Mumbo Gumbo Murder
(A Scrapbooking Mystery)
by Laura Childs and Terrie Farley Moran
About Mumbo Gumbo Murder
Mumbo Gumbo Murder (A Scrapbooking Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
16th in Series
Berkley (October 1, 2019)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 0451489578
ISBN-13: 978-0451489579
Digital ASIN: B07M75KVSB
Cozy Mystery
16th in Series
Berkley (October 1, 2019)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 0451489578
ISBN-13: 978-0451489579
Digital ASIN: B07M75KVSB
A shocking murder strikes a sour note during Jazz Fest in the latest New Orleans Scrapbooking Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.It's Jazz Fest in New Orleans, and the giant puppets from the Beastmaster Puppet Theatre are parading through the French Quarter. Some are very spooky and veiled, others are tall and gangly, like strange aliens.As the parade proceeds, Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava, follow behind, down Royal Street and past the food booths. Suddenly, they hear a terrible crash from Devon Dowling's antiques shop. They rush inside to find Devon collapsed with blood streaming down the side of his face. Has he been shot? Stabbed? 911 is hastily called, and the police and EMTs show up. After the police examine Devon's body, they tell Carmela and Ava that their friend was murdered with an icepick. They're shocked beyond belief—and now Mimi, Devon's little pug, is left homeless.Carmela and Ava are determined to catch the murderer, but the list of suspects is long. How long do they have before they find themselves on the killer's list?
My Review
Carmela Bertrand and her friend, Ava, are excited to be celebrating Jazz Fest in the French Quarter of New Orleans. They are amazed at all the huge puppets in the parade. Then, the festivities are interrupted when they hear a loud crash from Carmela’s friend’s antique shop. They rush over to help, but it’s too late. Carmela’s friend Devon Dowling has been murdered.
Carmela vows to find the killer, much to her fiance’s dismay. After all, he’s the lead detective on the case and doesn’t want her to get involved. However, she’s sure the police are looking for the culprit in all the wrong places and people would be more willing to talk to her than the police.
It doesn’t take long before she discovers the victim had many enemies. This case won’t be as easy as she hoped it would be, but that doesn’t make her any less determined. Fortunately, her best friend is by her side but are they getting too close to the killer and in danger of falling to the same fate of Devon Dowling?
I’m always excited to see a new Laura Childs’ book and I especially adore this series which she writes with Terrie Farley Moran. This writing duo always puts together an exciting new adventure for Carmela Bertrand. I practically devour these books as soon as they are released.
The characters are lively, fun, and quirky. The Scrapbook Mystery series brings New Orleans to life on each page. I’m easily transported into the story and the location. The plot moves at a fast pace. I had no clue as to who the killer was until the end. There were so many possibilities.
I came into this series halfway through it. I still need to read the first few books to catch up, but I was easily able to fall right into this series. The authors do give you some tidbits from Carmela’s past, but as with most cozy mystery series, I always feel starting at the beginning is the best way to go so you can see the character’s growth along the way. The good thing is each mystery is contained within a book. There is no cliff hanger - so you do get a complete mystery with each edition of this series.
I’m anxiously awaiting the next Scrapbooking Mystery.
For reading challenges:
Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge 2019
Literary Escapes Reading Challenge 2019 (Louisiana)
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. 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 fundraising 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 fundraising 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.
Laura’s Links: - 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.Webpage - http://www.laurachilds.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31
Recipient of both the Agatha and the Derringer awards, Terrie Farley Moran is the author of the beachside Read 'Em and Eat cozy mystery series; co-author of Laura Childs’ New Orleans scrapbooking mystery series; and has published numerous short stories in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Mystery Weekly Magazine and numerous anthologies.
The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is hanging out with any or all of her seven grandchildren who reside in New York and Florida.
Terrie’s Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrie.moran.9
Blog: www.womenofmystery.net
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23186092-terrie-moran
Purchase Links: Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play IndieBound
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Not my kind of story, but great review.
ReplyDeleteThanks for such a terrific review of MUMBO GUMBO MURDER. Laura and I are glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDelete