Candidate for Murder by Lauren Carr | Book Review & Guest Post
When the choices on the ballot are dreadful, why not vote for the dog? In Lauren Carr's Candidate for Murder, Gnarly the German shepherd might just be the most qualified candidate in town. Unfortunately, this election comes with more than political mudslinging. There's a murder to solve!
Welcome back, mystery lovers! Today, I'm sharing my review of Candidate for Murder by Lauren Carr, the twelfth installment in her Mac Faraday Mystery series. I'm also delighted to feature a special guest post from Lauren, who shares why her unforgettable canine character, Gnarly, never gets to narrate his own adventures.
Lauren Carr has a wonderful talent for weaving intricate, interconnected mysteries filled with memorable characters, unexpected twists, and plenty of humor. This time, she takes the ridiculous idea of a German shepherd running for mayor and turns it into a fast-paced mystery that had me thoroughly entertained.
Between the political satire, Gnarly's surprising history, and a murder investigation that complicates an already outrageous election, there's plenty to enjoy. And for audiobook fans, I'll also share my thoughts on the narration by C.J. McAllister.
Book Details
Candidate for Murder By Lauren Carr
Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery, #12
Published by Acorn Book Services on 06/16/2016
Genres: Mystery
Formats: Audiobook, eBook, Paperback
Pages: 466
It’s election time in Spencer, Maryland, and the race for mayor is not a pretty one. In recent years, the small resort town has become divided between the local year-round residents who have enjoyed their rural way of life and the city dwellers moving into their mansions, taking over the town council, and proceeding to turn Deep Creek Lake into a closed gate community—complete with a host of regulations for everything from speed limits to clothes lines.
When the political parties force-feed two unsavory mayoral nominees on the town residents, Police Chief David O’Callaghan decides to make a statement—by nominating Gnarly, Mac Faraday’s German shepherd, to run as mayor of Spencer! What starts out as a joke turns into a disaster when overnight Gnarly becomes the front runner—at which point his political enemies take a page straight out of Politics 101.
What do you do when you’re behind in a race? Dig up dirt on the front runner, of course. Seemingly, someone is not content to rest with simply embarrassing the front runner by publicizing his dishonorable discharge from the United States Army, but to throw in a murder for good measure.
With murder on the ballot, Mac Faraday and the gang—including old friends from past cases—dive in to clear Gnarly’s name, catch a killer, and save Spencer!
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions and thoughts shared here are entirely my own.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Reader Resources
Reader Info at a Glance
| Best For | Mystery lovers who enjoy intricate plots, colorful characters, clever canine companions, and a generous helping of humor. |
| Pacing | Fast-paced, engaging, and easy to follow despite the intertwined mysteries. |
| Themes | Political satire, small-town elections, loyalty, buried secrets, and Gnarly's unexpectedly tragic military past. |
| Series Reading | Mac Faraday Mystery #12. Features a large ensemble of familiar and crossover characters. A helpful cast list makes keeping everyone straight easier. |
| Overall Feel | Witty, entertaining, delightfully outrageous, with moments of genuine emotion. |
| Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5 stars) |
Quick Take: What happens when the most promising candidate for mayor has four paws and a questionable military record? In Candidate for Murder, Lauren Carr takes an utterly absurd political situation and transforms it into an intricate, fast-paced, and immensely entertaining mystery.
The political satire was my favorite part. Carr pokes fun at politicians, elections, and the ridiculousness of political campaigns without letting the humor overshadow the mystery. Add Gnarly's surprisingly emotional backstory, a delightfully colorful cast of characters, and plenty of unexpected twists, and you have another thoroughly enjoyable Mac Faraday adventure.
Things to Know:
- Large Cast of Characters. Familiar faces and crossover characters from Lauren Carr's other mysteries appear throughout. The included character guide is especially helpful for keeping everyone straight.
- Emotional Backstory. Gnarly's military history involves the death of his handler, a wrongful accusation, and betrayal. These heavier moments add depth, but the overall story never becomes overwhelmingly dark.
- Content Considerations. This is a murder mystery with some violence, occasional mild language, and references to sexual situations. Intimate scenes remain behind closed doors.
My Thoughts
Lauren Carr has a knack for creating intricate, intertwining mysteries that are immensely entertaining. No matter how many of her books I read, I'm continually surprised by the depth and personality she gives her characters, including the four-legged ones. Candidate for Murder is another wonderful example of her storytelling talent.
Let's face it. A German shepherd running for mayor sounds like a ridiculous premise. And it is! But that's part of the fun. Carr takes this outrageous situation and builds an engaging murder mystery around it, complete with political maneuvering, suspicious characters, and enough twists to keep readers guessing.
