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Laura Cardinal #4
Cry Wolf
Laura Cardinal: Packs a SIG Sauer P226 9mm. Investigates homicides in small towns that have limited resources. Brings justice to murder victims--and to their killers. Laura’s job description: Criminal Investigator with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. But maybe it should just say “Troubleshooter”.
Tell me no lies.
Laura and her aspiring-film-director partner, Anthony, catch a homicide case where nothing is as it appears. When pathological liar Sean Perrin is found dead in his car at a trailhead in scenic Madera Canyon, he leaves behind a skein of lies and half-truths that are impossible to untangle. From violent death in a sordid motel room to a high-end prostitution ring in Las Vegas, Laura and Anthony follow Sean’s trail across a landscape of broken dreams and convincing lies—until they confront the true evil behind the mask.
Tell me no lies.
Laura and her aspiring-film-director partner, Anthony, catch a homicide case where nothing is as it appears. When pathological liar Sean Perrin is found dead in his car at a trailhead in scenic Madera Canyon, he leaves behind a skein of lies and half-truths that are impossible to untangle. From violent death in a sordid motel room to a high-end prostitution ring in Las Vegas, Laura and Anthony follow Sean’s trail across a landscape of broken dreams and convincing lies—until they confront the true evil behind the mask.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 4, 2018
A novella set about 4 years after the last Cardinal novel, and a man shot in this car in the mountains near Tucson. He turns out to have been a liar and fantasist so tracking down the truth proves long and difficult. I think that originally the third book was the end of the series and the author came back to the character after a break.
February 3, 2019
Always liked this series. This episode stands up well. Clean and well written mystery / romance.
October 2, 2015
Another really good Laura Cardinal mystery from author J. Carson Black, "Cry Wolf" is a novella packed with twists. Tucson homicide detective Laura Cardinal and her partner Andrew Lake are called out to Madera Canyon for a dead body. Parked in a rental Mercedes the detectives find Sean Perrin dead inside with one bullet to the head. Perrin had been staying in a set of cabins within Madera Canyon area for about two weeks. More than likely Perrin knew his killer based on how body was found in car. Now Cardinal and Lake have to figure out just who Sean Perrin was. Perrin it seems had a wild imagination. He never told his life story the same way twice to any of the occupants at the cabin campground. His lies about himself were big and bold. Wild stories of hiding out from the mob, or maybe being a financial consultant for a casino. Perrin bragged he'd run away with girl friend of mob boss. Laura and Andrew find out Perrin was living in Las Vegas. Perrin also had a sister living in Tucson, and his father was dying in local hospital. Ruby Ballantine, Perrin's sister is just as confused as police about her brother. Ruby and Sean had never been close or rarely kept in touch. As the investigation progresses Laura ends up going from Vegas to Winslow, Arizona and to meteorite site near Flagstaff. No matter who Laura talked to, Perrin had always told a load of lies about himself and his background. When Laura starts to put the pieces of the Perrin puzzle together, the twists and turns really begin to confuse the case. The story itself was really enjoyable to keep reading and not be able to put it down. At around 130 pages I read it in one sitting. The characters added a lot color to this wild yarn. Once again author J. Carson Black has proven to be an excellent story teller. I was glad to see Frank Entwhistle pop in a couple of times too. check this one out for a really good mystery twister. five stars out of a possible five stars. "Cry Wolf" is a solid quick read not to be missed.
February 11, 2014
Cry Wolf by J. Carson Black is the fourth in the author's Laura Cardinal series, but it marked my first dive into these procedurals. It turned out to be a nice fit for waiting at a terminal for a flight to sunny weather. It's a brisk, short novel (novelette?) that's easy to pull in and out of while the gate changes for the 12th time.
In this Cardinal caper, a pathological liar is found murdered in his vehicle on an Arizona back road. Our ghost whispering detective (she gets hints from the spirit of a dead partner, apparently explained elsewhere in the series) unwinds the events that led to the murder.
I usually read from the opposite spectrum of crime fiction - where action is favored over the "just the facts, ma'am" stuff. But Black writes an air of authority into each scene. I knew I wouldn't be rolling my eyes when the mystery cracked. And I didn't.
If quickie procedurals are your thing, this is your series. Go for it, slice.
In this Cardinal caper, a pathological liar is found murdered in his vehicle on an Arizona back road. Our ghost whispering detective (she gets hints from the spirit of a dead partner, apparently explained elsewhere in the series) unwinds the events that led to the murder.
I usually read from the opposite spectrum of crime fiction - where action is favored over the "just the facts, ma'am" stuff. But Black writes an air of authority into each scene. I knew I wouldn't be rolling my eyes when the mystery cracked. And I didn't.
If quickie procedurals are your thing, this is your series. Go for it, slice.
March 13, 2014
Not much in way of character development.
October 28, 2014
Jumped in the middle of a series here but did not feel lost due to character development in previous novels.
