Muzzled

From the moment I opened this book I just could not put it down. As always, an Andy Carpenter mystery is the cream of the crop when it comes to the mystery genre. His sense of humor makes this series an absolute pleasure to read - I can't count the number of times I found myself laughing out loud. And despite Andy's firm wish to remain a retired layer, his love of dogs once again brings him a new client to defend. When Andy receives a phone call from his fellow dog lover Beth telling him that Alex Vogel, who was supposedly killed in a boat explosion that claimed the lives of his two co-workers was alive and wanted to retrieve his dog from the animal shelter, Andy gets involved in defending Alex from murder charges and, as with Andy's unusual cases, this leads to a trial of conspiracy, mayhem and even more murders. It's a wild ride with Andy but one that is enjoyable all the way through.

family, friendship, snark-fest, law-enforcement, lawyers, dogs, private-investigators, situational-humor, verbal-humor, murder-investigation*****

No way this could be an unbiased review. I love Andy Carpenter's world with all the dogs, the complicated interesting characters, the excellent plots, and, in these days of a virus, the snarkiness and all the laughs. The case is even more convoluted and timely than the publisher's blurb indicates and the twists, red herrings, and misdirections really add a thriller feel to the story. Of course I loved it, but I really wanted those laughs!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

I'm happy to announce the coming across of another in the long and welcome line of novels featuring the adventures of Andy Carpenter. As in the previous books Andy is accompanied by his stalwart companions including his wife Laurie who was a policewoman, his best friend Willy who is his partner in a business providing dogs for adoption, the very vocal Marcus, his office manager who has developed an antipathy to work and other sundry characters populating these books. What is missing is the usual happy ending in which an Andy, openly reluctant to working in his profession of defense attorney due to a large inheritance is forced to handle a case and manages to resolve it successfully. While the happy ending is conspicuously missing in the novel you can bet that all of the dogs that take part in the story end up well.
The story opens in the usual way, Andy must see to the well being of a dog whose owner may soon be sent to prison for murder. Now it does seem strange that the owner is looking for someone to care for his dog when he was blown to pieces along with two other men on a boat they were riding in before the story starts.Don't worry, all will be explained as we go along, but in the meanwhile we are treated to David Rosenfelt's inimitable style of humor, sarcasm, a lot of attention to the dogs involved in the story and the solving of the conundrum of an interesting tale. I don't remember if I ever read an Andy Carpenter story that wasn't a five star book and in no way boring in spite of the seeming repetitiveness of the stories. " Muzzled" continues the author's streak of winners and my recommendation is read this novel, and just get on line for the next one as soon as available. And oh yes don't worry too much about the ending that is not a happy one. Remember, the dogs come out okay.

I always like David Rosenfelt books, I like the mysteries, dogs, and that he wants to be retired but somehow never quite manages to walk away from being a lawyer. Andy Carpenter is the most reluctant lawyer but he's the one I'd want if I needed a defense attorney. This one had a few twists and turns but, spoiler, the dogs are all ok in the end.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NewGalley for my copy of this book.

"Muzzled' is another feather in the good writing cap of David Rosenfelt. It's remarkable how, after 21 books, this series just keeps on getting better. Few writers are as consistently good as Rosenfelt has proven to be--especially with these Andy Carpenter books. The series has been outstanding because of the wit and charm the main character possesses. Plus, the supporting cast is as reliable as any in the genre. 'Muzzled' has a plot which grabs you from the first page and is wholly believable in the world we live in today. Once again, you'll find yourself looking forward to the next Rosenfelt book immediately after you finish. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of this wonderful book.

The narrative is smart & well voiced, Andy's sarcasm, his and Robin's loving, understanding teasing and everyone from Willie to Marcus and everything in between make this one special novel. The writing is tight and the plot thoroughly interesting. This ensemble is one I would like to hang out with! Rosenfelt never disappoints.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

As always David Rosenfelt's books can make your bad feelings into good feelings. Reluctant lawyer, Andy Carpenter is loving life in semi-retirement until an acquaintance in the dog rescue world calls. She claims a man, presumed dead is returning to claim his dog. If you want to know what happens next you'll need to pick up the latest in this page turning series.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to escape the current stay at home order with this fun book to read and review!

I love this book. this is the 21st book in this series and I have loved them all. It is like visiting all friends when you read this books. Of course the dogs steal the whole show. This author always writes such good mysteries and his books flow through the whole story, not choppy like some books.. They are so full of humor that I often find myself laughing out loud.

