The Last Thing She Said

A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery, Book 3

By: Lauren Carr

Narrated by: Mike Alger

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

“I’m working on the greatest mystery ever!” was the last thing noted mystery novelist Mercedes Livingston said to seven-year-old Chris Matheson before walking out of Hill House Hotel never to be seen again.

For decades, the writer’s fate remained a puzzling mystery until an autographed novel and a letter put a grown-up Chris Matheson on the trail of a cunning killer. With the help of a team of fellow retired law enforcement officers, each a specialist in their own field of investigation, Chris puts a flame to this cold case to uncover what had really happened that night Mercedes Livingston walked out of Hill House Hotel. 

Watch out! The clues are getting hot....

©2019 Terri Lynn Zaleski (P)2019 Terri Lynn Zaleski

great mystery series

I am so happy to be back reading the Chris Matheson series by Lauren Carr. In The Last Thing She Said, we catch up with Chris, The Geezer Squad, Helen, and Sterling as another cold case crosses their paths.

What I love most about this book is the crossover. Being a huge Lauren Carr fan, I like all of her series. TLTSS sees the Chris Matheson series meeting up with Mac Faraday series and of course hilarity and murder ensues.

Besides the amazing plot and the interesting characters, there are the dogs. Two of my favorite canine characters, Sterling and Gnarly, meet up and get each other into trouble. Which is really not good because Gnarly is the mayor and should probably be setting a better example. Let’s just say that toilet paper is involved, and it’s not from the bathroom.

This is another mystery I couldn’t figure out and another homerun from LC. Let’s hope there are more murders knocking around in Lauren’s brain that need to be solved.

Thanks to Lauren Carr for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Canine Crime Boss!

Lauren Carr really impressed me with The Last Thing She Said. I loved how she wove characters from previous books and series together, and tied them into a cold case mystery. The humor in this book is laugh out loud. There are plenty of cameo appearances by Gnarly, Sterling, Storm, Thor, Traveler to keep the animal lovers happy. The references to Robin Spencer, Mac Faraday, Archie, the Geezer Squad, Chris Matheson and his family were wonderful. The book is a gem with so many facets. I loved the mystery of Mercedes Livingston and her husband, the romance, the twists, the technical things, and of course the canine crime boss! I had read the e-book before listening to the audiobook, and Mike Alger did not disappoint. He is fantastic bringing the characters to life with distinguishable voices. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review, I can't wait for the next cold case mystery with some of my favorite characters.

Geezer Squad to the rescue!

Note: This book reads just fine on it’s own even though it’s part of a series.

There’s just something very satisfying about solving a cold case. In this tale, Chris Matheson is challenged with not only an old murder case but also a few missing persons. Once again, I was surprised and entertained by the intersections of what initially seem to be unrelated cases.

I do find it fun that Carr includes authors as some of her characters from time to time. In this one, a famous author goes missing only to leave a telling note about her past life upon her death. Eventually, another famous author (Robin Spencer who is most featured in Carr’s related series that follows Mac Faraday) gets mentioned. Hence this series becomes lightly intertwined with the Mac Faraday series. I love how Sterling gets to hang out with Gnarly.

I did think the Geezer Squad was a little cutsy quaint at first way back in Book 1, but I was glad to see them all still going at it in this book. They do make me laugh with their beer dinners with chili dessert. Plus the little flirtations among the retired are awesome! You aren’t dead yet!

I will say that one central bad guy who is posing as a good guy was obviously a bad guy nearly from word one. But that’s OK, I still enjoyed the ride and Chris still had to uncover the evidence. Plus the horse Traveller got to make a ringing statement on the whole mess at the end. Hooray for horses!

All told, it was another fun murder mystery complete with carry concealed weapons, a variety of law enforcement characters, and messed up motives for doing foul deeds. 4.5/5 stars.

