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A Scrapbooking Mystery #11
Gilt Trip
A New Orleans businessman and white-collar criminal is celebrating his early release from prison. But his freedom will be short lived…
Scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava, are off to a party. Prominent socialite Margo Leland is throwing an extravagant fete to welcome home her husband, Jerry Earl. There’s a zydeco band, champagne ice luge, and waiters in ties and tails. But in the midst of the revelry, Jerry Earl is murdered—then stuffed inside a clothes dryer.
When the grieving widow turns to her for help, Carmela can’t say no. But Jerry Earl took a lot of people to the cleaners with his underhanded business tactics, so Carmela’s going to be hard-pressed to identify which of his enemies was steamed enough to kill him. As she sorts through Jerry Earl’s dirty laundry, she needs to collar the killer before another victim is set to tumble dry…
Scrapbooking Tips and Recipes Included!
Scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava, are off to a party. Prominent socialite Margo Leland is throwing an extravagant fete to welcome home her husband, Jerry Earl. There’s a zydeco band, champagne ice luge, and waiters in ties and tails. But in the midst of the revelry, Jerry Earl is murdered—then stuffed inside a clothes dryer.
When the grieving widow turns to her for help, Carmela can’t say no. But Jerry Earl took a lot of people to the cleaners with his underhanded business tactics, so Carmela’s going to be hard-pressed to identify which of his enemies was steamed enough to kill him. As she sorts through Jerry Earl’s dirty laundry, she needs to collar the killer before another victim is set to tumble dry…
Scrapbooking Tips and Recipes Included!
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
137 people are currently reading
959 people want to read
About the author
Laura Childs
93 books2,255 followersLaura Childs is a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt and she is the best-selling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Scrapbook Mysteries, and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries.
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 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
December 4, 2013
I love the setting of New Orleans and as a scrapbooker I appreciate that the main character is a scrapbook store owner. Combine that with a murder mystery and you have this series of books. In this particular book, Carmela is once again dragged into a murder investigation by a customer, whom she helped design party invitations. My reason for not rating this higher is for 3 main reasons. First, the murder happens so quickly in the book you really don't have time to get into the story. Secondly, the author has the main character involved with a police detective, but other then mentioning it periodcally, the 2 characters don't spend much time together. Generally, they speak over the phone. I would like to see their interactions more indepth. The third reason I don't rate this book higher is the conclusion. There isn't much wrap up at the end. The murder is caught and then that's it. I would like to see more depth to the motive behind the murder and what happends to the murderer.
November 27, 2013
OK I probably should stop reading this series. I don't enjoy it anymore. The heroine may be intuitive about finding clues to solve murder but she is utterly stupid about throwing herself in the path of the killer. I read because I like the boyfriend and the little romance, but he was out of town until the end of this book. Boo. So I skimmed the book mostly. Some of the characters are over the top. And Shamus - can I just punch him now?
January 9, 2014
Our scrapbook diva is once again over her head - stumbling around jumping to conclusions and getting in trouble because she is too nosey for her own good. This might be last in this series for me. The formula is the same again and again with little to bring me back.
October 25, 2013
You don't have to be a scrapbooking fan to fall in love with Laura Childs' Scrapbooking mystery series. Just out, Gilt Trip is the eleventh book in a series that is only getting better with time. Childs enchants readers with her knowledge of New Orleans and it's eerie appeal. The heroine for this series, Carmela Bertrand was recently named as Best Amateur Sleuth by the Romantic Times Book Review and it's easy to see why, in this mapcap mystery that begins with a "Get Out of Jail Free" party and ends in murder. Childs attention to detail and well developed characters make this a must read for cozy fans!
I read a lot of books. I read a lot of mysteries. I read a lot of cozy mysteries, so when I say a particular author is not one of my favorites, but my favorite, that's saying something. Laura Childs is definitively my favorite cozy writer. Having written three cozy mystery series': The Scrapbooking Mysteries, The Tea Shoppe mysteries and the Cackleberry Club mysteries, Childs is not a stranger to the cozy sub-genre. Her books are well researched and full of the nuances and phrasing that makes each setting come alive.
