Book Review: ‘A Wedding and a Killing: a Mac Faraday Mystery’ by Lauren Carr

Many nuptials are conducted within the hallowed grounds and premises of the Church. Arranging the timing is often the most difficult thing, between the sermons, the pastor’s free time and juggling your own time constraints, but the lure is still there.

In A Wedding and A Killing by Lauren Carr, we find another obstacle in play that most do not have to deal with. As Mac Faraday and Archie Monday finally decide the time is right, and schedule an unprompted wedding, their plans are put on hold when a body shows up.

Yet this is not just any murder, this is the murder of one of the church’s own, found in one of the church offices. Everything is put on hold as Mac and Archie find themselves in the middle of another murder. This one, though, hits closer to home than usual, as everyone in the church is suspect, including their friend and pastor.

As the clues begin to appear, the local police have their own ideas of the identity of the culprit. Yet Mac does not agree. When he gets his own attorney involved and the local suspect claims church sanctuary, words begin to fly. However, an overriding trust in Mac’s abilities creates a fissure in the storm, giving them all the time to look deeper then imagined.

Sometimes the simplest of answers are the hardest ones to find, but Mac and Archie are hot on the trail, for nothing can stand between them and their decision to marry.

This is a mystery of jealousies and wants, involving the deviances of some who claim to be church members but who have a seething need. The characters of Mac and Archie remain true to the way they are initially introduced, but those who serve the church in varying ways have the ways and means to create chaos. There is tragedy that transforms goodness into pain, and there is vileness that hides in a cloak of goodness. The red herrings are well done and take you in every direction.

Mac Faraday is a great character, and when matched up with his lady love, the two are a hard-to-beat crime fighting duo.

If you enjoy murder mysteries and romance you will like this book. Once you have enjoyed this triumph you will be looking for Carr’s other Mac Faraday mysteries. She twists in the romance so it is more about the mystery, but the romance creates a feeling of surety that makes you want more.

[amazon asin=B00MQESTYC&template=iframe image]