Review by Booklist Review
Matt Jantzen was born to be a macguffin. Viewed one way, he's what the story's about; viewed from another perspective, he's just a plot function. Here he happens along in time to be a function in Rosenfelt's latest Andy Carpenter canine-focused rumble. Jantzen is nearby when a man begins torturing his dog. He coldcocks the rat, the cops arrive, and it's Jantzen they haul away. The scene is observed by dog-loving, work-hating, filthy rich Andy, who offers to help when Jantzen, out of the blue, is accused of home invasion and double murder. Inescapable evidence: his DNA is on the scene. Much fine tension is created when Andy faces the truth: however brilliant his defense, there's that DNA. Too bad the author didn't work with this challenge; instead he concocts a scenario of drug dealers and right-wing loonies who add nothing and slow the story down. They're interchangeable bores: "Stokan told Marcus that Carmody and Donnelly were not Charkin's suppliers." Fortunately things come right for some stunning deduction and courtroom flash, and Andy, blessedly, keeps his cool-to-be-dumb act, the bane of the earlier novels, out of sight.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Early in Edgar finalist Rosenfelt's enjoyable 23rd Andy Carpenter mystery (after 2020's Silent Bite), the semi-retired Paterson, N.J., defense attorney is enjoying a stroll with his wife, Laurie, and their dogs when they see a man kicking a pug on a leash. They rush to the rescue, but another bystander, Matt Jantzen, gets to the man first and saves the pug after a brief fight. The police arrive and take the pug's owner and Matt into custody, and Matt is soon arrested for the double murder of Peter Charkin and his girlfriend in Maine two years earlier. Though DNA found underneath Charkin's fingernails matches Matt's, Matt asserts his innocence, and Andy decides to represent him in court. Andy travels to Maine, where he discovers Charkin had dangerous ties to drug dealers and a quasi terrorist militia group. Laurie and her partners from her investigation group, the K Team, later lend assistance. Unpredictable yet credible plot twists, along with Andy's dry sense of humor and wit, keep the pages turning. Longtime fans and newcomers alike will have fun. Agent: Robin Rue, Writers House. (July)
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Review by Library Journal Review
New Jersey lawyer Andy Carpenter and his wife Laurie are walking their dogs when they see one man trying to stop another from beating his dog. The two men fight, then the police arrive and arrest them both. Matt Jantzen, the dog's rescuer, turns out to be wanted for a double murder in Maine. He can't get a lawyer to take the seemingly open-and-shut case, so Andy agrees to represent Matt as a fellow dog lover. One victim was a friend of Matt's ex-girlfriend; the other was her boyfriend, a member of an antigovernment militia who dabbled in drugs. Police say Matt's DNA is on the victims, but he claims to know nothing about it. Andy, Laurie, and the rest of their crew of investigators have their work cut out for them exploring all the possible motives; a series of threats against them only complicates matters. VERDICT Fans of the "Andy Carpenter" series will enjoy this 23rd outing featuring the talented but reluctant advocate (after Silent Bite), as will fans of brisk, dog-filled mysteries in general.--Dan Forrest, Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling Green
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