Santa's Little Yelpers

Andy Carpenter #26

by David Rosenfelt

Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his humorous investigating team return in Santa's Little Yelpers, the next Yuletide mystery in David Rosenfelt’s bestselling series.

'Tis the season in Paterson, New Jersey: Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are surrounded by holiday cheer. It’s even spread to the Tara Foundation. The dog rescue organization, not used to having puppies, has their hands full with a recent litter. Eight puppies are a lot to handle, and Andy is relieved when his co-worker Chris Myers agrees to foster them.

Myers, a newer employee at the Tara Foundation, did time for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. When Myers discovers a key witness against him lied on the stand, he goes to Andy to ask for representation in getting the conviction overturned. Myers thinks they can have this wrapped up by Christmas, no problem.

But when the witness is murdered, and Myers is arrested for the crime, things go from bad to worse. Suddenly, it’s all elves on deck to make a list and check it twice, so they can prove Myers is innocent.

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Fiction, Audiobook, Dogs, Humor, Crime

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2022

About the author

I am a novelist with 27 dogs.

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.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidr...

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falalalala, la-la-la-la 🎄🎅

Christmas backdrop! A perfect book for dog lovers who enjoy light mystery, legal scenes, and a big splash of humor.

Chris Myers works at Andy's dog rescue, The Tara Foundation. Chris is an ex-lawyer who was disbarred after a bar fight that resulted in the death of the other guy. A witness who testified in court told Chris he lied at the time and would help Chris get his conviction overturned. When the two met, the guy was killed in a drive-by shooting. Chris was arrested for murder and it's up to Andy to help prove his innocence.

Santa's Little Yelpers has a multi-layer mystery that was quite surprising. Eight golden retriever puppies enter the story. I love funny dialog throughout the story and insults at Charlie's sports bar with Andy's friends. I found it very entertaining.

Grover Gardner is amazing as the narrator for this series. I would not read an Andy Carpenter book any other way.

I'm so happy that there are two Andy Carpenter books a year, one for summer and another for Christmas. I wonder if it's because it's Laurie's favorite time of year. Whatever the case, please keep them coming! 🐕💝

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this DRC.
Expected publication on Oct. 11, 2022!

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Legal Mystery, and this is the 26st book in the Andy Carpenter series. I have read all the other books in this series before picking up this book, but I do think you can read this book as a standalone series. I really love this series. Andy's character has a very dry sense of humor, but I feel it works. I found many parts of this book funny, but I wish the dogs had a bigger part in this book. I love that we got a little more about Marcus, and he talked a little bit. I did enjoy the mystery in this book, and the Christmas parts were cute. I did really enjoy how this book ends. There were parts of this book that made me think of another book in this series because I really think there was another book in this series that had a weird town in it. I cannot remember which book it was. I re-read this book by listening to the audiobook, and I really loved the narrator of this audiobook. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Minotaur Books) or author (David Rosenfelt) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new Andy Carpenter always brings a smile to my face. There’s a feeling of coming home, if home has a sarcastic older brother with an ornery sense of humor.
Chris Myers is a new employee at the Tara Foundation. He’s a disbarred lawyer, having served two years for manslaughter. A crime he swears he didn’t commit. When the man who was the eyewitness to the crime admits he was lying, Chris sees a chance to get his reputation back. But then the man reneges. Well, it’s easy to see where this one’s going… The man is murdered and Chris is arrested for the murder. Of course Andy takes his case.
Rosenfelt has a knack for writing complicated plots. The fun is in the twists he creates and watching how Andy works it all out. I’m always surprised that as the number of books rises, the quality does not slacken off and the plots remain fresh.
I love series with a strong team and Andy’s wife, friends and colleagues all fit the bill. In the last few books, Marcus has taken a somewhat bigger role and the reader gets to see another side of him.
I adore listening to this series as Grover Gardner is the perfect Andy. It’s now to the point that even when I read one, I hear Grover in my head.
My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

In this 26th book in the 'Andy Carpenter' series, set during the Christmas season, the defense attorney represents an ex-convict accused of murder.

*****

Ever since he inherited a large fortune, New Jersey defense lawyer Andy Carpenter takes very few cases.



