Bark of NIght

3.5 stars

A light, new mystery.

This is the 19th book in the Andy Carpenter series, but the first book that I’ve read in the series. There is enough background in the book so that I didn’t feel lost reading it, and the main story itself is a stand-alone mystery. I enjoyed the book, and while I probably won’t go back and read the first 18 books in the series, I will read the next book that is released.

Andy Carpenter is a lawyer that claims he doesn’t want to be a lawyer. Independently wealthy, he doesn’t need to work but seems to stumble onto cases and winds up taking them on pro bono. When Andy’s vet asks to speak to him in his office, he worries that something is wrong with his beloved dog Tara. The vet explains that a man surrendered a healthy french bulldog to be euthanized that he claimed was his dog, but it turns out the man didn’t own the dog and the true owner has been murdered. Andy and his team get involved to solve the mystery.

This was a quick, light read. The first person narration, as well as the “dad jokes” get a bit old after awhile, but overall the book is a fun read. The mystery was interesting and there were a few twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. This isn’t a hard-hitting mystery or crime novel, but it’s a good read.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.