book 2 by lauren carr

The Geezer Squad Is Back!

(A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #2)

Book Description

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. 

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 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?

Book Details

Book Title: Winter Frost  (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #2) by Lauren Carr
Category:  Adult fiction,  332 pages
Genre:  Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:  January 22, 2019

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!

Audible:

My Thoughts

This is the first book I’ve read by Lauren Carr. No doubt because I skipped book 1 in this series, it took me a little while to sort out all of the characters. Okay, who’s kidding who? A long time. Carr not only has nine (I think that’s correct) characters who are in the geezer squad, of course many more are scattered throughout the story.

However, the deeper I got into the story the easier it became and the more I started to appreciate it. But I do have to say, probably because I was listening to this, I had to be on my toes to keep everything and everybody sorted out.

I would highly recommend you start with the first book in this series, Ice. Not because this isn’t a stand-alone book, but this book would have been much more enjoyable if I’d been familiar with who-was-who.

Since I listen to lots of audiobooks as I work around the house, I’m quite familiar with narrators. At first, I was concerned that Mike Alger’s voice might distract from the story, especially when it changed to more of an echo when he was reading a character’s thoughts. But again, as the story progressed, I became accustomed to Alger’s voice and depictions of the various characters. In time, both the story and the narrator began to get better.

Yet one thing kept echoing through my mind as I continued to listen. I kept thinking the Geezer Club needed to be solving more in the way of local mysteries. (And maybe in the first book that was the case.) The characters, dog, and humor all felt more appropriate for a fun cozy mystery. Not an FBI/CIA type of mystery. In my opinion, that part of the book felt off and kept bothering me.

But, alas, I’m ready to pick up book three in this series. I can’t wait to see what type of mystery the geezers find themselves involved in! And after I finish that book, my cozy-mystery-idea may change completely. I will let you know in an upcoming review.

Rating

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Probably you’ll like it, but maybe not.

What Concerned Me

I was mostly concerned that this group didn’t seem right for solving a CIA-type of mystery. I know those in the squad have past experience in various fields, but the Geezers felt more like a fun group that should be in a small-town cozy mystery. Especially Sherman, the dog.

I really didn’t care for the narrator. He seemed to distract rather than enhance the story.

My Conclusion

There are some cute lines in this book that definitely made me smile. I’m looking forward to picking up the next book. Watch for my upcoming review of The Last Thing She Said. Click to Watch The Book Trailer for Book 3



About 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.

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1 Comment

  1. Thank you so much for the great review for WINTER FROST. I am certain your followers will enjoy this series as well.

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