The Scrapbooking mysteries are set in the Big Easy. New Orleans is just one of those cities that people can easily attribute to murder and mayhem. There is an atmosphere of tradition and taboos, including voodoo and vampires, but Childs takes a different direction with her series and focuses on murder. I like the fact that Childs makes each book feel like a history lesson and an entertaining read. As readers we get to learn more an more of alluring history of the city and Louisiana in general, while relishing a good whodunit. Childs is one of the best at creating a setting that draws the reader in and won't let go.
Carmela Bertrand is one smart cookie. Not only does she own and run her own scrapbooking shop which generally has a strong part in each book, but she also has a part in just about every mystery that happens in the city. She has found several dead bodies and citizens have come to rely on her to help them figure out what happened when murder is at hand. It is easy to see why Carmela appeals to so many readers. She is sophisticated and elegant, but she can get down and dirty. I love the way she goes about figuring it all out. She has knack for making connections that aren't always obvious and that makes her a great sleuth. Childs does an excellent job with this character every time out.
In Gilt Trip Carmela and her sidekick Ava are attending a party celebrating the early release from jail of Louisiana business man, who has quite a few enemies. When he turns up dead, tumbling around in the dryer, Carmela is on the case. I love the fact that Childs always makes sure that not only Ava has a central part in the story, but the police as well. It does't hurt that Carmela has some pretty strong feeling for Babock, who happens to be on the force. I thought the mystery aspect of the book was well planned and written and had a lot of good suspects. I didn't figure this one out until the very end. I suspected the correct killer once, but Childs was easily able to dissuade me. I love it when I get stumped!
Readers will enjoy finding out about Carmela's life and her deepening feelings for Babcock. They will enjoy the wonderful friendship she and Ava have. Ava is sassy and perky as usual and Carmela is as always, the voice of reason. I think learning about her life outside of sleuthing is just as interesting as the murder details. This is probably one of my favorites of this particular series by Childs. It has depth and draws on areas other than just New Orleans. Even the secondary characters like the victim and his wife were well developed and had a lot of dimensions to them. I thought the plot was excellent and believable. Finding the dead guy in the dryer was certainly a surprise, but that just shows that Childs still has a lot more stories to tell from Carmela and her friends.
In short, this is the best cozy I've read this year! Can't get a much higher recommendation than that.
I read a lot of books. I read a lot of mysteries. I read a lot of cozy mysteries, so when I say a particular author is not one of my favorites, but my favorite, that's saying something. Laura Childs is definitively my favorite cozy writer. Having written three cozy mystery series': The Scrapbooking Mysteries, The Tea Shoppe mysteries and the Cackleberry Club mysteries, Childs is not a stranger to the cozy sub-genre. Her books are well researched and full of the nuances and phrasing that makes each setting come alive.
The Scrapbooking mysteries are set in the Big Easy. New Orleans is just one of those cities that people can easily attribute to murder and mayhem. There is an atmosphere of tradition and taboos, including voodoo and vampires, but Childs takes a different direction with her series and focuses on murder. I like the fact that Childs makes each book feel like a history lesson and an entertaining read. As readers we get to learn more an more of alluring history of the city and Louisiana in general, while relishing a good whodunit. Childs is one of the best at creating a setting that draws the reader in and won't let go.
Carmela Bertrand is one smart cookie. Not only does she own and run her own scrapbooking shop which generally has a strong part in each book, but she also has a part in just about every mystery that happens in the city. She has found several dead bodies and citizens have come to rely on her to help them figure out what happened when murder is at hand. It is easy to see why Carmela appeals to so many readers. She is sophisticated and elegant, but she can get down and dirty. I love the way she goes about figuring it all out. She has knack for making connections that aren't always obvious and that makes her a great sleuth. Childs does an excellent job with this character every time out.
