With its history of spooky folklore, New Orleans offers the perfect atmosphere for Halloween. Scrappy sleuth Carmela Bertrand is getting into the spirit by building a giant puppet for the French Quarter's Halloween Monsters and Mayhem parade. But things get terrifying earlier than expected when she overhears an argument between Jekyll Hardy and Brett Fowler-and minutes later, finds Fowler's lifeless body.
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About the Author
Laura Childs is the "New York Times" bestselling author of the Cackleberry Club, Tea Shop, and Scrapbooking mysteries. In her past life she was a Clio Award-winning advertising writer and CEO of her own marketing firm. She lives in Plymouth, Minnesota.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Eleni
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is the eighth book in the Scrapbooking Mystery series by Laura Childs.
Carmela Bertrand is the owner of a little scrapbooking store in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Carmela's business is blooming and she is enjoying her new relationship with Detective Edgar Babcock, after her divorce from her annoying husband Shamus. Carmela and her best friend and Voodoo store owner Ava are getting ready for Halloween and are busy creating a giant monster puppet for the Monsters and Mayhem parade. When Brett Fowler is found killed with the head of a Minotaur puppet, Carmela's good friend and designer of the Minotaur, Jekyl Hardy, becomes the main suspect. As Carmela cannot refuse her friend's plea for help, she and Ava begin to look into the case even though their investigation puts them in great danger, and creates tension in Carmela's relationship with her overprotective boyfriend.
Although not the best in the series, this is a well written mystery, with well developed and likable characters, fascinating and gripping plot, great descriptions of New Orleans and fantastic atmosphere. Once more Childs sets her story during Halloween and takes advantage of the eerie and spooky atmosphere of New Orleans. Particularly, the descriptions of Halloween themed events like the performance of the "Ballet Dracula", Ava's Vampire Tour, and Baby's Halloween party are amazing and inspiring. Sadly, apart from the mystery, the story revolves way too much around Carmela's and Ava's love lives. Also, although Ava is a well developed and fun secondary character, all the focus she is given this time, exposes her a little as a one-dimensional caricature, which is sad.
Apart from the great mystery plot, as this is a Scrapbooking Mystery there are a lot of Scrapbooking trivia; information about various techniques and materials, decoration ideas and various crafting ideas, all these weaved into the story. Naturally, as this is a Halloween themed book it has many inspiring ideas for Halloween crafts and decorations as well. Also, there are very detailed descriptions of the mouth-watering dishes prepared by Carmela and her friends and there are recipes at the end of the book for some of these dishes. Sadly the author is starting to get repetitive and a bit uninspired with her recipes. In addition to the recipes, there are interesting and useful Scrapbook Tips & Tricks from Laura Childs.
The Favorite New Orleans Recipes include, "Pralines", "Carmela's Cajun Shrimp Bake", "Black-Bottom Banana Bars", "Pork and Sweet Potato Bayou Casserole", "Spunky, Funky, Black Bean Chicken", "Jezebel Sauce", "Juju Voodoo Chicken Wings", "Neon Voodoo Cocktail", "Candied Fruit Banana Bread", and "Dr Pepper Tickle-Your-Ribs Spareribs".
In addition, the book includes a preview of the next book in the Scrapbooking Mysteries; Skeleton Letters (Scrapbooking Mystery).
Carmela Bertrand is the owner of a little scrapbooking store in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Carmela's business is blooming and she is enjoying her new relationship with Detective Edgar Babcock, after her divorce from her annoying husband Shamus. Carmela and her best friend and Voodoo store owner Ava are getting ready for Halloween and are busy creating a giant monster puppet for the Monsters and Mayhem parade. When Brett Fowler is found killed with the head of a Minotaur puppet, Carmela's good friend and designer of the Minotaur, Jekyl Hardy, becomes the main suspect. As Carmela cannot refuse her friend's plea for help, she and Ava begin to look into the case even though their investigation puts them in great danger, and creates tension in Carmela's relationship with her overprotective boyfriend.
Although not the best in the series, this is a well written mystery, with well developed and likable characters, fascinating and gripping plot, great descriptions of New Orleans and fantastic atmosphere. Once more Childs sets her story during Halloween and takes advantage of the eerie and spooky atmosphere of New Orleans. Particularly, the descriptions of Halloween themed events like the performance of the "Ballet Dracula", Ava's Vampire Tour, and Baby's Halloween party are amazing and inspiring. Sadly, apart from the mystery, the story revolves way too much around Carmela's and Ava's love lives. Also, although Ava is a well developed and fun secondary character, all the focus she is given this time, exposes her a little as a one-dimensional caricature, which is sad.
Apart from the great mystery plot, as this is a Scrapbooking Mystery there are a lot of Scrapbooking trivia; information about various techniques and materials, decoration ideas and various crafting ideas, all these weaved into the story. Naturally, as this is a Halloween themed book it has many inspiring ideas for Halloween crafts and decorations as well. Also, there are very detailed descriptions of the mouth-watering dishes prepared by Carmela and her friends and there are recipes at the end of the book for some of these dishes. Sadly the author is starting to get repetitive and a bit uninspired with her recipes. In addition to the recipes, there are interesting and useful Scrapbook Tips & Tricks from Laura Childs.
The Favorite New Orleans Recipes include, "Pralines", "Carmela's Cajun Shrimp Bake", "Black-Bottom Banana Bars", "Pork and Sweet Potato Bayou Casserole", "Spunky, Funky, Black Bean Chicken", "Jezebel Sauce", "Juju Voodoo Chicken Wings", "Neon Voodoo Cocktail", "Candied Fruit Banana Bread", and "Dr Pepper Tickle-Your-Ribs Spareribs".
