This is the perfect prequel for this beloved series. In this book we learn how Andy and his beloved dog Tara meet and how he knows everyone like his future wife and investigator Lori. The authors style is beautiful and goes into great detail.

The audio book version of this did a great job and overall serves as the perfect way to make a great prequel for this series

Thank you Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read and review Dogged Pursuit (An Andy Carpenter Mystery) by David Rosenfelt on NetGalley.

Narrator: Grover Gardner

Published: 07/01/25

Stars: 3 (Prequel)

I was patiently waiting for a new Andy adventure. Unfortunately, Rosenfelt delivered a prequel after 31 books.

Dogged Pursuit felt like a reread.

After all the episodes some things are assumed making this unnecessary.

Grover Gardner didn't disappoint.

This was my first introduction to the Andy Carpenter series, even though it’s been a popular one for years, and I found it interesting for what it was. Dogged Pursuit serves as a prequel, giving readers a look at how Andy starts his journey as a defense attorney. The story was straightforward and the mystery was decent, though not especially gripping for me.

What I really enjoyed was Andy’s inner dialogue. His dry humor and sarcasm carried the story. His relationship with his two dogs, Tara and Sunny, was definitely a highlight and added warmth and charm. I found myself smiling anytime the dogs were involved. The narration by Grover Gardner suited the character well and helped keep the tone light and engaging.

That said, I didn’t find myself super invested in the plot or mystery. It was a good intro to the character and series, but nothing that left a lasting impression for me personally. Still, I’m glad I started here rather than jumping into the later books, and I’d recommend this one if you’re in the mood for a low-stakes, dog-loving legal mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!

Andy Carpenter graduated law school and jumped into the scene as a prosecutor for Paterson, NJ. However, after three years, he leaves and starts his own practice as a defense attorney. Andy is a great attorney and he loves his job, but if he might love one thing more... dogs. So, it's no surprise that he gets drawn into a huge case because of a super cute dog.

I was so skeptical of this one when it started off with my favorite narrator, Grover Gardner, telling me that loyal readers of the Andy series (That's me. I'm the loyal reader. I've read them all.) would soon see that the chronology was a little goofy, but that it was all for the sake of everyone's favorite dog, Tara. I love Tara and I was on board, because it was in the interest of keeping her alive, but I was still skeptical.

Imagine my utter delight when this book was fantastic!! I've read every single one of them and I had already gone through so much with Andy and his friends/relationships but it was also amazing to actually get to read through his experience adopting Tara and his dad was still alive! If you've ready the Andy series, you know that it starts off with his dad's passing and Tara is already a huge part of his life, so it was cool to experience that. I'm really looking forward to another with this same timeline shift happening.

As far as the mystery, for me it was a side point. As an avid reader of the series, I was really too busy with the characters and relationships and snickering every time Lori was dismissive of Andy because I KNOW. That said, it was a great mystery, but they always are. This might not be the review you wanted, but I think for long-time readers, it should show that it was different and you might be skeptical, but it was great! Give it a shot. If you've never ready an Andy Carpenter before, go back and start now. It's a great series. I highly recommend the audiobooks if you can find them. Grover Gardner is just the perfect narrator for this series. His voice for all the characters is spot on!

Being a dog lover, the cover caught my attention and the storyline kept my attention. I could not quit listening to this story. I hope there will be another book so I can follow the future of Andy! The subtle humor and the twists and turns of this story are intriguing and kept my interest.

DELIGHTFUL!

Fans of the Andy Carpenter series (like myself) will devour this fun and fascinating prequel, DOGGED PURSUIT! David Rosenfelt rewinds, taking us back to the beginning at the start of his law career in Passaic County, New Jersey, and his beloved golden retriever, Tara.

Now, do not be confused, as yes, there is a beagle on the front cover, not Tara the golden retriever; however, there is a story here that includes the Beagle when Andy picks Tara, and a new client accused of murder.

