  Book Details: The Nutcracker Conspiracy (A Thorny Rose Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 388 pages Genre: Mystery | Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 30, 2020 Tour dates:Jan 20 to February 28, 2020 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: Three years ago, the nation gasped in horror when the President of the United States barely escaped an assassination attempt that left two dead—the vice president’s wife and the attempted assassin. Even after numerous investigations proved otherwise, conspiracy theorists argue that the assassin was acting on orders from the CIA, FBI, and every federal agency within a hundred miles of the capital. Aspiring Author Dean Conway is the last person Lieutenant Commander Murphy Thornton wants to spend his Saturday afternoon when they end up at the same wedding reception table. While their wives tend to bridesmaid duties, Murphy is trapped listening to Dean’s latest work-in-project—completing the manuscript of an investigative journalist who’d disappeared months earlier. “She was number twelve,” Dean says. “Twelve?” Murphy asks. “Twelve witnesses connected to or investigating The Nutcracker shooting have died either in an accident or suicide.” Two days later, Dean dies suddenly―but not before sending a text message to Murphy: “13” Buy the Book: Amazon.com | BookBub ~ Add to Goodreads REVIEW by LAWonder10: Jessica was a bridesmaid at a well-publicized wedding. At the reception, Murphy was left alone at the bar with Jessica's best friend's husband, the annoying Dean Conway. Dean was claiming further knowledge of "The Nutcracker Conspiracy" of the attempted assassination of the President three years previously. Murphy, had to endure this ridiculous conversation since Dean was his wife, Jessica's best friend's husband. Tristen is at Murphy and Jessica's home while his fiance' is in "Seals" training. Gnarly is also staying in their home while Mac and Archie are in Europe, He always creates added adventure, wherever he resides. Dean and Amy's marriage is far from ideal so when Dean is found dead under peculiar circumstances, Amy is the first person police turn to as a "person of interest".. Jessica becomes involved determined to prove her best friend innocent. People in government are disappearing. Murphy is assigned to investigate. He begins to wonder if there Is any foundation to "the Nutcracker Conspiracy" theory? What is clear is people, in very hard places, are involved and he has the responsibility to find out what is happening. Murphy involves Tristen in his investigation. Jessica actively pursues clearing her friend. Gnarly, delves in criminal activities... All situations result in a chaotic, sometimes humorous, suspenseful web. Author, Lauren Carr, has once again created an entertaining series of events which is sure to keep her readers "on the edge of their seats", wondering "who did it" anxious to discover what happens next? I love this author's writing! She always includes comical drama with the canine's, heated passion in lives of busy couples, suspenseful mystery involving "civil servants" and use of plenty of high-tech equipment. There are repeated twits which keeps the reader unsure of the outcome. The Title is perfect, but the Book Cover is not very eye-catching for "the browser". The scenes are vividly portrayed, the characters as unique as those in real life, resulting in stimulating various emotions. *Reader Beware: A;though the sexual situations aren't exactly explicit, they are somewhat intense. I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating for this novel. *This book was gifted me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.
 "Lauren Carr definitely has a winner here! In her new Thorny Rose series, Kill and Run steps up several levels into an exciting category all its own. It's thriller, cold case, mystery suspense, and police procedural, all rolled into one exciting novel. Set amidst the political drama that comes with Washington DC and the Pentagon, a current multiple murder becomes a search years in the past. With a young, hot lieutenant assigned to NCIS, and his beautiful new wife, you have all the makings of a bestseller." - Reviewer: Merry Citarella, Mystery Suspense Reviews  Book Details: Kill and Run (Thorny Rose Mystery Series [Volume 1]) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult fiction, 422 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: September, 2015 Format available for review: ebook (mobi, ePub, PDF) Tour dates: Jan 20 to Feb 28, 2020 Content Rating: PG (mild violence and sexual suggestion) SYNOPSIS Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a town-home outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed. Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims, then he can find their murderer. The case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night shift on the turnpike. In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime join newlyweds Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to shift through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning killer? Buy the Book: Amazon ~ Audible ~ Add to Goodreads   Book Details: A Fine Year for Murder (Thorny Rose Mystery Series [Volume 2]) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult fiction, 374 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January, 2017 Tour dates: Jan 20 to Feb 28, 2020 Content Rating: PG (mild violence and sexual suggestion) Book Description: After ten months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in the darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy. When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family while visiting family at the winery near-by, and suppressed the memory. Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims, Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker, a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an end to the Thorny Rose couple? Buy the Book: Amazon ~ Audible ~ Add to Goodreads
"Lauren Carr's books are never boring, that's for sure. They entertain, give us a good mystery to dig into, keep the reader guessing, give us a few good laughs and make us eager for the next book. Warning: Lauren Carr's series are addictive, so be ready to read more than just one book!" - Review by Laura Fabiani, Library of Clean Reads "Lauren Carr has yet gone it again with another great mystery. I am so loving this series and can't wait for more. I know have to read more of Lauren's books. She is a very talented writer." Review by Stacey Schneller of Books, Dreams, Life. "Mysteries, murder, danger, and memories that threatens their lives keeps the action and suspense at a high level and even when the answers are found, it left me wanting more." - Review by Sherry Fundin of Fundinmental  Book Details: Book Title: Murder by Perfection by Lauren Carr Series: Thorny Rose Mystery Series (Volume 3) Category: Adult fiction, 322 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: May 31, 2018 Format available for review: print, ebook (mobi, ePub, PDF) Tour dates: Jan 20 to Feb 28, 2020 Content Rating: PG (mild violence and sexual suggestion) Book Description: Beware: Perfection has a dark side! Frustrated with their busy schedules, Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday attempt to find togetherness by scheduling a weekly date night. The last thing Jessica Faraday expected for her date night was to take a couple’s gourmet cooking course at the Stepford Kitchen Studio, owned by Chef Natalie Stepford―the model of perfection in looks, home, and business. When Natalie ends up dead and Murphy goes missing, the Thorny Rose detectives must peel back the layers of Natalie Stepford’s life to discover that the pursuit of perfection can be deadly. Buy the Book: Amazon ~ Add to Goodreads
Murder by Perfection by Lauren Carr mixes the police procedural with the spy game, in much the same way that James Patterson does with his Alex Cross novels. Ripping true crime stories from the headlines and weaving her characters into the plotlines, while adding a dash of humor and romance, this highly entertaining and fast-paced Thorny Rose Mystery will have readers seeing the darker side of perfection." Review by The iRead Reviews "Lauren Carr is a master of the light murder mystery. Each contains a strong couple as the central characters. Both the male and female roles are great role models - smart, loyal, talented and always interested in the truth. And as the author is a huge dog lover, there are always several incredible pets, each with their own unique personality. No matter how serious the threat they are facing, the author manages to work in a little humor to keep the tale from getting too dark. Murder by Perfection is book 3 in Carr's Thorny Rose Mystery Series. The main characters - Murphy and Jessica - fell in love at first sight and married quickly. This 3rd story sees them struggling to try to find balance in their daily lives as well as enough free time to spend together. After a quarrel one evening, Murphy takes off on his motorcycle to calm down - and disappears! He has been kidnapped. Why - no one knows for sure. Friends, family and the government come together to search for answers. Can he be found in time? Murder by Perfection is a wonderful read and a perfect to escape from the challenges of a busy day. Danger, intrigue, humor, and love all take their turn in this tale which will keep you reading into the wee hours." Review by Marilyn R. Wilson, Olio by Marilyn  GUEST POST - Do You Believe in Conspiracy Theories? By Lauren Carr Do you remember Pizzagate? According to Esquire, Pizzagate started in 2016 when Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager John Podesta's email was hacked, and the messages were published by Wikileaks. One of the emails, was between Podesta and James Alefantis, the owner of D.C.'s Comet Ping Pong. The message discussed Alefantis hosting a possible fundraiser for Clinton. From there, someone got it in their head that the emails contained coded messages for a pedophile ring run by the leaders of the Democratic party. Within a few weeks, a pro-government media outlet in Turkey started tweeting the conspiracy theory using the hashtag #pizzagate. And so the conspiracy grew and grew and grew until a 28-year-old North Carolina man, outraged that no one was doing anything about this pedophile ring operating out of the pizzeria, walked into the restaurant and shot it up. How does an email about arranging a fundraiser for a political candidate grow into a world-wide conspiracy? Good question. As a mystery writer, I explored how such a phenomenon can and does happen while writing my latest Thorny Rose mystery. The Nutcracker Conspiracy deals with a mystery surrounding a conspiracy theory. Surprise! Who would have guessed? The Nutcracker Conspiracy, named after the ballet which the president is attending when there is an attempted assassination, is loosely based on the JFK assassination. This latest Thorny Rose mystery takes up three years later. Conspiracy theorists are convinced the attempted assassin did not act alone—but rather that the president’s cabinet had framed the alleged assassin in a failed coup attempt. In my opinion, most people are skeptical of those conspiracy theories that are contrary to their own beliefs. Yet, they happily jump on board for those conspiracies that validate their agendas. Several years ago, my late mother came to believe that the moon landing was faked. Distrustful of the government, this conspiracy fell in with her beliefs. Of course, the government would con the world in such a manner. Likewise, another elderly fellow I know firmly believes that Nazi Germany was framed for the Holocaust. A world-wide conspiracy against Nazi Germany better serves his own personal anti-Jewish agenda. Whether they be personal or political, agendas are like fertilizer to conspiracy theories. What starts out as a germ of truth, spreads like manure as those wanting the alleged infraction to be true spread the word. In the case of Pizzagate, it was an alt-right motivation to smear the left. In watching the news, even recent events, I have observed that conspiracy theories take root from the tiniest of incidents, mostly coincidences, and grow like weeds. Over time, events that may or may not be connected to the original conspiracy get tossed into the mix. That makes it difficult to sort it out the truth from the fiction. It’s been close to sixty years since the JFK assassination. A few hours after the shooting in Dallas, a police officer was shot and killed. Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald. Allegedly, Ruby had mafia ties. A witness to the assassination who swore he heard four shots was killed in a motorcycle accident four years later. An investigative journalist died six years later. Her manuscript about the JFK conspiracy disappeared. Those are just a few of the deaths that conspiracy theorists list as part of the government’s cover-up. Of course, if the conspiracy theory gets grand enough, it can become laughably unbelievable. Murphy Thornton laughs about The Nutcracker conspiracy when a writer claims that twelve people connected to the assassination attempt have died or disappeared—until two days later when the writer becomes number thirteen. When a friend is accused of the writer’s murder, Murphy and Jessica go to work unraveling the conspiracy to find out the truth about what had happened that night at The Nutcracker. Over a half a century later, there’s still a huge debate about whether Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the JFK assassination or was he a patsy. Mostly likely, your opinion depends on if you trust or don’t trust your government. The writer in me asks, “Suppose there is some truth to it?” I have discovered that the truth is not always wholly black and white. Sometimes, you have to peel back the layers of lies, perpetuated by those who have their own agendas, to get to the truth at the core. That’s what makes investigating a conspiracy both challenging and fun.   Meet the Author: 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! 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. Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
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2/8/2020 08:54:04 am
Thank you so much for inviting me to Rockin' Book Reviews for this fun guest post and the wonderful review for The Nutcracker Conspiracy. Leave a Reply. |
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