The Narration: Mike Alger is still fun to listen to. At this point, he’s sounds like an old friend. His voice comes on and I am instantly picturing these characters and settling into the cadence of the story. This time around I did notice that not all his female voices were quite feminine. There’s an older lady near the end that doesn’t sound female at all but her role is short if meaningful. However, the rest is all good. The character voices are distinct and the kids sound like kids. The pacing is perfect and there are no technical issues with the recording. 4.5/5 stars.

Loved it

The Last Thing She Said (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #3) by Lauren Carr was the third book in this series and I really enjoyed it! In fact this one was my favorite! I really liked the author aspect of the case and I loved how the different characters all had different skills that they were able to use together to help figure out the truth and solve the case.

Another amazing mystery by Lauren Carr

I have to admit I had a bit of a hard time with this book. Not the book itself but my time management. I have been having a crazy few months, and it seemed every time I sat down to listen to this book the world turned upside down for me. As with all of Lauren's book, she makes you feel like you are a detective investigating the crimes in her books. If you cannot fully pay attention you loose important clues to keep you fully invested in the mystery. I started this book over 3 times not because I had to but because I love Lauren's books so much and I want to figure out the the mystery along with her characters. I love how she writes her books and I end up with a long list of suspects in each of her mysteries and pick them off one at a time. If I miss something its kind of like playing the Clue game with 1/2 the cards. Lauren's books are fun for me, and I really love this series of Cold Case Mysteries.



This particular book actually has a couple of mysteries as do a lot of Lauren's books. There is a cold case and also a new case that is all tied together. I am not real sure how to give a description of the book without saying to much. Chris Matheson is the star of this book along with his fiends and family from all of Lauren's other series.



A famous writer, Mercedes Livingston, disappeared without a trace, her husband was murdered at the same time. For many years no one knows what happened to the writer or who killed her husband. Now years later a lady Chris's Mom works with at the library turns up dead with a cryptic note in front of her addressed to Chris. In the note she says she has willed herself to die so she can be with her recently deceased husband, but she wants him to solve her 1st husbands murder, and to basically give her children the inheritance they deserve.



Between Chris and the rest of the Geezer Squad they have to figure this all out and find the answers of this cold case, and did She really will herself to die or commit suicide.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

THE LAST THING SHE SAID is brilliant

THE LAST THING SHE SAID is brilliant. The opening chapter follows Chris when he's 7 years old! I loved that! Poor Chris, haha, being "dragged" to that conference. Having had the chance to read/listen ICE and WINTER FROST gave me a look at Lauren Carr's writing style. Which I really enjoy now that's I've been immersed in three of her books.

I LOVED how Ms. Carr included a book signing, an author meet/greet, and how a fan becomes amazing friends with their favorite author. Every book-lover's dream made reality through writing. And PSA: small tears were shed at one moment. That's just the kind of reader I am.

Mike Alger slayed the narration. I truly need to applaud his portrayal of the characters and the scenarios. I was fully with every word.

So, mystery lovers, and non-lovers because you will change your mind after visiting Lauren Carr's books, get your hands on this book. You will not be disappointed.

**I was provided with a complimentary copy of this audiobook through iRead Book Tours. All opinions are my own.

Another enjoyable cold case mystery

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this latest episode from the Chris Matheson cold case series. Lauren Carr creates such vivid characters and settings that I really feel like I'm among friends when I listen. The plot developed clearly and evenly - just fast enough to keep me engaged but not so fast that I got lost. I really enjoy trying to solve mysteries as I read them and this one was very satisfying!
Narrator Mike Alger's baritone is, as always, very easy listening. He articulates clearly and adds a lot of personality to the voices of the characters. His narrative style is every bit as engaging as the stories he reads.
I'm looking forward to the next installment of this series as well as the others written by Lauren Carr!

Mystery at its best!

It all starts out simply enough when an acclaimed mystery author and her husband are abducted but years later, the case, which had never been solved even though the husband's remains had been found, comes to light again in a surprising way. Retired FBI agent Chris Matheson is closely involved through his mother's long friendship with a woman named Shannon and he and the rest of the Geezer Squad are compelled to take up this very cold case. This, after all, is what the Geezers do best and they bring many talents to the task at hand.

