Dead Men Don't Play Fetch: An Andy Carpenter Mystery (An Andy Carpenter Novel, 33)

When a homeless veteran is charged with stabbing a billionaire to death, defense attorney Andy Carpenter has every reason to pass on the case — except that an old friend is asking, and Andy has never quite mastered the art of saying no. The victim, Paul Vincent, was an eccentric philanthropist with a particular devotion to dogs, and the deeper Andy digs, the more his straightforward murder case starts to look like something far more complicated. As always, the stakes are someone's entire future, but Rosenfelt makes sure the human cost never gets lost beneath the legal maneuvering.

Thirty-three books into a series is a remarkable thing, and Rosenfelt earns it by keeping Andy genuinely funny without letting the humor soften the edges of the mystery. The writing is brisk and confident, the courtroom scenes feel grounded rather than theatrical, and Andy's running commentary on his own reluctance gives the narrative an irresistible dry wit. Longtime readers will feel immediately at home; newcomers will find the setup generous enough to jump in without missing a beat.