Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt

 

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.