Since I know that romance readers read many other genres and also that many of you are pet and mystery lovers, I decided to review David Rosenfelt’s newest release Leader of the Pack. While Rosenfelt has settled into a pattern with his books, I am a pushover for a smart mouthed hero and Andy Carpenter is that in spades.

This is a part of a series and while it may heighten your enjoyment to know a little more about the players, I believe that this book can easily be read as a standalone. Other books have left some relationships hanging, later resolving them over a period of time in other books, but that is not the case here.

Andy Carpenter, an independently wealthy attorney, has settled down in domesticated bliss with his girlfriend Laurie. He works when he wants to – which is rarely – and spends time with his favorite friend Tara, his golden retriever. When he is not taking Tara for long walks he can either be found enabling the mooching habits of his friends at his favorite sports bar or sitting in front of the television set at home. He is all ready for a solid day of NFL football when Laurie confronts him with her newest idea, causing Andy to cringe. Once assured that it is “ long-range, down-the-road” plan and that Tara is involved, Andy is a little more open to it. Still, her idea of using Tara as a pet therapy dog and visiting hospitals doesn’t entirely strike him with joy.

Still, this is how Andy ends up investigating a closed murder case. Tara’s and his first visit to the hospital is a complete success and while he never had any doubt about the wonders of Tara, he is amazed at the change their visit makes to the elderly patient. On his quarterly visit to one of his incarcerated clients, he mentions the miraculous transformation. Joey Desimone, whom Andy believes was wrongly convicted of murder, asks if he and Tara would visit his uncle. Pet therapy with a ruthless crime boss is not Andy’s idea of a good time but he feels guilty that he lost the case, so he agrees.

He finds Joey’s uncle spasmodically lucid and then lost in his own world. But he gets Andy’s attention when he states that the family should have taken care of crooked Richard Solarno, the man Joey was convicted of killing. Is this the break he needs to reopen the case? Digging further, he discovers the prosecuting attorney was aware of Solarno’s criminal enterprises, but failed to disclose it to the defense. Andy is granted a new trial for Disimone, opening his office again and bringing in his oddball team for this shot in the dark chance to right a wrong. But as with most of Andy’s investigations, things are not as transparent as they seem.

It seems idiotic to complain that this story contains duplications of elements that caused me to fall in love with the books in the first place. But somehow I wanted a little more growth, something more than the fixed roles in which Andy and the rest of the characters seem to be stuck. Not that I don’t like their parts, especially Andy’s audacious charm, but there is very little conflict outside the mystery. However, while there is little character growth, the plotting has plenty of twists and turns.

The banter between the characters and the character of Tara keep me going back for more. There is no better way to escape the heat then spending it reading a book that that baffles, charms, and makes you laugh. Leader of the Pack does all of those.