to put down. Andy’s dry wit and obvious affection for dogs made him a very likeable character, and I especially appreciated that the story kept things engaging without relying on graphic violence—something I’m always wary of when stepping into mystery novels.

Final Thoughts:

Dogged Pursuit was a smart, entertaining read that might just have me dipping further into the Andy Carpenter series. Whether you’re already a fan or brand new to Rosenfelt’s work like I was, this book is an enjoyable and accessible legal mystery with a big heart—and two great dogs.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

It takes a good author to write a compelling prequel...but it takes a great author to do so after writing 30 books in the series. Andy Carpenter is all about evidence, and Dogged Pursuit is irrefutable evidence that David Rosenfelt is a great writer!

Every time I read an Andy Carpenter story, I believe it's Rosenfelt's best...and Dogged Pursuit is no exception. We're introduced to young Andy, who is exactly as he should be - self-deprecating, yet self-assured. We meet Pete Stanton, Laurie Collins, Andy's dad Nelson, and Sam Willis. Not surprisingly, Marcus makes an appearance without appearing, and we hear about the amazing admin named Edna, who is said to be a workhorse. All of these characters flow so easily and seamlessly into a story that has long since been told. Each persona fits the character precisely as a seasoned Andy Carpenter reader imagined the earlier version.

Above all, we meet Tara, the golden retriever who has captured Andy's heart, and we at last fully understand how the bond between them came to be.

There is, of course, courtroom drama and it is first rate. Andy makes his debut as a defense attorney, leaving behind his role as a prosecutor molded in his dad's image. True to form, the "whodunit" aspect of the story was not easy to guess even though the evidence was presented in small bits throughout the story.

David Rosenfelt's writing always glues me to a story. I couldn't put this book down in an eagerness to discover the truth and learn the outcome for the accused. But, that's always the M.O. when reading this series.

If you've never read an Andy Carpenter mystery, Dogged Pursuit is the perfect place to start. But a warning - you'll be hooked, and there are 30 more books to tackle!

With gratitude to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy. This review is my unbiased personal opinion. #NetGalley #netgalleyarc #DoggedPursuit #AndyCarpenter

This, the 31st installment in the Andy Carpenter series is actually a prequel. For those familiar with the series, Andy has just switched from being a prosecutor to starting out as a defense attorney. It explains how he met Laurie and how he came to adopt Tara, his beloved golden retriever.

When Andy goes to a shelter to adopt a dog, he chooses Tara. But Tara is pen mate with a cute beagle who is there because his owner has been arrested for the car bombing murder of three people. The only way Andy can keep the pen buddies together is to get permission from the alleged killer, Frank Tierney. Somehow, as he gets that permission, he gets roped into defending Frank, his first murder case representing the defense. He takes on Laurie, a former police officer as investigator. As he delves into the life of the main target of the bombing, nefarious dealings are discovered and Andy’s life is in danger.

With a solid plot, colorful characterizations, twists, turns, courtroom drama and great humor, this is a very enjoyable, fast paced read. What a treat to learn more of the origin story of Andy Carpenter, his associates, and, of course, his dog, Tara. This book is a mystery, legal thriller, heart warming and comedic. What more could you ask?

I came late to this series, having been introduced to it only a few years ago by a fellow bookstagrammer. It is now one of my “must reads” whenever a new one is available. Every read is a delight. If unfamiliar with Andy Carpenter, this is a great time to start the series.

“Dogged Pursuit” by David Rosenfelt is another deliciously fun book in the Andy Carpenter Mystery series. This book takes us all the way back to the beginning and explains how the series came together. It explains how a young Andy chose to go from working in the Prosecutors office to opening his own practice as a defense attorney. I enjoyed learning more about his terrific Dad and how Andy built his team and the tight personal bonds that he has with each of them. Another total treat, was learning why he stoped at a local animal shelter to look for a “small” dog to adopt and winds up taking home the amazing and beloved Tara.
Like every book in this series, there is a complex and challenging mystery that is not easily solved with some great courtroom drama.
If you haven’t read a book in this series before this is a great place to start. I know you will come to love the funny and snarky Andy Carpenter character as much as I do.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt is the latest in the Andy Carpenter Mysteries but interestingly, the timeline makes it a prequel. Andy is just starting his defense practice, opening his office, and adopting his first dogs.

I really enjoyed meeting a younger Andy: always sarcastic but maybe a bit less jaded. Getting to see the start of relationships with his investigators and other returning characters, as well as the beloved Tara, was a lot of fun. It surprised me that I found that meeting the characters was just as entertaining as knowing the characters in the earlier books. It isn’t often that a 30th book could serve just as well as a continuing entry as it could for a first time reader.

As always, the mystery was not easily solved, the plot was action packed and funny, and overall, well written. I love that Andy mulls over the case by talking to his dogs. I don’t normally care all that much about courtroom drama, but the author is excellent at keeping that part snappy and absorbing.

Great story, another delightful novel in the series. Recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the eARC
4.5 Stars

I’ve been a huge fan of this series since it began and love the fact that this book is a flashback to how Andy got Tara and met Laurie and Marcus. As usual, the writing is fantastic and laugh out loud funny. Highly recommended.

In this very enjoyable prequel to the Andy Carpenter series David Rosenfelt takes us back to Andy’s beginnings as a defense lawyer. Having switched from being an attorney for the prosecution, Andy now has to handle his first murder trial from the other side, and of course all of the evidence is stacked against his client.

It was interesting seeing Andy start his career and meet Tara, Laurie, and Marcus. As with the rest of the series the book is well written and fast paced. It was hard to put down.

