Dead Men Don't Play Fetch by David Rosenfelt

There's a reason the Andy Carpenter series is still going strong 33 books in. These books are filled with charm, humor, clever mystery, and courtroom drama. And dogs. The bestest dogs.

Andy is once again trying to add "retired" before his lawyer title, and once again is unsuccessful. His friend Lou Campanelli calls to ask for a favor. Lou wants Andy to defend Jason Maddox, a homeless veteran who lives and works at the rehab center that Lou runs. Jason's life has been turned upside down, but he is on his way back up when he is accused of murdering billionaire inventor Paul Vincent. A reluctant Andy meets with him and, after hearing his story and meeting his lovely dog, Hope, agrees to take the case.

The evidence against Jason is strong. The murder weapon, the victim's wallet, and a believable motive all point directly at Jason. But Andy is convinced he's innocent. It looks like an open and shut case, but there's always a thread that Andy and his team can pull at, and one thread usually unravels another. Hopefully, it will be enough to save Jason's life and reunite him with his dog.

Andy's dry humor is one of the driving forces of these books. You will find yourself smiling, chuckling, and occasionally laughing out loud. One of Rosenfelt's strengths is designing truly clever mysteries. This one looks impossible at the start, but bit by bit, clues start to fall into place. The tech company background of the victim and his swings between generous benefactor and litigious enemy add flavor to the story. Unexpected discoveries and seemingly unrelated events that come together into a satisfying whole are all part of the fun. Suspenseful courtroom scenes and the tension of waiting for the verdict to be read will have you holding your breath as if you were the one on trial.

Andy's large cast of supporting characters, including his wife and lead investigator Laurie, her former partner Marcus, and his accountant/hacker/wannabe detective Sam Willis, are some of the most prominent in this story. Not only are they crucial to the defense, but they are also fun to spend time with. Andy's love of dogs isn't the main course, but it is the garnish. It doesn't get in the way, but it makes the meal just a little better.

Grover Gardner's narration is excellent as always. His version of Andy's voice is what you will hear every time you read one of these books. It's perfect. He captures the dry wit, the distinctive voices, and most importantly, the light-hearted mood of these books. 

This series is as fun as ever. You will enjoy the satisfying mystery and spending time with old friends. You can jump in at any point in this series and enjoy it going both forward and backwards. Cozy mystery fans, legal thriller fans, and even dog lovers will love this book. Highly recommended.

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