Muzzled opens with two murders on a yacht followed by an explosion. The boat’s owner escapes and is then arrested for the murders. You wouldn’t expect such a situation to provoke a lot of smiles, but this is author David Rosenfelt, and he manages the humor while still showing sympathy for the people involved. Indeed, sympathy is lawyer Andy Carpenter’s biggest problem. He has plenty of money and a happy life, and he really does not want to go back into the courtroom (a sentiment with which prosecutors and judges fully concur), but he can’t resist helping someone who needs him, not when that person is a dog lover.
This is the 21st book in Rosenfelt’s series about New Jersey dog lover and lawyer (in that order!) Andy Carpenter, so, of course, the big question is whether it lives up to the rest of the series. The answer is YES! All of the elements that have made the series so popular are here in force. Narrator Andy is full of the wry comments and deprecating humor that make me laugh out loud (and make my long-suffering husband wish I would read elsewhere). Andy’s quirky team, including taciturn muscleman Marcus, computer ace and accountant Sam, and, of course, his wife, retired police detective Laurie, are back at work to help Andy solve the murders, win the case, and stay alive.
Muzzled once again shows Andy’s soft heart and wry observations. On the one hand, before he goes to see his client, he tells us he will be visiting two jails that day, “ The first jail is the Passaic County Animal Shelter. While prisoners in human jails often claim to be innocent, here the inmates really are. In most cases the humans that abandoned them or carelessly let them run off are the guilty ones and should be in a cage eating cheap kibble.” On the other, there is his assessment of the jurors chosen for the trial ,”The only thing they all have in common is that they couldn’t figure out a way to get out of jury duty.”
For me, and I suspect for most of Andy’s fans, the tone of the book, with the likable characters and humor, is the outstanding feature of the series, but Rosenfelt does not neglect to provide a good solid plot to keep up your interest in between laughs. Muzzled tells a good story, as usual, including a shocking surprise near the end that made me gasp aloud.
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 the books in any order.
When Rosenfelt introduced his new series, The K Team, which features Andy’s team but gives Andy himself a backseat, many of Andy’s fans were concerned that Rosenfelt was going to abandon the Andy Carpenter series. I am glad that he is following up fairly quickly with a new Andy Carpenter to let us know that is not the case. As long as there are sympathetic dog lovers in New Jersey accused of serious crime, Andy Carpenter will be coming out of retirement to defend them. Maybe the prosecutors and judges would love to muzzle Andy, but his fans love to hear about his feats.

Andy Carpenter is unabashedly in love with dogs. Rosenfelt's entire Andy Carpenter series is devoted to Andy's experiences with dogs--taking care of them, rescuing them, or just having a life at their side. In Muzzled (Minotaur Books 2020), Book 21 in the series, Andy once again finds a good reason to be forced out of his self imposed retirement from criminal law to help a dog. A man who was supposed to be dead shows up at Andy's home for rescued dogs--the Tara Foundation--in search of his dog. He has been hiding from the thugs who tried to kill him while succeeding in killing two of his business partners, but reveals himself out of worry about his dog. When he shows up at the Tara Foundation to claim his best friend, the dog goes nuts over his lost owner. How could Andy not defend a man who is so deeply loved by his dog?

When the police arrest him for allegedly killing his business partners, the clock starts ticking. Andy must figure out who the real killers are before they murder this man and leave his dog without its best friend.

I’ve read almost every book in this series. All are told with a sense of humor that makes even serious events a bit lighter.

“Dad, can we go bungee jumping?” Ricky asked. I’ve got to be careful with my answer. He’s asking a serious question, albeit one that horrifies me. I can’t overreact, hurt his feelings, embarrass him, or appear dismissive. I need to imagine how my response will sound when he repeats it to a therapist later in life. “Are you nuts?” is what I finally come out with. It’s possible that I didn’t fulfill my previously stated criteria for a good answer."

"She always has a look of pure joy on her face when she finishes. I guess she and I have that in common. If I was crazy enough to exhaust myself by pedaling furiously to nowhere, I would also be happy when it was over."

"The only word allowed to precede the reason for calling is hello."

Most are well-paced with likable supporting characters and clever plot twists. Some aren't up to this high bar but this one is at the top. Rosenfelt devotes lots of each book to dog events (walking them, feeding, playing with them). Dogs add color and depth to his books but not in the way, say, Margaret Mizushima does in her series, Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries, about a working dog who solves crimes (see the next review, Hanging Falls). That's not good or bad, just what it is.

In the end, I couldn't put the book down, finished it in record time, always wanting to turn the page and see what happens next with the wonderful dogs.