Instead, Andy communes with his wife Laurie - who's in Yuletide mode;



hangs out with his son Ricky - who's been promised a trip to DisneyWorld;



and plays with his three dogs - golden retriever Tara; basset hound Sebastian; and pug Hunter - who are taken for long walks every morning and evening. This is challenging since lazy Sebastan - who only likes to eat and sleep - is about as maneuverable as an aircraft carrier and walks at a pace of around five feet an hour. 🙂





In his spare time, Andy also likes watching sports on TV and hanging out with his friends, newspaper editor Vince Sanders and Homicide Captain Pete Stanton, at Charlie's Sports Bar. Since Andy is a millionaire, he always pays the bill - and sometimes gets useful information in return.



Andy feels compelled to take a new case when his friend Chris Myers, who had been imprisoned for involuntary manslaughter, needs help. Since his release, Chris has been working for Andy's dog rescue facility, The Tara Foundation, and is now fostering a mama dog and her eight puppies.



It seems that Chris - who always insisted he was innocent - has a chance to clear his name. The witness responsible for Chris's conviction, Charlie Burgess, has had an attack of conscience and is willing to admit he lied under oath. Andy agrees to represent Chris in his efforts to overturn his conviction.....but unfortuntely the witness Charlie gets cold feet and recants his admission.

Before long Charlie is found dead, Chris is arrested for murder, and Andy has a big new case on his hands.



Of course Andy calls in his usual reinforcements: a private detective agency called the K-Team, which consists of Andy's wife Laurie - a tough ex-cop with connections in law enforcement;



Corey Douglas - a retired cop; Simon Garfunkel - a German shepherd who worked with Corey at the Paterson Police Department;



and Marcus Clark - the toughest, scariest guy on the planet. We learn a little more about Marcus in this book, like his favorite music and facility with language.



In addition, Andy gets help from his accountant Sam - a terrific computer hacker/data miner;



secretary Edna - who threatens to retire if she has to do any work. (I always get a kick out of Edna);



and other people in the Andy Carpenter law firm.

Andy and his helpers investigate everything to do with Chris's first conviction as well as the new charges, and they discover that someone may have wanted to get Chris out of the way. As always, the author's plot is twisty and complicated, but also lightened up by Andy's humor and sarcasm.



I always enjoy the Andy Carpenter books, which are formulaic but fun. Recommended to fans of humorous mysteries.

Thanks to Netgalley, David Rosenfelt, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[Dona's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laurie and I always visit murder scenes together. It's one of those cute little romantic quirks, the kind that all couples share. Sometimes I wonder, if there were no more murders, what would we do for entertainment? Laurie doesn't care much for sports, and you'd have to strap me down to watch ballet or opera, or to listen to classical music. Murder scenes are the one thing we can do together. 25%

It can be really difficult to come into a series of books (especially mysteries) in the middle (or in this case, at the end). However, David Rosenfelt wrote his characters, setting, and storylines so perfectly for SANTA'S LITTLE YELPERS that I felt like I was a seasoned reader of all twenty whatever books and not an interloper sneaking in at the end of the series. Because he made me feel so welcome in this book, I'm going to go back and read more of these books, starting with the first. Hopefully all of them.

I'm not the best judge of a mystery's validity, but I really thought the case in SANTA'S LITTLE YELPERS was well designed. Also, this book is funny, which you can probably tell from my excerpt. I lol'd often, which I really like, it always surprises me. I adored the dog and public service element tie-ins. The main character, Andy Carpenter, is so smartly and deliciously New Jersey, I can't get enough of him. And the narrator of the audiobook I listened to, Grover Gardner, gave a perfect performance; I can only hope he read for all the Andy Carpenter mysteries.

Thank you NetGalley, David Rosenfelt, and MacMillan Audio for an audio ARC of this excellent mystery!

Rating 5 stars
Finished October 2022
Recommended fans of mysteries, hardboiled detectives, detective couples, dog stories, legal procedurals, New Jersey/New York stories, murder mysteries
TW blood, police, courts and criminal justice, false conviction, lawyers, dogs, land grabbing

*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another fun addition to the Andy Carpenter series. I always enjoy the interactions between all the characters and the way the mystery plays out. I picked up a few things along the way with this one, but missed some clues too. I may go back and re-read it at some point to see those bits that I missed.

This is the 26th book in the series and I started at book 23. I have since gone back to the beginning, but am also trying to keep up with the end. I may re-read all the later books once I catch up just to keep them all in order, but David Rosenfelt seems to be able to write them almost faster than I can read them!

