Book ~ "Deck the Hounds" (2018) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter doesn’t usually stop to help others but seeing a dog next to a homeless man inspires him to give the pair some money to help. It’s just Andy’s luck that things don’t end there. Soon after Andy’s encounter with them, man and dog are attacked in the middle of the night on the street. The dog defends its new owner and the erstwhile attacker is bitten but escapes. But the dog is quarantined and the man, Don Carrigan, is heartbroken. 

Andy’s wife, Laurie, can’t resist helping the duo after learning Andy has met them before … it’s the Christmas season after all. In a matter of days, Don and his dog, Zoey, are living above Andy’s garage and become two new additions to the family. 

It’s not until Andy accidentally gives away his guest’s name during an interview that things go awry; turns out Don is wanted for a murder that happened two years ago. Don not only claims he’s innocent but that he had no idea that he was wanted for a crime he has no knowledge of in the first place. It’s up to Andy to exonerate his new friend, if he doesn’t get pulled into the quagmire first.

Andy is a criminal defense lawyer who doesn't want any clients.  Because of the money his father left him, he is able to not work and spend his time with his friend, Willie, running the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue that he and Willie formed.  He is married to Laurie and they have a young son, Ricky, so he is enjoying his life.

It's the Christmas season and Andy and Laurie befriend a homeless man with PTSD named Don and Zoey, his dog, and offer to let him live in the apartment above their garage.  When Andy is interviewed in the newspaper after Don has been attacked, he gives Don's name.  The next thing they know, Don is being arrested for a two year old murder.  Don said he didn't do it and that he didn't even know the victim and Andy feels inclined to defend him.  Zoey turns out to be pregnant and Willie takes care of her at the rescue.

This is the eighteenth in the Andy Carpenter series (I've read them all).  I enjoyed this book and am enjoying this series.  I find with most series that by the time an author has come this far, the series isn't good and the author is pounding out the books just to get a paycheque.  That's not the case with this series ... the author is able to keep this series fresh and fun.

The story was interesting and there were some twists and turns along the way.  Even though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the ones before it to know what is going on).  I like the writing style of this author as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing.  It was written mostly in first person perspective in Andy's voice but is sometimes in third person perspective when the focus is on the bad guys.

I like Andy ... I think he would be a hoot to be around and he's quite generous with his time and money (his two best friends continue to take advantage of his tab at their favourite bar).  He loves their dog, Tara, and thinks she's the best dog in the world.  They also has another less lively dog named Sebastian.  Part of Andy's team is Laurie, his wife and former police officer and now his investigator.  Hike is his associate who is the most depressed and pessimistic person ever.  Marcus, an investigator with persuasive reasoning skills, continues to provide protection when it's most needed (which is often since Andy is a self-professed coward).  Sam is his accountant who is also a computer hack leading a team of elderly hackers.