"Wow - this is one INCREDIBLE novel that I could not put down.
It had me on the edge of my seat and I can honestly say that I never
saw the end coming. It was full of suspense, action but also humour
(done in a way that only Lauren can accomplish)." - 5-Star Review of THE NUTCRACKER CONSPIRACY by Working Mommy Journal
It had me on the edge of my seat and I can honestly say that I never
saw the end coming. It was full of suspense, action but also humour
(done in a way that only Lauren can accomplish)." - 5-Star Review of THE NUTCRACKER CONSPIRACY by Working Mommy Journal
Book Details:
Book Title: 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
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”
The Nutcracker Conspiracy is the 4th book in the Thorny Rose Mysteries Series by Lauren Carr. I am a huge fan of Lauren Carr. I love how she keeps all of her characters the same in each book so they feel like old friends. I also love how she connects all of the characters in all of her different series. I like keeping up with old friends in real life and her books let me keep up with all the different characters from all of the different series. Characters from different series show up in all of her books even if it's just a phone call or a shopping trip.
Mike Alger is back to narrate the Audiobook. As usual he does and amazing job of bringing the story and characters to life. I don't know how he does it but he keeps the voice of each character exactly the same from book to book.
I just have to say: Lauren you didn't go there. You killed the Vice President's wife. In a botched attempt to kill the President the 2nd lady is shot and killed, or was he the intended victim. Three Years later the body count is adding up.
Murphy Thornton is the main character and of course the dogs of Lauren's list of characters in this book. Every time I think I figured out this who done it, a new person or a new bit of info pops up and i have to rethink it all over again. I love this about Lauren Carr's books. You do not have the killer pinned down in the first chapter and just learn the details the rest of the book. These books keep you guessing all the way through.
I also love that there is not a ton of graphic sex, foul language, and lots of descriptions that mean nothing to the story. There's enough going on in these books not to have to add filler with with descriptions and steam.
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
Guest Blog Post –
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH - EAT CHEESECAKE
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH - EAT CHEESECAKE
When the Going Gets Tough―Get Cheesecake
By Lauren Carr
As with most of my books, the inspiration for the Thorny Rose Mystery series was born out of a few of my own fantasies.
Set in a suburb of Washington, DC, The Thorny Rose Mysteries is my big city series that features murder mysteries with glitz, glamour, and a touch of high-tech flair.
The protagonists are beautiful, young, and hip. Heiress Jessica Faraday is a medical student at Georgetown University studying forensic psychiatry. She is married to Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, an elite navy officer belonging to an ultra-secret team that answers directly to the military chiefs of staff.
The Faraday-Thorntons live in Great Falls, Virginia, which is picture-perfect for this mystery series. Great Falls is a woodsy, upper class area in northern Virginia that runs along the Potomac River. While working for the federal government in Washington, I used to drive through it every day.
I would gaze longingly at the mansions and horse farms and wonder about the flawless lives of those fortunate enough to have achieved the status of perfection that had made them worthy of living in such magnificence.
The people who lived in these houses with snazzy sports cars in the driveway were perfect. They were always in fashion. Bad hair days never dared to darken their doors. They could eat cheesecake every day and never gained weight.
Oh, how I wanted to be them.
Then I grew up, got married, had a child, and got an attitude adjustment. Funny how that happens.
The greatest thing about being a fiction writer is stepping into your fantasy world and learning a few things about your characters and life. Then you get to illustrate that lesson for your readers and hopefully give them pause to think.
Such was the case in The Nutcracker Conspiracy.
Jessica Faraday-Thornton and her husband Murphy get pulled into The Nutcracker Conspiracy after Dean Conway, the husband of Jessica’s childhood friend, is murdered. An aspiring author, Dean had been bragging about uncovering information about a coup behind an attempted presidential assassination.
In a town where government conspiracy theories fly like the cherry blossoms in springtime, the police detective investigating Dean’s murder dismisses this line of investigation and focuses on Dean’s wife as his suspect.
That means it’s up to Jessica and Murphy to find the real killer. With Murphy pulled away to work on his own murder case, it is up to Jessica, with her brother Tristan, to prove Amy is innocent.
An intelligent, determined woman, Jessica Faraday is up to the task. After all, she is the daughter of a homicide detective. She’s studying criminal behavior. She knows the steps needed to work an investigation. Plus, she has faith that her friend is innocent.
As one lead after another goes nowhere, the police close in on Amy as their prime suspect.
In her beautiful mansion, Jessica feels hopeless. The only thing left for her to do is make a double chocolate cheesecake.
On her way to the store in her purple Ferrari, Jessica is almost killed in a horrible automobile accident. Murphy arrives at the emergency room to find Jessica looking like a drowned rat after getting shot by fire hoses. Her makeup is smeared. She smells of soot.
Grateful to be alive, she hugs Murphy and says, “I love you. I need cheesecake.”
Thus, they leave the emergency room to go directly to Cheesecake Factory.
How Jessica must have appeared to the fellow diners when she walked into that restaurant with her makeup smeared down her face. She looked like a drunken clown. Her hair which usually doesn’t have a strand out of place, was matted and limp.
She didn’t care.
The experience of almost losing everything—including her life—in a matter of minutes had adjusted her priorities.
Perfection had nothing to do with her big home in Great Falls with a closet devoted to designer shoes, being a perfect size five, taking trips to New York during fashion week, or racing around in her purple Ferrari. It wasn’t about turning heads when walking into a room.
It was about being a good friend, enjoying the love of family and friends, and the nice creamy cool taste of a delectable slice of cheesecake.
Tour Schedule:
June 8 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review / giveaway
June 9 – Mystery Suspense Reviews – audiobook review / author interview / giveaway
June 10 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review / guest post / giveaway
June 10 - T's Stuff – audiobook review / guest post / giveaway
June 11 – Sefina Hawke's Books – audiobook review
June 11 - Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review / giveaway
June 12 – Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / guest post / author interview / giveaway
June 12 - Nighttime Reading Center – book spotlight / giveaway
June 12 - Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review / guest post / giveaway
June 16 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review /giveaway
June 17 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 17 - Blooming with Books - audiobook review / giveaway
June 19 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
June 22 – Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review / giveaway
June 23 – Books for Books – audiobook review
June 24 – JBronder Book Reviews – audiobook review / guest post / giveaway
June 25 – Thoughts in Progress – audiobook review / giveaway
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