I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
Published: October 4, 2016
Number of pages: 320
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Scrapbooking Mystery #14
Synopsis:
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!
My thoughts:
I am going to start off by saying this is a review in progress as I was a little late in getting this book This was by no means the authors' or the tour coordinator's fault. This book has been reading very quickly for me though as I read half of it in one day. It is always a good time for me when I visit Carmela and Ave again in their fun little part of the French Quarter. This time around we are getting ready for the holidays and when the girls are at the Winter Market a man dies right in front of them. Quigg had just been seen arguing very heatedly so he is the prime suspect. Carmela is out to prove that he did not do it as he would not hurt a flea. This time around for some reason Quigg was getting on my nerves. Now I know he was nervous about being pinned for the murder and that was a lot of the issue as he called Carmella everyday wanting to know what she has done to clear his name. Then when he was waiting outside her home that was not right. Also Edgar needs to step up his boyfriend game here. He is lucky to have Carmela and all her patience with him but I would like to see some more couple time with them. Ava and Carmela get themselves into quite the pickle when they head to Martin's home to see if they can find some more clues. It seems from all the bad reviews and he run-ins with people over his "saving" the environment that there are many people who would have wanted Martin out of the picture. I have a couple of people in mind so I can not wait to see who actually did it. Laura was my first cozy mystery author I read and it was this series I started with. She is who got me hooked on cozy mysteries and why I keep coming back to them. All of her books can be read as stand alones but for relationships and such I would read them in order.
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.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.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!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:
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.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 Goggle Books IndieBound
Giveaway:
Tour Participants
October 3 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
October 3 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW
October 3 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
October 4 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW
October 4 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – Celticlady’s Reviews – REVIEW
October 5 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
October 6 – I Wish I Lived in a Library – REVIEW
October 6 – Sleuth Cafe – SPOTLIGHT
October 7 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
October 7 – The Girl with Book Lungs – SPOTLIGHT
October 8 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW
October 8 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
October 9 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW
October 10 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
October 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 11 – MysteriesEtc – REVIEW
October 11 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
October 12 – Grace. Gratitude. Life. by Marie McNary – REVIEW
October 12 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST
October 13 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 13 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
October 14 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
October 14 – deal sharing aunt – SPOTLIGHT
October 15 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
October 15 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 16 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
October 16 – Booklady’s. Booknotes – REVIEW
I'm looking forward to reading "Crepe Factor". I really enjoy reading books by both of these authors and I'm sure this one won't disappoint.
ReplyDeleteIt is a good book. I have about 100 pages left and am really enjoying it. I was hoping to finish today but had to do some things to get ready for the hurricane.
DeleteThanks so much for a terrific review. How nice that your interest in cozies started with this series. I am glad that you still enjoy Carmela, Ava and all the fab characters.
ReplyDelete