I’ve read two Lauren Carr Mac Faraday mysteries, so picking up Best in Murder, published by Acorn Book Services, meant spending time with a familiar sleuth. What I didn’t expect was to enjoy this installment quite as much as I did. This is my favorite Mac Faraday novel so far, and I think the dogs deserve at least some of the credit. Give me a charming investigator, a puzzling crime, and canine companions who actually participate in the sleuthing, and you have my attention. Add a championship dog show, and apparently you have my heart, too.
The trouble begins at the Mid-Atlantic Classic Kennel Club Invitational—Best in Show, held at the Spencer Inn. A priceless platinum-and-diamond collar disappears, turning an elegant event into the setting for a high-profile theft. Then two women connected to the show are murdered, and the investigation takes a much darker turn. Suddenly, far more is at stake than an expensive accessory or a coveted ribbon.
Mac Faraday and his German Shepherd, Gnarly, enter a world filled with valuable dogs, fiercely competitive owners, and egos that could probably use their own obedience classes. A missing Irish Wolfhound adds another layer to the mystery, while friction between Spencer PD and the county sheriff’s office complicates matters further. Meanwhile, the dogs are doing their part to make sure the Spencer Inn never has a dull moment. It’s a setup with plenty of opportunities for both intrigue and mischief.
One of the things I appreciated most was how quickly Carr gets into the action. Compared with the previous Mac Faraday novels I’ve read, this one felt more immediately engaging. I like a mystery that gives me something to investigate early, and Best in Murder did exactly that. The story got moving, the questions started piling up, and I was ready to join Mac in figuring out what was going on. That approach really suited the kind of reading experience I enjoy.
Mac himself remains a big part of the appeal. He’s charming, lovable, and witty, and I enjoy following a sleuth whose personality makes the investigation entertaining. His wit was one of my favorite things about him here. A murder mystery naturally has serious business to handle, but spending time with Mac gives the story a sense of fun alongside the crime-solving. I liked being in his company while trying to piece everything together.
Still, my favorite characters were Gnarly and Storm. I love that Carr includes them in the sleuthing and makes them part of solving the crime. They’re involved in the very thing I came to the book for: the investigation. Watching Mac work with his canine companions made the mystery especially enjoyable for me. There’s something wonderfully entertaining about following a case when the four-legged members of the team are among the characters you’re most excited to see.
I liked the rest of the characters, too, but the dogs were the standouts. With so many of them involved this time, the dog-show setting felt particularly well suited to the series. The competition brings together polished appearances, expensive prizes, and people with plenty to gain or lose. Then the canine chaos keeps everything from becoming too proper. I enjoyed that combination of an elegant event and an investigation that refuses to behave itself.
The biggest compliment I can give this book is that I had fun trying to solve the crime alongside Mac and his canine sleuths. I wanted to follow the investigation and see how the different pieces would connect. For me, that’s one of the pleasures of reading a mystery: getting involved enough to start working through the possibilities yourself. Best in Murder gave me that experience while also giving me characters I enjoyed spending time with.
At times, the book reminded me of the playful mystery appeal of Only Murders in the Building and Knives Out. Mac’s charm and wit also brought to mind the fun of Dorothy L. Sayers’s Lord Peter Wimsey. Those comparisons describe the feeling I had while reading: an entertaining investigation with personalities that help make the puzzle enjoyable. If that sort of mystery appeals to you, you’ll understand what I liked about spending time in this story.
My only real criticism is that a few sections dragged. There were moments when I thought the story could have been tightened and some material left out. Since the opening gets into the action so quickly, those slower stretches stood out. They weren’t serious enough to spoil my enjoyment, though, and I still liked the ending. That’s why I landed at 4.8 stars: a little room for trimming, but a whole lot to enjoy.
Best in Murder surprised me in the best way. Mac’s wit, Gnarly and Storm’s involvement, and the dog-show setting made this my favorite installment so far. It gave me an investigation I had fun following and a cast I genuinely liked. If you enjoy your mysteries with humor, memorable sleuths, and plenty of canine mischief, this one belongs on your reading list. Just don’t expect the dogs to observe resort etiquette.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — 4.8 out of 5 stars
About the book:
Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery, Book 15
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: October 13, 2026
Genre: Adult mystery
Content rating: PG-13; murder, occasional mild swearing, and sexual content kept behind closed doors
One Collar. Two Dead. Total Chaos.
When a priceless platinum-and-diamond collar vanishes at the Mid-Atlantic Classic Kennel Club Invitational—Best in Show at the Spencer Inn, it looks like the ultimate high-society theft. But when two women connected to the glittering event are murdered in quick succession, the case explodes into something far more deadly.
Mac Faraday and his troublemaking German Shepherd, Gnarly, dive headfirst into the glamorous, cutthroat world of championship dog shows. Amidst perfectly groomed champions worth small fortunes, ruthless competitors, and million-dollar egos, the trail leads to a missing Irish Wolfhound whose value goes well beyond his blue-blood pedigree.
As tensions rise between Spencer PD and the county sheriff’s office, Mac’s team races to untangle a web of greed, betrayal, and long-buried secrets—all while the elegant resort descends into delightful canine chaos. With show dogs of every shape and size turning the Spencer Inn into their personal playground, Gnarly does what he does best: stir up trouble and sniff out the truth.
Fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny, and packed with four-legged mischief, Best in Murder proves that in the high-stakes world of Best in Show, the biggest prizes come with the deadliest risks.
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Meet 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.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ X/twitter ~ pinterest ~ goodreads