Buried Secrets, Cold Cases, and Cozy Companions
Book Review of "Shadows of the Missing" by Lauren Carr
Lauren Carr’s Shadows of the Missing, the fifth book in the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery series, is a layered and engaging mystery filled with family secrets, long-buried truths, quirky investigators, and some wonderfully memorable pets. Published by Acorn Book Services and featured with iRead Book Tours, this adult mystery brings together cold case intrigue and cozy mystery charm in a story that keeps the pages turning.
Scroll down to read my full review and enter the giveaway to win an autographed copy of this book!
In this installment, Helen Clarke-Matheson believes she has finally moved beyond the painful shadows of her past. She has built a new life with Chris, but everything she thought she knew about her family history is shaken when her sister arrives with a DNA test. Suddenly, the story Helen grew up believing no longer makes sense. Her father may not have abandoned the family after all, and her mother may not have simply wandered away from her children.
With those revelations, Chris Matheson and the Geezer Squad are pulled into a very personal investigation. The Geezer Squad, a fun and unusual team of retired sleuths who operate under the cover of a book club, must dig into decades of secrets, lies, and conflicting stories. As they uncover long-forgotten clues, the mystery becomes darker and more complicated. What really happened to Helen’s parents? Were their disappearances connected to murder? And can the truth finally bring closure to Helen and her siblings?
One of my favorite parts of this book was the cast of characters. I loved them all. Each person brought something interesting to the story, and the group dynamic gave the book a lot of personality. The Geezer Squad especially adds a fun twist to the investigation. There is something very entertaining about a group of retired seasoned sleuths working behind the scenes while pretending to be a simple book club. That setup gives the mystery a cozy and charming feel, even when the case itself deals with painful family history and possible murder.
I also absolutely loved the way Lauren Carr includes animals in the story. The dogs and even the rabbit were such a sweet part of the book. They were not just randomly mentioned in the background; they felt like part of the world and part of the characters’ lives. That detail added warmth and charm to the story and gave it the cozy mystery vibe I enjoy so much. Sometimes pets in mysteries can feel like an afterthought, but here they helped make the story feel more inviting and full of heart.
The mystery itself kept my attention throughout the book. There were plenty of questions to keep me curious, and I found myself wanting to know how all the pieces connected. The plot has that slow unraveling quality that works really well for a cold case mystery. Since the investigation reaches back into the past, there are layers of family history, old secrets, and hidden motives to uncover. I kept wondering about the mysterious “Peewee Herman” guy and how he fit into everything, which definitely made me want to keep turning the pages.
The family element also made the story feel more emotional. This is not just a random case for Chris and the Geezer Squad. It is deeply personal for Helen, and that gives the mystery more weight. The idea of discovering that your entire understanding of your parents’ disappearance may be wrong is heartbreaking and unsettling. The story explores how the past can resurface no matter how hard someone tries to move on, and how truth can be painful but still necessary.
My only real complaint is that I probably should have read the previous books in the series first. This is book five, and while the author does a good job filling in the background information, I still sometimes felt like I had walked into a room where everyone already knew each other. I could follow the story, but I felt a little like an outsider trying to catch up with established relationships and character histories. That did not ruin the book for me, but I do think readers may enjoy it even more if they start earlier in the series.
That being said, Shadows of the Missing still works as an enjoyable mystery on its own. Lauren Carr gives enough context to understand what is happening, and the mystery is strong enough to pull readers in. The characters are engaging, the pets add a lot of charm, and the plot has enough twists and secrets to keep things interesting.
Overall, Shadows of the Missing is a great mystery with wonderful characters, lovable animals, and a cozy feel that makes it a lovely book to pick up while on vacation or anytime you want to settle in with a cold case full of family secrets. It has suspense, heart, humor, and plenty of charm. Fans of cozy mysteries, cold case investigations, and stories with quirky sleuthing teams will likely find a lot to enjoy here.
Thank you to the author and iRead Book Tours for the copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
About the book:
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: May 5, 2026
Synopsis:
In the shadows of the missing, the truth lies buried.
Helen Clarke-Matheson believed she had escaped the shadows of her past, building a new life with Chris. But the past has a way of resurfacing, and when her sister arrives with a DNA test, Helen’s world is once again turned upside down. Her sister shattered the family history Helen believed to be true. Her young father hadn’t abandoned his family, and her delusional mother didn’t wander away from her children.
Chris Matheson and the Geezer Squad, a quirky team of retired seasoned sleuths working under the guise of a book club, are drawn into a deeply personal investigation. They must wade through decades of buried secrets and conflicting accounts to uncover the truth behind the parents’ disappearances. As they peel back the layers of deception to unravel long-forgotten clues, they confront the lingering specter of murder and long-hidden crimes. Can they piece together the fragments of the past to bring closure to Helen and her siblings, or will the truth remain buried forever?
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About the author:
Lauren Carr is the author of over thirty acclaimed mystery novels, with more than half a million copies sold worldwide. Her fast-paced series—the Mac Faraday Mysteries, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and more—blend twists, suspense, humor, and unforgettable characters (including clever German shepherds!).
It's Murder, My Son organically hit #1 in Mystery on Amazon, and her books consistently rank in the Top 20 Police Procedurals in the US and international markets.
A popular speaker and publishing consultant, Lauren lives on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV, with her husband and three spoiled rotten German shepherds.
Join the mystery at authorlaurencarr.com!
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ X/twitter ~ pinterest ~ goodreads
Giveaway:
Autographed hardback copy of SHADOWS OF THE MISSING, plus GEEZER SQUAD COLD CASES SOLVED BEFORE COFFEE mug (one winner) (USA only) (ends June 4)