LEADER OF THE PACK Andy Carpenter, Book 10

In the genre of quick-witted mysteries solved by man-and-dog teams, David Rosenfelt truly is the leader of the pack. Criminal lawyer Andy Carpenter returns to resolve a case he lost nine years ago, when Joey Desimone was convicted of a murder that Andy is certain he did not commit. Andy’s faithful canine companion, Tara, sniffs out some secrets about the old case that Andy pursues with dogged determination. Grover Gardner’s narration is delightful, adding sparkle to the tongue-in-cheek sarcasm that is Andy Carpenter’s hallmark. Gardner portrays the lawyer as somehow both street savvy and naively altruistic. Best of all, if Tara could voice her patient tolerance of human shortcomings, she would sound like Grover Gardner. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2012]