A Fine Year for Murder by Lauren Carr

A Fine Year for Murder by Lauren Carr
Narrator: C.J. McAllister
Series: Thorny Rose Mysteries #2
Published by Acorn Book Services on February 6, 2017
Source: iRead Book Tours
Genres: Mystery
Length: 10 hrs 17 mins
Format: Audiobook
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After ten months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in the darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy.

When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family while visiting family at the winery near-by, and suppressed the memory.

Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims, Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker, a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an end to the Thorny Rose couple?

A Fine Year for Murder is the second in the Thorny Rose Mysteries. From the first, we know that Jessica has nightmares, and this time around we learn why. Once again, the coincidence that bring everyone into the investigation seems a little forced. Jessica and Murphy attend a family dinner where investigative journalist Dallas Walker is describing a cold case she is investigating that is known as the Pine Bridge Massacre – a brutal killing of a family. Jessica realizes that she witnessed the death of the young girl but has been suppressing the details causing her violent nightmares. What are the chances, really, first that Jessica was a witness to the massacre, and that a family member’s girlfriend happens to be investigating it? But let’s just ignore that and get on with the rest of the book.

I thought the mystery was well done. I liked how Carr blended the “real” clues with Jessica’s memory. The family at the winery, Jessica’s adoptive family as she’s quick to point out, is beyond dysfunctional. Actually, there are a few very nice people, but the other side is just nuts – dangerous, sneaky, immoral. Beyond the original crime that Jessica remembers, we’ve got kidnapping, embezzlement, and more murders. It’s a pretty convoluted mystery, in a good way.The twists keep coming.

I listened to the audio and the narrator did a good job with all the characters. His tone keeps the tension going. He also manages to make a computer amusing.

I did make a note as I was listening. “Fade to black sex scenes that felt out-of-place.” There were too many “my life was just in danger, but I survived, now take me” moments for my taste. And yes I know Dallas, Jessica, and Murphy are gorgeous, I don’t need told again. Actually I think that’s my problem with the book in general. We are told things we don’t need to be told, little details that would be understood, and other pieces of info are repeated over and over. Maybe I wouldn’t have noticed in print, as I tend to scan occasionally, but on audio it was very noticeable.

Overall, it’s a good book, just not one I loved.

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