There a murder or murders that no one want to unsolved. It seem that their a killer that has yet to be answered. It all starts with the discovery of the missing sheriff deputy Mike Gardner and his cruiser in the lake.

There are more mysteries to solve and it all get started once Joshua and Cameron some what gets involved. Joshua on the case with his case and Cameron deals with a case that involes a sweet old lady that is her neighbor and named Dolly. Cameron wants to find closer or answers for a mother that lost her son.

Who killed Ava Tucker and her young man? Are they all connected or not? Why was Mike looking into a local hooker murder and is it a family secret that got him killed? Hunter seem like he want to find his fathers killer. You will be surprised at how it ends.

Laura does a remarkable job of bring her characters to life. You feel the their love for each other. Tracey seem to have found her love in Hunter Gardner. Will they marry and have a happy life together. We see how Cameron and Joshua deals with their marriage issues and their love for each other as well. They seem to work well together.

If you are a mystery fan or murder fan. Then you are missing out on these author books. Lauren Carr books are must read books. She will have you leave satisfied but hungry for more. This book was no different. I love how they are all intertwined. ( )

Posted first on Blog Critics as Book Review:'Real Murder, A Lovers In Crime Mystery' by Lauren Carr.

Even in small towns there is a possibility of sinister evil, were the secrets of the past can turn even the most unlikely of foe into a killer. Yet it is also true about small towns that dark secrets are often more difficult to extricate from gossip in an effort to reach the truth.

In Real Murder, A Lovers In Crime Mystery by Lauren Carr, we follow the exploits of Detective Cameron Gates. When she meets an irascible elderly lady she is fascinated by her stories. Yet her new friend, Dolly is labeled as senile and delusional. Dolly has been trying to get someone to help her investigate the murder of one of her girls. Yet as Cameron tries to decipher this story, she realizes that Dolly had never had children and understands the cautions from her friends.

In the meantime, the Prosecutor Joshua Thornton is looking for answers to the disappearance of a close personal friend of his from long ago. The last to ever see him, Joshua is feeling like there is something important that must come to light. His friend is not just another missing person; he was a new sheriff deputy investigating the murder of a local prostitute on his own when he disappeared.

When Cameron’s friend, the elderly Dolly is murdered, she struggles to make sense of things. Why would anyone murder such a sweet old lady? Yet when a cruiser is found in the bottom of a lake, and the body of Joshua’s friend comes to light, only these two, Cameron and Joshua can find the tie that twists the two deaths together.

This is a fun and amazing journey into the past and into the mindset of a killer. Carr’s unerring description of character is spot on and you grow to understand and have feelings for them as though they are quite real. The ability to create such realism has you unable to put down the story until its final page. Yet you will find yourself looking for more, missing the action and camaraderie, and hating on those who are responsible for the death of such wonderful personalities. The realism makes it personal, and that is a difficult chore for some writers.

If you love mystery and history, and the interesting characters of small towns, you will be intrigued by this work. The oeuvre just keeps getting better. Carr has a particular way with infusing loving and trusting personalities into her character’s making them friends instead of just cardboard cutouts.

This would be a great book for a reading club or discussion group. The interest in reducing rumors into truths could add a great deal of spice to any meeting. ( )

4 STARS

I love to read Lauren Carr's mysteries. Real Murder fits right in with her Lovers in Crime series. There are a lot of murders over the years and other crimes in two or more states. Joshua and Cameron have to figure out who did what in whose case. There are many suspects, lots of mysteries to untangle, humor and lots of ice cream. You might be able to guess parts of the stories but probably not all of where the book is taking you. Also a clean murder mystery.

I really like the characters in this series of books. While Joshua and Cameron are the main two characters there are many characters in the series that really add to the stories, and the humor including the animals.

Joshua Thorton is Prosecuting Attorney. He is also one of the last persons to talk to a Deputy before he disappeared years ago. He felt he left his friend down. He is just newly wed to Cameron. Joshua is also the father of 5 kids. The only one at home is Donny 16.

Cameron Gates is a homicide detective in neighboring state. She gets hurt on the job and given two weeks off. It does not stop Cameron from working. Cameron has a big cat that looks like a skunk. He brings a lot of humor to the story.

I enjoyed Real Murders and look forward to reading more of Lauren Carr's stories in the future. ( )