YAY! Another Mac Faraday and Gnarly story and I can hardly wait to find out where Lauren Carr is going to take me now. Her stories never fail to entertain me, leaving me wanting more.
WOW! I am blown away. There is so much action and fun to be had in Best In Murder by Lauren Carr, but, of course, there has to be a downside, seeing this is a murder mystery. It all begins with a missing platinum and diamond dog collar and a missing Irish Wolfhound.
The kids and the dogs steal the show. As their actions unfolded on the pages they played like a movie in my mind. I had so many awww how sweet and laugh out loud moments, I never wanted them to end. Gnarly is the mayor of the town and throws his weight around, creating chaos. Can a mystery ever be solved in Mac Faraday’s world without Gnarly’s input?
There is so much I want to tell you, but I do not want to spoil all the fun you’ll have finding things out for yourself. Each book in the series can stand alone, so don’t be afraid to jump in at any time.
5 Stars
Book Details:
Book Title: BEST IN MURDER (A Mac Faraday Mystery #15) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +) Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: Oct 13, 2026 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
“Pedigreed dogs, rich owners, cutthroat competition, enormous egos, several murders, a stolen diamond dog collar, a missing Irish Wolfhound show dog, a disgruntled cop, and a criminally inclined biker with a vicious poodle all come together in this tale. As each new element dropped in my lap, I was pulled in further until it was impossible to put the book down. I consumed it.”– Marilyn R. Wilson, Book Reviewer and Author
Book Description:
One Collar. Two Dead. Total Chaos. When a priceless platinum-and-diamond collar vanishes at the Mid-Atlantic Classic Kennel Club Invitational—Best in Show at the Spencer Inn, it looks like the ultimate high-society theft. But when two women connected to the glittering event are murdered in quick succession, the case explodes into something far more deadly. Mac Faraday and his troublemaking German Shepherd, Gnarly, dive headfirst into the glamorous, cutthroat world of championship dog shows. Amidst perfectly groomed champions worth small fortunes, ruthless competitors, and million-dollar egos, the trail leads to a missing Irish Wolfhound whose value goes well beyond his blue-blood pedigree. As tensions rise between Spencer PD and the county sheriff’s office, Mac’s team races to untangle a web of greed, betrayal, and long-buried secrets—all while the elegant resort descends into delightful canine chaos. With show dogs of every shape and size turning the Spencer Inn into their personal playground, Gnarly does what he does best: stir up trouble and sniff out the truth. Fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny, and packed with four-legged mischief, Best in Murder proves that in the high-stakes world of Best in Show, the biggest prizes come with the deadliest risks.
One Locked Cottage. One Framed Dog. Two Four-Legged Detectives on the Case.
When beloved local Frieda Selleck is found mauled to death in her locked cottage, all evidence points to her gentle, arthritic Goldendoodle service dog, Michelangelo. But Mac Faraday refuses to believe the obvious. With help from his irrepressible German Shepherd, Gnarly, Mac must prove the loyal service dog was framed for murder.
Just days before the glamorous Mid-Atlantic Classic Kennel Club Invitational descends on the Spencer Inn, Frieda—a sharp-eyed woman with a reputation for “psychic” visions—had handed Mac a sealed envelope containing clues to her own killer. Now, with doors locked from the inside, no signs of forced entry, and a hidden wall safe emptied of cash and gold, Mac and Gnarly race against time to uncover the truth.
Joined by an unlikely four-legged partner in Michelangelo, the canine detective squad follows a trail of family secrets, phony smiles, suspicious alibis, and a desperate climb down a steep wooded hillside. As the pieces fall into place, Mac discovers that even the shiniest “golden child” can hide a dark heart.
A fast-paced, twist-filled cozy mystery packed with humor, heart, and plenty of doggy mischief. Perfect for fans of the Mac Faraday series!
“Who Framed Michelangelo?” is an exclusive prequel short story set at the Spencer Inn the week before the events of Best in Murder (Mac Faraday Mystery #15, coming October 13, 2026).
Meet the Author:
Lauren Carr is the author of over thirty acclaimed mystery novels, with more than half a million copies sold worldwide. Her fast-paced series—the Mac Faraday Mysteries, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and more—blend twists, suspense, humor, and unforgettable characters (including clever German shepherds!).
It’s Murder, My Son organically hit #1 in Mystery on Amazon, and her books consistently rank in the Top 20 Police Procedurals in the US and international markets.
A popular speaker and publishing consultant, Lauren lives on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV, with her husband and three spoiled rotten German shepherds.
I am happy to have Lauren Carr on fundinmental today. Welcome, Lauren.
10 Reasons to Become a Murder Mystery Writer
By Lauren Carr
You tried writing erotica, but things went seriously wrong during research and now your husband is in traction. Now, he refuses to help you do research for that genre anymore, so you need to find a genre that is less dangerous.
OR–
You have a really bad boss, but you can’t quit your job, so the only option you have is to kill him. But you don’t want to go to jail because—
you’ll miss too much work,
and then you’ll get fired, in which case you might as well have quit your job instead of killing your boss.
Therefore, you need to kill your boss and know how to get away with it. You have come up with the perfect murder.
After having committed the perfect murder, you have to brag about it! But if you brag about it:
everyone will know you killed your boss,
and then you’ll go to jail,
and then you’ll miss too much work,
and get fired.
In which case, you might as well have quit your job instead of killing your boss. So, how do you brag about committing the perfect murder without getting caught? Become a mystery writer.
OR–
You want to be a detective, but your husband refuses to be married to a detective who will lure crazy revenge-seeking killers to your home because they will stain the carpet with blood and put bullet holes in the drywall. So, you’re murder mystery thinking is confined to your mind.
OR–
You’ve been hearing and seeing some strange things going on next door and you’ve been documenting it. Now that you’ve been going over your notes, you can see that this would make some really interesting reading!
OR–
You’re friend’s supposedly amicable divorce suddenly turned bad and you’re a really good friend. Really good friends don’t just help you move—they help you move the body. After all the research you’ve done to help her, why not publish it to help others?
OR–
You’re a psychopath, but the sight of blood and gore in real life makes you queasy. So you can only be a psychopath in your own mind.
You’re a psychopath, but you’re sane enough to know that if you act on it that you’ll go to jail & you don’t want to go to jail.
OR—
The economy is hurting everyone—even the mob—who has cut back on your hours as a paid assassin. So, you might as well put what you know to work in another forum—murder mystery writing.
OR–
The economy is hurting everyone—even the mob—who has cut back on your hours as a paid assassin. So, you might as well put what you know to work in another forum—murder mystery writing.
OR– Just in case your husband suddenly turns up missing, you need to a reasonable explanation for why you have been visiting all these strange websites.
I love the post. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
MY REVIEW
If you are a mystery lover, you can’t go wrong with a Lauren Carr novel.
Shadows Of The Missing by Lauren Carr is a mystery on steroids. She blends the whodunit with suspense and thrills, making it hard to stop reading. I love the Geezer Squad and Chris Matheson. I love when secrets are exposed. We all know, you can’t run from your past. It follows you wherever you go.
The further into the book I get, the more the suspense rises and the pace picks up. There are multiple story lines and many suspects. It had me wondering what they all had in common and how the mystery would be solved.
There are a lot of characters and a list of them are in the front of the book. I have been reading Lauren Carr’s books for a long time now, so I am familiar with a lot of them.
My thanks go out to Lauren Carr for the opportunity to read and review Shadows Of The Missing.
