Bark Humbug: An Andy Carpenter Mystery

October 13, 2026

Andy Carpenter is finally, truly, definitely planning to retire. At least that is the idea. He would much rather be watching football than getting dragged into another complicated case, and for once it seems like he might actually get some peace. But in classic Andy Carpenter fashion, peace does not last very long. What starts as a simple local holiday-season appearance quickly opens the door to something much bigger, pulling him back into the kind of trouble he never seems able to avoid.

This time, the mystery centers on the highly publicized murder of a gubernatorial candidate, giving the story a larger and more high-profile backdrop than usual. Into that chaos comes a desperate sister looking for help, and once Andy gets even slightly involved, readers can safely assume things are going to become far more tangled, suspicious, and entertaining than they first appear. The setup promises the kind of case Rosenfelt handles so well: one that looks huge and messy from the outside, but gets even more intriguing once Andy starts poking holes in the obvious story.

What makes Bark Humbug especially appealing is that it sounds like another perfect blend of Andy’s reluctant humor, holiday-season grumpiness, and a murder investigation that refuses to stay simple. As the latest Christmas mystery in the Andy Carpenter series, it looks set to deliver the familiar mix fans love: sharp dialogue, offbeat charm, legal and investigative twists, and of course a dog-centered heart underneath all the mayhem. It is scheduled to be published on October 13, 2026.