Dachshund Through the Snow

Another great book in the Andy Carpenter series.  This is a wonderful series that makes you feel good all over.  Andy is a lawyer and with the help of his best friend, his dog Simon, they solve mysteries.  Lots of humor and  emotions in these books

Whenever I am lucky enough to get a new Andy Carpenter mystery I pretty much drop everything else that I was doing and dive right in.  This is the most entertaining, most enjoyable, funniest and most complex series around and I absolutely love it.  This time what starts when Laurie tries to fulfill a simple Christmas request from a young boy posted on a pet store tree winds up as a complex fourteen year old murder case.  Laurie picks a Christmas wish from Danny who asks for a warm coat for his mother and for someone to bring his father home.  When it turns out that his father, Noah, has just been arrested for killing his girlfriend Kristen fourteen years ago, Laurie asks Andy to take the case.  And, as with all of the cases Andy is involved with, he starts to peel back the layers of intrigue to find the true killer so that he can bring Danny's dad back home.  Kudos to David Rosenfelt for another wonderful book.

“Laughing all the way”
Andy Carpenter is a very reluctant lawyer, but he adores his wife Laurie and can’t say no when she urges him to take on two new cases. The first involves Corey Douglas, a local cop with whom Andy has a bad history. Andy would have no trouble rejecting Douglas as a client, but it is his partner who needs the help, Douglas’ K-9 partner, a German shepherd named Simon. The second case grows out of a Christmas tradition that Laurie enjoys, getting Christmas wish lists that children turn into a local store and fulfilling them. There is no problem getting little Danny Traynor a coat for his dachshund, but what Danny wants for himself is for his daddy to come home. Unfortunately, Noah Traynor is hiding to avoid being arrested for a murder that occurred fourteen years ago.  Andy and his quirky-but-effective team are back in business!  
Dachshund through the Snow is the 20th book in the Andy Carpenter series. Andy and his gang have many fans like me who have read and enjoyed every one of them, and no doubt we all start each new addition with the same questions in mind: Can he pull it off AGAIN? Can he keep up the entertainment at the same high level we have come to expect?  And most important, can Rosenfelt devise another new dog situation to tie into the story? The answers are Yes, Yes, and Yes.
If you are new to the series, you can enjoy this book without reading any of the others, but I would suggest you read the first book, Open and Shut, to get the background for Andy’s team and their circumstances, after which you can enjoy them in any order.
So why is Andy Carpenter so popular?  I think there must be a federal law that mysteries set in New Jersey are required to be funny, in which case David Rosenfelt is a MODEL citizen! Andy narrates the books, and they are full of his wry comments on humanity. These provoke lots of smiles and chuckles, but they are never mean, and the comments are very likely to be self-deprecating, such as when he goes to a meeting and says “Laurie has come along just in case the situation requires any tact or human decency.”  
Despite his comment above, another hallmark feature of the series is the warmth and humanity of the characters. With the exception of the bad guys, these people act like real people; they care. Andy worries that if he does not succeed, “then a person I believe to be innocent is going to be in prison for the rest of his life. I am not crazy about many things in lawyering, especially the intense work that comes with each and every case, but the worst part is this fear.” This warmth is not just directed at humans. The love of dogs is a pervasive element, although the dogs in the books do not normally participate in the crime solving. They are much too busy acting like dogs, even when they have to go to court. 
Readers may love Andy, but his antics in court are not appreciated by the opposition or the judges. The courtroom drama is well-done, and with two cases in hand, Andy gets to annoy two sets of opposing attorneys and two judges. 
As the book ends, two new members have been added to Andy’s investigator team, and they have even given themselves a name. Andy may be a reluctant lawyer, but it is clear he will be around to delight readers like me in the future. 
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance review copy of this book.

Andy Carpenter is a married lawyer and family man.  His wife Laurie is a Christmas elf and grants wishes at Christmas.  When Laurie reads a you g. Inks request she enlists Andy’s legal services to help bring the boy’s father home after he is arrested for a fourteen year old murder.  

While Andy and Laurie believe that Noah didn’t kill the young woman all those years ago, they must find a way to create reasonable doubt in the mind of the jurors.  Andy and the gang do far more than that when they are able to connect an internationally wanted criminal and some local thugs to the case.   But the real challenge is going to be getting Noah back home with his family.  Can the team grant a young boy’s wish, or will Andy become the next victim?