In addition, the book includes a preview of the next book in the Scrapbooking Mysteries; Skeleton Letters (Scrapbooking Mystery).
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
21 reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
enjoyable New Orleans cozy
9 Oct 2010
By Harriet Klausner
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
In New Orleans, Brett Fowler has worked a successful Ponzi scheme on a city recovering from Katrina. However, someone must have become outraged by his con because during the French Quarter's Monsters and Mayhem Torchlight Parade, he is killed by a minotaur horn stabbing him.
Art appraiser Jekyl Hardy designed the float that included the mythical creature. As such he is a person of interest to the New Orleans Police Department investigating the suspicious death. Jekyl's float designers' friends, Carmela Bertrand the owner of Memory Mine scrapbook shop and Ava Gruiex the owner of Juju Voodoo, believe he is innocent and set out to prove their assertion. NOPD Police Lieutenant Edgar Babcock begs with his girlfriend Carmela to stay out of the case that he leads in what is now believed to be a homicide investigation. However, as he expected to his chagrin, Carmela and Ava ignore his plea and continue their investigation.
The latest Scrapbooking amateur sleuth (see Tragic Magic and Death Swatch) is an enjoyable New Orleans cozy. The story line is fast-paced from the moment the two BFFs start their investigation. With Scrapbooking tips and mouth watering recipes on top of a fun investigation, fans will appreciate zesty Fiber & Brimstone.
Harriet Klausner
Art appraiser Jekyl Hardy designed the float that included the mythical creature. As such he is a person of interest to the New Orleans Police Department investigating the suspicious death. Jekyl's float designers' friends, Carmela Bertrand the owner of Memory Mine scrapbook shop and Ava Gruiex the owner of Juju Voodoo, believe he is innocent and set out to prove their assertion. NOPD Police Lieutenant Edgar Babcock begs with his girlfriend Carmela to stay out of the case that he leads in what is now believed to be a homicide investigation. However, as he expected to his chagrin, Carmela and Ava ignore his plea and continue their investigation.
The latest Scrapbooking amateur sleuth (see Tragic Magic and Death Swatch) is an enjoyable New Orleans cozy. The story line is fast-paced from the moment the two BFFs start their investigation. With Scrapbooking tips and mouth watering recipes on top of a fun investigation, fans will appreciate zesty Fiber & Brimstone.
Harriet Klausner
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Laura Childs
29 Nov 2010
By Sabrina Estrada
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book represents some of the best writing from Laura Childs I've seen in a while. I like to keep up on all three of her series and have been disappointed by the last books from the other two. This one is the kind of writing that made me like her from the beginning; her vivid descriptions make you feel like you've been to the French Quarter and the murder motivations are passably entertaining.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Halloween Cozy Mystery Mahem
13 Oct 2010
By D. Baker
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Halloween always draws out the ghosts and goblins in us all. New Orleans the perfect setting for the ghouls and vampires that are walking around these days, but when real corpses start making an appearance things get really scary. Carmela Bertrand and her best friend Ava Gruiex are immersed in building a monster puppet for the Monsters and Mayhem Torchlight Parade when they stumble upon the body of Brett Fowler.
Carmela's good friend Jekyl finds himself embroiled in the center of the investigation since he was heard arguing with Brett shortly before Brett's body was discovered. Having known Jekyl for years, Carmela is convinced that someone is framing him. While Brett owed Jekyl money, he owed money to many people after being indicted for his involvement in a Ponzi scheme. With so many suspects can Carmela discover the real murderer and clear Jekyl?
Review:
I love the Big Easy and the flavor but I wasn't comfortable right away with the vernacular. I adjusted rather quickly and became immersed in the story. Being a southerner myself, and one who lived for a time in the deep south I can be a little picky over the way southerners are portrayed in books. Laura Childs did this well. The story is fun and perfect for a cozy Halloween. And I must admit-for a change-it took me a while to even guess who the murderer could be.
This is the first of Laura Childs cozy mysteries that I have read but I am sure it will not be the last. Carmela is a fun, stable character while her friends Ava provides the quirkiness. Halloween is the perfect setting for a mystery. And what better place than New Orleans! In addition to the mystery the book also includes some scrapping tips as well as a few recipes. I tried one of the recipes and it was delicious: Carmela's Cajun Shrimp Bake.
If you like cozy mysteries this one will be a delight. Grab a bottle of wine, fix a plate of Shrimp, and enjoy the story.
Carmela's good friend Jekyl finds himself embroiled in the center of the investigation since he was heard arguing with Brett shortly before Brett's body was discovered. Having known Jekyl for years, Carmela is convinced that someone is framing him. While Brett owed Jekyl money, he owed money to many people after being indicted for his involvement in a Ponzi scheme. With so many suspects can Carmela discover the real murderer and clear Jekyl?
Review:
I love the Big Easy and the flavor but I wasn't comfortable right away with the vernacular. I adjusted rather quickly and became immersed in the story. Being a southerner myself, and one who lived for a time in the deep south I can be a little picky over the way southerners are portrayed in books. Laura Childs did this well. The story is fun and perfect for a cozy Halloween. And I must admit-for a change-it took me a while to even guess who the murderer could be.
This is the first of Laura Childs cozy mysteries that I have read but I am sure it will not be the last. Carmela is a fun, stable character while her friends Ava provides the quirkiness. Halloween is the perfect setting for a mystery. And what better place than New Orleans! In addition to the mystery the book also includes some scrapping tips as well as a few recipes. I tried one of the recipes and it was delicious: Carmela's Cajun Shrimp Bake.
If you like cozy mysteries this one will be a delight. Grab a bottle of wine, fix a plate of Shrimp, and enjoy the story.
›
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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