G1127 E-Reading Book Review of Winter Frost by Lauren Carr

Name of Book: Winter Frost

Author: Lauren Carr

ISBN: B07LF7TJ85

Publisher: Acorn Books

Part of a Series: Chris Matheson Series

Type of book: Crime, cold case, Washington, crossover to other series, mystery, thriller, government, CIA, FBI, secrets, secret files

Year it was published: 2019

Summary:

It all started with a chance encounter in the city with Blair, his late wife.

Chris Matheson and the Geezer Squad, working under the guise of a book club, dig into the events surrounding his late wife’s supposed death halfway around the globe. A state department employee shoots himself in the back three times. A CIA operative goes missing. A woman is targeted by an international assassin three years after being declared dead in a terrorist attack overseas.

Nothing is as it seems.

In his most personal cold case, Chris fights to uncover why the state department told him that Blair, the mother of his children, had been killed when she was alive. What had she uncovered that has made her a target? Who terrified her so much that she had gone into hiding and why are they now after him?

Characters:

There are tons of characters, and yes, there is a character list in front of the book which will help keep the readers straight on who's who. (I do wonder if I have encountered the character of Slade in previous books?) What is also interesting is that towards the end the point of view does show up some of the villains' thoughts as they get caught. Main characters include Chris Matheson who is certain that he saw his dead wife Blair get involved in a murder of an agent. There is also Murphy Thornton, he of the military background and is part of a secret organization along with Tristan, Murphy's brother-in-law, the Geezer Squad and so forth. All characters were endowed with distinct voices which made it easier to tell who's who, and there is also unexpected humor as well as adrenaline rushing suspense.

Theme:

There are reasons for everything

Plot:

The story is written in third person narrative from the heroes' points of view. There were a lot of characters and pets to keep track of, but the beauty is that I remembered a lot of characters, although I think I need some time to get reacquainted with the Geezer Squad. What I also found very delightful is Chris's mother and her unorthodox methods of protecting the house and the family. (I was reading that part late at night, and sincerely hope I hadn't awakened my little boy by laughing so much.) Just like previous novels, it definitely hooks the reader and doesn't let him go no matter what.

Author Information:
(From iRead Book Tours)


Buy Winter Frost:
​Amazon ~ Audible
Add to Goodreads



Meet the Author:

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

Now, Lauren has added one more hit series to her list with the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries. Set in the quaint West Virginia town of Harpers Ferry, Ice introduces Chris Matheson, a retired FBI agent, who joins forces with other law enforcement retirees to heat up those cold cases that keep them up at night.

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s 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. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
Opinion:

I always feel that with each successive book, Lauren Carr hones her craft even more, therefore raising my expectations a lot more. WINTER FROST doesn't disappoint in any way because just like a classic Lauren Carr novel, WINTER FROST has family, friends, relationships, and, best of all, pets that are more than just there but instead are truly members of the family with their unique personalities. The mysteries are also interesting, and I love reconnecting to unexpected characters, in particular to certain couple that help Chris out. (And it was cool that in previous mystery I reviewed Chris Matheson made an appearance as well! Which makes my heart flutter with excitement, believe it or not.) One aspect that I didn't enjoy in the tale is the religious slant towards the end, especially with idea of how to forgive someone, and which kind of ruined the book for me. I learned to expect conservative viewpoint when it comes to reading a Lauren Carr novel (at least for me, and which I respect because the author is a great storyteller,) but I am really uncomfortable with the slight religious slant and it was a bit jarring to see it in a book.

This was given for a review

Link to giveaway 


BOOK and AUDIOBOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

May 1 - Library of Clean Reads - tour kick-off / giveaway
May 1 - My Reading Journeys - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 2 - Working Mommy Journal - review Winter Frost / giveaway
May 2 - Dab of Darkness Book Reviews - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 3 - Laura's Interests - review of ICE / giveaway
May 6 - Hall Ways Blog - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 7 - Words And Peace - book spotlight / giveaway
May 7 - Life as Leels - review of ICE
May 8 - Kristin’s Novel Café - review of Winter Frost
May 9 - Locks, Hooks and Books - review of ICE / giveaway
May 10 - Bound 4 Escape - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 14 - JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 15 - JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder - review of Crimes Past / giveaway
May 15 - Nighttime Reading Center - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 16 - Locks, Hooks and Books - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 16 - Life as Leels - review of Winter Frost
May 17 - Seaside Book Nook - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 20 - Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author - book spotlight / giveaway
May 20 - Laura's Interests - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 21 - Bound 4 Escape - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
May 21 - Blooming with Books - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 23 - StoreyBook Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
May 23 - T's Stuff - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 24 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
May 24 - Dab of Darkness Book Reviews - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
May 24 - A Fountain of Books - review of ICE / giveaway
May 27 - A Fountain of Books - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
May 28 - Locks, Hooks and Books - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
May 28 - Buried Under Books - review of Winter Frost
May 29 - Life as Leels - review of It's Murder My Son
May 30 - Seaside Book Nook - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
May 30 - Readers' Muse - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
May 31 - Laura's Interests - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
June 3 - Bound 4 Escape - review of Crimes Past / giveaway
June 3 - Amy’s Booket List - review of ICE
June 4 - Locks, Hooks and Books - review of Crimes Past / giveaway
June 5 - Buried Under Books - review of Crimes Past
June 5 - Blooming with Books - review of Crimes Past / giveaway
June 6 - Nighttime Reading Center - review of Crimes Past / giveaway
June 6 - A Fountain of Books - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
June 10 - Library of Clean Reads - It's Murder My Son / giveaway
June 10 - FUONLYKNEW - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
June 10 - Amy’s Booket List - review of Winter Frost
June 10 - Readers' Muse - review of Crimes Past / giveaway
June 11 - Life as Leels - review of Crimes Past
June 12 - Dab of Darkness Book Reviews - review of Crimes Past / giveaway
June 13 - FUONLYKNEW - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
June 14 - Mystery Suspense Reviews - review of Winter Frost
June 17 - Seaside Book Nook - review of Crimes Past / giveaway
June 17 - Amy’s Booket List - review of It's Murder My Son
June 18 - Laura's Interests - review of Crimes Past / giveaway
June 19 - A Fountain of Books - review of Crimes Past / giveaway
June 20 - Nighttime Reading Center - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
June 20 - Readers' Muse - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
June 21 - JBronder Book Reviews - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
June 24 - Mystery Suspense Reviews - review of Crimes Past
June 24 - Amy’s Booket List - review of Crimes Past
June 25 - Books for Books - book spotlight
June 26 - JBronder Book Reviews - review of Crimes Past / giveaway
June 27 - JBronder Book Reviews - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
June 27 - fundinmental - review of It's Murder My Son / giveaway
June 28 - Adventurous Jessy - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
TBD - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
TBD - Library of Clean Reads - review of Winter Frost / giveaway
TBD - Readers' Muse - review of ICE / giveaway
4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)