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?
Review -
I have been a fan of author Lauren Carr for years and have, I think, read all her books and reviewed quite a few. She is a prolific fiction writer with over 5 mystery series, a gift for bringing characters alive, and a gift for creating twisted plots. You don't discover who did it until the final reveal. I was very excited to snag a copy of the fifth title in the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery series. I binge read it late into the night.
I love the Geezer Squad - central to this series. It is made up of mix of men and women, all retired former professionals, who take on cold cases. They meet under the guise of a "book club" to keep family in the dark. Each adds their own expertise to the cases they take on. They are fearless, smart, and the men and women shine equally. For this title, Chris' wife Helen, a homicide lieutenant, takes center stage. When her trouble ex-military sister arrives unexpectedly, the early loss of their parents resurfaces. Both mysteriously disappeared a few years apart when they were young. Fate draws them back to the beginning to find answers.
The two sisters, plus the Geezer Squad, dive into the case. The story is told in pieces. There are flashbacks as well following different characters as add do research and add their findings to the collective pool. Slowly but surely the pieces start to come together, the fog starts to clear. Along the way, the author introduces us to the sisters' paternal relatives. What a group of characters? They bring a pile of bravado and humor to the mix that I loved.
A great read. And I love the larger presence of the strong female characters in book 5.
Other book reviews for this author -
It's Murder My Son HERE!
Killer Deadline HERE!
The Nutcracker Conspiracy HERE!
The Last Thing She Said HERE!
Spring Thaw HERE!
Crimes Past HERE!
Murder by Perfection HERE!
ICE HERE!
TwoFer Murder HERE!
A Fine Year for Murder HERE!
Killer in the Band HERE!
It's Murder My Son HERE!
Killer Deadline HERE!
The Nutcracker Conspiracy HERE!
The Last Thing She Said HERE!
Spring Thaw HERE!
Crimes Past HERE!
Murder by Perfection HERE!
ICE HERE!
TwoFer Murder HERE!
A Fine Year for Murder HERE!
Killer in the Band HERE!
Shadow of Murder HERE!
Chris Crossed Murder HERE!
Meet the Author -
A popular speaker and publishing consultant, Lauren lives on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV, with her husband and two spoiled rotten German shepherds. Book reviewers and readers rave about Lauren’s seamless genre-crossing into mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor. As owner of Acorn Book Services and iRead Book Tours, Lauren helps fellow authors navigate publishing. She’s a frequent speaker at schools, conventions, and youth groups.
Follow her adventures (and the dogs!) on Instagram @TheMysteryLadie and join the Mystery Club newsletter for exclusive stories!
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