In Gilt Trip Carmela and her sidekick Ava are attending a party celebrating the early release from jail of Louisiana business man, who has quite a few enemies. When he turns up dead, tumbling around in the dryer, Carmela is on the case. I love the fact that Childs always makes sure that not only Ava has a central part in the story, but the police as well. It does't hurt that Carmela has some pretty strong feeling for Babock, who happens to be on the force. I thought the mystery aspect of the book was well planned and written and had a lot of good suspects. I didn't figure this one out until the very end. I suspected the correct killer once, but Childs was easily able to dissuade me. I love it when I get stumped!
Readers will enjoy finding out about Carmela's life and her deepening feelings for Babcock. They will enjoy the wonderful friendship she and Ava have. Ava is sassy and perky as usual and Carmela is as always, the voice of reason. I think learning about her life outside of sleuthing is just as interesting as the murder details. This is probably one of my favorites of this particular series by Childs. It has depth and draws on areas other than just New Orleans. Even the secondary characters like the victim and his wife were well developed and had a lot of dimensions to them. I thought the plot was excellent and believable. Finding the dead guy in the dryer was certainly a surprise, but that just shows that Childs still has a lot more stories to tell from Carmela and her friends.
In short, this is the best cozy I've read this year! Can't get a much higher recommendation than that.
July 18, 2015
What did I like about this story?
As with all of Laura's scrapbooking mysteries I like that they are centered about Carmela's scrapbook store. I like to hear about what Carmela is creating while at the same time trying to solve the mystery. After reading this whole series you kind of feel like you are friends with the characters. Another I like is the setting of the book. One day I will go to New Orleans and see all the places that they are talking about. In this story I had a completely different person picked out for the crime than who actually did it. I am glad that Carmela was not in a much danger this time as she has been in the past. These books are fast paced fun books to read that are good for a weekend read or to take to the beach. As with each book in the series there are scrapbook tips and recipes at the end for you to enjoy.
What did I think of the cover?
For the most part I liked the cover of this book. I was not crazy about the gold mask as my eye gets drawn to that. I would have liked the shadow box to be a little larger and that have been the focal point but I do understand that the gold mask ties in with the title of the book.
As with all of Laura's scrapbooking mysteries I like that they are centered about Carmela's scrapbook store. I like to hear about what Carmela is creating while at the same time trying to solve the mystery. After reading this whole series you kind of feel like you are friends with the characters. Another I like is the setting of the book. One day I will go to New Orleans and see all the places that they are talking about. In this story I had a completely different person picked out for the crime than who actually did it. I am glad that Carmela was not in a much danger this time as she has been in the past. These books are fast paced fun books to read that are good for a weekend read or to take to the beach. As with each book in the series there are scrapbook tips and recipes at the end for you to enjoy.
What did I think of the cover?
For the most part I liked the cover of this book. I was not crazy about the gold mask as my eye gets drawn to that. I would have liked the shadow box to be a little larger and that have been the focal point but I do understand that the gold mask ties in with the title of the book.
January 11, 2014
Every book is the same. Carmela goes to a society party, gets bored and demands to go home. There is a murder, Carmela goes to the funeral, investigates, pays very little attention to her shop. I used to likes this series, now its nothing but a rerun.
November 20, 2014
This series, along with a couple of others, is my literary junk food. The books don't have too much in the way of substance but are very readable. Maybe I've read too many, or maybe I shouldn't read two in a row, because this was hard to finish and I found it harder than usual to get past the errors and weird grammatical style of the author.
It had the same structure as all the other Scrapbooking Mysteries. Ava struts around and calls Carmela 'cher': check. They go to lots of parties: check. Carmela runs a small business which is only doing 'okay' but is able to spend much of the day not there: check.
Laura Childs has an irritating habit of putting full stops in the middle of sentences. And it's as irritating as it is when I do it here. ("...she glanced around to clear her head. And noticed Eric Zane..." p.154) It's as if she hasn't heard of semi-colons and commas. ("...with a little bald spot on top of his head. Like a monk." p213)
Childs said it herself:
"Hey," said Carmela. "You can't make this stuff up." She paused and thought for a moment. "Well, maybe you could if you were a really bad sitcom writer." (p. 172)
It had the same structure as all the other Scrapbooking Mysteries. Ava struts around and calls Carmela 'cher': check. They go to lots of parties: check. Carmela runs a small business which is only doing 'okay' but is able to spend much of the day not there: check.
