Book Details:
Book Title: The Murders at Astaire Castle by Lauren Carr
Category: Adult Fiction / 8 hours
Genre: Mystery / Crime
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: Sept 5, 2014
Format available for review: Audible download
Tour dates: Oct 3 to 14, 2016
Content Rating: PG-13 (This is murder mystery. There are no sex scenes, but some, very little, foul language. No f-bombs.)
Book Description:
Never tell Mac Faraday not to do something.
Spencer's police chief, David O'Callaghan, learns this lesson the hard way when he orders Mac Faraday to stay away from 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 the stone wall and locked gate, on which hangs a sign warning visitors to Keep Out!
Topping the list of the 10 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, 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 starts out as 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 wolf man. No, we're not talking about Gnarly.
In this book Mac Faraday has inherited all of his late mothers possessions. Including a Hotel and a castle. He knew nothing about the castle until a conversation came up about murders at the castle some years before and a missing man. He decided to go see his castle. While there he finds the remains of his favorite author and they run into the man who has been missing for years. The man believes he is a wolf man. After his visit to the castle the body count starts to build again.
The story line was great. Lauren Carr done a great job with this book. The Audio book would of been more enjoyable for me if Dan Lawson the narrator had of used a more conversational tone and did not over enunciate so much. He was definitely reading I felt like if he would speed up a bit I would of enjoyed the audio book a lot more. The narrator can make a break a great book for me.
Meet the Author:
Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries. The twelfth installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series, Candidate for Murder will be released June 2016.
Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
Book Trailer:
The Murder at Astaire Castle Tour:
Interview with Gnarly, of the Mac Faraday Mysteries
1) Thank you so much for joining me today, Gnarly! Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you came to live with Mac?
Well, I started out in the Army, though they refuse to talk about me. I don’t have much nice to say about them either. Do you know they actually gave me—ME—a dishonorable discharge? But we won’t talk about that.
Then, I went into the private security field. I ended up living with Katrina Singleton, this rich lady in Spencer, Maryland. She was being stalked. But would she listen to me when I said someone was outside watching her? No. She kept locking me in the garage because she thought I was a nuisance. But the lady who lived next door was real nice to me. She was a mystery writer. Her name was Robin Spencer. When I ended up almost dying trying to save Katrina’s life, Robin Spencer saved me. Sadly, she died a couple of months later and her son, Mac Faraday, a retired homicide detective, moved into her mansion. (see It’s Murder, My Son) It’s taken me a while to break Mac in with how I run things at Spencer Manor, but he’s coming along.
2) What's a typical day like for you?
There is no typical day at Spencer Manor. But I’ll try.
I like to get up at the crack of dawn. First thing I do is stomp on Mac’s chest to wake him up. The lazy slug doesn’t understand that perpetrators like squirrels and birds never take a day off. After I check the perimeter to make sure all is clear, I come in, and Mac serves breakfast and tries to go back to bed.
For some odd reason, Mac thinks that because he’s a multi-millionaire that he should have a life of privilege. I don’t think so. But it does work out. Sometimes, if he’s not fully awake yet, I manage to get some of his breakfast, too. Then, I go back outside to do my dog thing. Then, I come back in for my mid-morning nap. Then, I need lunch and go on another check of the perimeter—Mac really needs to invest in a dog door.
If I’m lucky, Mac will catch a case with the Spencer Police Department and take me for a ride along. But it isn’t just fun and games living among the rich and famous. I have a job to do and I’m always on-duty. My job is to watch Mac’s and Archie’s backs. Archie Monday is Mac’s lovely wife. She’s wonderful.
In Shades of Murder, a burglar broke in and I played tag with him all night long. It was great. Of course, he was a bad loser, on account that he lost in our game of tag. It’s been my experience that, generally, burglars are poor losers. This guy actually told David O’Callaghan, the chief of police, that I cheated and didn’t obey the dog rules. He threatened to sue. The nerve!
4) How do you feel about cats?
Cats are like politicians—manipulative and self-centered. Only cats have more common sense.
5) What's the biggest trouble you've ever gotten into?
That’s a hard question to answer. There’s so many incidents to choose from.
There was that time we went on a tour of Astaire Castle, which is one of the most haunted places in America. There were so many noises and smells and dark corners to investigate. Wouldn’t you know I found an honest to goodness wolf man! And he bit me! Do you know what happens to you when you get bitten by a wolf man?
6) Can you tell us about The Murders at Astaire Castle?
In The Murders at Astaire Castle, I meet the Wolf Man. Honest to God, I’m serious. Mac and I watch all those vampire/werewolf movies, but I never dreamed they were real. But sure enough, I met one and he didn’t like me at all. He almost killed me—ME! I’m not easy to kill.
It all started when Mac found out that he owned Astaire Castle, which is associated with two suicides, three mysterious disappearances, and four murders since it was built almost a century ago. Mac owns this place! Of course, he can’t resist unlocking the gate to see the castle that supposedly hasn’t seen a living soul since his late mother, Robin Spencer had ordered it closed up after the double homicide and disappearance of Damian Wagner, a world-famous master of horror novels.
But, as always when it comes to Mac, what starts out as a quick tour of a dusty old castle turns into another mystery when it becomes the scene of even more murders.
7) Final thoughts for your adoring public?
Sure! You can read all about my adventures with Mac, Archie, and all of my friends in the Mac Faraday Mysteries. Visit best-selling mystery author Lauren Carr’s websites and blog at:
Sure! You can read all about my adventures with Mac, Archie, and all of my friends in the Mac Faraday Mysteries. Visit best-selling mystery author Lauren Carr’s websites and blog at:
E-Mail: writerlaurencarr@gmail.net
Website: http://acornbookservices.com/
Blog: Literary Wealth: http://literarywealth.wordpress.com/
Gnarly’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/GnarlyofMacFaradayMysteries
Lovers in Crime Facebook Page:
Acorn Book Services Facebook Page:
Twitter: @TheMysteryLadie
Giveaway:
Prizes:
Win an audiobook copy of The Murders at Astaire Castle by Lauren Carr (2 winners - open int’l)
Thank you so much, Teresa, for inviting Gnarly to your site today for the interview. He so loves the opportunity to give his side of the story. Also, thank you for the interview! So glad you enjoyed THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE. Here's wishing your followers luck in the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. I really enjoyed the interview with Gnarly. It is my most favorite interview of all the ones I have on my blog. Best of luck to you and all of your books.
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