Giveaway & Review: It’s Murder, My Son by Lauren Carr

Title: It’s Murder, My Son (Mac Faraday #1)

Published: June 2010

Synopsis: What started out as the worst day of Mac Faraday’s life would end up being a new beginning. After a messy divorce hearing, the last person that Mac wanted to see was another lawyer. Yet, this lawyer wore the expression of a child bursting to tell his secret, which would reveal Mac as heir to undreamed of fortunes, and lead him to the birthplace of America’s Queen of Mystery and an investigation that will unfold like one of her famous mystery novels. Read an Excerpt

Status: Read from October 20 to 21, 2011 — I own a copy {Courtesy the author}

My Thoughts:

It’s Murder, My Son is an engaging murder mystery series debut by author Lauren Carr. Mac Faraday is a newly retired homicide detective whose difficult divorce and subsequent near bankruptcy leaves him at a loose end until he inherits millions from his biological mother, a famously successful mystery novelist. Mac moves into her luxury home in an exclusive gated community greeted by his mother’s assistant, Archie and and an ungainly mutt named Gnarly, hoping to get to know his half brother David and acclimatise to his new found wealth. But when Gnarly brings home a decapitated head and Mac learns of the mysterious murder next door his cop instincts are aroused and he finds himself embroiled in a string of assassinations, unexplained petty thefts and corrupt small town politics.
With a plethora of suspects, obscured motives and victims who have contributed to their own messy death It’s Murder, My Son is a cleverly plotted murder mystery that is part cosy and part detective story. There is not just one murder to solve but several, both old and new, and I was intrigued by the twists and turns that connected the investigations concluding in a satisfyingly surprising ending. The novel is well written, suspenseful yet lightened by touches of humor.
I liked Mac from the first, a slightly world weary, principled detective his interest is less in the sudden money he has inherited and more in learning about his biological mother and getting to know his half brother. He becomes involved in the murders not just because it is almost literally dropped in his lap but he sincerely believes in doing the right thing. His style is laconic yet he is shrewd and not afraid to take action. As side kicks go, Gnarly is one to enjoy – the German Shepard is a mixture of mischief and canine smarts and I really enjoyed how Carr involved him into the storyline. The other characters are well developed, not only Archie and David but also the victims and villains of the story.

It’s Murder, My Son is an entertaining mystery with cosy charm. Fans of mysteries who enjoy being challenged by an intelligent plot supported by engaging characters are sure to be satisfied with this novel. I look forward to reading the second in the series Old Loves Die Hard

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About the Author

Lauren Carr fell in love with mysteries when her mother read Perry Mason to her at bedtime. The first installment in the Joshua Thornton mysteries, A Small Case of Murderwas a finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Award. A Reunion to Die For was released in hardback in June 2007. Both of these books are in re-release Last year, the first installment of her new series, It’s Murder, My Son was released. It has received only rave reviews from both reviewers and readers. The Mac Faraday Mysteries take place in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, where Lauren and her family vacation. The second installment is entitled Old Loves Die Hard. In addition to being an active member and director of the Association of Independent Authors, Lauren is a popular speaker who has made speaking appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and two dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

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