About the Book
Genre: Cozy Mystery, #14 in A Scrapbooking Mystery
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425266700
E-Book ASIN: B01AHKY37I
Synopsis from Goodreads:
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 thrashing 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...
INCLUDES SCRAPBOOKING TIPS
My Review
Restaurant critic Martin Lash’s reviews are nasty. So nasty that they are causing some restaurants to lose business. When Lash is murdered at the Winter Market, there are a ton of suspects including Carmela Bertrand’s ex-boyfriend, Quigg Brevard. Quigg begs Carmela to help prove his innocence despite the fact that it upsets her current boyfriend Detective Edgar Babcock.
Along with her best friend, Ava, Carmela begins her own investigation. They discover there were many people ready to kill Lash. It’s up to Carmela to prove that one of them did it and that Quigg is innocent. However, Carmela’s efforts could prove to destroy her relationship with Babcock.
This is the 14th book in the “Scrapbooking Mystery Series”. I’ve only read the first one and now this one. It didn’t hurt my reading experience to not read #2-13, but I absolutely want to read them. This is a wonderful series with well-developed characters. I want to catch up on the whole series and I will do it.
Laura Childs never disappoints with her books. Each one is crafted to perfection and this is no exception. Terri Farley Moran is another author whose books I enjoy, so I was bound to be pleased with this book. Pleased puts it mildly. I loved everything about this book. I even got a surprise-to-me ending. It certainly kept me on my toes. Bring on the next book in the series, please!
For reading challenges:
Crafty Cozy Reading Challenge 2016
NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2016
FTC Disclosure: The author and NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the Authors
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries
, Scrapbook Mysteries
, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries
. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.
, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.
Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:
The Tea Shop Mysteries 
– set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.
– set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.
The Scrapbooking Mysteries
– a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!
– a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!
The Cackleberry Club Mysteries
– set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.
– set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.
Laura’s Links:
Webpage – http://www.laurachilds.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31
Short-listed twice for The Best American Mystery Stories, Terrie Farley Moran is delighted to introduce mystery fans to the Read ’Em and Eat café and bookstore, which debuted with Well Read, Then Dead
. followed by Caught Read-Handed
and Read to Death
released in July of this year. The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is playing games and reading stories with any or all of her grandchildren.
. followed by Caught Read-Handed and Read to Death released in July of this year. The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is playing games and reading stories with any or all of her grandchildren.
Terrie’s Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrie.moran.9
Blog: www.womenofmystery.net
Purchase Links:
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This is a great series, can't wait to read it too!
ReplyDeleteWe are so happy you enjoyed CREPE FACTOR!
ReplyDeleteI've read one book each by both authors. Interesting that they're collaborating on this one (permanently or only for this one?) Both are enjoyable and I would like to read more by them. I used to do scrapbooking when photos weren't digitalized, but people still do it and it was a fun experience. Thanks, Yvonne.
ReplyDeleteA surprise ending is nice
ReplyDeleteI can't believe this series is up to #14. I think I still have the 1st on my TBR shelf! lol
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteCarol Smith
penelope223(at)yahoo(dot)com
I guess the next best thing to being in New Orleans is to read about it. New Orleans and the bayous make a perfect setting for a murder mystery. Looking forward to reading "Crepe Factor".
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting this giveaway, Yvonne!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this too! Like you I was worried that not having read the whole series was going to be an issue but it definitely wasn't.
ReplyDelete