One Dog Night

When a man is charged with the arson murder of twenty-six people, he doesn't call Andy Carpenter because Andy is eager for work—he calls because he knows a secret about Tara, Andy's beloved golden retriever, that Andy can't ignore. That single thread of connection pulls a reluctant defense attorney into a case involving buried pasts, a tragedy that shook an entire community, and a client who may or may not be telling the whole truth. The emotional stakes here are unusually high for a legal thriller: the case forces Andy to reckon with loyalty, guilt, and what it means to owe someone something you can never fully repay.

What makes this installment stand out is how David Rosenfelt balances genuine courtroom tension with his signature dry wit—Andy's internal commentary never lets the mood grow oppressive, even when the material is dark. The pacing is tight without feeling rushed, the reveals land with satisfying weight, and Rosenfelt's gift for grounding high-stakes drama in everyday human quirks keeps every page feeling lived-in. Readers who love character-driven mysteries will find Andy's voice as sharp and companionable here as ever.