In David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter mystery, Muzzled, Andy and his beloved golden retriever, Tara, are back on the case as a favor to a friend. Andy Carpenter is a lawyer who would rather not practice law. He’d rather spend his time working with the Tara Foundation, his dog rescue organization, and being with his family and his two dogs, Tara and Sebastian. But when a friend asks him for a favor … friend asks him for a favor that involves both dogs and his lawyerly expertise, he can’t say no.
Andy’s friend Beth has found a stray that seems to have belonged to a murder victim–in fact, the man and two of his colleagues died in an explosion a few weeks ago. But when the murdered man contacts Beth, asking for his dog back, Andy knows there must be more to the story. The man claims his life is in danger, and that’s why he disappeared. As much as Andy doesn’t want to get involved–anything to avoid a new case–he can’t help but come to the rescue of a man who’d risk everything, even his life, to reunite with his dog.
Once again, David Rosenfelt delivers suspense and laughter in equal measure in another engaging mystery from “one of the most unforgettable voices in the genre.” (Associated Press)
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Is Andy’s new client a murderer or just a dog lover?
“Muzzled” is the newest book in David Rosenfelt’s continuing series featuring Andy Carpenter and his assorted friends and dogs. Regular readers will find everything they love about Andy, the gang, (and the dogs) while new readers will easily jump into this offbeat yet compelling story. The book opens with a spectacular and well publicized boat explosion that kills everyone on board. That is until Alex Vogel, one of the boat’s purported occupants, shows up to collect his missing dog. This means he either murdered the other two men or faked his own death, or both.
Andy Carpenter is a semi-retired, self-described obnoxious defense attorney who frequently infuriates dangerous people and actually likes what he does, plus, he is good at it. He reluctantly jumps to Vogel’s assistance, because after all, Vogel came out of hiding for his dog. The story progresses as a first-person narrative by Andy, with alternate chapters told in a third person perspective so readers know what Andy does not. The regular players on Andy’s team are there along with newcomers “The K-Team.” They search for answers to questions they did not know about, and they find answers they wish they had not discovered. Andy helps out because in a pinch, he can successfully use his preferred weapon, sarcasm, on any enemy, even organized crime in northern New Jersey. “Muzzled” follows a predictable yet entertaining plot structure, and the trial starts without Andy having a clue about the real culprit, leading to the familiar but shocking and horrible twist right in the middle of the trial.
Rosenfelt’s books are entertaining, reliable, and above all enjoyable. Even though the characters and structure are familiar, the stories are never predictable, well except that the dogs always win. I received a review copy of “Muzzled” from David Rosenfelt and Minotaur Books. Andy Carpenter is compelling, interesting, and above all funny. There is mystery without duplication, suspense without confusion, and resolution without vagueness. I have read and loved every book.
I absolutely LOVE David Rosenfelt’s “Andy Carpenter” series. All of the books are centered around dogs, and the author is himself a major supporter of rescue pets. Andy is a reluctant lawyer, who has a sense of humor — especially about himself. The rest of the characters are fun and original, and they tackle each mystery with an interesting set of talents. This is a great book (although there was one plot twist that wasn’t my favorite), but I highly recommend this and the entire series to anyone who loves dogs, mysteries, humor, and entertaining reads.
During this strange time we are going through with Co-vid and having to be isolated in a way, Rosenfelt’s book is what everyone needs to read. It is funny and entertaining.
Andy is asked to be Alex’s lawyer. Andy who is supposed to be retired agrees because Alex came looking for his pet, Aggie. Andy has no idea what he is getting involved in when he agrees to take this case.
This book will make you laugh out load. It’s a good book dealing with criminal issues that could very well happen in today’s society. I recommend you give it a try.
Thanks to Goodreads, Rosenfelt and the publisher for the ARC for my honest opinion and thoughts.
I have never read an David Rosenfelt book before. I am now a huge fan! Andy is a semi retired lawyer who would rather spend time with his family, his 2 dogs and his foundation. But Andy’s friend Beth finds a stray dog that turns out to have belonged to a murder victim. When the owner calls Beth wanting his dog back, all sorts of questions come up! Andy and Tara to the rescue! This was a great mystery book with awesome characters and lots of humor. I really enjoyed it! I received an advanced readers copy from Minotaur books and all opinions are my own.
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.
This is a book and a series that’s always good for what ails me. These days that’s very important, even vital for this reader. Here we are at book #21 and, after reading it, I’m feeling better. Why? Because spending time with Andy, Laurie, Marcus, Hike, Sam, Pete and the K Team makes me laugh and gives me a slam bang puzzle to try and solve.
First off, I want Edna’s job. She ‘runs’ his office and does crossword puzzles and collects a regular paycheck. Edna is a hoot. Failing that job because Edna has it for life, then let me work for The Tara Foundation and do dog rescue. Andy just wants to retire, spend time with family and the dogs. Leave the lawyering stuff to others. Well, luckily, the world has other plans for him and there is always another client out there to get Andy back in the office with his team. This time it’s a dead man who isn’t dead and his dog who seals the deal for Andy to take on his case. A case that leads to big Pharma, dirty deeds, nasty criminals with a side of laughs thanks to Andy’s point of view. He’s the lawyer I would want on my side if I got tossed into the slammer and the deck was stacked against me. Plus, he would make sure my dog was well cared for while he was getting me off the hook.
That’s all I’m going to give away so I don’t spoil the fun for you. Muzzled works as a stand alone so if you are just now meeting Any and his team, enjoy this one and then do not waste a second getting you hands on the other twenty books. These are tough times and the Andy Carpenter series will help you feel better for as long as it takes you to read the series. For myself, I’ve started rereading it.
My thanks to the publisher, Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
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)
Intricate, fresh, and outrageously funny!
Muzzled is an absorbing, humorous mystery that transports you to Patterson, N.J. where Alex Vogel, one of three men supposedly killed in a boat explosion is arrested for murder when he reappears to claim his dog from the Tara Foundation causing the happily retired, defense attorney Andy Carpenter to once again come out of retirement to defend someone in need.
The prose is witty and crisp. The characters are multilayered, unique, and amusing. And the plot is a funny yet thrilling tale full of twists, turns, mayhem, corruption, coercion, red herrings, deduction, violence, greed, danger, and murder.
Overall, Muzzled is a clever, quirky, suspenseful mystery that kept me absorbed, entertained and laughing out loud from the very first page. It’s hard to believe that this is the first novel I’ve read by Rosenfelt, but I can guarantee it won’t be my last.
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!