Once again, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Andy Carpenter Grover Gardner. He always does such an excellent job. I always try to listen to this series.

This is such a great series. I will admit that it is unrealistic in some ways and repetitive in theme, but you know exactly what you are getting when you pick up an Andy Carpenter story. Personally, I enjoy the characters, mystery, and humor in these stories and I am already looking forward to the next one, Flop Dead Gorgeous, which is expected out next July. I also look forward to expanding into the The K Team series soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I avidly read this series many moons ago and then I stopped. Have no idea why, probably other books pushed their way in the forefront. Forgot how amusing Andy was, self deprecating, and so ironic. Love his relationships with his dogs and the cases are interesting as well. Definitely a much needed, lighter read but one that also kept me invested in the storyline. Will make sure not to let a new book get past me again, in fact the sooner one is published, the better.

Adored the audio, felt the narrator was terrific.

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris, a former attorney, has recently been released from prison and is working with The Tara Foundation caring for a litter of golden retriever puppies. He claims he never committed the crime he served time for, and wants Andy to have his conviction overturned, since the witness whose testimony convicted him recently confessed that he was paid to lie. Then there is another death, and Chris finds himself accused again. Could it relate to one of his law cases? Is organized crime involved? Andy will figure it all out, with the invaluable assistance of Marcus, Laurie, Sam, Cory, Eddie, and Simon. Great plotting, likable characters, and all sorts of dogs—it’s not surprising that this series is one of my favorites. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came for the dogs but stayed for the humor. Seriously, how can anyone possibly ignore the cover of this one with those adorable puppies. Yet, while the dogs of the tale are certainly a huge draw, David Rosenfelt always weaves a story full of not just dogs and humor but deep dives into organized crime, corruption, and how investigations might be done. Heck, he even makes the legal process understandable. And, Andy Carpenter never loses his self-deprecating humor and smart-ass approach.

I must also admit, I am a biased witness, er, reviewer. As soon as this book was approved for me to review, I immediately set aside what I was then reading and dived into the world of wannabe-retired lawyer Andy, who does some of his best thinking while out walking his dogs. Sebastian never fails to draw a grin from me, btw, for his lack of enthusiasm for said walks. Tara, of course, is the world's best dog. Just ask Andy. He may also have the best investigative team ever, too, and Sam, hacker extraordinary, gets out of the office to spend some time checking out a site in person for a change. True, at that point Andy figures it's a relatively safe bet that Sam won't encounter any problems on this seemingly barely connected town visit. Oh, but even Andy can be wrong sometimes. Sam's encounter with some shady characters sets the stage for the rest of the story, one that ultimately involves diamonds and organized crime. There's something in there about a trip to Disney, too, but Andy assures us he won't be wearing mouse ears.

If the above confuses me, don't despair. I've long since learned to just sit back and enjoy the roller coaster ride that is an Andy Carpenter story. Even though I could have used a few more doses of Marcus, Laurie, as always, has Andy's back. There's even a new lawyer to oppose Andy this go-round and he sounds like a promising foe, albeit one we may wind up liking.

Bottom line, excellent pacing which moves right along, main characters you'll like, lovely dogs with personality, worthy opponents, and.....oh, almost gave away a key element of the plot. You'll have to read it to find out what the big hole in the ground is and why people keep winding up dead. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for letting me spend some time with Andy, Laurie, Ricky, Tara, Corey, and, oh, yes, Marcus, not to mention some adorable Golden Retriever puppies. Readers will love the ending.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book twenty-six in the Andy Carpenter Series.
I love this author's books, he has a dry sense of humor, but you know what, it gets the job done.
You can't fault a man who has rescued close to 4,000 dogs, many Goldens too old or sick for others to want.
I have read any enjoyed several of his books and will look for more. I do enjoy the dogs in his books but do wish they played a bigger part in the story.

Pub Date 11 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Star Gater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for accepting my request to audibly read and review Santa's Little Yelpers.

Author: David Rosenfelt
Published: 10/11/22
Narrator: Grover Gardner
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers

Andy Carpenter is back. While this is the 26th book in the series, it is my second. Thoroughly enjoyable. Grover Gardner was brilliant.