This is the first entry I have read in this series and I am shocked I have never heard of it before.  The wit and banter reminds me of a male Janet Evanovich, another NJ author I enjoy.  Best of all, there are 19 books to catch up on in the series and this Jersey gal looks forward to reading every one of them

I will have to admit that I have never read any of David Rosenfelt's books.  If this mystery is indicative of his writing,  then I will be reading more of his books.  The first thing I did after reading his book, was check with my library to see if they have any of his books.  To my delight, my library has all of his books.  "Dachsund Through the Snow" is a marvelous mystery.  It is written in first person, which is an interesting point=of-view.  Andy Carpenter takes on two seemingly hopeless cases: murder that took place 14 years ago and a retiring police officer who wants his partner to retire with him even though he is a dog.  It all ties in together in such a delightful way.  I like the fact that Mr. Rosenfelt ties up all the loose ends which leaves the reader satisfied that justice has been done.  It is the little things in live that trips us up sometimes, and this mystery is no exception.  One off-hand remarks brings the killer to justice.  
I had a hard time putting down this book so I highly recommend it.  If you have never read David Rosenfelt, then buy one of his books and start reading.  I guarantee you will enjoy it.

law-enforcement, lawyers, family-dynamics, friendship, verbal-humor, snark-fest, assassins, K-9, pets, private-investigators, murder-investigation 

***** The first case Andy agrees to is on behalf of a K-9 and his partner. The handler is retiring but Simon theoretically has a year to go and would be retrained for a more physically demanding job that would seriously aggravate the incipient arthritis. Of course Andy grandstands and is as humorously obnoxious as he can be, but Simon gets the Milk Bone prize. In lieu of cash payment, a service contract is negotiated for dog and partner, who plans to go private.
The next case is a high profile murder trial in which the murder went unsolved for fourteen years until recently a DNA match was made. Andy and wife Laurie,also a private investigator, determine that the man is innocent of the crime and should be free for his family. But it's been fourteen years and new evidence is hard to come by. Except that someone targets Andy, but is murdered along with another assassin. Then an international assassin tries his hand at it but is foiled by the very team of K-9 and partner in the earlier case. There's lots more and a real Perry Mason ending! A really great and fun read!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Dachshund Through the Snow is a cute mystery with great characters. Well written and well developed characters. I enjoyed reading this book and I could not put it down.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt.  How does Mr. Rosenfelt do it - another great chapter in the life of Andy Carpenter, Attorney at Large...
Carpenter is one of the best characters in Mystery/Thriller books - I am so often caught laughing out loud as I read this series.
Andy and the strong cast of characters are called upon to help a young boy's Christmas list come true.  He wants his dad, Noah, to come home.  Noah Traynor has a secret.  Fourteen years ago he was with a female friend and this meeting ended with the girl being found dead the next day.  Noah says he didn't do it, but the victim has his dna under her fingernails.  Noah has lived in fear for a long time of being the prime suspect in this murder.  Noah has been tracked down and the police believe it is a slam dunk case - they have caught the young girl's murderer.  Andy now has a dilemma - to defend Noah or walk away.  Andy doesn't walk away, and so he and the strong cast of characters get mixed up in a case that includes dogs, dogs and a dachshund.
This is great fun, and if you love this series like I do, you will not be disappointed.
5 stars...RECOMMEND..

Here’s my advice about reading an Andy Carpenter book.  If things in your life are bad, you’ll definitely feel cheered up and If things are great, you’ll feel even better. There is no downside to reading a David Rosenfelt book, especially the Andy Carpenter series, and they’ve all been good, and your don’t even need to start at the beginning of the series. But I find Dachshund Through the Snow, one of his funniest and best yet.   
 Andy is a lawyer with a trust fund, who hates being a lawyer, and would rather work with his Tara foundation of rescued dogs. But he’s married to Laura, who always has him involved in one case or cause, and he can’t say no. When this happens Andy gets his trusty group together; a secretary who hates to work, a beyond  pessimistic lawyer, a hacker, and a investigator/ protector he himself is afraid of, to name a few of the recurring characters in his books. 
It’s almost Christmas, and Laura has him involved in two cases this time. One is to help a police officer German Shepard receive early retirement at the same time his human police officer owner/ partner does. How I wish we could quote from the book because his logic in taking this case is spot on as well as hysterical, but true, and the dialogue is brilliant. The next case is even harder, proving a man is not a murderer when all the physical evidence points conclusively to him. I laughed from start to finish, the plot was great, the dialogue brilliant and the entire book is one of my favorites.
Knowing the background of Rosenfelt and his passion for dogs only makes them better.