About...

At age 31, Andy has always wanted a dog, but growing up, his mom claimed to be allergic (or so she said-now deceased). Then there was law school, and he spent the last three years working as a prosecutor in Paterson after graduating. His dad, Nelson, was the chief prosecutor (now retired).

Andy, taking a break from his wife, Nicole, who is not thrilled about him not going to work for her father (Senator and wealthy) while he insists on hanging out his own law office shingle from prosecutor to defense attorney.

Living in Franklin Lakes, NJ, near Paterson, where he grew up, he makes a life-changing decision to visit a shelter. There, he forms an instant bond with Tara, the beautiful golden retriever. (whom we all have loved over the years).

But there's a twist-he also meets Sunny, a beagle (Tara's mate). So he wonders if he can take Sonny along with Tara temporarily, setting the stage for a heartwarming and unpredictable journey.

However, there is a stipulation. The Beagle belongs to Ryan Tierney, a man involved in a criminal case (accused of murdering his ex-boss) and needs to obtain his permission to keep him until he is released.

This leads Andy to visit him in jail and ultimately to represent him, as he is now on the other side of the law, working for the defense.

This leads to a wild roller coaster ride.

My thoughts...

I LOVED this charming and enjoyable prequel (#31), learning about how the popular and adorable Golden Retriever, Tara, came into Andy's life.

In addition to the fun, inspiring, and charming cozy mystery, there is a suspenseful murder legal case, and a long-time fan's introduction to characters we will meet in the series.

As a massive fan of the series, author, and Tara, I was delighted to find out how they met one another.

I am a lover of golden retrievers (the best dogs in the world). I miss my Golden Duke, whom I got when he was 6 weeks old, and had him for 15 glorious years. I miss him every day, and I never could bring myself to get another dog after that. Best dog ever!

PS I am glad the author keeps Tara alive (no matter the age) which he addresses. I wish we all could do the same in real life.

A must-read #31 in the series prequel for fans! Additionally, if you haven't read David Rosenfelt or the Andy Carpenter series, you are missing out. A gratifying, heartwarming series. Check out his books, his inspiring story, and all his excellent work with dogs.

Audiobook...

As a bonus, fans will flock to the audio, featuring a favorite popular narrator, Grover Gardner, who elevates the story with his sense of humor and engaging voice, delivering an outstanding performance. It would not be Andy Carpenter without him. I highly recommend the audiobook and series. Makes me want to go back and read/listen to all the ones I missed.

Recs...

DOGGED PURSUIT is for fans of David Rosenfelt, the Andy Carpenter series, dog fiction, legal, humor, and cozy mysteries.

I want to extend a special thank you to Minotaur Books for providing an advanced reading copy and to Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy, both courtesy of NetGalley. Your support is greatly appreciated and has allowed me to share my honest thoughts with my readers. #MacAudio2025

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: July 1, 2025
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Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second foray into the (very prolific) world of Andy Carpenter, lawyer and dog rescuer, and it was pretty good. Rosenfelt's style is basic and will not in him any awards, but he has a dry sense of humor and he gives Andy some decent snarky inner monologues. This one is very much a fan-service story; a prequel that is designed to sate the really rabid fans of this series (I'm sure they exist! I see a LOT of 5 star reviews on Goodreads, although it *is* Goodreads {shrug}). In this tale, we are treated to Andy's origin story: how he becomes a defense attorney, how he comes to adopt his Golden Retriever, Tara, and the apparent dissolution of his first marriage (honestly, I have no memory of his romantic entanglements in the book I read previously, so this was lost on me, aside from it being extremely obvious that these two people are not going to go the distance).

The plot deals with a car bomb that kills 3 people outside a restaurant in which they have just enjoyed an employee appreciation party. The victims are two employees and the big boss, and the car is blown up with fireworks, which seems odd. The accused is a disgruntled former employee who is thought to have done the deed out of rage at having been suddenly and unexpectedly fired, and the gentleman just happens to have a fireworks hobby on the side that was well-known to all. He also seems like the murdering type to absolutely no one but a couple of the big Mahaffs at the company, a trucking concern that has recently had financial troubles. Hmmm! Anyway, Andy has just switched sides to a defense attorney position and this man becomes his first client, after the weird connection of his adopting Tara the Golden at the shelter and finding out that another dog is being held there while the man is jailed. (Of course, Andy adopts that dog, too, and then takes on the client.)

Meanwhile, Andy's new wife, an annoyingly bratty rich girl type, is uncomfortable with this new situation, and they go from one trial separation to the next. Again, I can't remember who Andy is with in Book #29, but I'm assuming it's not this chick and IS his investigator, who catches his attention in this book.

There are a ton of loose ends in this book (Marcus, the millionaire that Andy meets at a charity dinner - that never cropped up again and I don't know why it was even mentioned?), and there are some bits that I think would've meant more to me if I had a working knowledge of all the characters that appear in every book, and that kept it from being a more than 3 stars situation for me, but it was still enjoyable. Grover Gardner's contribution as the Voice of Andy cannot be overstated. I listened to another book he narrated and it was jarring to hear him be anyone but Andy! lol

In this prequel to the 30-book series, Andy Carpenter is a new defense attorney, making the change from prosecution, against the advice of so many. With his marriage a little uncertain and wanting to make further changes in his life, Andy goes to the shelter to adopt a dog and falls in love with a golden retriever named Tara. He doesn't want to split her up from the dog she's been sharing a space with, so he tries to adopt both Tara and Sunny. However, Sunny is mixed up in a criminal case with her owner, who is currently being charged with murder. Soon enough, Andy is mixed up in that criminal case too, as he ends up taking Sunny's owner on as a client.

I'm never sure what to expect with a prequel, and I'll admit that I was a little nervous going into this one. At the beginning of the book, there's a note where Rosenfelt acknowledges that there is a continuity issue with Tara, mostly that he knows a golden retriever wouldn't actually live as long as she does throughout this series. I wouldn't have questioned that, but I did question the use of some side characters who, from what I can remember of when they were introduced in some of the earlier books in the main series, didn't seem to have the history with Andy that this book showed.

Leaving aside continuity questions (which was not difficult for me to do, especially considering that I was sad about the potential loss of Andy's team, yet several of them are still here), this book was a fun, new take on the series while still having the same cleverness and humor that I love about the series. The formula is mostly intact, even with this being a prequel. I could see this being a good place for someone new to the series to start reading, though it's definitely more similar in style to the later books than the earlier ones. Either way, I recommend this book (especially the audio) for fans of mystery, crime fiction, and courtroom dramas, whether you've read any of this series before  or not.

I love the author and the series. Have read quite a few and always look forward to what comes next. I am never disappointed. Andy has started his practice and things are…quiet. He and his wife are going through a tough time and are temporarily living apart, she wants him to go to work for her father, his client list is non-existent so what does he do? Go to the shelter and adopt a dog. When it turns out the dog he falls for has a pal, he wants that dog too. After being told the dog is on a legal hold, he goes to meet the owner and winds up with permission to foster the dog and a new client. Andy is a smart, savvy lawyer and street/life smart which helps in investigating and unraveling the truth. Some flashbacks to the beginning of the series, a murder mystery, really cute smart dogs, a young married couple who are so very different with very different expectations, trying to figure it out. A great addition to the series.

I’ve been reading and listening to this series for a long time. This is #31 but is really the story of when Andy Carpenter got started in his practice - and how he adopted Tara - his precious golden retriever.

I think this would be a great book for someone who hasn’t started the series. For me it was a little disappointing. The mystery wasn’t that hard to figure out and Andy wasn’t his usually snarky but funny self.