4 Stars
Book Details:
Book Title: SHADOWS OF THE MISSING (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #5) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 434 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: May 5, 2026 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
“Are you into murder mysteries? Then look at Lauren Carr’s books if you want a cold case to unpack and enjoy. Then her latest series, “Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery,” is an excellent series to get your fix or bite into.”– 5-Star Review by Nightime Reading Center
“The Geezer Squad. They might not be in their prime physically anymore, but their combined intellect and skills at deduction are phenomenal.” – 5-Star Review by FUONLYKNEW
“Lauren Carr’s Geezer Squad has brought sexy back to mature men and women, whose kickass attitude and smarts sizzle as they melt the clues to those cold cases!” – Laura Fabiani, Library of Clean Reads
Book Description:
In the shadows of the missing, the truth lies buried.
Helen Clarke-Matheson believed she had escaped the shadows of her past, building a new life with Chris. But the past has a way of resurfacing, and when her sister arrives with a DNA test, Helen’s world is once again turned upside down. Her sister shattered the family history Helen believed to be true. Her young father hadn’t abandoned his family, and her delusional mother didn’t wander away from her children. Chris Matheson and the Geezer Squad, a quirky team of retired seasoned sleuths working under the guise of a book club, are drawn into a deeply personal investigation. They must wade through decades of buried secrets and conflicting accounts to uncover the truth behind the parents’ disappearances. As they peel back the layers of deception to unravel long-forgotten clues, they confront the lingering specter of murder and long-hidden crimes. Can they piece together the fragments of the past to bring closure to Helen and her siblings, or will the truth remain buried forever?
Book Title: CHRIS MATHESON COLD CASE MYSTERIES BOX SET (Book 1 thru 4) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 434 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: Oct 5, 2025 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
Book Description: Dive into the thrilling Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries with this exclusive box set, featuring the first four books in Lauren Carr’s bestselling series! Join retired FBI agent Chris Matheson and his quirky “Geezer Squad” as they unravel chilling cold cases, blending razor-sharp suspense, laugh-out-loud humor, and small-town charm. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, detective thrillers, and gripping whodunits, this collection delivers over 1,000 pages of heart-pounding investigations. What’s Inside:
ICE: Chris Matheson’s first case pulls him into a web of betrayal and murder tied to a decades-old disappearance.
Winter Frost: A chance encounter with his late wife, alive—years after the State Department declared her dead in a terrorist attack—shatters Chris’s world.
The Last Thing She Said: A cryptic dying message sparks a race against time to catch a killer hiding in plain sight.
Chris Crossed Murder: When a body clutching Chris Matheson’s federal agent badge is found dead in the snowy woods near an international airport, the Geezer Squad’s Christmas turns into a chilling whodunit.
Why You’ll Love It:
Compelling Characters: From Chris’s sharp detective mind to the Geezer Squad’s eccentric antics, every page brims with personality.
Twist-Filled Plots: Expect jaw-dropping surprises and clever red herrings that keep you guessing until the end.
Kindle Unlimited Ready: Binge-read this addictive series with your KU subscription or own it forever!
With over 500,000 books sold across her series, Lauren Carr crafts mysteries that hook you from the first clue to the final reveal. Ideal for readers of The Thursday Murder Club and fans craving witty, fast-paced crime fiction. Grab this Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries Box Set today and start sleuthing!
Book Title: ICE (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #1) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult fiction, 364 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: February 26, 2018 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
“Lauren spins an amazing web of lies, murder and love that will have you on the edge of your seat…I love the way Lauren spun this novel – I could not put the book down! I had to know what happened to Sandy and her unborn child and how this disappearance was tied into a string of other murders. I never saw the end coming but it was perfect and suited the novel. A definite must read novel!”5-Star Review by Carla at Working Mommy Journal
Book Description: When Sandy Lipton and her unborn child disappeared, the court of public opinion found young Chris Matheson guilty. Decades later, the retired FBI agent returns home to discover that the cloud of suspicion cast over him and his family has never lifted.
With the help of a team of fellow retired law enforcement officers, each a specialist in their own field of investigation, Chris Matheson starts chipping away at the ice on this cold case to uncover what had happened to Sandy and her baby and the clues are getting hot!
Book Title: Winter Frost (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #2) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult fiction, 332 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 22, 2019 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
“Filled with twists and turns, Winter Frost reads perfectly well as a stand-alone, although it is part of a series. The author creates tension and suspense throughout by keeping the reader guessing; she keeps readers engaged with well fleshed out characters and a dash of humor. Sterling, the retired German Shepherd police dog turned card shark, is a new favorite. As the story flows, the truth unfolds, layer by layer, leading to a satisfying conclusion.
“Winter Frost was an entertaining, at times humorous read with suspense, some surprises, and even cute animals in the mix.” Review of Winter Frost by The iRead Review
Book Description: It all started with a chance encounter in the city with Blair, his late wife.
Chris Matheson and the Geezer Squad, working under the guise of a book club, dig into the events surrounding his late wife’s supposed death halfway around the globe. A state department employee shoots himself in the back three times. A CIA operative goes missing. A woman is targeted by an international assassin three years after being declared dead in a terrorist attack overseas.
Nothing is as it seems.
In his most personal cold case, Chris fights to uncover why the state department told him that Blair, the mother of his children, had been killed when she was alive. What had she uncovered that has made her a target? Who terrified her so much that she had gone into hiding and why are they now after him?
Book Title: The Last Thing She Said (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #3) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 386 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: July 22, 2019 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
“Too many twists and turns to easily share about this book. Nevertheless, Carr has pulled off another “hit” that kept me reading in one setting until the clues were so well together that the villain fell into our laps…or Chris’s, LOL Carr has put a lot into the book beyond the mysteries this time…Characters enjoyed chocotinis, visited book stores…and even blundered into getting engaged (the ring had been purchased 4 months ago)… But, for me, a special thank you for the political spoof at a time when politics at the national level is devastating, gave me a laugh and lightened the load of it all!” – Review by Glenda Bixler, Book Reader’s Heaven
Book Description: “I’m working on the greatest mystery ever,” was the last thing noted mystery novelist Mercedes Livingston said to seven-year-old Chris Matheson before walking out of Hill House Hotel never to be seen again.
For decades, the writer’s fate remained a puzzling mystery until an autographed novel and a letter put a grown-up Chris Matheson on the trail of a cunning killer. With the help of a team of fellow retired law enforcement officers, each a specialist in their own field of investigation, Chris puts a flame to this cold case to uncover what had really happened that night Mercedes Livingston walked out of Hill House Hotel. Watch out! The clues are getting hot!
Book Title: Chris Crossed Murder (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +) Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: Feb 22, 2023 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
“Carr is a master at creating unique, complex plots and colorful characters, both evident in her latest cold case mystery featuring Chris Matheson and the geezer squad. The plot is twisted, the mystery unique and the ending a surprise. A must-read!” – Review of CHRIS CROSSED MURDER (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery, Book Four) byMarilyn R. Wilson, Author, Speaker, Book Reviewer
“Lauren Carr is among my favorite mystery writers. She knows how to write a fun tale while keeping readers engaged. …I would give Chris Crossed Murder one hundred stars if I could. I believe readers who enjoy reading well-written and clean cozy mysteries will most definitely want to read it. I have no doubt they will enjoy it as much as I did. The fifth installment from A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery series is on my radar for when it releases.”– Review of CHRIS CROSSED MURDER (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery, Book Four) by Amy Campbell, Locks Hooks and Books
Book Description: It proves to be a Christmas to remember when the Matheson family receives the horrendous news that Chris Matheson’s body has been found in the woods near an international airport.
