Homicide Detective Cameron Gates learned long ago that there is no such thing as a typical murder case. Each mystery is special in its own right—especially for the family of the victim.The homicide of a successful executive, husband, and father seems open and shut when the murder weapon is found in his estranged son-in-law’s possession. The circumstantial evidence is so damning that when her … when her step-son, J.J. Thornton, agrees to act as the defendant’s public defender, he assumes his first murder case will be a loss. Only the report of a missing husband proves that this case is not as open and shut as it seems.
Strap on your seat belts for a wild ride in this mystery rooted in decades of deception that sprouts into murder.
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Once again I found myself in the car for several hours which I love, for it gives me longer periods of time to listen to a Thornton family mystery drama. Not only does the whole family get involved in preparing for JJ and Poppy’s wedding but also in the investigation of multiple murders ~ or is it multiple identities? This one actually covers several decades, as that is how long the deception has been covered up. As you can imagine, that also allows for enough time for lifelines and activities to tangle beyond disengagement. Every time I thought I had a piece of the puzzle figured out, doubt was cast when a new piece of evidence is exposed.
With motives galore, memorable characters, including some real whackos, you won’t want to put it down or stop listening. Mike Alger does his usual fabulous job with the voices and emotions from panic and derision to humor and romance.
You can enjoy this as a stand alone mystery but I do recommend you get to know this whole complicated combined clan with other books in the series and various spin-offs.
The Root of Murder is the fourth installment from Lauren Carr’s Lovers in Crime Mysteries series. Oh my goodness! The more I read her books, the more I absolutely love her. She is beginning to be one of my top go to authors. I want to read all of her books. The Root of Murder is giving me yet another reason why I feel that way.
The Root of Murder catches readers up with couple Homicide Detective Cameron Gates and Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Thornton. I love these two together. They are a great team and so fun together. Joshua’s son, JJ, becomes a defensive attorney for his first murder case and is determined that he will not lose this case. It was great to see how they were able to investigate and solve it.
The Root of Murder is full of mystery and suspense, action and adventure, along with fun and laughs. I loved the huge twist in the story that I had no way of predicting. I was kept on the edge of my seat wondering what in the world could happen next. I was left guessing with “who done it” up until the end. What a surprise!
I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version of The Root of Murder. Once again, Mike Alger, does a fabulous performance bringing this book to life. His voice and the book are the perfect fit.
I am giving The Root of Murder a well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend this book, as well as, the others in the Lovers in Crime Mysteries series. I believe that readers will not be disappointed! I love it!
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Thank you IRead and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Root Of Murder
A Lovers in Crime Mystery
By: Lauren Carr
*REVIEW*
I have never read anything by Lauren Carr, and I am glad to have discovered a new author. The Root Of Murder is part of the Lovers in Crime Mystery Series, and I will seek out the rest of the series for sure. Through reading this book, I have become invested in the outcomes for many of the characters. I enjoyed stepping into the world of this book, and I am eager to know more about everything. This is a tale of murder, but it is not your garden variety mystery. The suspects multiply and subtract as you attempt to identify the actual killer. Nothing is obvious or cut and dry, and the journey from beginning to end is a convoluted process with more twists and turns than a switchback mountain road. I loved the fact that I could not figure it out, and the surprise is a great payoff. It is more than a murder mystery, however, because a wedding, some critters and a bit of fun are in the mix. The characters are relatable, tough, intelligent and likeable. Basically, this is a well written sharp and engrossing mystery with every element an excellent read could possibly need. Go and check out The Root Of Murder for yourself. You will not be disappointed!
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
I have read quite a few of Lauren Carr’s books, and I’m never disappointed. Although she writes several different series, most of the characters are related in some way. Since the family is getting ready for a wedding in this book, several of the characters from other series are in this book.
The Root of Murder is the fourth book in the Lovers in Crime series. I have read the first three books, so I was looking forward to reading this one. This is my favorite book in the series so far. The cases that Cameron and Joshua are working on become so intertwined that they might as well be working on one big case.
Solving two murders and a disappearance is a big part of the book, of course, but the Thornton family’s story is just as entertaining. It’s obvious that Joshua has done a good job raising his children. They’re all responsible and in good, loving relationships.
I definitely recommend The Root of Murder. It has murder mysteries involving people Joshua and his children have known all of their lives. That means extra drama, and there’s always a little humor here and there. I even caught myself laughing out loud once. Thankfully, I was at home at the time. I’m looking forward to reading the next Lovers in Crime book.
