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?
My thoughts
A Fine Year for Murder by Lauren Carr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I haven’t read the first in this series but I’m definitely going back to check it out even though this seems to stand alone.
Newly wed Jessica and Murphy have an unusual dilemma to solve: Jessica’s nightmares are causing her to hit, scratch and even bite him during her sleep – even on their honeymoon. The reason behind the nightmares relates to an incident Jessica witnessed several years before, the memories of which she has suppressed, though snippets of the incident – a murder – are coming back bit by bit.
After speaking to Dallas Walker, it seems that Jessica may have witnessed the Pine Bridge Massacre, a story Dallas (as an investigative reporter) is revisiting. They decide to return to the scene of the crime to see if, indeed, these memories of Jessica’s may hold the key to the mystery. Hopefully, if Jessica can get to the root of the problem causing her nightmares she will see an end to them too.
So, with Spencer (or is it Candy) the dog in tow, they head to Pine Ridge where very odd characters (I’m talking about you, cousin Celestino) and a haunting lady in white sees them dice with many dangers as they seek to solve the crime.
There are plenty of twists in this tale that throws the case up in the air several times and kept me listening long into the night. Another reason for my attentiveness has to be down to the great narrator who really brings everything to life and maintains a great pace of suspense and high stakes with some funny, light-hearted moments to balance things out.
A new-to-me author whose back catalogue I can’t wait to explore.
About the Author
Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty 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, 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 three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
As always,