Everyone is stunned—especially Chris Matheson.
The mystery deepens when they discover the victim has Chris’s federal agent badge and appears to have been investigating one of his old cases.
The Geezer Squad’s latest case is not only a whodunit but who-got-dun. Is this a case of mistaken identity? Was Chris the intended victim? If not, then they must identify the murder victim to find his killer.
With Christmas days away, join the Chris Matheson and the Geezer Squad as they race to piece together the clues to their most puzzling case yet.
Lauren Carr is the author of over thirty acclaimed mystery novels, with more than half a million copies sold worldwide. Her fast-paced series—the Mac Faraday Mysteries, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and more—blend twists, suspense, humor, and unforgettable characters (including clever German shepherds!).
It’s Murder, My Son organically hit #1 in Mystery on Amazon, and her books consistently rank in the Top 20 Police Procedurals in the US and international markets.
A popular speaker and publishing consultant, Lauren lives on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV, with her husband and three spoiled rotten German shepherds. Join the mystery at authorlaurencarr.com!
Book Title: The Prime Suspect (A Sam MacKade PI Mystery) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 430 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: Oct 26, 2023 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
“The plot is twisted. The characters are full of depth, with many hiding secrets. Mackade’s two dogs and Greyson’s cat are not only smart, but have attitude with a capital A. I don’t want to spoil anything, so all I am going to say is the cat is the hero who deals with one personal threat.”Marilyn R. Wilson, Author, Speaker, Book Reviewer, review of THE PRIME SUSPECT
“Lauren Carr is among my favorite mystery writers. She knows how to write a fun tale while keeping readers engaged. …“– Amy Campbell, Locks Hooks and Books
“I am, bottom line, amazed at the giant step that places Carr comparable to significant authors whose name slips off our tongues like, for instance, Nora Roberts. Watch this author–she’s moving quickly to where her goals are headed…”– review by Glenda Bixler, Book Readers Heaven
Lauren Carr is a master storyteller who combines the humor of Janet Evanovich and the investigative skills of Patricia Cornwell. She is always at the top of my reading list.” –review by Sherry Fundin, Fundinmental, As Eye See It
MY REVIEW
Lauren Carr has a large cast of characters in her novels and it amazes me how she is able to keep them clear in her mind, and the list in the beginning of her books helps me keep them clear in my mind.
A lone man walking across a deserted campus late at night. Such were the makings of suspense novels.
That was Dr Dermont Lynch’s thoughts as he walked through the deserted campus to his vehicle and was shot and killed. Bryce’s life has never been the same, since many think she was the person who killed him.
Sam MacKade’s mentor had tried to kill him, causing his injury that forced him out of the police force. He became a private eye. He hadn’t let anyone close, except for his canine companions. Will Bryce be the one to open his eyes, his heart and his life to…more?
Dogs, like Gus and Cleo, Dutch Shepherds, are hallmarks of Lauren Carr’s novels. They put many smiles on my face, at times having me laughing out loud. Lauren’s writing and creativity in describing their actions, antics and training add so much delicious goodness and feel good feelings to her stories. Between them and Sam, I think the Sam MacKade series may be my new favorite.
Bryce Greyson is one of the main characters, but her friends, Susan, Erin and Cat play important roles. With so much action and mystery, we have plenty of room for lots of characters.
“Don’t let the cat leave town.”
Bryce’s cat Misha, is a Ninja Cat and I LOVE IT! The whole situation in Bryce’s house, around page 360, was at turns funny, frightening and frustrating. I laughed at the mayhem Misha caused protecting her domain.
The Prime Suspect by Lauren Carr is filled with hours of reading entertainment. We have more than one mystery, danger and suspense, dogs with giant personalities and a ninja cat…oh my…with plenty of villains suspects, thieves and murderers.
Go ahead and pick up a copy of The Prime Suspense by Lauren Carr…and try to put it down. Go ahead. I dare ya. Can’t be done. There is so much going on, so many clues to follow, so many deaths, my head is spinning and I never want it to end.
5 Stars
Book Description: Two murders with one common denominator. Both victims betrayed Bryce Greyson. How could she not be the prime suspect?
Four years after Bryce’s cheating husband is gunned down, her boyfriend-stealing former roommate’s remains are found buried under a statue at her alma mater.
Declared the prime suspect by both detectives and the media, Bryce has no choice but to hire someone to clear her name.
Enter Sam MacKade, private eye.
To solve two murders, the former police K-9 officer and his canine partners must sift through the clues and the lies to reveal the true prime suspect.
Selling over half a million books worldwide, Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—thirty titles across five fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.
The owner of Acorn Book Services and iRead Book Tours, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors.
Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and author panels at conventions.
She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
Book Title: Chris Crossed Murder (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +) Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: Feb 22, 2023 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
MY REVIEW
I have been loving the Chris Matheson Cold Case series by Lauren Carr for four books now. I think it would make a fabulous TV series, along the lines of Bones, Castle, or Rizzoli and Iles. I do love humor with my murder, add some unique critters with huge personalities that are a source of amusement, and I feel you can’t go wrong. I think my favorite may be Sterling. He sure does shine in many ways. Also, Thor. What a cutie pie.
Tis the season and there is a mystery to be solved. Will they get it done in time to enjoy the holiday season? I like to think so.
“What would have happened if someone had killed you?”
You Mom and the Geezer Squad would have hunted the bad guy to the ends of the earth and brought the full force of hell down on him.”
That’s an example of Lauren Carr’s writing style that hooks me and keeps me coming back for more in this cold case series. The characters shine and pool their investigative skills under the guise of a book club. The Geezer Squad is on the case, so the villains better beware.
Chris Matheson may be a retired FBI agent, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any dead bodies in his future. The interaction between the characters, human and animal alike, are mixed with murder and danger, with a sprinkle of romance scattered throughout. I laughed, I worried, I got down right angry, but it all worked out in the end…except for the bad guys.
I love cold cases. They tend to creep up on the characters, leading them left, right, up and down and all around. Revenge and greed may be the death of someone, but I’m not telling who. The ending…I loved it. I had some things figured out, but I didn’t know THAT was coming until I got there. What a fabulous surprise and I was left with a feeling of satisfaction for a job well done, Lauren.
There were several bumps in the road, otherwise this would have been a 5 star review.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Chris Crossed Murder by Lauren Carr.
4 Stars
“Carr is a master at creating unique, complex plots and colorful characters, both evident in her latest cold case mystery featuring Chris Matheson and the geezer squad. The plot is twisted, the mystery unique and the ending a surprise. A must-read!” – Review of CHRIS CROSSED MURDER (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery, Book Four) byMarilyn R. Wilson, Author, Speaker, Book Reviewer
“Lauren Carr is among my favorite mystery writers. She knows how to write a fun tale while keeping readers engaged. …I would give Chris Crossed Murder one hundred stars if I could. I believe readers who enjoy reading well-written and clean cozy mysteries will most definitely want to read it. I have no doubt they will enjoy it as much as I did. The fifth installment from A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery series is on my radar for when it releases.”– Review of CHRIS CROSSED MURDER (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery, Book Four) by Amy Campbell, Locks Hooks and Books
Book Description: It proves to be a Christmas to remember when the Matheson family receives the horrendous news that Chris Matheson’s body has been found in the woods near an international airport.
Everyone is stunned—especially Chris Matheson.
The mystery deepens when they discover the victim has Chris’s federal agent badge and appears to have been investigating one of his old cases.
The Geezer Squad’s latest case is not only a whodunit but who-got-dun. Is this a case of mistaken identity? Was Chris the intended victim? If not, then they must identify the murder victim to find his killer.
With Christmas days away, join the Chris Matheson and the Geezer Squad as they race to piece together the clues to their most puzzling case yet.
Nikki had returned to her small town home in Pine Grove, PA, to run her family’s TV station, WKPG TV. She is an investigative journalist and loves the freedom she has to choose what the station runs.
Ryan is the head of the state crime lab, her high school boyfriend.
It has been twenty years since Jodi had been tried in the court of public opinion for her mother’s murder. She claimed she was innocent, but people couldn’t understand how she did not hear anything, seeing it was a very small house.
Nikki is determined to solve the mystery and find the killer. She can relate to Jodi, because her dad had been murdered and it wasn’t until decades later that the mystery was solved.
In cozies, it seems there is always a critter who has a large personality and The Wrong Side Of Murder is no exception, with Elmo having the privilege of filling that slot.
Smiles, romance, laughs and mystery. Bodies pile up and there are plenty of suspects to go around.
Lauren Carr is adept at creating mysteries with characters that can seem like your net door neighbors, critters and dialogue that keep me smiling through the crime solving.
For me, cozies are hard to rate and I find it the same for The Wrong Side Of Murder. A wonderful summer read, light on the suspense but fun to read.
You may want this in your beach bag.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Wrong Side Of Murder by Lauren Carr.
3 Stars
Join us for this tour from Oct 3 to Oct 28, 2022!
Book Details:
Book Title: The Wrong Side of Murder(A Nikki Bryant Cozy Mystery) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +) Narrated by Anita Alger Length: 7.8 hours Genre: Mystery/Cozy Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: July 21, 2022 Content Rating: This cozy mystery is rated G for everyone!
The Wrong Side of Murder is another wonderful cozy mystery by author Lauren Carr. It has all the elements that draw me in – an intelligent female lead, an equally smart boyfriend who partners to help her, a complicated plot where clues are slowly revealed, people who aren’t what they seem to be, comedic moments to balance the darker ones, and several quirky pets full of personality.
It’s a wonderful book to escape into at the end of the day. And get ready to read into the wee hours as, if you’re like me, you won’t be able to stop reading until the mystery is revealed. -review by Marilyn R. Wilson, Olio by Marilyn
Nikki’s an intense individual who makes the perfect investigative journalist. She wants answers yesterday and she is willing to dig in to get them. She might get it wrong at the beginning but with the help of her family and close friends, she’ll get the answers she wants and needs.– review by Blooming with Books
Join us for this tour from August 1 to August 26, 2022!
Book Details:
Book Title: The Wrong Side of Murder(A Nikki Bryant Cozy Mystery) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 274 pages Genre: Mystery/Cozy Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: July 21, 2022 Content Rating: This cozy mystery is rated G for everyone!
MY REVIEW
Nikki had returned to her small town home in Pine Grove, PA, to run her family’s TV station, WKPG TV. She is an investigative journalist and loves the freedom she has to choose what the station runs.
Ryan is the head of the state crime lab, her high school boyfriend.
It has been twenty years since Jodi had been tried in the court of public opinion for her mother’s murder. She claimed she was innocent, but people couldn’t understand how she did not hear anything, seeing it was a very small house.
Nikki is determined to solve the mystery and find the killer. She can relate to Jodi, because her dad had been murdered and it wasn’t until decades later that the mystery was solved.
In cozies, it seems there is always a critter who has a large personality and The Wrong Side Of Murder is no exception, with Elmo having the privilege of filling that slot.
Smiles, romance, laughs and mystery. Bodies pile up and there are plenty of suspects to go around.
Lauren Carr is adept at creating mysteries with characters that can seem like your net door neighbors, critters and dialogue that keep me smiling through the crime solving.
For me, cozies are hard to rate and I find it the same for The Wrong Side Of Murder. A wonderful summer read, light on the suspense but fun to read.
You may want this in your beach bag.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Wrong Side Of Murder by Lauren Carr.
3 Stars
The Wrong Side of Murder is another wonderful cozy mystery by author Lauren Carr. It has all the elements that draw me in – an intelligent female lead, an equally smart boyfriend who partners to help her, a complicated plot where clues are slowly revealed, people who aren’t what they seem to be, comedic moments to balance the darker ones, and several quirky pets full of personality.
It’s a wonderful book to escape into at the end of the day. And get ready to read into the wee hours as, if you’re like me, you won’t be able to stop reading until the mystery is revealed. – Marilyn R. Wilson, Olio by Marilyn
Nikki’s an intense individual who makes the perfect investigative journalist. She wants answers yesterday and she is willing
to dig in to get them. She might get it wrong at the beginning but with the help of her family and close friends, she’ll get the answers she wants and needs.– review by Blooming with Books
Book Description:
Nikki Bryant’s Next Case Takes Her to the Wrong Side of Murder
One spring morning, Jodi Gibbons got up and went to school as she did every day. Her young life went sideways though when the police found that her mother had been brutally killed during the night.
Twenty years later, many in Pine Grove believe Jodi got away with murder. After all, how could she have possibly slept through her
mother’s violent death in the very next room? After decades of silence, Jodi accepts investigative journalist Nikki
Bryant’s invitation to tell her side of the story. However, before the interview can take place, someone silences Jodi permanently.
Now it is up to Nikki Bryant and her friends to uncover the secret that Jodi Gibbons has been protecting—a secret someone believes it is worth killing to keep from being revealed.
Be Sure to Check Out the First Installment in the Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries:
Book Details:
Book Title: Killer Deadline(A Nikki Bryant Cozy Mystery) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 232 pages Genre: Mystery/Cozy Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: April 23, 2020 Content Rating: This cozy mystery is rated G for Everyone!
I love this cozy mystery! It is full of suspense, action packed, fast pace with that small town feeling. I love the characters, I have to admit, I fell in love with Elmo on the spot! I loved Nikki’s spunk and determination. She keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire book! I highly recommend this book to those who loves a good cozy mystery!!– 5-Star Review at Splashes of Joy
Book Description:
Folks in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, claim that where Nikki Bryant goes, trouble is not far behind. Her refusal to back down from a challenge has made Nikki Bryant a top investigative journalist.
When an online friend nudges her to join him in a pact to reconnect with their first loves, Nikki and her boxer dog Elmo leave the bright lights of Las Vegas for the charming town of Pine Grove. There, she must face the biggest challenges in her career and life—the first love she had left behind and her father’s unsolved murder.
But before she has time to unpack her car, Nikki stumbles upon the dead body of local news anchor, Ashleigh Addison, her childhood rival. Could Ashleigh’s death be connected to an explosive news story that she had teased about airing live? Did that explosive story have anything to do with the murder of Nikki’s father?
With the clues in her father’s cold case hot again, Nikki intends to chase down the story of her life until she catches his killer—no matter what it takes.
Join us for this tour from July 5 to July 29, 2022!
Book Details:
Book Series: The Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries Category: Adult fiction (18+ yrs) Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: April 23, 2020 Content Rating: This cozy mystery book series is rated G. Suitable for everyone.
“I love this cozy mystery! It is full of suspense, action-packed, fast pace with that small-town feeling. I love the characters, I have to admit, I fell in love with Elmo on the spot! I loved Nikki’s spunk and determination. She keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire book! And I usually try to pick up all if the clues and figure out whodunnit but this story kept taking twists and turns that I was surprised. This is just type of cozy mysteries I love to read.” – 5-Star review by Splashes of Joy
“An excellent blend of mystery and suspense with comic relief and romance…. Lauren has a great way of balancing this without taking away from the story. We have well-developed characters, that you can’t help but feel a connection to. I loved Nikki’s character but also her connections to her hometown, her family and her lost love.”– review by Working Mommy Journal
Book Series Description:
Folks in the small town of Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, claim that where Nikki Bryant goes, trouble is not far behind. Her refusal to back down from a
challenge has made Nikki Bryant a top investigative journalist.
After years of chasing mysteries around the globe, Nikki Bryant returns home to Pine Grove to take over managing WKPG-TV and reconnects with her first love, Ryan Spaulding, the chief of the state police crime lab.
It doesn’t take long for Nikki and her family to realize that you can’t keep this ace reporter and her boxer dog Elmo behind a desk–especially
when a mystery is afoot.
Join us for this tour from Mar 28 to June 24, 2022!
MY REVIEW
Deputy Chief Dustin O’Meara, his daughter, father in law and four women were murdered in a home invasion and Mac Faraday is on the case. Because of that, the perp needs to be very nervous because Mac always gets his man.
“To the animal behind this, I want to say only one thing. I’m coming for you…and I will find you.”
Lots of great characters, human and animal both.
Teddy is a hero, a cockatoo with an attitude, and I love him. I love Kourtney too. This ten year old girl is such a fabulous character, older than her years. Gnarly always cracks me up with his hijinks. Erica, the Cold Case Diva, has a horse in a dog suit. How cool is that?
Mac may need some help, so the Nancy Drew Crew is on the case. They even made Kourtney a Junior member.
Lauren is so creative and adds a touch of humor to her murder, and I found myself smiling….a lot, sometimes laughing out loud. There is so much I want to share about the critters, but I must leave it up to you to find out why I love them so much.
I have been reading the Mac Faraday series for a long time now, but Shadow of Murder is not one of my favorites. I enjoyed the story, but I got bogged down with so many characters and so much info that I kept getting lost. This is an ARC, not a finished product, so changes may be made, creating a more polished version that the one I read.
So many plots, so many suspects, some murder, some laughs, some romance.
For a police procedural, Shadow of Murder was filled with action and a battle between good and evil and a wild ride at the end, making it all worth it.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Shadow of Murder by Lauren Carr.
3 Stars
Book Details:
Book Title: Shadow of Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 14) Category: Adult fiction, 496 pages Genre: Murder Mystery / Police Procedural / Crime Fiction Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: Mar 30, 2022 Content Rating: PG-13.
Lauren Carr’s mysteries are murder mysteries. Sometimes, the murder does happen on-stage. There is no graphic violence or explicit sex.There is some very mild language (hell or damn, very few and far between) No
F-Bombs!
“Five Stars for Lauren Carr’s 14th book of the Mac Faraday Murder Mysteries,Shadow of Murder!
In this new release, she has recaptured the fun of cute “creatures” with the fast-moving, suspenseful, and captivating mystery, along with her usual touch of romance.” – review by Lu Ann Worley, Rockin’ Book Reviews
“This newest title in the author’s Mac Faraday cozy murder mystery series offers Lauren Carr’s most intricate plot to date – full of twists and turns guaranteed to keep readers up until the wee hours. While still full of the humor, fun critters and touch of romance that are her trademark, the author has also woven in a dark supernatural element that
whispers through to the startling ending.”– review by Marilyn R. Wilson, bestselling author, freelance writer, editor, and speaker at Olio by Marilyn.
Book Description:
You can’t move to the next chapter of your life, without tying up loose ends in the previous.
True crime blogger, Erica Hart starts a new chapter in her life with a bang when a dark shadow darts into the mountain road to send her SUV off a cliff and to the bottom of Deep Creek Lake. Spencer’s newest addition to the police force, Dusty O’Meara assumes it was a bear. Erica is not so sure.
Soon afterwards, contractors discover Konnor Langston’s body at the bottom of an abandoned swimming pool at the new summer home of Mac Faraday’s son.
With Police Chief David O’Callaghan away on paternity leave, Deputy Chief Dusty O’Meara must lead the investigation in his first murder case since moving to Spencer. Not only does Dusty have to work under the shadow of the legendary Mac Faraday, but he also has to match wits with Erica, who is determined to find justice for Konnor, her childhood friend.
Mac isn’t so difficult. Even Gnarly, the town’s canine mayor, is manageable if his authority is well-respected and he is kept entertained.
Erica Hart, Dusty finds, is more of a challenge. It wouldn’t be so difficult if she wasn’t so irresistible.
“Lauren’s dialogue is brisk, her setting beautiful and the addition of Gnarly is very clever…It’s Murder, My Son is a delightful read and I look forward to more of Carr’s Mac Faraday mysteries.”– review by Connie Gregory, Connie’s Reviews
Book Details:
Book Title: It’s Murder, My Son by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 1) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 288 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 23, 2010
Book Description:
What started out as the worst day of Mac Faraday’s life would end up being a new beginning. After a messy divorce hearing, the last person that Mac wanted to see was another lawyer. Yet, this lawyer wore the expression of a child bursting to tell his secret. This confidence would reveal Mac as heir to undreamed of fortunes, and lead him to the birthplace of America’s Queen of Mystery and an investigation that will unfold like one of her famous
mystery novels.
Soon after she moves to Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, Katrina Singleton learns that life in an exclusive community is not all good. For some unknown reason, a strange man calling himself “Pay Back” begins stalking her. When Katrina is found strangled all evidence points to her terrorist, who is nowhere to be found.
Three months later, the file on her murder is still open when Mac Faraday, sole heir to his unknown birth mother’s home and fortune, moves into the estate next door. Little does he know as he drives up to Spencer Manor that he is driving into a closed gate community that is hiding more suspicious deaths than his DC workload as a homicide
detective. With the help of his late mother’s journal, this retired cop puts all his detective skills to work to pick up where the local investigators have left off to follow the clues to Katrina’s killer.
“As in any good who-done-it, there are red herrings and plot complications in Old Loves Die Hard and fans of mysteries and police procedurals will get a kick out of Lauren Carr’s books.”– review by David M. Kinchen, Huntington News
Book Details:
Book Title: Old Loves Die Hard by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 2) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 318 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: April 23, 2011
Book Description:
In Old Loves Die Hard, Carr picks up where she left off in It’s Murder, My Son.
Mac Faraday is settling nicely into his new life at Spencer Manor when his ex-wife Christine shows up—and she wants him back! Before Mac can send her packing, Christine and her estranged lover are murdered in Mac’s private penthouse suite at the Spencer Inn, the five-star resort built by his ancestors.
The investigation leads to the discovery of cases files for some of Mac’s murder cases in the room of the man responsible for destroying his marriage. Why would his ex-wife’s lover come to Spencer to dig into Mac’s old cases?
With the help of his new friends on Deep Creek Lake, Mac must use all of his detective skills to clear his name and the Spencer Inn’s reputation, before its five-stars—and more bodies—start dropping.
“Shades of Murder is a fascinating, intricately woven mystery that has a number of engaging characters looking into two cases that would seem to have
nothing in common. …This is a most entertaining entry in this series, made all the more so by the wonderful inclusion of Gnarly and Irving, Mac’s dog and Gates’s black and white cat, who meet during the course of
the story.”– review by Mysterious Reviews
Book Details:
Book Title: Shades of Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 3) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 232 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: May 7, 2012
Book Description:
In Shades of Murder,
Mac Faraday is once again the heir to an unbelievable fortune. This time the benefactor is a stolen art collector. But this isn’t just any stolen work-of-art–it’s a masterpiece with a murder attached to it.
