Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter #31
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Kindle and Audiobook ARC
No. of Pages: 288
Narrator: Grover Gardner
Length: 6 hrs 50 mins
Date of Publication: July 1, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
In Dogged Pursuit, David Rosenfelt takes readers back to the start of this beloved series as Andy Carpenter begins his career as a defense attorney in Paterson, New Jersey.
Andy Carpenter has spent the three years since graduating law school working as a prosecutor in Paterson. But having seen how the system never looks out for the little guy, he leaves to start his own practice as a defense attorney. His office might be a little bit of a dump, but he's excited to make a change.
Andy goes to the shelter to adopt a dog, where he meets his beloved golden retriever, Tara, for the first time and feels an immediate connection. The shelter is crowded and Tara's been sharing space with a dog named Sunny; Andy hates to break them up and so asks to take Sunny, too, but since there's a pending criminal case involving the owner, he'll need to get written permission for temporary possession.
Andy discovers that Sunny's owner, Frank Tierney, has been arrested for the murder of his ex-boss. But he takes an immediate liking to Frank and his clear dedication to his dog, and ends up with his first case along with the two dogs.
This prequel to the long-running and perennially popular Andy Carpenter mysteries is a gift for fans and a terrific entry-point for newcomers.
Andy Carpenter has spent the three years since graduating law school working as a prosecutor in Paterson. But having seen how the system never looks out for the little guy, he leaves to start his own practice as a defense attorney. His office might be a little bit of a dump, but he's excited to make a change.
Andy goes to the shelter to adopt a dog, where he meets his beloved golden retriever, Tara, for the first time and feels an immediate connection. The shelter is crowded and Tara's been sharing space with a dog named Sunny; Andy hates to break them up and so asks to take Sunny, too, but since there's a pending criminal case involving the owner, he'll need to get written permission for temporary possession.
Andy discovers that Sunny's owner, Frank Tierney, has been arrested for the murder of his ex-boss. But he takes an immediate liking to Frank and his clear dedication to his dog, and ends up with his first case along with the two dogs.
This prequel to the long-running and perennially popular Andy Carpenter mysteries is a gift for fans and a terrific entry-point for newcomers.
MY THOUGHTS:
While Dogged Pursuit is the 31st book in the Andy Carpenter series, this engaging read takes the reader right back to the beginning, serving as the series prequel. Andy is three years out of law school and has gone from being a prosecutor to a defense attorney and starting his own practice.
However, Andy’s journey is far from easy, especially when he reluctantly takes on his first case. The case presents incriminating evidence, leaving Andy to question how he can find justice for his client, who is steadfastly claiming innocence despite the skepticism of others. Meanwhile, Andy’s marriage to Nicole is on rocky grounds.
It is this story that brings the introduction of the smart and sensitive Tara, a gorgeous golden retriever that Andy rescues from a shelter. Tara has a starring role in all of the books in this enjoyable series. In this book Andy hires Laurie, a former cop who is now his investigator. Fans of this series know the changed role she later plays in Andy’s life. Sam, hacker extraordinaire, is also introduced.
David Rosenfelt’s sharp wit shines through in providing Andy with perfectly crafted lines, often laced with humor. Grover Gardner’s deadpan delivery as the narrator further enhances the reading experience, creating a winning combination. Throughout the book, Andy remains dedicated to his client, striving to achieve justice despite the obstacles in his path. Dogged Pursuit is a true delight, offering readers an enjoyable and engaging journey from beginning to end.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I have gotten to this dubious position with absolutely no planning, and at no stage in my life could I have predicted it. But here I am.
My childhood was relentlessly normal. The middle of three brothers, loving parents, a middle-class home in Paterson, New Jersey. We played sports, studied sporadically. laughed around the dinner table, and generally had a good time. By comparison, “Ozzie and Harriet’s” clan seemed bizarre.
I graduated NYU, then decided to go into the movie business. I was stunningly brilliant at a job interview with my uncle, who was President of United Artists, and was immediately hired. It set me off on a climb up the executive ladder, culminating in my becoming President of Marketing for Tri-Star Pictures. The movie landscape is filled with the movies I buried; for every “Rambo”, “The Natural” and “Rocky”, there are countless disasters.
I did manage to find the time to marry and have two children, both of whom are doing very well, and fortunately neither have inherited my eccentricities.
A number of years ago, I left the movie marketing business, to the sustained applause of hundreds of disgruntled producers and directors. I decided to try my hand at writing. I wrote and sold a bunch of feature films, none of which ever came close to being actually filmed, and then a bunch of TV movies, some of which actually made it to the small screen. It’s safe to say that their impact on the American cultural scene has been minimal.
About fourteen years ago, my wife and I started the Tara Foundation, named in honor of the greatest Golden Retriever the world has ever known. We rescued almost 4,000 dogs, many of them Goldens, and found them loving homes. Our own home quickly became a sanctuary for those dogs that we rescued that were too old or sickly to be wanted by others. They surround me as I write this. It’s total lunacy, but it works, and they are a happy, safe group.
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