--to be reviewed on my blog WordDreams

In a bad mood? Read an Andy Carpenter book. In a sad mood? Read an Andy Carpenter book. In the middle of an isolating pandemic? Definitely read an Andy Carpenter book. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face, make you laugh out loud, and delight in the irreverent and funny humor that is David Rosenfelt’s trademark. Plus the added bonus of wonderful characters, a mystery/crime to solve, and of course, the love of dogs.
Muzzled starts with a boat explosion killing the three people on board, but when a friend of Andy’s gets a call from one of the dead men asking to pick up his dog, the story begins. Is one of the three men alive, is it his dog, and what happened on that boat and why? Andy and his team of wife, friends, and Marcus become embroiled in figuring out who set the lone survivor up, and why?

Muzzled is an entertaining and well written mystery. Love books with pets . Good plot and quirky characters. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Andy Carpenter is asked to defend Alex, a man who looks to be guilty of a double murder, but since Alex is devoted to his dog, Aggie, Andy agrees to take his case. Did Alex blow up a boat and kill two of his colleagues? How did the explosive residue get in his house? And why didn’t he report to the authorities after the explosion? Of course, it’s not all about the case. Andy’s description of a walk with his wife Laurie and Sebastian, a sluggish basset hound, will resonate with anyone who has ever walked a slow dog. Andy says:
“I like taking walks with Laurie, but only when Sebastian is with us. Left to her own devices, Laurie is a fast walker. She treats it as exercise, and keeping up with her makes me feel like I’m on the Bataan Death March. Sebastian is my antidote to that; he lumbers along at such a slow pace that even I have no trouble keeping up. When it comes to going from point A to point B, I’ve seen sofa beds move faster than Sebastian.” With all that’s going on in the world, I’m trying to read books that aren’t depressing. When I find one that’s got great characters, an engaging plot, humor, and dogs, that’s like winning the reading lottery, and Muzzled fits the bill perfectly. Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This book is an awesome read. The plot grabs you at the beginning and keeps you interested throughout. It’s filled with suspense that makes it hard to put down. It can be read as a standalone, but you really don’t want to miss any of the Andy Carpenter series. They all are well written with great plots and interesting characters. There is mystery, crime, humour and best of all I love the dogs.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Muzzled by David Rosenfelt. Another Hit - Andy Carpenter has to be one of the best characters in a mystery/suspense series. Funny and very clever dialog, along with a good plot, will have you guessing till the end.
Andy and his team take on a client, Alex, who appears at their animal shelter to pick up his dog. The only problem is that his soon to be client is supposed to be dead - killed with two others on a yacht that exploded. When the police zero in and arrest Alex for the murders,. Andy reluctantly takes the case - he believes the client is innocent. Mostly because he loves his dog and Andy loves dogs, but also because the case against him is shaky at best.
Andy and his team return again to find out who the killer or killers are and in the meantime, manage to engage the reader the whole way thru.
A few typos - but I give this book 5 stars - fans will like this one for sure...

I have read many, but not all, of the Andy Carpenter books and this one may be my favorite to date. Since I am both a dog lover and a friend to several lawyers, I am always intrigued with both sides of his books. I get a kick out of Andy’s attempts to avoid taking clients and his “all in” commitment once he does. His love of dogs shines through in each book. I really couldn’t put this book down once I started it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

You just have to love all of David Rosenfelt's books, all of his characters and his "tongue in cheek" sense of humor.

These books, along with Quinn's and the Miss Julia series, are the perfect feel good books for me and I enjoy every one of them. Haven't been let down yet and honestly, don't see it happening

Disclaimer: I love David Rosenfelt's books. I have read all of them. All of the Andy Carpenter, the new K Team and all of the stand alones and the nonfictions. And so have many of my friends and family because they receive his books as gifts from me. The Carpenter world is a cast of characters that over the years have come together as a family. The community they live in may not be perfect but they will keep it safe and rescue those in need. Along the way, Andy keeps us entertained, he's human and not afraid to show it.
This story starts, as most of the Andy Carpenter books do, with a crime that is unusual and a rescue that defies logic....at least Andy's logic. I always read carefully for clues and have yet to solve the mystery before the reveal, but I'm pretty sure it's because I'm enjoying the book too much. There are a couple of different scenes in this book, we actually get to hear Marcus say a word!!!! I'm always sorry to finish the book because now I have to wait for the next one. If you have not read any David Rosenfelt books, you are definitely underprivileged.

