“I’m working on the greatest mystery ever,” was the last thing noted mystery novelist Mercedes Livingston said to seven-year-old Chris Matheson before walking out of Hill House Hotel never to be seen again. For decades, the writer’s fate remained a puzzling mystery until an autographed novel and a letter put a grown-up Chris Matheson on the trail of a cunning killer. With the help of a team of … team of fellow retired law enforcement officers, each a specialist in their own field of investigation, Chris puts a flame to this cold case to uncover what had really happened that night Mercedes Livingston walked out of Hill House Hotel. Watch out! The clues are getting hot!
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Once again we are captivated not only by the human detectives searching for clues to a very cold case ( 4 decades!) but also by the animal antics of the extended clan and crew created in Lauren Carr’s extremely active imagination. I have no idea how she keeps it all straight.
Various characters from different book series become entangled and entwined as they are called in to unravel a disappearance, kidnapping, murder, and identity transformation with fraud and other deception motives. Could a woman actually will herself to death?
Even if I tried to tell you all the themes and plots going on I know I would miss a few – too numerous to count yet when all is said and done, they come together brilliantly.
Romance, failed relationships, parenting ~ all play roles as the Geezer Squad does what they do best.
Do not worry if you are unfamiliar with each series or how things came before as it is explained while the story unfolds. The characters have depth and continue to develop as the story moves forward.
Chris Matheson is the central protagonist but not the only one focused on, nor is the “victim” a deceased woman who isn’t who she has been believed to be.
Thank you IRead and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book, and all opinions expressed are my own.
The Last Thing She Said
By: Lauren Carr
*REVIEW*
Lauren Carr is new to me, and I do wish I had more backstory before reading this book. The Last Thing She Said is a murder mystery of the most convoluted variety. The Geezer Squad are working a decades old cold case. The mystery is bizarre from the start-an author presumed dead forty years ago may not have been dead after all-and other crimes begin to pop up here and there. It is like pulling a single thread and unraveling the entire thing. Is everything connected or merely coincidental? The mystery is tightly woven and impenetrable, thus ensuring mayhem and dead ends and difficulty at every turn. It is complicated, and the presence of a good number of characters leads to confusion, at least for me. I did wander aimlessly a few times. Regardless, I did enjoy reading this fascinating unique mystery with all the twists and turns and drama I expect from a talented author. Lauren Carr is worth checking out, and if you have never read her work, do give it a try.
The Geezer Squad is back, along with the rest of the gang, and I am so happy to joining in the mystery, fun and lovin’ The family that solves a murder together, stays together. lol I am amped up, ready for some murder, mystery and laughs, with two and four legged characters combines.
Sometimes it is hard to write a review and this is one of those times. The words won’t seem to come, even though I loved The Last Thing She Said. There was lot of mystery and suspects, clues to follow, some lead to nowhere and others lead to more mystery.
I saw Shannon’s mystery coming and I’m eager for the investigation to begin. The Geezer Squad is called into action. They morphed from a book club to a cold case investigating team and they are very, very good at it. A bunch of retired law enforcement that hates to let the bad guy get away.
Sterling…well…what can I say about Sterling:
“Oh, what a beautiful German Shepherd!”…”And he’s wearing sunglasses!”
Lauren Carr’s descriptive writing brings all her characters and their worlds to life in vivid detail sometimes making me bust out in laughter, other times I am completely absorbed in the investigative details.
The whole Buttwrinkle thing had me LAUGHING OUT LOUD!
The past and present collide as the dead refuse to stay dead , and mysteries and suspects run riot through the pages. I love how Lauren Carr allows characters from her other series to make an appearance.
I went from curious to ticked off, to confused, to happy and laughing as I flipped through the pages, guessing and cyphering the clues.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Last Thing She Said by Lauren Carr.