A pretty good police procedural with Laura Cardinal being a homicide detective in Arizona. A lot of blind alley leads as the victim was a pathological liar. All of his fantasies needed to be checked out by the homicide detectives. Yet among the lies are nuggets of truth to throw the detectives a curve every now and again.
This is set in the Tucson area and with the author living in that same area, she uses many real locations. That's always a plus in my book. Gives me a better feel for the area.
A pretty good police procedural with Laura Cardinal being a homicide detective in Arizona. A lot of blind alley leads as the victim was a pathological liar. All of his fantasies needed to be checked out by the homicide detectives. Yet among the lies are nuggets of truth to throw the detectives a curve every now and again.
This is set in the Tucson area and with the author living in that same area, she uses many real locations. That's always a plus in my book. Gives me a better feel for the area.
January 24, 2018
Disappointed!
I have read this whole series back to back, and this had a good storyline. Laura has been in a relationship in this book for three years with Matt, and no back story; nothing to bring him into the story. Frank Entwhistle has been in every book way more than this one, and since when did Laura start doing jigsaw puzzles? Then there's Anthony; when did he become a screenplay writer? Where's the family dynamic that has always surfaced with him, and finally, Laura always liked working cases alone, but she is very cooperative with her partner. I don't know what happened, but this story went way off the rails.
I have read this whole series back to back, and this had a good storyline. Laura has been in a relationship in this book for three years with Matt, and no back story; nothing to bring him into the story. Frank Entwhistle has been in every book way more than this one, and since when did Laura start doing jigsaw puzzles? Then there's Anthony; when did he become a screenplay writer? Where's the family dynamic that has always surfaced with him, and finally, Laura always liked working cases alone, but she is very cooperative with her partner. I don't know what happened, but this story went way off the rails.
December 29, 2014
Short, but not sweet. Loved the setting - in and around Tucson, including Madera Canyon to the south, and the story was good. So why didn't I like it more? All of a sudden Laura Cardinal has a (very) serious relationship that is close-to-meaningless because I've gotten to know her in the previous three books and this is entirely and completely just thrown in. There is not enough development of the relationship between Laura and her partner. I think it must be the lack of character development that's thrown me off....so I'm proclaiming "it was okay."
March 17, 2014
An interesting well-paced read, that seemed to trail off a little in the end. I prefer a little meatier plotline for this genre but having said that, I did enjoy this book. Perfect reading for a weekend - not too heavy, not too light.
April 8, 2017
A homicide within the peaceful woods, many dead-end leads and an eager detective.
This crime novel contains pretty much everything one could ask for, yet I did not really thought of it as either thrilling or surprising.
This crime novel contains pretty much everything one could ask for, yet I did not really thought of it as either thrilling or surprising.
January 26, 2014
I found it was just okay. Not as good as the other three books I have read in the series.
December 9, 2019
Lynnie
A fantastic book, a fantastic series. Love reading them. Easy to get into and so many twist and turns and great endings.
Hats off to J. Carson Black. Excited to start another one and read more of her writings.
A fantastic book, a fantastic series. Love reading them. Easy to get into and so many twist and turns and great endings.
Hats off to J. Carson Black. Excited to start another one and read more of her writings.
Want to Read
September 27, 2026In deadly Dozen 2
October 18, 2013
After hearing about the Laura Cardinal series and how she is the detectives detective, I was not disappointed. From the beginning I enjoyed how J Carson Black helped her readers see how detective Cardinal uncovered clues. I enjoyed her conversations with her old partner's ghost. She and her partner Anthony decide all of the suspects are lying about something. It was great to see how Laura gradually caught each person in their lie. Each discovery lead to the truth and solving the case. Black has the reader convinced Perrin was murdered because of his contacts in Vegas. It is only because of Laura's patience and refusal to give up. She looked at each of her key suspects and the role they played in each others lives. She decided she knew who but not why or how Sean Perrin was murdered. Cardinal was going to solve the case. Learning why Sean Perrin was murdered and by whom is the surprise ending. Black did a great job detailing the sights of Arizona. Maybe we can get Black to co-author a book with J. A. Jance bringing the Joanna Brady Sheriff of Cochise County together with Laura Cardinal of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The only problem I had with Cry Wolf was the length of the story. I wanted more.
April 4, 2014
Laura Cardinal is a Criminal Investigator with the Arizona
Department of Public Safety. Laura investigates homicides
in towns with limited resources throughout the region.
Her partner is Anthony who is a aspiring film director. They
are called to investigate a murder in the Madera Canyon at a
trailhead. The victim is Sean Perrin, a pathological liar
who has been shot in the head execution style while sitting
in his car. The investigation begins….the partners inquire
into lie after lie from which the victim weaved his life.
This is an action packed, fast paced murder mystery with
colorful suspects and a twisting plot. Solving the murder is
like trying to find an needle in the haystack. The twisting
plot captivates you,holding your attention to the very end.
