THE LAST THING SHE SAID
A Chris Matheson
Cold Case Mystery #3
BY LAUREN CARR
Narrated by Mike Alger
Publication Date: July 22, 2019
Format: Audio Book, 10 hours, 41 minutes
Format: Print, 386 pages
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Categories: Adult Fiction / Mystery
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, but no F-bombs!
“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 specialistin 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!
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 specialistin 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!
"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!"
-- Glenda Bixler, Book Reader's Heaven
REVIEW:
✪✪✪✪✪
HALL WAYS
REVIEW: Audio Book Review. The Last Thing She Said is the third book in the Chris Matheson Cold Case
Mystery series, and it’s my favorite yet! I’ve been in love with the characters
since book one, Ice, and especially love Doris the librarian, but the
setting of this book is right up my alley with the central plot being around
the disappearance of a famous mystery writer. The initial scenes at the mystery author
conference had me fully engaged, and as the story unfolds, there is so much
book and book world talk (and even a not-so-veiled statement on the current
state of publishing and agents) that I stayed fully engaged.
Of course,
because this is a Lauren Carr mystery, that means there are multiple mysteries
and murders that may or may not be connected plus relationship and romance
angles to keep readers reading. The good ol’ Geezer Squad is at its best as
they jump in on the cold case, and in The Last Thing She Said, readers
get to seem more of Geezer Francine, who is a hoot. Since I’ve also read books in Carr’s other
series (including Lover’s in Crime and Mac Faraday), I enjoyed how so many
characters we’ve met in other series show up in this book; there are tons of
crossovers, and it seems that new friendships may be forged as a result. As a
side note: this is an icing on the cake thing and knowledge of other books and
other characters isn’t necessary. The Last Thing She Said stands alone
just fine and is fully rewarding on its own.
One thing
readers can always count on in a Lauren Carr mystery is a healthy dose of
animal antics and humor. In the Chris Matheson series, Sterling, the former
police dog, is a staple but he takes a bit of a back seat to Cutie Pie (aka
Chompers), the devilish new Jack Russell Terrier pup who’s been adopted. And
happily, Mac Faraday’s Gnarly, another favorite dog, joins the story .
(Remember what I said about new friendships being forged?)
With The
Last Thing She Said, piece by piece, Lauren Carr hands readers loose
threads that quickly heap into a snarled mess of plots and people and
perpetrators that seem impossible to sort out.
But fear not! The mess becomes gloriously untangled with lots of a-ha
moments, some laughs, a little sizzle, and satisfaction getting to the
end.
ABOUT THE
NARRATION: Mike Alger, the go-to narrator for all of Carr’s books that I’ve
listened to, is back and is especially awesome with his strong male and
weasel-y male characters, and some of his female iterations are perfection:
Doris, for example, is the perfect mix of matronly southern sass. As is typical for me, I bumped the speed to
1.25x and the delivery was just right.
Thank you to
iRead Book Tours and the author for providing me an Audible code to listen to
the book in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give.
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Meet the Author: Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Thorny Rose, Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries—over twenty titles across four 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.
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.
Connect with the author:
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ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!
Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card
courtesy of Author Lauren Carr
(Ends November 30th, 2019)
RELATED:
WINTER FROST
(A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #2) by Lauren Carr
CLICK FOR HALL WAYS BLOG REVIEW
Category: Adult fiction, 332 pages
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: January 22, 2019
(A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #2) by Lauren Carr
CLICK FOR HALL WAYS BLOG REVIEW
Category: Adult fiction, 332 pages
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: January 22, 2019
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.
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
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?
ICE
(A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #1) by Lauren Carr
CLICK FOR HALL WAYS BLOG REVIEW
Category: Adult fiction, 364 pages
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: February 26, 2018
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!
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!
Buy the Book:
Amazon.com * Audible
Amazon.com * Audible
Thank you so much, Kristine, for the glorious review. I am thrilled that you so enjoy the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries in audiobook. I am certain your followers will enjoy Mike Alger's Productions as well. Here's wishing each one luck in the giveaway for the Amazon gift card.
ReplyDeleteThis was my favorite of this series so far -- they just keep getting better. Can't wait to see what you write next. Thanks for stopping by my blog, Lauren!
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