Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 16)
Publication: Minotaur (July 18, 2017)
Description: Collared is the next novel in David Rosenfelt's witty, heartfelt mystery series sees attorney Andy Carpenter suddenly fostering a child and defending a close friend suspected of murder
Lawyer Andy Carpenter’s true passion is the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization he runs with his friend Willie Miller. All kinds of dogs make their way to the foundation, and it isn’t that surprising to find a dog abandoned at the shelter one morning, though it was accompanied by a mysterious anonymous note. But they are quite surprised when they scan the dog’s embedded chip, and discover that they know this dog. He is the “DNA dog.”
Two and a half years ago, Jill Hickman was a single mother of an adopted baby. Her baby and dog were kidnapped in broad daylight in Eastside Park, and they haven’t been seen since. A tip came in that ID’d a former boyfriend of Hickman’s, Keith Wachtel, as the kidnapper. A search of his house showed no sign of the child but did uncover more incriminating evidence, and the clincher that generated Wachtel’s arrest was some dog hair, notable since Wachtel did not have a dog. DNA tests showed conclusively that the hair belonged to Hickman’s dog. Wachtel was convicted of kidnapping, but the dog and baby were never found.
Now, with the reappearance of the dog, the case is brought back to light, and the search for the child renewed. Goaded by his wife’s desire to help a friend and fellow mother and Andy’s desire to make sure the real kidnapper is in jail, Andy and his team enter the case. But what they start to uncover is far more complicated and dangerous than they ever expected.
My Thoughts: Andy's next case begins when a dog is left tied to the front door of the dog rescue he runs with is friend Wilie. The dog is chipped and turns out the be named Cody and owned by Jill Hickman. The dog had disappeared a couple of years ago when Jill's adopted baby son was kidnapped from a local park. Neither the dog nor the baby had been seen since.
In a spectacular trial, Jill's ex-boyfriend Keith Wachtel was convicted of the crime. His chief accuser was the nanny who claimed to recognize him. There was also other evidence including dog hair and fibers. Keith had proclaimed his innocence.
In order to help out Jill and try to find out what happened to her baby, Andy reluctantly becomes Keith's lawyer so that he can get the trial transcripts and the discovery documents. He also calls his team together to look into the case. They especially want to find the nanny who disappeared after the trial was over. They suspect she's the one who dropped off Cody at the foundation which raises all sorts of suspicions in Andy's mind. Of course, the $750,000 deposit in her bank account shortly after the conviction is suspicious too.
Andy's investigations take him deep into Jill's company where Keith also worked until he was fired under suspicion of industrial espionage which he also denies. Andy has to look into where the financing came from for Jill to expand her operation and finds the funds came from a noted drug dealer giving him another suspect in the original kidnapping.
This was an engaging and entertaining episode in the Andy Carpenter series. I love Andy's snarky and sarcastic point of view. I also love seeing his relationship with his wife and recently adopted son.
I bought this one September 29, 2023. You can buy your copy here.
I bought this one September 29, 2023. You can buy your copy here.