Laura Childs has an irritating habit of putting full stops in the middle of sentences. And it's as irritating as it is when I do it here. ("...she glanced around to clear her head. And noticed Eric Zane..." p.154) It's as if she hasn't heard of semi-colons and commas. ("...with a little bald spot on top of his head. Like a monk." p213)
Childs said it herself:
"Hey," said Carmela. "You can't make this stuff up." She paused and thought for a moment. "Well, maybe you could if you were a really bad sitcom writer." (p. 172)
March 5, 2014
Normally I enjoy following Carmela Bertrand on her adventures. This time it felt like Carmella was a renegade Nancy Drew. Carmella did not use logic like she normally does to solve a case.
Overall, the story felt choppy. Characters did not seem to be well flushed out. Carmella's friends were on the fringes of the story, as was her shop and crafting. Normally there is a a description of Carmella's car. Not this time. Didn't her beloved car from Shamus get wrecked? What is she driving now?
The catching of the murderer felt like a Scooby Doo episode.
Very disappointing from a favorite author.
Overall, the story felt choppy. Characters did not seem to be well flushed out. Carmella's friends were on the fringes of the story, as was her shop and crafting. Normally there is a a description of Carmella's car. Not this time. Didn't her beloved car from Shamus get wrecked? What is she driving now?
The catching of the murderer felt like a Scooby Doo episode.
Very disappointing from a favorite author.
October 14, 2013
In the past I enjoyed this series and I still like the characters, but this book had some over the top parts. Due to having a cowriter?
October 23, 2016
4 stelle e mezzo
Sono affezionata a questa serie perché è la prima appartenente al genere cozy mystery che ho letto. E mi piace molto questa autrice, quindi centellino tutti i suoi libri. Infine, mi piacciono i suggerimenti di papercraft sparsi in questo come negli altri libri.
Per quanto riguarda questo mystery confesso che avevo puntato su un altro colpevole... E questo è un "plus" nella mia valutazione, visto che ormai sono raramente sorpresa con una soluzione diversa da quella da me pensata.
Sono affezionata a questa serie perché è la prima appartenente al genere cozy mystery che ho letto. E mi piace molto questa autrice, quindi centellino tutti i suoi libri. Infine, mi piacciono i suggerimenti di papercraft sparsi in questo come negli altri libri.
Per quanto riguarda questo mystery confesso che avevo puntato su un altro colpevole... E questo è un "plus" nella mia valutazione, visto che ormai sono raramente sorpresa con una soluzione diversa da quella da me pensata.
August 27, 2023
I love this series. The characters are great. Love the twists and turns. Great mystery
October 9, 2024
I listened to this and the reader Danielle Ferland kept me listening because I think she is excellent, even though the story didn’t really interest me.
March 26, 2025
I've enjoyed this series but had stepped away for awhile due to dissatisfaction with a decline in writing. Less and less focus on the scrapbooking aspect. More ridiculous language and situations.
This one was a bit better than the previous edition. I still cringe at the use of language like 'they speed-balled thru the crowd' and the babytalk about her boyfriend. I do like the descriptions of New Orleans and the lavish parties.
The murder mystery itself was interesting enough but wasn't completely resolved. I like a good exposition and wrap up.
Carmela takes some very foolish choices, but we are used to that.
This one was a bit better than the previous edition. I still cringe at the use of language like 'they speed-balled thru the crowd' and the babytalk about her boyfriend. I do like the descriptions of New Orleans and the lavish parties.
The murder mystery itself was interesting enough but wasn't completely resolved. I like a good exposition and wrap up.
Carmela takes some very foolish choices, but we are used to that.
September 24, 2014
"Gilt Trip" is a cozy mystery. It's the eleventh book in the series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the previous mysteries.
The heroine felt entitled to know whatever the police did. I had a problem with her ethics as she let a theft go unpunished at the end rather than make an effort to see her "helpers" were paid what they felt was owed to them. She operated more on suspicion than on clues and often jumped to conclusions. She didn't think things through, and common sense safety procedures didn't seem important to her.
