by Sandra Murphy

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book, and a link to purchase it from Amazon and an indie bookstore.

Andy Carpenter is a lawyer who hates taking cases. Thanks to an inheritance and an obnoxious winning streak his clients appreciate, he no longer has to go to court. Somehow, he ends up there anyway.

This time, it’s an out-of-town case. On the weekends, Andy, his wife Laurie, son Ricky, golden Tara, and basset Sebastian take an evening walk together. The walks are at a glacial pace because Sebastian sees no reason to exert any amount of energy. During their walk, they hear shouts and see a man abusing his pug. Before Andy, or more likely former cop Laurie, can reach the pair, another man comes running and punches the abuser. The police are called. Both men are arrested—the original man for animal cruelty and throwing the first punch, the rescuer for murder.

In Maine, two people were shot and killed execution style. DNA evidence says Matt, the rescuer, was the killer. He doesn’t remember where he was, the murders having taken place two years before, and he didn’t know the people who died. Still, juries either believe DNA is some kind of voodoo or unassailable evidence, a slam dunk case. It doesn’t look good for Matt.

Andy takes the case, just to represent Matt in his first court appearance. Of course, if he quits, then, it will look like he, too, thinks Matt is guilty. By the time Matt’s trial rolls around, the whole team is in Maine, hunting for clues. The whole team, minus Sam, who is the computer genius who wants to carry a gun. No way.

The plot has more twists than Sebastian has naps. There are more murders to deal with, friends who helpfully betray Matt, and a lot of confusion. Will Andy be able to maintain his winning streak and prove Matt isn’t a murderer? How could he be? Matt loves dogs, all the proof any dog lover needs.

This is book twenty-three in the delightful series. Who wouldn’t love a smart mouthed attorney, his sensible wife, a bodyguard-ish Marcus whose only speaking parts are grunts, Corey and Simon his K9 partner, and Sam the nerd. Just like Andy wins his cases, Rosenfelt writes a winner every time.

Look for book twenty-four, Best in Snow, in October 2021, just in time to read before the holidays.

To enter to win a copy of Dog Eat Dog, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “eat,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen September 4, 2021. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If you are entering via email please include you mailing address in case you win, it will be deleted after the contest. You can read our privacy statement here if you like. BE AWARE THAT IT WILL TAKE MUCH LONGER THAN USUAL FOR WINNERS TO GET THEIR BOOKS DUE TO THE CURRENT CRISIS.

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You can use this link to purchase this book from indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy, and KRL gets a portion of the sale:

Dog Eat Dog: An Andy Carpenter Mystery (An Andy Carpenter Novel #23)

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Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She’s editor for Peace, Love, and Crime: Crime Stories Inspired by the Songs of the ’60s, with twenty-two cozy stories. She also edited A Murder of Crows, twenty-one stories featuring animals and crime (no animals were harmed). She also writes for magazines, newsletters, and the occasional guest blog. Both anthologies are available at the usual outlets, print or ebook.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.