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.
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!
Scrapbooking tips and recipes included!
My Review
Carmela Bertrand, owner of a little New Orleans scrapbooking shop, is enjoying the Winter Market in the French Quarter with her friend Ava when they witness a shocking argument that ends in murder. The suspect is Carmela's old beau. The investigator is her police detective boyfriend.
Crepe Factor is my first read in the Scrapbooking Mystery series. It took me a couple of chapters to catch up with the characters, and by then I was really interested in the mystery.
This is a lively read. Carmela and Ava are fun characters, and I loved their scenes together. The dialogue is sharp and quick, and really moves the story along.
I especially liked the New Orleans setting and the place descriptions. Laura Childs did a great job at capturing the city!
This was an enjoyable weekend read, and I think other cozy mystery readers will like it, too. I also liked the crafting tips and recipes in the back of the book. I want to try the Crock-Pot Cajun Pecans!
Carmela Bertrand, owner of a little New Orleans scrapbooking shop, is enjoying the Winter Market in the French Quarter with her friend Ava when they witness a shocking argument that ends in murder. The suspect is Carmela's old beau. The investigator is her police detective boyfriend.
Crepe Factor is my first read in the Scrapbooking Mystery series. It took me a couple of chapters to catch up with the characters, and by then I was really interested in the mystery.
This is a lively read. Carmela and Ava are fun characters, and I loved their scenes together. The dialogue is sharp and quick, and really moves the story along.
I especially liked the New Orleans setting and the place descriptions. Laura Childs did a great job at capturing the city!
This was an enjoyable weekend read, and I think other cozy mystery readers will like it, too. I also liked the crafting tips and recipes in the back of the book. I want to try the Crock-Pot Cajun Pecans!
Author Bios
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/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:
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.9Terrie’s Links:
Blog: www.womenofmystery.net
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23186092-terrie-moran
Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N Goggle Books IndieBoundGiveaway
(2) Print Copies of Crepe Factor by Laura Childs with Terry Farley Moran - U.S. Only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tour in exchange for an honest review.
