Fourteen years ago, Kristen McNeil was killed and the murderer was never located despite DNA evidence left behind. All that has changed this Christmas. However, the accused murderer, Noah Traynor, has luck on his side despite his arrest. His son, Danny, made a Christmas wish for only three items- a coat for his mom, a sweater for his dachshund, and for his dad to come home. Laurie Collins can’t resist a Christmas wish, particularly not one as poignant as Danny’s. She’s determined to use her investigative skills to clear Noah and ropes her husband, Andy Carpenter, in as Noah’s lawyer. Can Laurie and Noah perform a Christmas miracle for Danny this year? Or is Noah guilty of a long-ago murder?

I couldn’t resist the title of DACHSHUND THROUGH THE SNOW! After all, I’m a sucker for books featuring dogs, particularly dachshunds, and I love that Danny specifically asks for a sweater long enough for his pet’s elongated body. I’m normally not a fan of books featuring lawyers, but David Rosenfelt immediately drew me into the storyline because Andy is not your typical main character at all.

And speaking of Andy. . . I may have found my new favorite character in a series! Andy’s sense of humor had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion as I love his witty repartee. Andy has no illusions about his own strength or skills and knows when he needs backup muscle (ie his friend, Marcus Clark) to assist him. Andy’s job as a defense attorney has him associating with some unsavory characters at times and Noah’s case sends him into some dangerous situations.

DACHSHUND THROUGH THE SNOW is the twentieth book in the Andy Carpenter series but can easily be read as a standalone. I suspect, however, that other readers like me will find themselves hungering for more of Andy and his shenanigans. I’ve already downloaded another one of the books in the series and can’t wait to dive in yet again! DACHSHUND THROUGH THE SNOW is the perfect mystery to cuddle up with this holiday season!