Crepe Factor (A Scrapbooking Mystery)

I've finished "Crepe Factor" the 14th book in her Scrapbooking Mystery series by Laura Childs.

Product Description

The Winter Market in the French Quarter is in full swing, but murder isn’t taking a holiday in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Parchment and Old Lace.

The holidays are a busy time for scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand — but not so hectic that she doesn’t have time to enjoy browsing the booths at the Winter Market with her best friend Ava.

The last thing the ladies expect to see is a lurching man stabbed by a serving fork, dying in front of them.

The victim is loathed restaurant critic Martin Lash, who posted his scathing reviews on the Glutton for Punishment website. And the prime suspect is New Orleans restauranteur Quigg Brevard — who was seen giving the critic a tongue-lashing minutes before someone stuck a fork in him. An old flame of Carmela, Quigg asks for her help, which does not please her current beau, Detective Edgar Babcock, to say the least.

Before her relationship is the next victim, Carmela needs to find a murderer who had no reservations about punishing the culinary curmudgeon.

Scrapbooking tips and recipes included! 

About the Author 

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Scrapbooking Mysteries, and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show. She is married to Dr. Bob, a professor of Chinese art history, enjoys travel, and has two Shar-Peis. 

Product Details
Series: A Scrapbooking Mystery (Book 14)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley (October 4, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425266702
ISBN-13: 978-0425266700

My Review:

3/5

Parchment and Old Lace: A Scrapbooking Mystery

 

I've finished "Parchment and Old Lace" 13th the book in her Scrapbooking series by Laura Childs.

The New York Times bestselling author of Gossamer Ghost returns to the Big Easy and the historic Garden District, where scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand discovers a bride-to-be murdered in the legendary Lafayette Cemetery.

Carmela couldn’t imagine a finer evening than dinner at Commander’s Palace with her beau, Detective Edgar Babcock. The food and the company are equally divine — with the exception of Isabelle Black stopping by to brag about her upcoming wedding. Resuming the romance with a walk in the evening air, the couple is interrupted once again — this time by a terrifying scream from inside the cemetery.

Having just seen Isabelle, Carmela and Edgar now find her lying across an aboveground tomb, strangled to death with a piece of vintage lace. Carmela would rather leave the investigating to Edgar, but she can’t say no to Isabelle’s sister Ellie, the tarot card reader at Juju Voodoo, when she asks her to help. As she untangles the enemies of Isabelle’s past, Carmela hopes she can draw out the killer before someone else gets cold feet.

INCLUDES SCRAPBOOKING TIPS 

About the Author

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show. She is married to Dr. Bob, a professor of Chinese art history, enjoys travel, and has two Shar-Peis.

Product Details
Series: A Scrapbooking Mystery (Book 13)
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley (October 6, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425266680
ISBN-13: 978-0425266687

My Review:

4/5

Gilt Trip (A Scrapbooking Mystery) Hardcover

I've finished "Gilt Trip" the 11th book in her Scrapbooking series by Laura Childs.

Louisiana businessman Jerry Earl Leland served only a fraction of his five-year sentence for white-collar crime, thanks to some political connections and a few greased palms. But he won’t have long to enjoy his freedom.

After Jerry Earl’s early release, his wife, Margo — a much-married Garden District doyenne — throws an extravagant Get Out of Jail Free Party, complete with a Zydeco band, champagne ice luge, and waiters in ties and tails. The guest list includes many prominent New Orleans socialites, as well as scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava Gruiex. But sometime during the swirl of partying and drinking, Jerry Earl is brutally murdered — then stuffed inside a clothes dryer.

Carmela has earned a reputation around town for solving murders, and when the grieving widow turns to her for help, she can’t say no. But Jerry Earl took a lot of people to the cleaners with his underhanded business tactics, so Carmela’s going to be hard-pressed to identify which of his enemies was steamed enough to kill him. As she sorts through Jerry Earl’s dirty laundry, she needs to collar the killer before another victim is set to tumble dry.

Scrapbooking Tips and Recipes Included!

