After 33 previous books in this series, you kind of know what you will be getting in the latest Andy Carpenter legal mystery, Bark Humbug. Andy, the rich snarky lawyer who just wants to be retired. His oh-so-competent wife, Laurie, and his 16-year-old son, Ricky. Plus a plethora of cute dogs, who are brilliant (but luckily don’t talk). However, this book has two surprising twists. The first caught me completely off guard and the second made for a satisfying conclusion.
It is always nice to hang out with the Carpenter posse. The book’s twists definitely freshened up this series that had grown quite formulaic. It is not necessary to read any of the previous books in the series to enjoy this one.
Bark Humbug is a great addition to the series. If you also are not anxiously awaiting Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas, you will enjoy exploring the holiday hating mind of Andy. It’s a funny and enjoyable read. 4 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.