Great Detective Mystery
This is an entertaining book! It is like a modern-day, humorous Perry Mason with dogs. There is drama, dry humor, compassion, mystery, sarcasm. and more. The author even makes a plug for his own writing – his own cameo appearance. The plot is very believable, realistic and would make a great movie. There is an outstanding plot twist at the end that I didn't expect. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Another remarkable installment of David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series. I have read quite a few and they never loose any luster. His new book is innovative and riveting but then again what else would you expect from Patterson's most acclaimed lawyer?
This time the storyline revolves around a 14 year old cold case. Teenager Kristin McNeil was brutally murdered and no DNA has ever been found to match the crime scene. Until now! This killing is being linked to a man that claims he was briefly seeing her and vehemently denies having anything to do with her death.
Laurie, Andy's wife who I may add seems to be the polar opposite of said husband, picks up a Christmas wish list from a little boy at her local pet store. The wish is to bring Daddy home. Connecting the dots? His father is Noah Traynor the man sitting in jail for that long ago murder. Naturally Laurie is intrigued and after meeting with Noah, long suffering Andy takes him as a client. He is only suffering because he would prefer to be retired watching sports all day. Andy seems to gripe a lot when taking on a new case but once he is invested he works diligently and is a brilliant lawyer.
The plot thickens with a trail of assassins once Andy starts uncovering the past. Can Andy convince the jury that Noah's DNA was there from an innocent encounter and stay alive while trying?
Once you enter the courtroom with Andy prepare for lightning fast and witty dialogue along with a well fleshed out plot. This action packed mystery kept me guessing until the very end. 
If you love mysteries with a large dose of canine antics I strongly urge you to give this fantastic read a try.
I am excited for the new spin off of Laurie and friends for a new series.

Loved this well written mystery.  Great plot, characters and writing.  Mystery fans will love this book.  I received an arc from the publisher.  This is my unbiased review.

Rosenfelt never disappoints with plots that move at a fast pace and intrigue with depth and many a twist. His team is a special group of flawed individuals whose expertise in various areas make them complete a circle of tough, individuals with wry humor and friendship. Our hero couldn’t be a hero without Marcus—and now Cody & Simon—to watch his back and Laurie to keep him in line. Not to mention the bond between him & Tara. 
A fabulous series that are each compelling and worth the night of lost sleep reading. Now I’m looking forward to the next in the series AND his next thriller.

🎶 It’s beginning to look a lot like 🎶 ...…em…sorry. This annual entry in the Andy Carpenter series is the only Xmas book I read. They’re always a hoot but there is a sinister downside. While reading you may catch Laurie-Carpenter-itis, an affliction that compels you to begin celebrating Xmas sometime around the end of June. Must…resist. Ok, I’m ok. Focus. 

So it all begins with a wish. Every Xmas Laurie Carpenter (long suffering wife of I-don’t-want-to-work Andy) picks a random card from the local Wish Tree & makes someone’s dream reality. This year’s is from local boy Dany Traynor & it’s pretty straight forward. Coat for my mom, coat for Murphy (see cover model) & oh, could you find my Dad? Hmm. Now who does she know who could take care of last one?

She’s not the only female in Andy Carpenter’s life who wants him to get off the couch. He’s been approached by Corey, a local cop set to retire. Corey is in the K9 unit & wants his partner Simon to be released from service at the same time but the Patterson PD wants to give him to another handler. Corey & Andy have met before & it didn’t end well. But none of that matters after his beloved golden retriever Tara insists he step up & represent Simon. Case #2. Jeeze, he really needs to explain the concept of not working to the women in his life.

Ah, but it gets worse. Danny’s father Noah is found but instead of a happy reunion, he’s immediately arrested for a murder that occurred 14 years ago. Looks like Andy will have to dust off his best suit & head to trial. 

The next step is to inform his team & they react in typical style. Edna is ecstatic (nope), Hike is pumped (uh uh), Sam is primed to shoot something (oh Lord) & Marcus is ready to…well, be Marcus. Basically that involves scaring the bejeezuz out of anyone dumb enough to get in the way.

And they’re off. While the Carpenter Machine cranks up, we meet a man named Charles Arrant in alternate chapters.  Ladies & gents, I present your bad guy. Or one of them. Because before long bullets are flying & people dropping like flies. For the love of Gladys, someone get on the batphone & call Marcus. The whole mess seems to have been triggered by Noah’s arrest but why? 

You might think you know where this is going but Rosenfelt gets the last laugh & even pokes fun at himself in the process. Stay tuned for a little surprise at the end that heralds some interesting changes in the next instalment.

