Dog Tags

A German Shepherd named Bear witnessed a murder, and his owner, a veteran and former police officer turned thief named Billy Zimmerman, is accused of the crime. If he is convicted, Bear could be put down. Andy Carpenter's love of dogs is well documented and probably responsible for more pro bono work than any principled legal philosophy, and when he learns about Bear's situation, taking the case is inevitable. The investigation reveals that Billy and Bear have been unwittingly entangled in something considerably larger and more dangerous than a single killing.

Grover Gardner narrates the eighth Andy Carpenter mystery with the dry comic authority he has brought to the series throughout. His performance of Andy's self-deprecating internal commentary is perfectly timed, and his voice gives the canine-related plot elements the warmth without the sentimentality that the series has always maintained. At just over eight hours, Dog Tags is a satisfying mid-series entry that delivers both the procedural plotting and the dog-lover's emotional payoff.