I understand that this is the fourth book in the Laura Cardinal
Series but can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.
I enjoyed this book and will be reading the other books in
the series in the future.
Department of Public Safety. Laura investigates homicides
in towns with limited resources throughout the region.
Her partner is Anthony who is a aspiring film director. They
are called to investigate a murder in the Madera Canyon at a
trailhead. The victim is Sean Perrin, a pathological liar
who has been shot in the head execution style while sitting
in his car. The investigation begins….the partners inquire
into lie after lie from which the victim weaved his life.
This is an action packed, fast paced murder mystery with
colorful suspects and a twisting plot. Solving the murder is
like trying to find an needle in the haystack. The twisting
plot captivates you,holding your attention to the very end.
I understand that this is the fourth book in the Laura Cardinal
Series but can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.
I enjoyed this book and will be reading the other books in
the series in the future.
July 19, 2014
Cry Wolf by J Carson Black is book four of the Laura Cardinal Series. I read the novella as part of the Deadly Dozen: 12 Mysteries/Thrillers set.
Laura is a homicide cop with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. She is called to investigate the “guy in a car. Shot in the head” near the trailhead to Baldy in Madera Canyon.
The victim Sean Perrin is a pathological liar with a secret, which makes uncovering the truth difficult. Laura follows every lead, including talking with Cody, the son of the woman who runs the.Madera Canyon cabins where Sean was staying. I enjoyed how Laura follows the leads to unravel the mystery, and the ending was surprising.
I found her partner Anthony irritating with the way he constantly tries to frame the crime as a movie set. It just did not seem believable to. Other than that, I enjoyed the fast-past read and would love to read more of the Laura Cardinal Series.
Laura is a homicide cop with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. She is called to investigate the “guy in a car. Shot in the head” near the trailhead to Baldy in Madera Canyon.
The victim Sean Perrin is a pathological liar with a secret, which makes uncovering the truth difficult. Laura follows every lead, including talking with Cody, the son of the woman who runs the.Madera Canyon cabins where Sean was staying. I enjoyed how Laura follows the leads to unravel the mystery, and the ending was surprising.
I found her partner Anthony irritating with the way he constantly tries to frame the crime as a movie set. It just did not seem believable to. Other than that, I enjoyed the fast-past read and would love to read more of the Laura Cardinal Series.
September 19, 2013
Laura Cardinal Series Keeps Getting Better
When I finished Book 3, I immediately purchased Book 4 by pre-order. The book published a couple of days later, and I was eager to read it. With this fourth book, it was like visiting a friend and finding her in better circumstances, optimistic even. Laura has another chance for the intimacy she's missed before, but that doesn't stop her from doing her job.
All of the Laura Cardinal books are expertly plotted and peopled with believable characters from the creepy to the evil and from the sad to the tragic. Laura with her back problems, her impatience with stupidity, and her dogged determination is someone you can identify with because her faults and her strengths are a great mixture that's believable.
This series is just getting better with every book. In fact the last sentence in the book says it all.
When I finished Book 3, I immediately purchased Book 4 by pre-order. The book published a couple of days later, and I was eager to read it. With this fourth book, it was like visiting a friend and finding her in better circumstances, optimistic even. Laura has another chance for the intimacy she's missed before, but that doesn't stop her from doing her job.
All of the Laura Cardinal books are expertly plotted and peopled with believable characters from the creepy to the evil and from the sad to the tragic. Laura with her back problems, her impatience with stupidity, and her dogged determination is someone you can identify with because her faults and her strengths are a great mixture that's believable.
This series is just getting better with every book. In fact the last sentence in the book says it all.
May 10, 2014
Not a bad story, but it seemed to move a little slowly (maybe because I was sick when I read it). The characters were likeable and the protagonist was good at her job. I'll read more in this series.
April 16, 2015
Very entertaining read in a good setting. The victim was a perpetual liar, leaving Laura and Anthony looking at pieces to the puzzle that don't even exist. All the potential murders are lined up for you to consider, but you still will likely be surprised when you find out who done it.
September 18, 2013
Book 5 in the Laura Cardinal mystery series. Good read.
March 20, 2014
I really had a hard time finishing this book. I don't know why, it seemed well written but I had to force myself to finish it.
Want to Read
April 3, 2014Deadly Dozen: 12 Mysteries/Thrillers
April 14, 2014
Very good read.
April 26, 2014
A detective story with enough twists and grit to keep it moving and some touching moments that make it human.
October 10, 2014
Very good
August 4, 2015
Nice, quick read. I always like these stories set in Arizona.
November 3, 2015
have never read the series, maybe that would have made a difference but as it is, it failed to entertain me, scare me or make me feel anything at all but bored
May 17, 2016
Laura Cardinal series are enjoyable!
Worth the read and enjoys the scenery that is attached to a story that is lively and moving. Waiting for book number 5!
Worth the read and enjoys the scenery that is attached to a story that is lively and moving. Waiting for book number 5!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews