Former defense attorney Andy Carpenter tries to stay retired, but another case lands in his lap. When there’s no hope of winning due to overwhelming evidence, that is when Andy shines and can’t say no to getting to work to prove his client’s innocence. A mass shooting leads to the police quickly finding a suspect, Nick Williams. Nick is a friend of someone Andy trusts, so he takes the case. Nick’s alibi is that he was kidnapped, held in an empty room, and chained to a wall for three days. The police don’t believe him at all. With such a flimsy alibi, Andy and his team get to work. Rosenfelt’s series combines the best of cozy mysteries, suspense, legal thrillers, and humor to create a terrific story that is refreshing and fun 29 books in. Andy is snarky, and his inner monologues and legal discussions with Tara, his golden retriever, will put a smile on the face of even the most jaded reader. Whether this is your first read featuring Andy Carpenter or the 29th, this is another winner in the franchise.
Animals
A classic—but in no way cliched—cozy that features a great lead, a best friend, murder(s), two uniformed love interests, a good dollop of gossip, and a bloodhound that pretty much steals the story. Priscilla (aka Pris) is a former teacher who just published her first children’s book, The Adventures of Bailey the Bloodhound, which has landed on the bestseller list. She’s now in the process of moving back to her hometown of Crosbyville, Indiana to finish the series when she comes across the mean girl to end all mean girls, Louboutin- and Givenchy-clad Whitney Kelley. Whitney is on the school board, and she can’t help but mouth off about everything she’s planning to cut—like social programs and art—and Paris’s favorite: a pet-assisted reading program (guess who stars in that?). Have no doubt, words are exchanged! Flip to the next morning, when Bailey and Pris are off on their walk, although Bailey won’t stop pulling Pris over to the begonia bed…and a very dead Whitney, face-down in the plantings. Readers will love this down-to-earth lead, big-time problems in a small town world, and the consistently fast pace of the narrative. Cozy fans may know Kallie E. Benjamin as V. M. Burns, the author of the Mystery Bookshop Mystery, Dog Club Mystery, RJ Franklin Mystery, and Baker Street Mystery series.
Live in Massachusetts and need to reinvent your life? Move to a small seaside town on the California coast. Molly Madison, ex-cop, former PI, and dog wrangler, does just that, wanting to put behind her the murder of her husband, for which she was never fully exonerated. Fortunately, Pier Point is a welcoming community that is perfect for Molly; her golden retriever, Harlow; and Noodle, a neighbor’s enormous, slobbering Saint Berdoodle that Molly semi-adopts. On a morning beach walk, Noodle digs up a woman’s hand, setting in motion a search for the victim and the murderer that again has Molly on the police’s radar. Rothschild has created the first in what could be a wonderful series. Molly is quirky and totally believable. The community is engaging. And Harlow and Noodle, rooted in real-dog behavior, make great co-stars who lend a great deal to the story. I’m hooked.