Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed. Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims, then he can find their … find their murderer.
Before long, the case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night shift on the turnpike.
In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime join newlyweds Lieutenant Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to sift through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning killer?
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Kill and Run
Thorny Rose Mystery #1
By Lauren Carr
Read by C.J. McAllister
Kill and Run opens with a hit and run accident 13 years ago that cost Police Office Nick Gates his life. Fast forward 13 years and a random attack results in the lives of 5 women with apparently no connection between them. Lieutenant Murphy Thornton catches the case and takes it for the US Navy to investigate when one of the women has a tie to the Navy. Let’s just say that the head of his department is more than a little enraged acting in a most unbecoming, unprofessional manner and is in desperate need of a bar of soap to stick in her mouth for a few hours.
Soon Murphy and his wife of mere months are hosting a group in their home. First is Murphy’s step-mother Cameron Gates, wife of the late Nick Gates, who has a chance to question a person of interest in her first husband’s death. Second is 13-year-old Issy, whose mother was one of the victims, whom Murphy places in protective custody. The third is Jessica’s brother Tristan and his tarantula Monique who has had a small problem with his apartment. So a busy full house is about to add some interesting twists to the Thornton home.
When Cameron’s case and Murphy’s murders seem to have a distant connection things get really interesting. But this is Washington, D.C., and truth has a way of getting buried in the quest for power. And there are a ton of layers of secrets that will have to be shifted through to get to the truth. And it ain’t pretty – think scandal headlines that are a politician’s worst nightmare and you have an idea of just what the Thornton men and Cameron Gates are up against. Someone wants these secrets buried forever and the cost of life it takes to accomplish it is no obstacle.
Kill and Run is most definitely in the PG category and not something I would label a clean or gentle read so be forewarned if that is what you are looking for this is as an acquaintance of mine would say “spicy but not too spicy.” I will admit my favorite scenes all take place with the various animals and their antics. If murder is your thing you will love Kill and Run. As to the killer, there are plenty of suspects once the pieces start to come together it is just a question of who. The narration is well presented by C.J. McAllister. There is no drag and it progresses at a good pace for the 11-hour reading, good for a long commute or just eye-resting listening enjoyment.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Deeply engrossing. Fast paced with amazingly fascinating characters.
Several crimes entangled in connected ways that draw various family members deeper into danger and into each other’s lives in ways no one would imagine when combining families.
If you have read any Lauren Carr novel before, you have had a taste of her talent. She bumps up the bar in this new series, bringing together cast members from two of her popular series and introducing others you will not be able to forget. Who will survive?
Dangerous, sexy, fast paced. This is not a book for multitasking. You will be drawn in and captivated.
Kill and Run is yet another fun read by Lauren Carr. I have enjoyed every one of her books that I have read and this first installment to her Thorny Rose Mysteries series does not disappoint. It was great entertainment getting to know the main characters and newlyweds, Murphy Thornton (a Lietenant in the United States Navy) and Jessica Faraday (fans of Miss Carr’s will be excited to know she is the daughter of Mac Faraday from a previous series). They are so great together and I could not help but to laugh out loud at some scenes throughout the book. The two, with their friends, get wrapped up in a mystery that needs to be solved. I enjoyed the twists and turns that I did not expect. For a light mystery, it was still hard for me to figure out on “who did it”. I would not have predicted the ending if I tried. It was a fabulous ride to take with the detectives that made me not want to put down until the last page. I had the whole book read in one sitting. I loved it.
I am giving Kill and Run a very well deserved five plus stars. I can not wait to get my hands on the second installment to the Thorny Rose Mysteries. I am curious as to where the author will take her readers to next. I recommend this one for readers who enjoy romantic suspense and cozy mysteries, with a dose or two of humor.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Five women and counting… Who killed them and who’s next?
Lieutenant Murphy Thornton is assigned the case and at first finds no connection between the five murdered women. As he digs deeper, he finds iffy connections and one huge one that rocks many back on their heels.
After reading Three Days To Forever from The Mac Faraday Series, I was so excited to read this book. The Thorny Rose Mysteries are a companion series. I bumped into many of my favorite characters and this one features another fun couple.
Murphy and his new wife, Jessica, are still adjusting to married life, when all of a sudden their home is over run with guests.
Jessica’s brother, Tristan, needs a place to stay while having his place repaired after it was flooded. He brings his beloved pet, Monique, under heavy objections and much negotiation. For those of you unfamiliar with her, she’s a tarantula about the size of a dinner plate!
Now, that makes three people along with a giant spider, Murphy’s TV watching mixed breed dog Newman, and Jessica’s Shetland sheepdog, Spencer/Candi. Jessica calls her Spencer. Murphy calls her Candi. She answers to Candi.
When a connection is found between one of the murdered women and the cold case murder of State Trooper Nicholas Gates, his widow, Cameron Gates, their step-mother, comes to stay at the Thornton household.
Now, there are four people, a tarantula, and two dogs. Cameron adds to the furry mix with her opinionated Main Coon cat, Irving. She looks like a skunk, all black with a white stripe down her back from her head to the tip of her tail.
One more stray is added to the household. Izzy (Isadora Crenshaw). the young teenage daughter of one of the murdered women is brought to Murhpy’s and Jessica’s home under police protection. She’s wise for her age and quickly becomes a part of the gang. She also has a special affinity, seems to communicate with the herd of animals. They all adore her, even Monique.
Now there are five people, a giant spider, two dogs, and a large cat. How much more can one house hold.
So many connections must and do lead to deadly shootouts, stalkers, conspiracy, and cover ups.
The action is intense, the mysteries keep you engaged and eager to see how they connect, and the characters, both human and furry, keep you laughing and gasping.
The author includes a bio of each of the characters, including the animals, at the beginning of the book. I’d recommend you read them first. It just takes a few minutes and makes it so easy to follow and connect with them throughout the book.
This can easily be read as a stand alone book, but I’m betting you’ll be wanting more about Lauren Carr’s characters and will be grabbing more of her books.
Laura Carr has really done it again to me. The story had me going from the start of who guessed the murderer. Her written catches you and grabs your attention and keeping entertained and wondering. Murphy some how get on to this murder case by being sent down from NCIS.
How Murphy’s stepmother Cameron and his wife Jessica get in the middle of it is beyond it. They start to go from one crime scene to another. Murphy is called in and I wonder what’s going to happen to them it is all up in the air. Surprises and twists waiting at every turn of the pages.
You get pulled in and can not be pulled back out. We meet a young girl that is left behind that is connected to five murders in Washington, D.C. Where a murder that happens thirteen years before and what happen to that person come to light. Who is behind it all? Military seems to be hiding something that they seem not to want to come out. You will never be able to figure it out until it all revealed at the end.