by Lauren Carr
Series: A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #1
Genres: Mystery
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
When Sandy Lipton and her unborn child disappeared, the court of public opinion found young Chris Matheson guilty. Decades later, the retired FBI agent returns home to discover that the cloud of suspicion cast over him and his family has never lifted.
With the help of a team of fellow retired law enforcement officers, each a specialist in their own field of investigation, Chris Matheson starts chipping away at the ice on this cold case to uncover what had happened to Sandy and her baby and the clues are getting hot!
Ice by Lauren Carr is the first novel in the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery series. After reading another blogger’s review, I one-clicked and while looking for books that qualified for the #HoHoHoRAT I discovered it on my Kindle. Murder, cold cases and a secret club of retired law enforcement meeting in the library delivered a stellar story.
To qualify for the readathon the book needed to be a holiday novel or set in winter, with a title like ICE I figured it covered winter and the book is indeed set in winter with an ice storm and lots of snow. What surprised me was how much fun I had with this story. It has a small-town vibe and takes place in rural Virginia.
Our hero, Chris Mattheson retired from the FBI after a serious of unfortunate events. His father passed, leaving his mother all alone to handle the family farm and someone killed his wife in a terrorist attack leaving him a widowed father. At forty-six he lives at home with his mother and girls.
Ice contains some suspenseful murder-mysteries, two are cold cases and two are current active investigation. We also get to know town folk, see a romance rekindles and get fantastic laughs thanks to a rescue, retired K-9 named Sterling and a giant female rabbit named Thor. I adored Sterling and want to take him home.
Reasons to download ICE today:
- The Geezer Squad – disguised as a book club who picks apart crime thrillers this group of retired law enforcement investigate cold cases. I loved this motley crew of men and women. They were funny and knowledgeable. From wine critiques to bylaws and secret meetings. I am hoping we solve more cases with them.
- Matheson left town twenty-some years ago under a cloud of suspicion despite being cleared by the FBI. Some folks still believe he killed a young pregnant woman. This missing person case haunts Chris, and despite being cleared folks in this small-town think his father, then a homicide detective covered up evidence. The storyline was clever, and the outcome felt realistic thanks to the groundwork the author laid.
- The current murders are eerily similar to a cold case involving a serial killer the Geezer Squad is investigating. Before everything is said and done Chris along with Helen Clark , the current homicide detective will unravel secrets, face danger and deal with a german shepherd who likes to gamble and prefers country music!
- Secondary characters from members of the Geezer Squad to Doris, Chris’s mother added humor, aid and pulled me further into the story. I loved Doris; the women is not your typical Nonni.
- We are served a side of “second-chance” romance and see a new budding romance begin.
Ice delivered all the elements I love in a suspenseful thriller mystery, plus bonuses like the squad and small-town cozy mystery feel. Sterling was a hoot and I hope they involve him in the next cold case. This series is available in KU, print, and audio.
A book club that is not a book club, murder, one cunning dog and the geezer squad await you in ICE by Lauren Carr, the first novel in the Chris Matheson Cold Case #Mystery series. #murder #bookclub Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Mary @StackingMyBookShelves!
I like that it’s the first in the series and glad that the case gets solved. Sounds like a good small town mystery. I will add this one to my TBR.
Mary
Kimberly
I hope you do, I have book two lined up!
Laura @ Library of Clean Reads
Yay! You loved this as much as I did. The Geezer Squad brought sexy back to mature men and women. This was a great first start to the series and I’m looking forward to more.
Kimberly
Hehe..it did! I have Spring Thaw and look forward to reading it.
Lauren Carr
Thank you so much, Kimberly, for your wonderful review of ICE. I am so glad you enjoyed and am certain your followers will enjoy it as well!
Kimberly
You are very welcome.
Melanie Simmons
Sounds like a really fun mystery. I love the Geezer Squad. I want to learn more about them.
Kimberly
This was fun and an easy upgrade to audio.
Carla
This sounds like a great series. I enjoy cold cases, and The Geezer Squad sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing this one, I must check out the series.
Kimberly
Happy to share Carla. I hope you give the series a try.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
I wasn’t so sold on this at first but just the mention of the Geezer Squad roped me in! This sounds like a good read!
Kimberly
I hope you give it a try Katherine.
Debbie Haupt
I want on the Geezer squad Kim 😉 great review this is now on my list!!
Kimberly
Haha..i would love to solve cold cases.
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
This sounds exactly like my kind of read! A great mystery, fun characters and a smidge of romance! Wonderful review, Kimberly! I’m off to check this out.
Kimberly
Yay. I have book two and look forward to reading it. Enjoy!
Heidi
Oh gosh. I love the sound of the Geezer Squad that sounds fun. I also like you thought out of the box for your holiday read. Sorry I have been MIA just was super busy last week. Sorry about Clayton, those casts are awful. My cousin had her 20 month old son in one for two months after he had hip surgery it was terrible. I hope he feels better this week.
Kimberly
Thanks Heidi. yeah, I miss seeing you around the sphere. Clayton is now crawling all over with it. He will be two on Saturday.
Angela Adams
Sounds like a great series! Thanks for the post.
Kimberly
Yes, I think you’d enjoy this Angela.
sherry fundin
I read this one too and loved it. She has some of the best characters, human and critter alike!
Kimberly
Ah you were the blogger who turned me on to this. I one-clicked on someone’s site and didn’t remember who.
sherry fundin
Glad to see you loved it as much as I did. I hope you check out some of her other books. I have a review for Crimes Past coming up on the 28th, so be sure and check it out. Mayor Gnarly is the critter star and there is lots of mystery, thrillers and romance.
Kimberly
I grabbed book two, but will explore more.
Sophia Rose
I want this. I’m still in a mystery/suspense mood and all the elements you mentioned from the Geezers to Chris’ background and home, to the case. Yep, want!
Kimberly
I am too, romance has been low on the totem pole so this was cool.
Melliane
that’s great that it delivered everything you liked an the mix looks good there!
Kimberly
Thanks, Melliane!
Anne
This sounds great – I’m a little underwhelmed by the holiday romance freebies I’ve been reading. I need to get more winter books which are mystery, fantasy or a bit of another genre if I’m doing this next year. I’ve added this to my KU list, right up my lane for sure. Great review. Anne – Books of My Heart
Kimberly
I really try to mix up the gooey goodness and magical snow romances with some murder and mayhem too…hehe. I have a horror-thriller audio and suspense lined up.
Nadene
The Geezer Club, makes the members sound really old.
Kimberly
*hint* Most are retired police force, military etc. Chris is the youngest probably by 20 years.
Ailyn Koay
the geezer squad? I think they should rename themselves as the Ice breaker!
Kimberly
LOL,
Maureen @ Maureen's Books
This sounds like a great read Kimberly. I haven’t read a lot of mystery reads lately but this one sure makes me want to start reading ASAP.
Kimberly
I had fun with this one and grabbed the next book in the series.