Andy’s first client is being set up for a crime he didn’t commit. He is accused of murdering his ex- boss and co-workers with a car bomb.

We get to meet Laurie and his “unusual” cast of characters including Edna and Marcus - his strong arm!

The courtroom scenes are well done as always (the author is a former attorney) but the ending had some loose threads.

As usual the narrator does a great job with Andy’s voice!

I received the audiobook from MacMillan audio through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to listen to and review this title.

Loved this one! I’ve read a couple of these but it’s been so many years. This is the prequel to the Andy Carpenter series so a perfect way to start the entire series for the first time or again. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators adds so much to the dry humor the author has. Highly recommend this one especially to those who love dogs, mystery and funny books- this has it all!

I’ve read the first few in the series but haven’t been able to catch up quite yet. This was a nice look back at how everyone came together, including Tara, and I loved the time I spent with Andy and the gang, before they became the gang. The story is well-written and draws you in with the wit and humor. I laughed out loud several times and enjoyed the investigation and the court case at the end. Highly recommended! I usually recommend starting at the beginning but this one is a good starting point also.

Narration was fantastic!

I always look forward to a new Andy Carpenter story, and this one is special. Dogged Pursuit takes us back to the beginning of Andy's career as a defense attorney. Three years out of law school and fresh from his job as a prosecutor, Andy is ready for a change and to fight for the little guy.
As part of his change, he decides to adopt a dog from the shelter. If a bell rang when destiny brings two individuals together, the sound would have been deafening when Andy meets his golden retriever, Tara. Andy's love of dogs is abundantly clear, but the meeting with Tara is special and heartfelt. I'm not crying, you're crying.

Tara is sharing space in the crowded shelter with a dog named Sonny. Andy doesn't hesitate to say I'll take him too. The problem is that Sonny is being held there because his owner has been arrested for murder and can't be released until the charges are disposed of. It's a good thing Andy is a lawyer. He determines that if he can get permission for temporary possession of Sonny from his owner, Ryan Tierney, he can take Sonny home.

Andy goes to the jail to meet Ryan, who goes for his plan. He likes Ryan, and with some prodding from the overworked public defender, agrees to take his case. Ryan is accused of killing his ex-boss, and there is a lot of evidence that points to him. Andy knows his way around a courtroom, but it's going to take some time to adjust to being on the other side. It's going to take a lot of investigation, a little luck, and some skilled courtroom maneuvers to get Ryan out of this mess.

This is a terrific starting point for new readers to the series and a thrill for fans as we see first meetings of some characters that we've come to know very well. David Rosenfelt weaves another compelling mystery, a healthy dose of danger, some fancy courtroom maneuvers, and that trademark dry humor of Andy's into one of the best entries in the series.

Grover Gardner is impeccable once again with the narration. He captures Andy's humor and invests the perfect amount of seriousness and sentimentality in all the right places. A great entry for new readers and a special treat for series fans. This book is a winner.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.

I've been enjoying the Andy Carpenter Mysteries for quite a while now, so this prequel to the series was a nice surprise.

In "Dogged Pursuit," we join Andy during his first case as a defense attorney and when he meets and adopts Tara. We also get to see how the rest of the team took shape and how they were brought in (or joined on their own) as Andy tried to puzzle out who the actual murder was, since he was certain it wasn't his client.

The story was classic Andy, with all his usual wit and charm (ha!), but minus the huge bank account. And if you're new to the series, there's no better entry point than this one!