Ilysa Ramsay was in the midst of taking the art world by storm with her artistic genius. Hours after unveiling her latest masterpiece–she is found dead in her Deep Creek Lake studio–and her painting is nowhere to be found. Almost a decade later, the long-lost Ilysa Ramsay masterpiece has found its way into Mac Faraday’s hands and he can’t resist the urge to delve into the case.
A world away, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; former JAG lawyer Joshua Thornton agrees to do a favor for the last person he would ever expect to do a favor–a convicted serial killer.
The Favor: Solve the one murder wrongly attributed to him.
Joshua finds an unexpected ally in Cameron Gates, a spunky detective who has reason to believe the young woman known to the media only as Jane Doe, Victim Number Four, was the victim of a copycat. Together, Joshua and Cameron (*) set out to light a flame under the cold case only to find that someone behind the scenes wants the case to remain cold, and is willing to kill to keep it that way.
Little do these detectives know that the paths of their respective cases are on a collision course when they follow the clues to bring them together in a showdown with a killer who’s got a talent for
murder!
“I must
say, I truly enjoyed reading this book! I found myself waking up
slightly early for work just to finish a couple chapters! Not only was
this book captivating, I found myself laughing at Gnarly, the ever so
lovable and rambunctious German Shepherd! I look forward to reading the
next book by Lauren Carr!”– Review by Debbie Hill, Miss Book Lovers
Book Details:
Book Title: Blast from the Past by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 4) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 301 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 2, 2013
Book Description:
A woman is killed when she
falls down the stairs. Men die writhing, in a little coffee shop. Death
may not be that unusual these days in Deep Creek Lake, but then someone
tries to kill Archie, the woman Mac Faraday loves.
When she tells Mac the reason behind it and her secret is
exposed, Mac and the entire police department will go to extremes to
keep Archie safe.
That raises rather a lot of questions:
Who exactly are they protecting her from? Could it be warring crime lords? Hit men? Why does one particular couple keep showing up around town? Just how many killers are there, anyway? Is anyone who they say they are?
“So much fun to read! The
castle seemed foreboding. The rumors of the ghost dog, werewolves, and
more made more plausible in light of the murders. Is it enough to make
even detectives reconsider? Is it all about the missing book or is the
real motive money?”– review byMystery Suspense Reviews
Book Details:
Book Title: The Murders at Astaire Castle by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 5) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 281 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: July 18, 2013 Content Rating:
PG-13 – Lauren Carr’s mysteries are murder mysteries. Sometimes, the
murder does happen on-stage. There is no graphic violence or explicit
sex.There is some very mild language (hell or damn, very few and far
between) No F-Bombs!
Book Description:
Never tell Mac Faraday not to go someplace.
Spencer’s police chief, David O’Callaghan, learns this lesson
the hard way when he orders Mac to not go to the south end of Spencer’s
mountaintop —even though he owns the property. It doesn’t take long for
Mac to find out what lies on the other side of a stone wall
and locked gate with a warning for visitors to keep out.
Topping the list of the ten top haunted places in America,
Astaire Castle is associated with two suicides, three mysterious
disappearances, and four murders since it was built almost a century
ago—and Mac Faraday owns it!
In spite of David’s warning to keep out, Mac can’t resist
unlocking the gate to see the castle that supposedly hasn’t seen a
living soul since his late mother had ordered it closed up after the
double homicide and disappearance of Damian Wagner, a world-famous
master of horror novels.
What was supposed to be a quick tour of a dusty old castle
turns into another Mac Faraday adventure when Astaire Castle becomes the
scene of even more murders. Mac is going to need to put all of his
investigative talents to work to sort out this case that involves the
strangest characters he has run into yet—including a wolfman. No, we’re
not talking about Gnarly.
“I recommend this book to all mystery lovers! The Lady Who Cried Murder was another heart-stopping thriller! While the mystery and the road to
it’s solution was amazing, I truly enjoyed the cast and characters (they feel like family)! Another great hit and I look forward to reading the next installment of Mac Faraday and his gang and what kind of drama they
end up in!” – review by Debbie Hill, Miss Book Lovers
Book Details:
Book Title: The Lady Who Cried Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 6) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 286 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 2, 2014
Book Description:
Determined to get her pretty
face in front of the cameras, Khloe Everest fakes an abduction only to make a grand entrance in the midst of a press conference held by Spencer’s Police Chief David O’Callaghan.
Three years later, after failing to catapult her notoriety into a long-lasting celebrity, Khloe Everest returns to Spencer upon her mother’s sudden death and seemingly finds another weapon to propel her into the spotlight. Unfortunately, someone kills her before she can make this entrance.
In Lauren Carr’s sixth mystery, Mac Faraday and his friends come up against reality stars, politicians, has-beens, and wannabes. Mac also finds himself face-to-face with an old foe from his past who had managed to escape arrest during their last encounter. Now, Mac sees that his adversary has only become more powerful, and dangerous, with the
passage of time.
Intent to not let this killer escape again, Mac and his friends need to put all of their talents together to put a stop to a cold-blooded lady killer.
“Twelve To Murder is a clever blend of comedy,
mystery, and sappy love story. Lauren Carr does a good job of moving the
quirky storyline along nicely with an abundance of witty dialogue. And
you have no idea who the good guys are and who the bad guys are until
the end.”– Review by Every Free Chance Book Reviews.
Book Details:
Book Title: Twelve to Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 7) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 266 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: February 9, 2014
Book Description:
Mac Faraday’s plan to spend a quiet weekend home alone with his lady love, Archie Monday, is shattered by murder.
A middle-aged couple are brutally murdered in their summer place on Deep Creek Lake. To any other detective, the case would be considered open and shut when it appears as if one of the victims has written her killer’s name in her blood—not so for Mac Faraday, who believes there is more to this case than meets the eye.
In Lauren Carr’s latest Mac Faraday Mystery former child-star and teen-idol Lenny Frost steps into a pub in Deep Creek Lake to see his face on the television over the bar with the announcement that he’s wanted for the murder of his agent and her husband!
How does Lenny Frost react to this sudden comeback into the headlines? He takes everyone hostage and gives Mac Faraday twelve hours to find the real killer or he’s going to kill everyone in the bar.
“There is actually a mystery
within a mystery in Carr’s new book. It’s a tangled, twisting adventure
that adds more dead bodies along the way. Carr’s characters are lively,
her plots complex, there is always just enough humor to set a lighter
tone.” – Review by Allene Reynolds, Mystery and Me
Book Details:
Book Title: A Wedding and a Killing by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 8) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 275 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: September 13, 2014
Book Description:
Not wanting to wait until
their big day to start their life of wedded bliss, Mac Faraday and his
lady love, Archie Monday, decide to elope to the little church where his
ancestors had all married—along the tranquil shore of Deep Creek Lake.
However, before they can say, “I do,” the sanctuary erupts into chaos
when Gnarly finds a body in the church office.
In A Wedding and a Killing, Mac
and his team discover more questions than answers. What kind of person
walks into a church and shoots a man for no apparent reason? How do you
solve the murder of a man who has no enemies in the world? Which of the
seemingly kind-hearted church members is really a cold-blooded killer?
Then, there is the all-important question, how long do Mac Faraday and his lady love have to wait to get married?
