Dog Eat Dog

Early in Edgar finalist Rosenfelt’s enjoyable 23rd Andy Carpenter mystery (after 2020’s Silent Bite), the semi-retired Paterson, N.J., defense attorney is enjoying a stroll with his wife, Laurie, and their dogs when they see a man kicking a pug on a leash. They rush to the rescue, but another bystander, Matt Jantzen, gets to the man first and saves the pug after a brief fight. The police arrive and take the pug’s owner and Matt into custody, and Matt is soon arrested for the double murder of Peter Charkin and his girlfriend in Maine two years earlier. Though DNA found underneath Charkin’s fingernails matches Matt’s, Matt asserts his innocence, and Andy decides to represent him in court. Andy travels to Maine, where he discovers Charkin had dangerous ties to drug dealers and a quasi terrorist militia group. Laurie and her partners from her investigation group, the K Team, later lend assistance. Unpredictable yet credible plot twists, along with Andy’s dry sense of humor and wit, keep the pages turning. Longtime fans and newcomers alike will have fun. [em]Agent: Robin Rue, Writers House. (July) [/em]