What I enjoyed most was the political satire. Politics can weigh heavily on our minds these days, and I appreciated the opportunity to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Carr pokes fun at politicians and political campaigns with a wonderfully exaggerated sense of humor. The result is a refreshing escape that doesn't require readers to take sides or think too seriously about real-world politics.
Of course, Gnarly steals more than a few scenes. Beneath his mischievous personality lies a surprisingly tragic history. Learning about his military service, the murder of his handler in Iraq, and the circumstances that led to his discharge added an unexpected emotional dimension to the story. It also helped explain how this remarkable dog eventually became part of Mac and Archie's family. I loved getting a deeper understanding of a character who has brought so much personality to this series.
One thing I've always appreciated about Lauren Carr's mysteries is her generous cast of characters. Familiar faces mingle with characters from other books and series, creating a wonderfully interconnected fictional world. That can mean quite a few names to keep straight, so I'm especially grateful that she includes a cast of characters for readers to reference. It's a thoughtful touch that makes these complex mysteries easier to follow.
For this book, I alternated between the Kindle Unlimited edition and an audiobook I purchased through Audible. The Mac Faraday mysteries translate particularly well to audio, and Candidate for Murder is narrated by C.J. McAllister, a professional voice actor. I enjoyed being able to switch between reading and listening as I followed the twists and turns of this entertaining mystery.
Despite the multiple storylines and full cast, the pacing stays brisk, and the mystery remains easy to follow. There are serious moments beneath the humor, but the story never becomes too dark or emotionally exhausting. It's that combination of clever plotting, memorable characters, humor, and heart that keeps me returning to Lauren Carr's books.
Final Thoughts
Candidate for Murder is another thoroughly entertaining addition to Lauren Carr's Mac Faraday Mystery series. With its cleverly intertwined storylines, memorable characters, and wonderfully outrageous political satire, it's a mystery that delivers plenty of laughs without sacrificing suspense.
Gnarly's unlikely campaign for mayor provides the perfect backdrop for murder, mayhem, and some surprisingly heartfelt moments. Carr balances the absurdity with genuine emotional depth, reminding readers that even her most mischievous characters have stories worth telling.
If you enjoy character-rich mysteries, clever twists, political humor, and canine companions who practically steal the show, I highly recommend giving Candidate for Murder a try. It's a fast-paced, satisfying escape that left me smiling and eager for another Mac Faraday adventure.
More Mac Faraday Mysteries: If you've already enjoyed Best in Murder and wondered how Gnarly became Spencer's mayor, Candidate for Murder provides that memorable backstory. It's a fun connection between two entertaining adventures in Lauren Carr's mystery series.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (CAWPILE 8.95/10).
Guest Post by Lauren Carr
One of the things I love most about Lauren Carr's mysteries is how much personality she gives her canine characters. Gnarly certainly has opinions of his own, even if we don't get to hear them directly!
In today's guest post, Lauren shares why she resists the temptation to tell a story from Gnarly's point of view, even when he's the star of the election. Please welcome Lauren Carr!
The Dog Stays in the Room. The Dog Does Not Narrate.
By Lauren Carr
Readers ask me, kindly and often, to write a chapter from Gnarly's point of view. I understand the request. He is the one they remember. He is also the one I will not hand the microphone.
Candidate for Murder is the book where that rule gets tested, because the dog is on the ballot. David O'Callaghan nominates him for mayor of Spencer to shame two human candidates who do not deserve the job. The town, which has a long tradition of taking a joke too far, runs with it. Signs go up. Ads go on the air. People argue about whether a shepherd with a dishonorable discharge is qualified, which is a sentence I enjoyed typing more than I should admit.
If I had crawled into Gnarly's head, the election would have turned cute. Cute is fatal in a murder mystery. The joke only works if the humans are the ones panicking. David, who thought he was making a point, watching the point file paperwork. Mac, who is supposed to be elsewhere, hearing that his dog has been accused of killing a handler. A campaign manager who believes in his candidate with a sincerity that should worry everyone. A journalist already digging up a crime from twenty years ago while the posters are still wet.
I live with German shepherds. I know the look. I will not pretend I know the monologue. What I know is the person on the other end of the leash, trying to explain a stolen sandwich to a guest who did not find it funny. That is the book. The comedy is the reaction. The crime is what happens when a campaign decides a rumor is not enough.
Gnarly does not sit for interviews. He did not sit for this one either. He did run for office, which is not the same thing, and Spencer is still living with the result.
Meet the Author
Lauren Carr has long been a favorite here at Gina Rae Mitchell, and for good reason. Her mysteries consistently deliver clever plotting, memorable characters, and just the right touch of humor. If you're new to her books, Candidate for Murder offers a wonderful introduction to the entertaining world of Mac Faraday and his unforgettable German shepherd, Gnarly.
Learn more:
Website | Amazon | Goodreads | Author Hub
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