Reading "Muzzled" I was able to get a healthy dose of snark and wit which is a trademark quality of the Andy Carpenter series.
A large luxury boat explodes in what appears to be a cover up for multiple homicides. Alex Vogel the owner was on board and naturally presumed very dead. So why did a pet rescuer named Beth just get a call from him as she is currently fostering his dog and he wants said pet back? That's an intriguing question that Andy decides the authorities need to hear when Beth reaches out to him for help.
Poor beleaguered Andy is always trying to reach the elusive title of retired lawyer. Once again he feels compelled and perhaps a bit forced to take on Alex as a client when he is arrested for murder. This case looks really bad for the defense, The odds of winning seem ridiculous, but hard core fans of Andy knows he secretly thrives on this kind of pressure. Andy may have flaws but he is one amazing lawyer which you should not say too loudly as this will go straight to his head.
The book was fast paced with lightening sharp comebacks. I found myself amazed that with the fair amount of violence in this story, I was able to laugh and smile quite a bit. The bad guys are lurking in the shadows and extremely deadly as once again our favorite defense lawyer gets caught in the cross hairs.
As the bodies pile up so does the tension. Who blew up the boat and why are they so frantic that no one involved is left alive to be a witness?
The pharmaceutical world with all it's complexities may be the crux of the murders.. Andy believes in his client and he is racing to show what seems like an easy case for the prosecution is really a complex series of killings that are all interconnected.
This was a fantastic read and I can't recommend it enough. It was a bittersweet tale that totally absorbed me.
Happy reading! Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. A copy was given for my reading pleasure.
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David Rosenfelt has produced another fun, fast-paced Andy Carpenter novel in his newest book, “Muzzled”. Andy is a “retired” defense lawyer who, much to his chagrin, keeps getting pulled into accepting new clients.
Andy owns a dog rescue organization called the Tara Foundation . Andy receives a phone call about a dog whose owner was allegedly killed. Alex Vogel had been on his boat with two colleagues when it exploded. The police discover he is alive when he comes to claim his dog at the Tara Foundation. Naturally, he becomes the prime suspect for the killing of his colleagues. Alex proclaims his innocence and Andy reluctantly agrees to represent him even though the evidence is stacked against Alex. The book moves quickly, keeping the reader involved with all the twists and turns of an Andy Carpenter mystery. Will Andy succeed or is the evidence just too strong against Alex. Although he does not want to spend the rest of his life in jail, Alex’s biggest concern is for his dog. What will happen to her? A man’s love for his dog is enough to give Andy the motivation to do all he can to prove his client is innocent! Just when you think Andy will solve the mystery, a shocking twist is thrown in. I highly recommend this book!

"Muzzled" is newest book of the Any Carpenter mystery series to be released by David Rosenfelt, and it was another enjoyable read! Andy, a retired defense attorney who can't seem to stay retired, is contacted by a friend who has received a mysterious call from someone claiming to be the owner of a local dog recently brought to the shelter, only the caller was recently reported to be the victim of an apparent explosion on a boat in which he and 2 of other men were killed. They agree to meet the man at Andy's Tara Foundation, the animal shelter he opened that is his passion, and the man reports that he had escaped the boat just before it exploded and was in hiding because he believed that someone was trying to kill him. The police were alerted that the man would be showing up at the Tara Foundation about his dog, and when they arrest him, Andy gives him advice and ends up taking on the job as Alex's defense attorney, because he was so touched by Alex's devotion to his dog to come out of hiding to get him back. Andy begins investigating Alex's story, delving into the world of drug companies competing to release new medications.

As usual, Andy is a hilarious narrator to the story, and his descriptions in the narrative also left mem laughing and with a smile. You can't help but love Andy, who is devoted to his former police officer wife, Laurie, and their son, and his dogs, Sebastian and Tara, and his overall love for dogs and the shelter that he started that is named after one of his own. The members of Andy's defense team are great, and only add to the enjoyment of the book. While I am relatively new to the series, and have only read a few of the series, I look forward to reading past and future installments. A quick, fun, enjoyable read!

Thanks to New Galley and St. Martin's Press, and Mintotaur Books, for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. "Muzzled:" is set to be released on July 7, 2020.

Another fascinating Andy Carpenter mystery! A boat explodes and the three bodies of the men who were on the boat cannot be recovered. Days later, a man calls to collect his dog from the Tara Foundation, a man who was presumed to have died on the boat. When the man is arrested and charged with killing the other two men, Andy now has another case that he did not want. As with all Andy Carpenter mysteries, the writing style flows effortlessly laced with humor and the mystery is always complex. Most of the beloved characters aka “his team” follow from book to book as they work together to uncover who had the most to gain from the murders. It is a pleasure to read each new Andy Carpenter mystery as he walks us through the clues and evidence until the end. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)