In the first few pages of The Root of Murder, a body has been found burning in a field and an investigation soon begins. Homicide detective Cameron Gates, her lawyer husband Joshua Thornton, and her step-son J.J. Thorton all becomed involved in this case that eventually points to the deaths of two men and uncovers a friendship between two young women that borders on obsession for one of them. There are many questions and many intense moments but they are buffered with the mention of family time, a wedding being planned, and some humor that adds lightness to this story.
Since this is the fourth book in the Lovers in Crime series, it is very helpful to know a little about all of the people mentioned in the previous books and I appreciate that Carr included a list of characters at the beginning. She also succeeded in keeping me searching for clues, letting me believe that I had solved the mystery, and then showing me just how wrong I was—exactly what a good mystery should do!
This is my first Lauren Carr book and I have enjoyed discovering her talent. I will certainly be adding more of her books to my TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy from the author but a positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.
Even though I have only read Book III, Killer in the Band, in the Lovers in Crime Mystery Series, I had no trouble reading Book IV, The Root of Murder. Lauren Carr’s books read as stand alones that have recurring characters.
The title and cover were aptly chosen, as the bases of the murder goes back to the beginning, or the root of the secret and all that comes after.
Of course, Lauren Carr has some fabulous characters, people, villains and fur babies, that crack me up with their antics.
Poppy. I am so happy to read her story. She’s a good person, dealt a bad hand, but nothing stops her from moving on. She will be a great addition to the Thornton family.
Poppy’s faith and belief in things working out the way they are meant to be makes for a heartwarming, uplifting romance.
Gulliver, Ollie & Charley are unique characters with big personalities, bringing plenty of smiles and chuckles to the story. Once you meet them, I don’t think you’ll forget them.
Irving and Admiral are great manipulators and good for some chuckles at their antics.
Two murders with a spin that increases the suspect pool. And, of course, all the things that need to be dealt with in the normal world.
Animals and people alike are great and I love visiting them all as their lives grow fuller, richer.
Well, another happy ever after filled with romance, murder and intrigue, friendship and family, suspense and mystery, and characterless that will filled my heart with uplifting moments and humor.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Root of Murder by Lauren Carr.
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The Roots of Murder is better then I expected. Though Lauren books are done well and gripping at every turn, there is not surprised that I loved it. It was amazing and so had me guessing. You would not believe who killer turns out to be.
The plot is entertaining as it is keeping you guessing until you make to end. Find out how Madison and Heather find out they are half sisters? But who killed their father and why? There seems to be another murder they did not seem to solve that come up with Lindsay’s death.
We see the family jump in and help with the investigation of Cameron Gates case. We also see JJ Thornton join in as well. We are reading JJ and his love Poppy getting ready for their wedding as well. What ever is the case, this pulls in Joshua Thornton as it his friend from school. It deals with JJ and Murphy friends as well when they find the victim is John Davis. Which is by the way Heather’s dad.
Elisabeth seems strange and clingy. Why is she being the why she is. If you want to find out happens and why? You will need to pick up the book to read. How Lauren Carr comes up with these plots and still has more is beyond me. These stories are so deep and emotional that they make you want even more. You can be pulled in as if you are member and be heartfelt.
How does this author keep coming up with such wonderful new plotlines? I have read all of Lauren Carr’s books – all TWENTY FIVE of them spread across 6 unique, but loosely connected series. Yet each time I pick up her latest title, I find myself drawn into a fresh storyline that I can’t put down.
In The Root of Murder, the author takes a great mix of ingredients – one husband found mysteriously killed in a very personal attack, a drug addicted son-in-law who looks like a shoe-in for the murder, another husband missing, a past death that now looks suspicious, old high school rivalries, a wedding, a vision of a wedding dress that doesn’t exist, and a mix of pets each full of character (my fav this time around is Charley the watch rooster) – and weaves a story through all of these separate elements that keeps you reading just one more page, just one more page, just one more page until you reach the end.
What I love as well is that with each new book, we continue to hear more of the personal history of some of characters unique to this series. And each time we learn more about their past, the image of who they are becomes clearer. After reading four books in the Lovers in Crime series, the characters of Joshua, Cameron, JJ and Poppy have become real to me. They feel like people I have met personally. Carr also always finds a way to move the story fluidly between the lighter, dangerous, funny and sad moments. It makes the reading easy and leaves you with a smile on your face at the end.
As always, I can’t wait for her next story to be published. I guess I really need to start reading slower.