Before long, more crimes, seemingly unrelated, begin to surface. Some of these are also from the past while some are new, most likely caused by digging into the old case and what appeared to be simple and straightforward suddenly isn't. One thread after another develops and Chris and his bookclub cohorts decide to bring in a little extra help, that of Mac Faraday, Archie Monday and David O'Callaghan from Spencer, MD, and Joshua Thornton and Cameron Gates from Chester, WV. All are central characters in two other series by Ms. Carr and they play integral roles here. Accompanying all these detecting folks are a bunch of rambunctious animals---including German Shepherds Sterling and Gnarly, a bunny named Thor clothed in pink frills, a cat named Irving who's disguised as a skunk, an anklebiter named Chompers and more four-legged critters---and they bring a lighthearted side to the tale. In fact, one of my very favorite storylines involves elected mayor Gnarly, a lot of toilet paper, a few wildlife criminals and Gnarly's feud with a political enemy. I totally loved that and it will remind you of current events ;-)

So, with a plethora of characters, possible motives and side crimes that may or may not be connected, the hunt is on for answers and the ride couldn't be much more complex, just the way a good mystery should go, in my opinion. Adding to the fun is outstanding narration by Mike Alger who has wormed his way into my top five voiceover artists and helped propel The Last Thing She Said into one of my favorite books read in 2019 and this series into the top of Lauren Carr's bibliography.

Can Chris's past hold the key to this cold case?

The Last Thing She Ever Said
Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #3
By Lauren Carr
Read by Mike Alger

Nearly 40 years ago mystery author Mercedes Livingston disappeared. Everyone assumed she and her husband George were the victims of a kidnapping gone wrong. But Harper's Ferry has been hiding the truth about this cold case and now it is up to Chris Matheson and the Geezer Squad to clear their late friend in the decades-old case.

Can the Geezer's determine what happened after all these years? Putting their varied skills to use and calling on those they know they are convinced that they can discover the truth. But when Helen's ex shows up they have to deal with him and all the baggage he's about to dump on Chris.

Anyone familiar with Lauren Carr's other series will enjoy getting a few brief scenes with Mac, Archie, Joshua, Gnarly, and the political scene that is brewing on Spencer Mountain. Oh, yeah, there are some interesting developments in regard to Gnarly's mayorship and Chris's dog Sterling gets caught up in Gnarly's antics (in my opinion the best story thread in the book and worth a few laughs).
Let's just say Gnarly was at his best in this one in one-upping his political opponent.

With plot twists and a whole cast of suspects, this one will keep the Geezers and the reader occupied with figuring out just what happened all those years ago. But to uncover the truth they have to go back to the cold case upon which Mercedes Livingston's best-seller was based. And could the last words Mercedes Livingston spoke to Chris all those years ago be a clue?

Get ready for some unexpected twists, betrayals, and political shenanigans in this newest addition to the mystery world created by Lauren Carr.

I listened to the audio version of this book and the reading by Mike Alger is excellent. This is a murder mystery and as such, the reader should expect some violence and in general misdeeds that don't paint some of the characters in a good light.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


** Some readers might find some scenes objectionable due to content
so if you want gentle reads this isn't one you will want to read.

Warming up a Cold Case

It’s good to be back with Chris Matheson and the infamous “Geezer Squad” in the third book of the series. A long missing, presumed dead, author may not have died decades ago. But someone did. Chris and his fellow retired law enforcement book club members are determined to find answers. As usual they do it with the help of animals (even Gnarly) and a lot of humor. As Mayor, Gnarly shares a starring role while political undermining threatens his position, a funny part of the story that you won’t want to miss. After all, he is one clever German Shepherd.

Terrific narration makes this an easy listen. You can see my full review on Mystery Suspense Reviews.

It’s a fun one! I highly recommend Lauren Carr’s series. Very entertaining!