About the Author

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Cackleberry Club Mysteries, and the Scrapbooking Mysteries. She is a consummate tea drinker, scrapbooker, and dog lover, and travels frequently to China and Japan with Dr. Bob, her professor husband. In her past life she was a Clio Award–winning advertising writer and CEO of her own marketing firm.

Product Details
Series: A Scrapbooking Mystery (Book 11)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (October 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425252922
ISBN-13: 978-0425252925

My Review:

3.5/5

Death Swatch (A Scrapbooking Mystery) [Hardcover]

I've just finished reading "Death Swatch" the 6th book in her Scrapbooking series by Laura Childs.

From Publishers Weekly

A murder in the midst of Mardi Gras propels Childs's enjoyable sixth Scrapbooking mystery (after 2007's Frill Kill). Carmela Bertrand, the owner of the New Orleans scrapbook shop Memory Mine, and her best friend, Ava Gruiex, are eager to begin the festivities with a party hosted by their float designer pal, Jekyl Hardy. But the discovery of the garroted Archie Baudier, Jekyl's assistant, puts a damper on the fun. In their efforts to solve the murder, Carmela and Ava encounter a host of eccentric characters, including a sullen Russian, a rare coin dealer, a meek curator of the local historical society and all manner of costumed party-goers. Carmela, in the process of a divorce, also meets dapper police lieutenant Edgar Babcock, who might be unappreciative of her investigative efforts but provides some romantic heat.

From Booklist

Scrapbooking store owner Carmela Bertrand and her good friend Ava find float designer Archie Baudier as he lies dying, strangled with barbed wire at a Mardi Gras party. A friend of the victim's asks Carmela to find the murderer, so she begins an investigation into who would want Baudier dead. Is it a rival float designer or someone who wants his coin collection? The investigation quickly becomes a treasure hunt when Carmela learns that Baudier was searching for pirate Jean Lafitte’s legendary buried treasure. As the investigation proceeds, and as the soon-to-be-divorced Carmela deals with the romantic feelings she has for New Orleans police lieutenant Edgar Babcock, the city gears up for and then attempts to enjoy Mardi Gras in the wake of Katrina. 

Product Description

Amid Zydeco rhythms and popping champagne corks, scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand is having a wild night at a Mardi Gras party-until she finds a float designer murdered on a balcony.

About the Author

Laura Childs is the bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mystery series and the Scrapbook mystery series, and a pseudonym for a Clio Award-winning advertising writer and marketing firm CEO. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
 
My Review:
 
Loving the development of Carmela's and Edgar's relationship!  Glad she is giving Shamus the boot and always fun to read about Ava her best friend!
 
I really enjoyed reading this one because I've always been fascinated by pirates.

Frill Kill (A Scrapbooking Mystery) [Hardcover]

I've just finished reading "Frill Kill" the 5th book in her Scrapbooking series by Laura Childs.

From Publishers Weekly

Memory Mine shop owner Carmela Bertrand finds herself caught up in New Orleans Halloween mayhem in Childs's sprightly fifth scrapbooking mystery (after 2006's Motif for Murder). In an alley behind her friend Ava Grieux's Juju Voodoo Shop, Carmela discovers the body of fashion model Amber Lalique, who was in the shop only moments earlier. The cops suspect Giovanni, Ava's sexy new tarot card reader, whose brother, Santino, is Amber's ex-boyfriend. Carmela and Ava become determined to uncover the truth and throw themselves headlong into danger, filling in as models for the big Halloween night unveiling of Moda Chadron's newest fashion creations, snooping around New Orleans and even venturing into the creepy bayou. Childs rounds out the story with several scrapbooking and crafting tips plus a passel of mouth-watering Louisiana recipes. 

Product Description

SCRAPBOOKING TIPS AND RECIPES INCLUDED.

For Carmela Bertrand, a New Orleans shop owner who can turn any scrapbook into a treasure, this Halloween will feature more than the usual scares. On her way home from a ghoulish gathering, Carmela finds the dead body of a model—and is then attacked herself. Her leads are many, including animal tooth marks on the deceased’s neck. And as the witching hour draws closer, Carmela must find what’s lurking in the shadows—or get the fright of her life.

My Review:

Loving the love triangle between Carmela, Edgar & another potential suitor.

The killer was a complete surprise never saw that one coming.

4/5