Andy is an attorney with a dry sense of humor and comedic personality. He is happily married, loves his kid, and the family dog. It is quite refreshing to experience this familial dynamic. There is always a case, and this book is not different. His client claims to be innocent. Andy and his staff go about putting their case together. All the while coming up against various obstacles.

There is some profanity.

This was a fun listen while I puzzled. I could see curled up with a glass of wine, and the book or the audiobook. Jessica Fletcher fans may also enjoy this.

Four stars: The comedy is well-written and the family dynamic brought this to 4.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone in the car enjoyed this book. They wished the roadtrip was longer.
Grover Gardner is the perfect Andy Carpenter. His voice really sets off the dry wit and humor of the series.
He distinguishes well between characters too.
An interesting mystery. It starts out with one goal, there are various levels added as the book progresses, and once the whole view is seen this is a whole 'nother story!

Excellent, whether you have read the series in order or not.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to form, SANTA’S LITTLE YELPERS features not only a myriad of doggie characters, but also David Rosenfelt's favorite wants-to-be-retired lawyer, Andy Carpenter. This is the 26th book featuring that self-deprecating, wisecracking, extremely dog-loving attorney who really doesn't want to work anymore. Most of these mysteries are more thriller than legal procedural, with a hefty dose of humor on the side.

This time, we meet former lawyer Chris Myers, who did time for a crime he didn't commit and now is being accused of a murder that he also had nothing to do with. Andy doesn’t know how he will prove his client’s innocence. Just when it looks like the trial will be a slam-dunk for the prosecution, newcomers to the series will learn what we faithful readers already know --- Andy and his team will uncover the real dastardly perpetrators of the vicious crime(s) in question.

Although Chris is a good guy who was fostering a mama dog and her litter of puppies before his arrest, he had motive and opportunity to commit the murder. Chris had been incarcerated for involuntary manslaughter, a charge that he insists was completely fabricated. When the only witness to the crime contacts him and says he wants to recant his testimony, Chris is hopeful that he can get the conviction overturned and work as an attorney again. It won't give him back the year he spent in jail, but it's a small step in the right direction for his future.

Unfortunately, before the witness officially recants, he tells Chris that he has changed his mind. He is obviously frightened about something. When Chris goes to talk to him, he is literally inside the house with the witness when someone (not Chris) shoots the witness dead. Chris had told people how angry he was about the witness's wavering, so he's a logical suspect. It's not going to be easy to absolve Chris of the murder, but Andy and his talented (and always funny) team are on the job.

When they discover that a known mob boss, a pastor and a university professor are involved in the shady goings-on in the small town of Metuska, they are at a loss as to what’s happening and how the murders might be connected. The dead include the son of the mob boss, another professor, the man Chris is accused of accidentally killing, and the supposed witness to the crime. Will Andy be able to figure it all out before the jury gets the case? (Of course, he will not let an innocent man be wrongfully convicted. There are dogs involved, for heaven's sake!)

We know that Andy will keep solving mysteries and not enjoy a well-deserved retirement. We also know that he and his creator will continue to rescue dogs in need. Rosenfelt and his wife have rescued over 4,000 dogs, and there is no evidence that they are slowing down. While it helps to love dogs while reading this series, it is certainly not required. Universally exciting and ultimately happy times for all are inevitable.

Reviewed by Pamela Kramer

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Santa's Little Yelpers (Andy Carpenter, #26) by David Rosenfelt.

This was a win-win situation for me with an Andy Carpenter book and Grover Gardner as Andy. I wait with baited breath for this series on CD.
Chris Meyers is taking care of new puppies that arrived at Andy's shelter. Chris spent time in prison for a crime he swears he didn't commit. Things get out of hand when Chris is again named in a murder. It's time for Andy to put on his attorney suit and defend a dog loving person he believes in.
Once again D.R. puts all his ducks in order or is that dogs in order? As things unwind the real perpetrators appear, but are they who they were believed to be?
Great fun and a wonderful series to get hooked on.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Title: Santa’s Little Yelpers
Series: Andy Carpenter #26
Author: David Rosenfelt
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Book
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: October 11, 2022
My Rating: 4.3 stars

This novel is #26 in the Andy Carpenter series and #20 for me! Of the twenty, most have been audiobooks as I just love narrator Grover Gardner. David Rosenfelt has a great wit and although I am reading this I honestly can hear Mr. Gardner ‘dead pan’ voice!

