The Twelve Dogs of Christmas

When a neighbor files a zoning complaint against Martha "Pups" Boyer — a woman whose only crime is fostering more rescue puppies than local ordinance allows — defense lawyer Andy Carpenter is genuinely happy to take the case. That's saying something, since Andy famously avoids new clients the way most people avoid root canals. But a simple housing violation quickly becomes something far more dangerous, and what started as a holiday good deed pulls Andy into territory where the stakes are much higher than anyone anticipated. Rosenfelt wraps genuine suspense around a story that taps into something most readers already care about: the idea that ordinary people doing quiet, good work deserve to be protected.

What makes this book click as a reading experience is Rosenfelt's timing. Andy Carpenter's dry, self-deprecating narration moves fast and lands clean, turning even courtroom procedure into something enjoyable. The Christmas setting gives the story warmth without tipping into sentimentality, and the pacing keeps things brisk across 328 pages. Readers who love mysteries that balance wit with real tension will find this entry in the long-running series hits its marks with practiced confidence.