She repeatedly accused one character of being the murderer based on her suspicion that he might be behind a business (even though the police checked and said he wasn't) which she thought might somehow be connected to the murder.
I didn't actually dislike the heroine, but her impulsive nature meant that the mystery wasn't really clue-based. It was more running around on wild goose chases after potential clues which involved putting herself in dangerous spots. I enjoy a more logical, clue-based approach. I still don't understand what whodunit's motive was as it seems to me the motive would have been going in the opposite direction. I did find the New Orleans setting interesting, though.
There was no sex. There was a minor amount of bad language.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
The heroine felt entitled to know whatever the police did. I had a problem with her ethics as she let a theft go unpunished at the end rather than make an effort to see her "helpers" were paid what they felt was owed to them. She operated more on suspicion than on clues and often jumped to conclusions. She didn't think things through, and common sense safety procedures didn't seem important to her.
She repeatedly accused one character of being the murderer based on her suspicion that he might be behind a business (even though the police checked and said he wasn't) which she thought might somehow be connected to the murder.
I didn't actually dislike the heroine, but her impulsive nature meant that the mystery wasn't really clue-based. It was more running around on wild goose chases after potential clues which involved putting herself in dangerous spots. I enjoy a more logical, clue-based approach. I still don't understand what whodunit's motive was as it seems to me the motive would have been going in the opposite direction. I did find the New Orleans setting interesting, though.
There was no sex. There was a minor amount of bad language.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
October 27, 2013
In "Gilt Trip," her 11th book in her Scrapbooking Mystery series, author Laura Childs once again brings her readers plenty of thrills and chills in the Big Easy, New Orleans.
Her feisty and smart character, Carmela Bertrand is again pulled into investigating an unusual murder that involves one of her customers of the scrapbooking shop she is so well-known for. But this time around, her steady beau, Detective Edgar Babcock is out of town, so Carmela is working with a new cop, Bobby Gallant, who is not so amused by her insights and wisdom regarding the murder of a eccentric local businessman. But Carmela and her sidekick/best friend Ava Gruiex follow their instincts and hunches and discover the killer might be looking for more than revenge!
I always love Laura Childs' mysteries, and was delighted to see she had collaborated with fellow mystery author, Diana Orgain, on this installment of the Scrapbooking series.
I highly recommend any of Laura's mystery series (which include the Tea Shop Mysteries and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries) for those who enjoy well-written and snappy cozy mysteries.
Her feisty and smart character, Carmela Bertrand is again pulled into investigating an unusual murder that involves one of her customers of the scrapbooking shop she is so well-known for. But this time around, her steady beau, Detective Edgar Babcock is out of town, so Carmela is working with a new cop, Bobby Gallant, who is not so amused by her insights and wisdom regarding the murder of a eccentric local businessman. But Carmela and her sidekick/best friend Ava Gruiex follow their instincts and hunches and discover the killer might be looking for more than revenge!
I always love Laura Childs' mysteries, and was delighted to see she had collaborated with fellow mystery author, Diana Orgain, on this installment of the Scrapbooking series.
I highly recommend any of Laura's mystery series (which include the Tea Shop Mysteries and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries) for those who enjoy well-written and snappy cozy mysteries.
December 31, 2013
A more enjoyable audiobook than some and came in handy on the plane home for Christmas. I thought the narrator was good with voices, but had terrible pronunciation skills, which took me out of it a bit. The story itself was standard fare for this series, which means I enjoyed it, but found it a bit predictable. I like Carmela and Ava enough to offset some silliness.
October 13, 2014
Loved the craft tips, the food, New Orleans setting, atmosphere, the zany characters, and the unique murder plot.
Full review: http://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/20...
Full review: http://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/20...
February 7, 2022
At an extravagant party to welcome home her husband, the guest of honor turns up dead. There are many suspects since the victim had many underhanded business dealings in New Orleans. Of course it is up to Carmela and Ava to find the culprit.
