The Nutcracker Conspiracy by Lauren Carr

What I Loved:

One of the things I love about Lauren Carr’s books is her animals. She creates these animal characters that have a personality that you connect with! The Nutcracker Conspiracy did not disappoint me one bit with the animals woven into the story!

How I Felt:

The plot was so much fun. It’s a police procedural story, so I got lots of great details from the investigator’s perspective. The conspiracy really went back in time to pull all the details together, which made the fact-finding portion of the book really interesting. It also has that fun, humorous side that makes it feel lighthearted. Lauren Carr finds a great balance between the suspense and humor.

The characters in The Nutcracker Conspiracy were as wonderful as always! I like that Carr incorporates characters that we meet in other stories with the new ones. It just feels like I’m reading about friends. Gnarly, a favorite pup of mine is back again. If you enjoy the four-legged friends in stories, you’ll really get into this book. There’s even a lycanthrope lurking around!

I listened to the audio version of this book through Audible, narrated by Mike Alger. I really enjoyed his narration. I found him to be easy to listen to, and he did a great job with the voices and cadence of the story!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I loved the mystery, and I did NOT expect the killer to be who it was! It had some great twists, but also had that lighter, humorous side that I so enjoy.

Content Warning:

This book contains some light sexual content that is referenced but is not described. There is some light swearing, nothing in the “F” family. There is some description of the murder, so there is some blood.

To Read or Not To Read:

I would recommend The Nutcracker Conspiracy for readers that enjoy a mystery with some twists and turns and some amazing characters!

This is the fourth book in the series Thorny Rose Mysteries, however, I do feel that it can be read as a stand-alone. I had not read the other boos in this series, and it did not impact my enjoyment of this book at all!

Where to Find This Book:

The Nutcracker Conspiracy by Lauren Carr is available at these sites.

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Three years ago, the nation gasped in horror when the President of the United States barely escaped an assassination attempt that left two dead—the vice president’s wife and the attempted assassin. Even after numerous investigations proved otherwise, conspiracy theorists argue that the assassin was acting on orders from the CIA, FBI, and every federal agency within a hundred miles of the capital.

Aspiring Author Dean Conway is the last person Lieutenant Commander Murphy Thornton wants to spend his Saturday afternoon when they end up at the same wedding reception table. While their wives tend to bridesmaid duties, Murphy is trapped listening to Dean’s latest work-in-project—completing the manuscript of an investigative journalist who’d disappeared months earlier.

“She was number twelve,” Dean says. “Twelve?” Murphy asks.

“Twelve witnesses connected to or investigating The Nutcracker shooting have died either in an accident or suicide.”

Two days later, Dean dies suddenly―but not before sending a text message to Murphy: “13”

Just the Facts:

The Nutcracker Conspiracy by Lauren Carr
Series: Thorny Rose Mysteries, Book 4
Genre: Mystery
Page Count: 388 pages
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Pub Date: January 30, 2020

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Thorny Rose, Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries—over twenty titles across four fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions.

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, editor, cover and layout designer, and marketing agent for independent authors.

She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.