Andy Carpenter stories are always entertaining~ true they are formula driven ~ in addition to dogs; there will be courtroom drama (which I love and am never disappointed!), a surprising twist, and hopefully a Victory dinner!!!

If you are new to Andy, he is semi-retired as he came into a large inheritance. He typically only takes cases if there is a dog involved. He always has and needs help from friends and family: Laurie – his wife and Marcus- his bodyguard

In this story Chris, a former attorney, has recently been released from prison. Chris is a dog lover and while in prison he organized a program where inmates learned how to train rescue dogs who had not yet found a permanent home ~ usually do to behavioral issues. Sounds like a win-win!!
He actually got reduced time for good behavior. He is now continuing his work and is helping at The Tara Foundation caring for a litter of golden retriever puppies.
He claims he never committed the crime he served time for, and wants Andy to have his conviction overturned, however there now is a another death, and Chris finds himself accused again.

Can Andy and his assistants Laurie, Marcus, Sam, Cory, and Eddie plus Santa little yelpers Simon, Tara, Hunter, and even Sebastian -the low energy basset hound, figure this out before Christmas?

Now it is your turn ~ you have to read to find out!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Books for this early uncorrected eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 11, 2022

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite series. David Rosenfelt has the magic formula for making very hilarious and entertaining reading. I look forward to his next release for months, read the book in two days and then have to wait again until the next release!

Thank you David Rosenfelt for you fab stories, and of course all of the work that you do in the real world to help dogs.

Until the next release...!

A very enjoyable reread. I especially enjoyed the humor about Edna!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read the holiday books in Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series, but I should find the time to read more--they always provide some laugh-out-loud moments along with a solid mystery. And the rescue dogs are a story in themselves...

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Held my interest and had was overall good but wasn’t one of the best ones by this author.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did Andy get the third dog Hunter ?
I need to reread some books for that one.
Defendant: Chris Myers: dog lover, ex-prisoner, ex-lawyer and recovered alcoholic.
I got a bit lost (and bored) in the main mystery part .. but had figured that nuclear reactor had to do with making expensive jewels.
Liked the plot twist that involved Mr. Wallace as key witness for the defense !
The K-Team definitely involved in this investigation.
Lots of threats and lots of bodies.. as usual….
(I also have to brush up on when Eddie joined the crew ..
did Hike get married ? )
Acquittal ended the trial so no closing arguments needed.
Laurie got new exercise bike and Apple watch for Christmas. Drone used (via Corey’s friend) to discover what was behind a guarded wall in small Metuska,PA.
Ricky is 12 yrs old in this tale.
Rant against telephones (by Andy of course) carried successfully for whole book :)

[Jordan Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fabulous Andy Carpenter novel! I love Andy; I wish he was a real person. The fact that there are this many novels and his character has stayed consistent is very impressive. I am always wrapped up in how Andy will solve the problem, and this addition to the series doesn’t disappoint!!

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Barbara Blindauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 26th book in the Andy Carpenter series, and a very good read. I like the way Andy and his team get along and work well as a team. Andy ends up representing Chris, a disbarred lawyer in a murder. Of course, it is not a simple case and Andy uncovers a major ring and works with the prosecution to defend his client.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these Andy Carpenter books. Though formulaic, they're fun, easy reads. And have actually helped me in my understanding of law and such. :) Great read!

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't let the covers fool you, these are solid, entertaining and bingeworthy mysteries. So consistently awesome.

[Hobart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S SANTA'S LITTLE YELPERS ABOUT?
There's a new employee at the Tara Foundation—he's an ex-con, and an ex-lawyer (the former led to the latter). Chris is clear that he was wrongly convicted, but is trying to rebuild some sort of life and move on from there. Andy, Willie, and Sondra are happy to have him on board—especially because one of the shelter's dogs just had a litter, and Chris has taken mom and her pups into his house until they're ready to be adopted.

But since this is an Andy Carpenter novel, you know what's coming next—the dog lover introduced at the beginning of the book is headed for trouble. Chris is told by the major witness in the case against him that he was lying and will recant in court. But before Andy can get anything filed on Chris's behalf, the witness changes his mind. Chris goes to confront him, the witness is murdered, and, as we all expected, Chris is arrested for that crime.