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Lauren Carr once does not disappoint in her newest release, The Last Thing She Said. This third installment from her Chris Matheson Cold Case series, is yet another entertaining mystery. Even though it is part of a series, I believe this can be read as a stand alone. But a reader would not want to miss the first two.
The Last Thing She Said catches readers up with Chris Matheson and his sidekicks. Since he was a child, he wondered about the disappearance of the mystery writer, Mercedes Livingston. He is now determined to find out what happened to her. I loved the twists and turns the kept me on the edge of my seat. I was hooked right from the beginning and was intrigued with the plot all of the way through. It is full of mystery, suspense, humor, adventure, action, and entertainment. My favorite characters of the book are no doubt the cunning and mischievous canines.
I have had the pleasure of listening to several of Lauren Carr’s audible version of her books. I love that Mike Alger is the narrator to majority of those. Once again, he does not disappoint performing The Last Thing She Said. He truly makes the story so much fun to listen to.
I would give The Last Thing She Said one hundred stars if I could. It is one book that should not be missed.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a well written mystery! Well done, Lauren, well done!
Five stars.
I received the audio version of this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
The Last Thing She Said is filled with more then one mystery. Chris is the main one that needs to find answers for a dying friend. But what if that friend ends up being a famous author that wants to give her children the legacy that she left behind?
Well the way this plot goes. Chris and his mother do not know anything or seem to know that they are were friends to someone that was to be kidnapped and dead. When your mother last friend is leaves a letter to your son and ask you find out who murder her first husband George? The plot start to get thick and hot again.
This brings in the Geezer Squad to open up the cold case of a century. The author seem to bring in Mac and his wife which help a bit. If you meet the mayor you should not be surprised that their going to be a case that brings laughter between the two dogs.
Their seems that theirs is murder that needs solving that happens to be bring in two murders and a kidnapping. Who killed Lacy Woodhouse? Who would want George Livingston dead? Why extort money from Horace Billingely?
Laura Carr doe not disappoint. She gives us more then one mystery to dig into. How they all be connected and be related to the kidnapping and murder of George Livingston? To find out all this you will have to read The Last Thing she said. There is not one why to find one answers to why Mercedes Livingston? What ever happened to her? Their seems to be mystery until Chris gets and autographed book.
This author does her book brilliantly that I can not wait for the next one. This author adds her other mystery characters in seemly and they seem to help if they can. This time Mac get pulled in a bit. Will his wife be able to help with Chris cold case?
Another mind boggler. Love all of Lauren’s book, and this series doesn’t disappoint. The story is complex with long ago events hide the secrets needed to solve the crime. And don’t forget romantic tensions and new developments. I highly recommend this book and then entire series.
Where to start? I have read and enjoyed every title by this prolific author. They are all filled with wonderful characters (both human and fur babies), interesting plots and a great combination of danger, suspense, humour and romance. That said, I think The Last Thing She Said really stands out as exceptional. It showcases the author’s great talent as well as the many years she has spent crafting her skills. Only someone with serious hours at the typewriter (or computer) could handle a storyline like this one.
The mystery is unique and the plot intricate. It includes important flashbacks to where it all began, a cold case with many of the important people dead – including an already presumed dead writer who actually passes near the start of the story – as well as a large cast of characters that features many from her other series – Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose Mysteries. Sounds complicated? It is. But Carr navigates through it all with ease.
At the core, we have a famous writer who disappears many years previously. A ransom is demanded and paid, but when her husband is found dead, it is presumed she is dead as well. Flash forward to the present. We have a woman Chris Matheson’s mother works with at the library who is devastated at the loss of her husband and seems to have willed her body to pass so she can join him. She leaves behind a note for Matheson that shares she is the writer presumed dead, that someone else killed her ex-husband, that she wants her children to know about and claim her legacy, but is worried she will be blamed for his death. Can he do it?
Complicated – yes? Intriguing – yes? But through it all Carr keeps us riveted to the page. It all flows easily. I am definitely going to have to read this a second time. It really is fabulous!