When Andy met Tara....and Laurie.

What a delight to go back in time to meet a younger but no less snarky Andy Carpenter in his first true murder defense trial. Even better, we get to spend some time getting to know his father, a renowned prosecutor, Nelson Carpenter. I liked their easy, trusting relationship where, even knowing his father wished Andy hadn't moved to the defense table, he's there 100% for Andy. Nelson even turns out to love dogs, noting that the only reason they never had a family dog was due to Andy's mother's allergies.

Even as a long time Andy Carpenter fan, going back and meeting Tara for the very first time was also delightful. Never mind Andy walked into the shelter looking for a small dog. Tara had him with their first look. It goes almost without saying that a dog, Tara's then kennel buddy Sonny, was involved in Andy taking the case of Ryan Tierney, Sonny's owner, who has been charged with murder. Blowing up a car kind of murder. Yikes. Sonny is under a legal hold until after the trial, however, and a waver is needed before the shelter can release Sonny to anyone but Ryan. Needless to say, since Andy seems to feel it is only right to keep Tara and her canine friend together, Andy visits the jail to get the waver and finds himself with a client. Thus begins the fun.

As usual, this case if far, far more complicated than the norm. I won't detail the plot further but will hint that it involves, let's see, hit men, shady business practices, potential suspects who keep getting themselves killed, life insurance scams, mob action, federal agents, and....well, you get my drift. Besides the younger Andy, we get our first meeting with investigator extraordinary Laurie Collins and discover Andy has friends himself on the police force, even if he does have to pick up their tab at meals. We also "almost" get to meet Marcus, he of incredible protective skills and that's touching the surface. I say "almost" meet because while Andy doesn't get to meet him in person, Marcus plays a major role in the story. Oh, and I can't forget Sam, Andy's accountant who seems to harbor dreams of being an detective. Andy usually seems to keep him tethered to the computer, which is where Sam's formidable hacking, er, computer research skills usually play a vital role. It's interesting to see how they manage to incorporate Sam's discoveries legally, let's just say. That said, who knew Sam had skills at breaking into cargo trucks?

Bottom line, a fun, entertaining read with lots of laughs and remarkable insight into the courtroom and investigative processes. As always,, I marveled at Andy's then young courtroom skills and ability to use humor, personality, and, yes, snark as weapons for the defense.There's a fine line between pushing too far and irritating the judge and making his point, all of which Andy tip-toes along skillfully. I've told friends occasionally that the reason I know what news people are talking about at times on court cases, you know, all that legal terms, is because I've picked up some legal vocabulary from this series, in fact. Rather amazingly, author Rosenfelt weaves this all together skillfully while sharing the ongoing marriage woes of Andy and then wife Nicole. I admired Rosenfelt's delicate touch with this, even while introducing Laurie. He shows the mutual respect and love Andy and Nicole share, albeit now firmly heading along different paths with different goals. Let's just say, it would have been easy to portray Nicole as a spoiled rich girl but Rosenfelt don't take that shortcut and, instead, presents her as a sympathetic character. Speaking of sympathetic characters, Thanks #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for giving me this early spin on the time machine back to meet the younger but already charmingly snarky Andy and some of those who play such a huge role in his status as a reluctant attorney who is always trying to retire.

An enjoyable addition to the series that takes a bit of a different view- it is Andy’s first case, his origin story if you will. Just as great as David Rosenfelt’s other work !

This is an excellent book to introduce the newcomer into the series or to fill in any gaps the current reader of the series may have about how everything in the series came to be. In this book, Andy Carpenter leaves working as a public defender to open his own practice. He stops by the local rescue mission to look at available dogs to adopt and meets his famous Tara. There is an instant connection, so he adopts Tara. There is another dog with Tara, with whom she has been attached. Andy finds out this dog belongs to a man, accused of a horrific murder. Andy accepts this man as his first client. As the story progresses, the reader is introduced to the various members of his team. It is interesting to see how everyone comes into his life and his team. Meanwhile, Andy works through his first case as a private attorney.

I enjoyed reading this book. As a regular reader of this series, it was great to get background on the members of his team and how they got there. I also enjoyed watching the bond between Andy and Tara develop and grow. The story covers Andy’s work on the trial as well as the trial itself. As always, Andy works hard for his client, with the help of his team. If you enjoy the series as I do, I highly recommend this book, as it will fill in gaps as well as provide another look at Andy the lawyer and his beloved Tara. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt is listed as book 31 in the Andy Carpenter Mystery series. I originally thought it was the next book in an incredible series, but it's actually a prequel. There isn't a better place to start!

I thoroughly enjoyed the backward look a t how Andy chose to go from working as a prosecutor to opening his own law practice as a defense attorney. Having read many of the books in the series, I found myself really enjoying reading about how he built his team. Each person he picked felt like meeting old friends again.

At first I was a bit concerned by the thought of reading this, because typically this would have been the first book I read, but it turned out to be a great experience! As far as mysteries go, you can't go wrong reading any of the books in this series. They are all well done and neatly wrapped up by the end.

Score another one for David Rosenfelt. Dogged Pursuit is the prequel to the Tara series, answering the question of how Tara came to live with him, he met Laurie and the rest of his slightly mismatched team, and began defending, um, the underdog.

My first book read in the series but will not be my last. Andy is a lawyer, and decides to get a dog. When he finds one, a beautiful golden retriever, she has befriended another dog, whose owner will become his next client. Enjoyable, and love the snark. Would recommend.