“I am, bottom line, amazed at the giant step that places Carr
comparable to significant authors whose name slips off our tongues like,
for instance, Nora Roberts. Watch this author–she’s moving quickly to
where her goals are headed… Three Days to Forever has to be, in my opinion, the best of her best! Get it!”– review by Glenda Bixler, Book Readers Heaven
Book Details:
Book Title: Three Days to Forever by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 9) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 366 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 19, 2015
Book Description:
In one of the most critically-acclaimed Mac
Faraday Mysteries from best-selling mystery author Lauren Carr, readers
embark on a roller-coaster adventure with old friends (including
the Lovers in Crime team of Prosecutor Joshua Thornton and Homicide
Detective Cameron Gates), but also meet new ones as Mac Faraday’s
daughter Jessica Faraday and Joshua Thornton’s son Murphy Thornton join
the team in the race to get the lovebirds to the altar!*
With three days left to the year, Deep Creek Lake is hopping
with holiday vacationers and wedding guests pouring into the Spencer Inn
for Mac Faraday and Archie Monday’s huge wedding ceremony which is
being touted as the social event of the year.
But droopy flowers and guests who failed to RSVP are the least
of Mac’s and Archie’s problems when a professional hit squad hits
Spencer Manor to send the groom, Joshua Thornton, Archie’s mother, and
Gnarly running for their lives.
With time running out to the big day, Mac Faraday and Spencer’s
small police force have to sort through the clues to figure out not
only who has been targeted for assassination, but also who is determined
to stop everything … FOREVER!
“There’s lots of drama, crimes, murder, and laughter that surrounds
the Diablo Ball. As usual, Gnarly is in the middle of everything. Hated
to have to keep putting this down. I loved reading Open Season for Murder.”– review by Rhonda Laney, readalot
Book Details:
Book Title: Open Season for Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 10) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 318 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 1, 2015
Book Description:
“Robin, it’s me, Ashton.”
Spring is in the air. In Deep Creek Lake, the burst of blossoms on the trees has the effect of a starting pistol in the race to get the resort area ready in time for the seasonal residents return to Spencer,
Maryland.
This year, the Spencer Inn, Mac Faraday’s five-star resort, has the added duty of preparing for the Diablo Ball, an annual benefit event that used to kick off Deep Creek Lake’s summer season. The exclusive gala has drawn in A-listers from across the country—including suspects and witnesses connected to Ashton Piedmont, a young woman who
had disappeared while skinny dipping in Deep Creek Lake five years earlier—days after the last Diablo Ball.
Intrigued by a mysterious phone call from a young woman claiming to be Ashton, retired homicide detective Mac Faraday can’t resist diving head first into the cold case. But he’s not the only one. Someone behind the scenes has gone to a lot of trouble to bring Ashton Piedmont’s friends and enemies to the Diablo Ball—which promises to be a gala event to die for!
“The story moves at a rapid pace
and has a bit of everything – romance, humor, and suspense with several
other murders after the body is discovered. A few surprises along with
the tension both at home and in New York. Carr does an excellent job of
developing her characters and providing backstory while maintaining a
quick pace. Well worth the sleep I gave up to get to the end.”– review by Christa Nardi, Christa Reads and Writes.
Book Details:
Book Title: Cancelled Vows by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 11) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 320 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 28, 2016
Book Description:
Police Chief David O’Callaghan and Chelsea Adams’ wedding day
is fast approaching. Unfortunately, at the last minute, David discovers
that there is one small problem to be taken care of before he can walk
down the aisle—divorce his first wife!
Lauren Carr takes fans of the Mac Faraday mysteries to the Big Apple in this nail-biting adventure. In Cancelled Vows,
David, Mac, and Gnarly, too, rush to New York City to dissolve David’s
marriage to an old girlfriend—and he’s got five days to get it done.
When murder throws up a roadblock, it is up to David’s best man, Mac
Faraday, and Gnarly, K9-in-waiting, to sort through the clues to get
David to the church in time!
“OMG! Carr is over the top and giving us an easy “10” with her latest, Candidate for Murder!…Don’t
just sit there thinking that this might be the book to try for Lauren
Carr! I’m telling you right now it’s a must-read for daring, adventure,
crime-busting, high-level government criminal elimination.” – reviewer by Glenda Bixler, Book Readers Heaven
Book Details:
Book Title: Candidate for Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 12) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 410 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 16, 2016
Book Description:
It’s election time in
Spencer, Maryland, and the race for mayor is not a pretty one. In recent
years, the small resort town has become divided between the local
year-round residents who have enjoyed their rural way of life and the
city dwellers moving into their mansions, taking over the town council,
and proceeding to turn Deep Creek Lake into a closed gate
community—complete with a host of regulations for everything from speed
limits to clotheslines.
When the political parties force-feed two unsavory mayoral
nominees on the town residents, Police Chief David O’Callaghan decides
to make a statement—by nominating Gnarly, Mac Faraday’s German shepherd,
to run as mayor of Spencer!
What starts out as a joke turns into a disaster when overnight
Gnarly becomes the front-runner—at which point his political enemies
take a page straight out of Politics 101. What do you do when you’re
behind in a race? Dig up dirt on the front-runner, of course.
Seemingly, someone is not content to rest with simply
embarrassing the front-runner by publicizing his dishonorable discharge
from the United States Army but to throw in a murder for good measure.
With murder on the ballot, Mac Faraday and the gang—including
old friends from past cases—dive in to clear Gnarly’s name, catch a
killer, and save Spencer!
“With her usual panache, Lauren Carr blends the grittiness of
murder(s) with a good deal of humor, the latter revolving largely around Gnarly and David’s Belgian shepherd, Storm, who would much rather be couch potato-ing than anything involving exertion.” – review by Lelia Taylor, Buried Under Books
Book Details:
Book Title: Crimes Past by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 13) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 245 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: October 16, 2018
Book Description:
It’s a bittersweet reunion for Mac Faraday when members of his
former homicide squad arrive at the Spencer Inn. While it is sweet to
attend the wedding of a late colleague’s daughter, it is a bitter
reminder that the mother of the bride had been the victim of a double
homicide.
The brutal slaying weighing heavy on his mind, Mac is anxious
to explore every avenue for a break in the cold case—even a suggestion
from disgraced former detective Louis Gannon that one of their former
friends is the killer.
When the investigator is brutally slain, Mac Faraday rips open
the cold case with a ruthless determination to reveal which of his
friends is a cold-blooded murderer.
Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday,
Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and
Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across five
fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly
crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police
procedurals, romance, and humor.
The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager,
consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors.
Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions.
She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
March 28 – Mystery Review Crew – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
March 28 – Cover Lover Book Review – book series spotlight / giveaway
March 29 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest post / giveaway
March 29 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of IT’S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
March 30 – Literary Flits – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
Mar 30 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
Mar 30 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight of SHADOW OF MURDER / author interview / giveaway
March 31 – My Reading Journeys – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 1 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of SHADOW OF MURDER
April 4 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of IT’S MURDER, MY SON April 4 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of IT’S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
April 5 – Literary Flits – book review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 6 – Leels Loves Books – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 7 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of OLD LOVES DIE HARD, SHADES OF MURDER, BLAST FROM THE PAST April 7 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
April 8 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 11 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE, THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER, TWELVE TO MURDER
April 12 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway April 13 –Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 14 – My Reading Journeys – book review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway April 15 – Library of Clean Reads – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 15 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of A WEDDING AND A KILLING, OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER April 19 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of BLAST FROM THE PASST / giveaway
April 20 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
April 21 – My Reading Journeys – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway April 21 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway
April 22 –Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest post / giveaway
April 26 –Literary Flits – book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway April 27 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
April 29 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
May 3 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 4 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of THREE DAYS TO FOREVER
May 4 – Literary Flits – book review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
May 5 –Kam’s Place – book spotlight of CANCELLED VOWS
May 6 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of CANDIDATE FOR MURDER and CRIMES PAST
May 9 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
May 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway
May 11 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway May 12 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
May 16 – Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
May 17 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 18 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
May 19 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 19 – Library of Clean Reads – book review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
May 20 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 20 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of BLAST FROM THE PAST / giveaway May 23 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 24 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book review of IT’S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
May 25 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
May 26 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of CANCELLED VOWS / giveaway
May 27 –Bound 4 Escape – book review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
May 31 –Jazzy Book Reviews – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 1 – fundinmental – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 2 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest posts / giveaway
June 3 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 6 –Bound 4 Escape – book review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
June 7 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
June 8 – The Page Ladies – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 9 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 9 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
June 10 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway June 13 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of CANDIDATE FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 14 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 15 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 16 –Literary Flits – book review of THREE DAYS TO FOREVER / giveaway
June 20 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 24 – Adventurous Jessy – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 24 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of CRIMES PAST / giveaway
Book Title: Killer Deadline(A Nikki Bryant Cozy Mystery) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 232 pages Genre: Mystery/Cozy Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: April 23, 2020
Audiobook release date: August 5, 2020 Content Rating: G. This is a true cozy mystery. No sex. No on-stage violence. No swearing. Just good clean fun!
