Book Review: An Invitation to Mystery

Book Title: An Invitation to Mystery

Author: Lauren Carr

Publisher:  Independently Published

Publisher Date: 2026 (84 Pages, Ebook)

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Murder Mystery, Novella,

Series: Deep Creek Detectives Club #1

A cryptic invitation arrives at the homes of Lauren Carr's most beloved detectives: an all-expenses-paid weekend of luxury at the five-star Spencer Inn—penthouse suites, black-tie dinners, and Sunday brunch included. It sounds too good to be true… or like the world’s most elaborate time-share trap.
Mac Faraday, Chris Matheson and the Geezer Squad, Joshua Thornton and Cameron Gates, and Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday can’t resist. But this isn’t a vacation.

Mac has founded an exclusive club for the sharpest minds he knows—and their first challenge is to help a retired captain finally solve the forty-year-old murder that has haunted him since his very first case.
Over gourmet meals, spring gardens, and one chaotic dog-led treasure hunt, rivalries flare, old secrets surface, and a single silk scarf reveals a betrayal no one saw coming.


Packed with Lauren Carr’s signature humor, heart, and four-legged mischief, An Invitation to Mystery is the debut novella in the exclusive Deep Creek Detectives Club series—where luxury meets cold justice, and the past refuses to stay buried.


This limited novella series is for Mystery Lovers and Detective Club members only--with 2 novellas released per year! (Detective Club members receive each new release one month before Mystery Lovers!)

Disclaimer: I received this book as a member of her street team and a Detective Member. This is my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Want To Buy: Amazon | BH Publishing Group | Lifeway |
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We learn that a few couples have been invited to the Spencer Inn. But why? What only a few select members.

This brought together all my favorite characters for marking.  If you haven't read any of the series by Lauren Carr, you are missing out. Each series is done wonderfully. I have a favorite from each. Once again, they came together for a mysterious gathering.

Will they solve it together, or won't they? What mayhem will the dogs get into?

What lovely adventures and discussions await? Will couples enjoy themselves and make friends? Will there be more of these detective clubs gathering in the future? Can they figure out the clues and put them together, and give the caption some peace of mind?

They seem to be talking about a case while enjoying some downtime. They all seem to be getting frustrated, angry, and tearing each other apart over it. It seems there are no clues.

Did Doris give one because the murderer had shared a grapefruit with someone?

But maybe Jessica found a break in the case as to how Emily Bennett had a Ska slip scarf that was Charlotte's?

Will they find out how Emily got the silk scarf? Will it lead to more clues? 

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Book Review: Spring Thaw: A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery Novella and Other Mystery Short Stories

Book Title: Spring Thaw: A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery Novella and Other Mystery Short Stories

Author: Lauren Carr

Publisher:  Independently Published

Publisher Date: 23 October 2018 (250 Pages, Paperback)

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Murder Mystery, Short Stories,

Series: A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #1.5

In today's hectic world, many whodunit fans don't have time to get their mystery fix diving into a whole novel. Lauren Carr's SPRING THAW AND OTHER MYSTERY SHORT STORIES is for these fans-but that doesn't mean whodunit fans who do have time can't dive in as well.

A novella, Spring Thaw features retired federal agent Chris Matheson from Lauren Carr's newest bestselling cold case series. When his late father's former friend is indicted for the seven-year-old murder of a church bishop, Chris renews old broken friendships to thaw out the cold case.

Featuring Mac Faraday from Lauren Carr's popular Mac Faraday Mysteries, an estate auction turns into a deadly affair after Gnarly's antics cause Mac to purchase a gem of a dress, which isn't his color in Killing Bid. (Previously published in Lauren Carr's BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.) Beauty to Die For features the Lovers in Crime, Joshua Thornton, and Cameron Gates in a race against the Angel of Death to clear the name of a dying woman's son, who was framed for murdering Miss Pennsylvania. (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Countdown to Murder returns to the Lovers in Crime where Cameron and Joshua try to solve the murder of a young pregnant widow before it happens. (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.) Mystery fans will see that every dog has his day, especially if that dog is Gnarly.

In Lucky Dog, Gnarly helps Mac Faraday to solve the murder of a wealthy society girl. (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.) Dog Loving Mystery Fans will get a special treat when they read The Gnarly Rehabilitation Program. In this Gnarly Mystery Short, Bert and Ernie learn the hard way that crime does not pay when they dognap Gnarly. (Previously published as a bonus feature with A WEDDING AND A KILLING.)

Gnarly, the rambunctious German shepherd, is also featured in Lauren Carr's Christmas short, A Gnarly Christmas. It is Christmas day and Gnarly has been up to his old tricks again. Now he's in the doghouse--or rather the boathouse--after stealing the Christmas feast! Moments after Archie and Mac leave Spencer Manor, Gnarly hears a call for help from Rocky, the Maltese down the street. Four assassins for hire have invaded the home of Rocky's elderly owners. While the home invaders wait for instructions from a mysterious caller, Gnarly must plot to stop them. Can Gnarly save Christmas with only the help of an 8-pound Maltese dressed in an elf suit? (Previously published as a single short story by the same name.)

Disclaimer: I bought this book, as I am a big fan of Lauren Carr. I really wanted to read this book to catch up with all her series. This is my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Want To Buy: Amazon | BH Publishing Group | Lifeway |
Add To: Goodreads

Spring Thaw:

A Chris Matheson Cold Case

We are introduced to Chris and his family when we get a premonition of what is going on six years earlier.

Who came into the church and started shooting up the church while trustees were in a meeting.

Was it a trustee or was it someone else? Was it Duance McCall? Why stick it to him? Why investigate him? Why does he have a mystery that was unsolved in the case of why he cut off his family and friends when the church split?

Chris got some information about what might be going on, but not much. Though we hear Kirk and what was going on around the time of the shooting. 

Though we get more of Kelly's father's story. Why all of a sudden do we have new witnesses come about, and now a murder weapon? 

A 6-year-old cold case seems to be reopened again, but why? Is someone covering for their own family member?

Lauren Carr can do it with short stories, too.  She hooked me with this one as it was only just starting. I am only a few pages in.

Well, we get more information, and now we don't know who did it. Was bishop really the target? Lauren Carr put twists and turns even in the middle of the story. Who is lying and why?

Killing Bid:

A Mac Faraday Mystery Short 

We are introduced to Mac and Artchie through Mac's perspective, primarily through his troubles with bag snatching. 

We are also introduced to Ben and Catherine's Flemings, who are Archie's friends.

While shopping, they talked about Celeste Taylor and the Estate auction Mac was invited to. 

When they get an auction or a lease, look at the jewelry left here. Archie and Catherine come up to respect their husbands' statement that all of Celeste Taylor's jewelry is fake.

Is this true or is it not? La Chat is mentioned in the book. Did he do it or not? Who is La Chat?

A Beauty to Die For:

A Lover In Crime Mystery Short

We meet up with Joshua and Cameron. It all starts with a 2 am phone call from his cousin Tad Macmillan.

This is the start of a series of secrets. But clarify one person's name for a dying person so she can have peace. 

Who is covering up murders, but especially Rachel Burke? Who framed Billy and murdered him? But made it look like something else and cover it up?

There are twists and turns, and even more to unravel this mystery.

Cameron and Joshua seem ready to prove that the dying mother's son did not do it, but to catch the real ones? But who did we seem to have found another murder along the way? 

 

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