Thank you to David Rosenfelt (who I imagine to be a bit like Andy, to write the character so well), Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

I love this courtroom mystery series! It reminds me of Perry Mason or Matlock. I also love to listen to the audiobook because Grover Gardner makes Andy’s dry sense of humor come to life and I find myself laughing out loud while listening. This book is a prequel to the series. It shares about his first marriage to Nicole, why he became a defense attorney, how Tara came into his life, how he met Laurie, started working with Sam, and the first time Marcus saved his life from thugs. This book has a very clever plot that will have you wondering if Andy will be able to prove his client is innocent and tie together all the loose ends. It is an entertaining, quick read; perfect for summer!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

In the book Dogged Pursuit, author David Rosenfelt continues his bestselling Andy Carpenter Mystery series by…. going back to the beginning. Before Andy was wealthy. Before he had his team built. Before he even had his famous golden retriever, Tara. While adopting Tara, Andy sees Sunny who is at the shelter because his owner is in jail for killing his ex-boss. Andy takes the case defending Ryan Tierney and during the case the team that we know begins to come together. This was a great story that continues the series by telling us how it all started. The audio-book narration was very good by long-time narrator Grover Gardner. I would recommend this book and the series. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My third Rosenfelt novel. Although this isn't the first book in the series, it's a great introduction/prequel and a great place to start the Andy Carpenter series. Perfect for those who enjoy a good legal mystery with a healthy dose of dogs. I listened to an audio copy of this book and really enjoy Gardners voice for Andy and appreciate the fact he narrates many others in this series.
Thank you, NetGalley and MacMillan Audio, for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

I was disappointed in this book—not because the story didn’t entertain, but because I expected a book titled Dogged Pursuit with a dog on the cover either to be about a dog or to have a dog as a main character. Andy, the main character, did adopt a dog or two and walk them occasionally but that was the extent of the dogs in the book. The main character was okay; I didn’t really have any feelings about him either way. For that matter, I wasn’t emotionally invested in any of the characters. The attempts at humor in the book were also lost on me, though I realize how very subjective humor is, so others may find the book delightfully funny. Sadly, I did not.

Lastly, while the narrator didn’t mispronounce any words or have a speech impediment, I’m used to narrators who give life and dimension to the characters by providing a different voice for each one of them. This narrator didn’t give voices to any of the characters. The only way you knew if a character was a man or a woman was to listen to the text. I found this disappointing.

I was so hoping to find a new series to love, but this one fell flat for me. I hope others find more in this novel than I did, but if you’re hoping for a sweet dog story, keep looking.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another great book in the Andy Carpenter series. Loved seeing what happed to start things off. I love the characters and the personalities I love the narrator. He is Andy.

I loved this book! It was so nice to see the evolution of Andy and Laurie and of course the history of the wonderful Tara. Readers may take note of how long Tara as been around and think Mr. Rosenfelt is taking liberties with his timeline, However, the author assures us in this note. "While Golden Retrievers lead far too short lives, Tara will be the exception to that rule." as he assures us Tara will live forever. This book tells of Andy's first case after he left the prosecutor's office and went over to the dark side as a defense attorney, much to the dismay of his father. He's married to another woman living dogless in a wealthy suburb. When he meets Tara he knows immediately she is his, but he hates to leave behind her runmate Sunny whose owner just happens to be in jail for murder. In an attempt to gain custody of Sunny so he can get him out of the shelter, he inherits his owner's murder case. Ryan Tierney is accused of a car bombing that killed 3 people. Of course he says he is innocent so Andy sets out to prove it. The book gives all the details of the case and how Andy solves it with Laurie's help. Marcus even puts in an appearance to save Andy, so the stage is set for the prior 30 books of this series, all of which I have read. If you want to start an interesting murder mystery series with humor and dogs, this is a good place to start even though it is book 31 in the series. I particularly love this series in audiobook form. Grover Gardner IS Andy Carpenter and delivers his dry snarky wit perfectly. I look forward to book 32 which will be available in October.
I admit David Rosenfelt's books caught my eye because there was a dog on the cover, but the interesting stories and wonderful characters have kept me reading. The fact that he is also a dog rescuer who started the Tara Foundation and has rescued 4000+ dogs and lives with 25 or 30 dogs makes me admire him even more. For a hilarious account of his cross country move with 25 dogs in 3 RVs, read his book Dogtripping.