“Here we go! Carr is a master storyteller who always offers a plot full
of twists and turns, a bit of humor to offset the dark, and a unique
cast of characters. In Killer Deadline that
cast includes – handsome Ryan, her first love (who is now her
step-brother); a mysterious social media friend called Nerdy Guy; Elmo, a
super smart dog, a boxer, she rescued who has become a social media
star and has a penchant for cleaning; a TV station full of suspicious
employees; and more.
“This book is a wonderful read to pick up at the end of a long day. It
truly is a “cozy murder mystery.” I promise, it’ll draw you in right
from page one and keep you turning the pages until you reach the very
last page. I can’t wait for the second book in this series.” – Marilyn R. Wilson, Olio by Marilyn
Book Description:
Folks in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, claim that where Nikki Bryant goes,
trouble is not far behind. Her refusal to back down from a challenge has
made Nikki Bryant a top investigative journalist.
When an online friend nudges her to join him in a pact to reconnect with
their first loves, Nikki and her boxer dog Elmo leave the bright lights
of Las Vegas for the charming town of Pine Grove. There, she must face
the biggest challenges in her career and life—the first love she had
left behind and her father’s unsolved murder.
But before she has time to unpack her car, Nikki stumbles upon the dead
body of local news anchor, Ashleigh Addison, her childhood rival. Could
Ashleigh’s death be connected to an explosive news story that she had
teased about airing live? Did that explosive story have anything to do
with the murder of Nikki’s father?
With the clues in her father’s cold case hot again, Nikki intends to
chase down the story of her life until she catches his killer—no matter
what it takes.
Lauren Carr is the international
best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson
Cold Case, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across
three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Killer Deadline marks Lauren’s first venture into mystery’s purely cozy sub-genre with a female protagonist.
Book reviewers and readers alike
rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include
mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and
humor.
A popular speaker, Lauren is also
the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead
Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German
Shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
Book Title: Candidate for Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 12) Category: Adult fiction, 464 pages Genre: Murder Mystery / Political Satire Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 9, 2016 Content Rating: PG-13 – (Lauren
Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved.
Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content,
but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few
and far between). No F-bombs!
“It is an amusing look at politics and media today. Appropriate to
see how the Deep Creek mayoral election relates to current events.
Dissatisfaction with politicians on many levels often leave us looking
for extreme change. It may leave you thoughtful. It may leave you
writing Gnarly’s name in as your preferred candidate in the next
election.”Reviewer: Merry Citarella, Jaquo.com “Hilarious, mysterious and full of adventure, Gnarly
and his human friends will have you on the edge of your seat unable to
put your book down. Candidate for Murder is well written, played out and
a story that you have just never heard before. I enjoyed every moment
reading this book!” Reviewer: Working Mommy Journal
Book Description:
It’s election time in Spencer, Maryland, and the race for mayor is not a
pretty one. In recent years, the small resort town has become divided
between the year-round residents who enjoy their rural way of life and
the city dwellers who are moving into mansions, taking over the town
council, and proceeding to turn Deep Creek Lake into a closed-gate
community—complete with a host of regulations for everything from speed
limits to clotheslines. When the political parties force-feed two
unsavory mayoral nominees to the town’s residents, David O’Callaghan,
the chief of police, decides to make a statement—by nominating Gnarly,
Mac Faraday’s German shepherd, to run for mayor of Spencer! What starts
out as a joke turns into a disaster when overnight, Gnarly becomes the
front-runner, and his political opponents proceed to dig into the
canine’s past. When one of the mayoral candidates ends up dead, it
becomes apparent that slinging mud is not enough for someone with a
stake in this election. With murder on the ballot, Mac Faraday and the
gang—including old friends from past cases—dive in to clear Gnarly’s
name, catch a killer, and save Spencer!
“Lauren’s dialogue is brisk, her setting beautiful and the addition of Gnarly is very clever…It’s Murder, My Son is a delightful read and I look forward to more of Carr’s Mac Faraday mysteries.” –Connie Gregory, Connie’s Reviews “I couldn’t put this book down! Lauren Carr
develops the characters and weaves the details of the murder
investigation into a complex storyline that keeps the reader
relentlessly turning pages. She is skilled at teasing you into reading
more. I finished the last page still wanting to read more!” — Kelly Carpenter, Kelly’s Lucky You
“No
disrespect to Mac Faraday, Archie Monday, David O’Callaghan, Travis
Turner or any of the multitude of good, bad and ugly characters
populating Lauren Carr’s It’s Murder, My Son; but to me the most interesting character in the book is a lovable, mischievous, sneaky German shepherd named Gnarly.” – David M. Kinchen, Huntington News
Book Details:
Book Title: It’s Murder, My Son by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 1) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 288 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 23, 2010 Content Rating: PG-13 – (Lauren
Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved.
Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content,
but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few
and far between). No F-bombs!
Book Description:
What started out as the worst day of Mac Faraday’s life would end up
being a new beginning. After a messy divorce hearing, the last person
that Mac wanted to see was another lawyer. Yet, this lawyer wore the
expression of a child bursting to tell his secret. This confidence would
reveal Mac as heir to undreamed of fortunes, and lead him to the
birthplace of America’s Queen of Mystery and an investigation that will
unfold like one of her famous mystery novels.
Soon after she moves to Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, Katrina Singleton
learns that life in an exclusive community is not all good. For some
unknown reason, a strange man calling himself “Pay Back” begins stalking
her. When Katrina is found strangled all evidence points to her
terrorist, who is nowhere to be found.
Three months later, the file on her murder is still open when Mac
Faraday, sole heir to his unknown birth mother’s home and fortune, moves
into the estate next door. Little does he know as he drives up to
Spencer Manor that he is driving into a closed gate community that is
hiding more suspicious deaths than his DC workload as a homicide
detective. With the help of his late mother’s journal, this retired cop
puts all his detective skills to work to pick up where the local
investigators have left off to follow the clues to Katrina’s killer.
Lauren Carr is the international
best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson
Cold Case, Thorny Rose Mysteries, and the Nikki Bryant Cozy
Mysteries—close to thirty titles across five fast-paced mystery series
filled with twists and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike
rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include
mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and
humor.
A popular speaker, Lauren is also
the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead
Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German
Shepherds (including the nephew of the late-great Gnarly! (pictured
above)) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