If you’ve read any of these books, you know what to expect. A twisty fast paced plot, a lot of laughs & plenty of puppers. For me, this series is the literary equivalent of comfort food. It’s like running into old friends & knowing you’re in for a great time. It’s pure entertainment that puts your little grey cells through their paces & I’m already primed for the next one.

4.5 stars

Another page turner by one of my favorite authors! Poor Andy Carpenter has not one but two clients this time thanks to Laurie starting Christmas right after Halloween!  Andy handles it with the grace and tact he normally does. (Insert sarcasm) I also liked the addition of a couple new team members!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

Thanks t the folks at NetGalley who provided me with an advance copy of this book in return for a truthful review.
Book #20 of the Andy Carpenter series. I never heard of this series previously and I wish I had. But now I have 19 books to catch up with! Great book. As a former lawyer I love this series - unlike most lawyer series, Andy Carpenter does not take himself too seriously and has a great sense of humor which is on display quite often here. This book deals with a person who is being tried for a 14-year old murder. Alleged killer was brought in due to a relatives DNA test that showed a match for a DNA sample for skin and blood under the victim fingernails. An arrest is made and everyone is sure that conviction is a slam dunk. But after Carpenter takes the sase there are some strange underworld murders and it seems as if somehow they are all related to this murder trial. This book keeps you guessing throughout the book, with random issues that are not resolved until the very end. Very well written, very easy read and a definite book and series I recommend. Thanks NetGalley and David Rosenfelt for a wonderful read!

Andy Carpenter, reluctant lawyer, takes on a case for a police dog. Simon’s handler is ready to retire, but the force says Simon must work for another year, even though he has arthritis in his hips. Andy sues for species discrimination and Simon is retired with his partner. Meanwhile, Laurie is starting her three-month long Christmas celebration by choosing from an angel tree wish list. The little boy wishes his daddy could come home, and Laurie is determined to grant his wish. His father, Noah, has been arrested for a murder committed fourteen years earlier. The dachshund in the title is their dog (though he actually has a very limited part in the story). Andy gets the team together and begins digging into the case. I enjoy Andy’s snarky attitude and humor, the dogs, and the characters on their team. The mystery was well-done and this was another great addition to the Andy Carpenter series!

5 stars

David Rosenfelt delights with another Andy Carpenter book! I am utterly addicted to this book. This book draws the reader in from the first page and doesn't let go until the very end.  Rosenfelt writes deep engaging, sassy and fun characters that are so much fun to root for. I hope this series never ends. As an added bonus, this book although part of a series can be read as a stand-alone.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Another wonderful mystery by David Rosenfelt featuring my favorite lawyer, who doesn’t want to practice law, Andy Carpenter. There are two cases for Andy, the first a K-9 officer who is retiring and wants his K-9 Simon to retire with him due to Simon’s health. Andy loves dogs, so he is “all in” on this one. The second begins as Andy’s wife, Laurie, tries to answer a Christmas wish for a young boy, Danny, who wants his father to come home. Before she can help, a man is charged with a murder that happened fourteen years ago. A love affair gone wrong? There was DNA at the scene, but no match until now…the match is Danny’s father, Noah. As Andy and his team investigate, he is targeted by someone who wants this investigation to end. What is the real reason this woman was murdered so many years ago? If you have not read the Andy Carpenter mysteries or really any book by Mr. Rosenfelt, you should. He writes amazing, complex mysteries and characters, with humor and sarcasm. This book provides a lead in to the new spin-off series he is writing (yeah). I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Laurie, wife of Andy Carpenter, ace semi-retired attorney and leader of a pack of great characters, loves Christmas.  She uses their resources to make life better for kids and this time out, she's plucked a wish that Santa brings a dad home.  Well, that's just a small challenge that gets bigger when it turns out that Noah, the dad, had a relationship with a young woman who was murdered years before. He's been in hiding because his brother recently used one of those pesky DNA test kits and this his DNA, which has never been in the system before, is now one step away from discovery by the police.  Andy steps in to represent him and, along with Laurie, Marcus his investigator/body guard, and terrific new character Casey (and Simon), untangles a massive international and topical case. Readers of this series know that Andy is quick with the quip, that he might see a book by Rosenfelt in someone's house, and that the mystery will have lots of twists.  The more recent novels in this series have been more complex than the earlier and while I miss reading a lot about the dogs, that's ok.  It's especially OK here because the book starts with Andy representing a police dog!  If you haven't read these, or if you've only read a few, don't worry- it's fine as a standalone.  Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This is a fun read that might seem light on the surface but makes you work along with Andy to solve crime and right wrongs.