It's up to Andy, The K Team, and the rest of Andy's team to try to prove him innocent of the murder—and maybe the initial crime.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK (A LITTLE) LIKE CHRISTMAS...
I'm not sure why Minotaur keeps doing these Christmas-themed Carpenter novels—there's very little Christmas-y (or other holidays) in them. The Christmas content in this one is less than usual—don't worry, there's enough to justify this being considered a holiday novel or to satisfy those who want that content. But just enough for that—not one sentence more.

I should stress—I'm not complaining about this. I'll take any excuse for an Andy Carpenter novel, and this gives us two in a year—and some of these "Christmas" novels have been better than the others released that year. I'm just wondering.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT SANTA'S LITTLE YELPERS?
Between the 25 previous books in the series and the 3 K-Team books, I like to think I'm pretty familiar with Rosenfelt and his bag of tricks—the series and I are old friends by now, and while I have a ball with these books, I pretty much see most things coming. Or so I thought. Sure, most of the book went as I expected, and I was enjoying it as much as I expected to. And then Rosenfelt pulled off a twist that I didn't see coming—my interest and appreciation for the book increased.

And then he did it again. I wouldn't have guessed that by book 29, Rosenfelt would be surprising me twice in one book. I'm not saying that I don't appreciate the twists and the turns of the stories in most of his books, because I really do—but I usually know something like them is coming—I didn't see either of these coming at all. (I do think I should've been in the ballpark for one of them, though, if I'd been on my game). And because of these reveals, a lot of the book played out in ways I didn't fully expect. I love it when an author does this.

Are all semi-savvy readers going to experience this? Not necessarily—but you just might.

Even without that—this is a classic Andy Carpenter book, there's some good Ricky material, Laurie and Marcus get to do their thing—Corey and Simon Garfunkel get some nice moments, too. Sam Willis (very minor spoiler) gets some out-of-the-office work, which is fun. And Andy meets a new judge and prosecutor and doesn't totally alienate them (I'm not sure he endears himself to either, either).

It's a good time, a clever case, with some typical quotable lines. Everything an Andy Carpenter fan wants—and, as always, this would be a good jumping on point for a newbie looking for an enjoyable mystery/legal thriller to read.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post and my honest opinion--thanks to both for this.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy is a criminal defense lawyer who doesn't want any clients. Because of the money his father left him and some lucrative cases, he is able to not work and spend his time with his friend, Willie, running the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue that he and Willie formed. He is married to Laurie, they have a young son, Ricky, three dogs and he is enjoying his life.

Chris, a volunteer with the Tara Foundation, was wrongfully convicted of murder and served his time. A witness was paid to say he saw Chris kill a stranger behind a bar and that's what put him behind the bars. The witness has approached Chris to confess that he did lie and he wants to come clean but he'll only speak with Chris. When the witness changes his mind, Chris is determined to change his mind but the witness is shot dead in front o f him. Panicked Chris runs from the house and is quickly arrested for murder. But this time it seems he has a reason ... revenge. Andy takes the case because they are friends and Chris is a fellow dog lover. Andy can't prove that Chris didn't do it so he has to come up with alternative scenarios as to who else could have done it.

This is the 26th in the Andy Carpenter series (I've read them all but somehow missed #25) and I have been liking this series. Even though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the ones before it to know what is going on). I like the writing style as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing. It was written mostly in first person perspective in Andy's voice.

I like Andy ... I think he would be a hoot to be around and he's quite generous with his time and money (he never charges for his services). Part of Andy's team is the K-Team (Laurie, a former police officer and now an investigator; Marcus, an investigator with "persuasive" reasoning skills; Cody, a former police officer; and Simon Garfunkel, Cody's former canine partner). Sam is his accountant who is also a computer hack who wants to be part of the action.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2022/10...

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Santa’s Little Yelpers: An Andy Carpenter Mystery
Author: David Rosenfelt
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Length: Approximately 6 hours and 41 minutes
Source: Review Copy from NetGalley. Thank-you!

Do you judge a book by its cover? I totally judge a book by its cover. I judged this book as being full of puppy love at Christmas and didn’t investigate what the story was about. This book actually doesn’t have much to do with puppies or Christmas, but it was a good story.

The story does start out with Andy Carpenter’s dog rescue, Tara’s Foundation, named after his golden retriever, Tara. The rescue has eight new puppies and Chris Myers works at the foundation helping with the puppies. Chris was once a lawyer but has been debarred after serving time for killing a man in a bar. Chris was drunk and doesn’t remember killing the man. Once he finds out the star witness has lied, he has hope that he will be able to overturn his conviction. But when the star witness is killed in a drive by shooting, Chris is arrested for his murder, and it is up to Andy to help Chris out. Will he be able to prove his innocence?

I thought the mystery was interesting and fun. Andy was a character. I loved his humor and his tenacity at solving the crime. The mystery had a lot of twists and turns, and I did not figure it out!

Santa’s Little Yelpers is number twenty-six of the Andy Carpenter series. I had not read any other books in this series, but I did enjoy this audiobook as a standalone.

I loved Grover Gardner’s narration. He has a nice deep voice that sounds like a detective on the scene of a crime. It fits perfectly with this book.

This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2022...

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio book, 6h, 41 m Narrator Grover Gardner (plus my original review of print version)

This was the perfect way to end my day, curled up on the couch with my own dog while listening to award winning narrator Grover Gardner read David Rosenfelt's 26th Andy Carpenter mystery to me. I've loved each and every Andy Carpenter book in the series and Gardner, the long-time narrator, is perfect. He has Andy's personality down. Running time 6h, 41m.

Having read the print version previously, you'd think I'd be bored listening to it again but you'd be wrong. You pick up things via the audio versions that you might otherwise miss while reading. I should probably note here that Gardner makes no attempt to imitate/differentiate voices, he simply reads. It works with Rosenfelt's writing style. As for the story, a summation of my initial review of the print version follows:

While the dogs of the tale are certainly a huge draw, David Rosenfelt always weaves a story full of not just dogs and humor but deep dives into organized crime, corruption, and how investigations might be done. Heck, he even makes the legal process understandable. And, Andy Carpenter never loses his self-deprecating humor and smart-mouth approach.

I must also admit, I am a biased witness, er, reviewer. As soon as this book was approved for me to review, I immediately set aside what I was then reading and dived into the world of wannabe-retired lawyer Andy, who does some of his best thinking while out walking his dogs. Sebastian never fails to draw a grin from me, btw, for his lack of enthusiasm for said walks. Tara, of course, is the world's best dog. Just ask Andy. He may also have the best investigative team ever, too, and Sam, hacker extraordinary, gets out of the office to spend some time checking out a site in person for a change. True, at that point Andy figures it's a relatively safe bet that Sam won't encounter any problems on this seemingly barely connected town visit. Oh, but even Andy can be wrong sometimes. Sam's encounter with some shady characters sets the stage for the rest of the story, one that ultimately involves diamonds and organized crime. There's something in there about a trip to Disney, too, but Andy assures us he won't be wearing mouse ears.

If the above confuses me, don't despair. I've long since learned to just sit back, buckle up and enjoy the roller coaster ride that is an Andy Carpenter story. Even though I could have used a few more doses of Marcus, wife Laurie, as always, has Andy's back. There's even a new lawyer to oppose Andy this go-round and he sounds like a promising foe, albeit one we may wind up liking.

Bottom line, excellent pacing which moves right along, main characters you'll like, lovely dogs with personality, and worthy opponents. You'll have to read it to find out what the big hole in the ground is and why people keep winding up dead. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress - #MinotaurBooks - #MacmillanAudio for letting me spend some time with Andy, Laurie, Ricky, Tara, Corey, and, oh, yes, Marcus, not to mention some adorable Golden Retriever puppies. Readers will love the ending and I'm hoping to see lawyer Chris Myers perhaps pop in occasionally in the future.

[Pennie Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is close to Christmas and the Tara Foundation has a litter of puppies! Chris Myers who is a disbarred lawyer because of a felony has offered to foster the puppies. In the meantime the man who testified against him has come forward and said he lied. Now he wants Andy to represent him to get his felony overturned. Too bad the witness has now turned up dead and Chris has now been arrested for his murder. Isn't that just the way! The narrator of this series is spectacular and I cannot imagine any other way to partake of this series. There is sass and snark and witty one liners. As usual, Andy pull out all the stops to represent Chris and dazzle his way in court.

**Received this ARC for review in audio from the publisher via NetGalley**

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Andy and all his family of characters. I loved that Marcus is being explored a little more. It is a formula that I enjoy a lot. Book 26 was as fun as all the others before.

[Janet R. Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as expected. Lots of humor and an absolute fun read. One of my favorite authors!