July 13, 2022
The 11th book in A Scrapbooking Mystery series. Fun cozy mystery set in New Orleans. Light and charming.
December 1, 2019
Not very entertaining. Predictable outcome
May 24, 2025
This is the 11th book in the series. Carmela and Ava are attending the welcome home party for a man who has been in prison for a white collar crime. Unfortunately, his return is short-lived, as Carmela finds his dead body while searching for a towel to clean up a wine stain. The man’s widow, Margo, asks Carmela to look into his murder. As she begins to look into potential suspects, including business rivals, lovers, and even his wife, his personal assistant is also murdered at his funeral. At her business, Carmela is busy teaching classes and creating invitations and shadow boxes for clients. Carmela and Ava take a road trip to investigate a contact and find that their victim was running his business while in prison by using messengers. While a suspect is arrested, Carmela thinks that they might not have the right person, and a final clue reveals the killer, leading to a dramatic chase. It includes recipes and scrapbooking ideas at the end of the book.
April 3, 2020
Good story.
A New Orleans businessman and white-collar criminal is celebrating his early release from prison. But his freedom will be short lived…
Scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava, are off to a party. Prominent socialite Margo Leland is throwing an extravagant fete to welcome home her husband, Jerry Earl. There’s a zydeco band, champagne ice luge, and waiters in ties and tails. But in the midst of the revelry, Jerry Earl is murdered—then stuffed inside a clothes dryer.
When the grieving widow turns to her for help, Carmela can’t say no. But Jerry Earl took a lot of people to the cleaners with his underhanded business tactics, so Carmela’s going to be hard-pressed to identify which of his enemies was steamed enough to kill him. As she sorts through Jerry Earl’s dirty laundry, she needs to collar the killer before another victim is set to tumble dry…
A New Orleans businessman and white-collar criminal is celebrating his early release from prison. But his freedom will be short lived…
Scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava, are off to a party. Prominent socialite Margo Leland is throwing an extravagant fete to welcome home her husband, Jerry Earl. There’s a zydeco band, champagne ice luge, and waiters in ties and tails. But in the midst of the revelry, Jerry Earl is murdered—then stuffed inside a clothes dryer.
When the grieving widow turns to her for help, Carmela can’t say no. But Jerry Earl took a lot of people to the cleaners with his underhanded business tactics, so Carmela’s going to be hard-pressed to identify which of his enemies was steamed enough to kill him. As she sorts through Jerry Earl’s dirty laundry, she needs to collar the killer before another victim is set to tumble dry…
May 16, 2018
I do like this series but this one just didn’t grab me as much. I found it harder to get into and had to almost force myself to keep reading it. I do like the characters and the setting, but the involvement in this murder seemed forced and when the killer was revealed I couldn’t even completely remember the character. Hopefully the next one is better. It can be hard for long running series to stay fresh.
February 19, 2021
When Carmela and Ava are invited to a Get Out of Jail Party for Jerry Earl Leland by his wife Margo Leland, they don't expect to stumble on a murder. How they discover who the murderer is and avoid becoming a victim themselves, makes for a very entertaining read. Another great entry in the series. I am really enjoying Carmela and Ava's adventures and looking forward to reading more in this series. Highly recommend this book and the series.
July 20, 2017
This is the first crafting (knitting, scrapbooking) mystery I ever listened to and it was great. Guess I am too lazy to even read the printed page...
I have read many of Lara Childs' books and even had the pleasure of having tea with her several years ago.
Not great literature but it made me happy. The injection of scrappy tips were a bonus.
I have read many of Lara Childs' books and even had the pleasure of having tea with her several years ago.
Not great literature but it made me happy. The injection of scrappy tips were a bonus.
July 4, 2018
This was not one of the better books in this series. The killer did come as a surprise but I feel that was because the plot lacked development. I didn't like the way Carmela glommed onto Falcon as her suspect and wouldn't consider anyone else to the point of being nasty. Not seemly behaviour for a southern lady.
I hope the author gets back on track with the next book in the series.
I hope the author gets back on track with the next book in the series.
May 10, 2021
This is the first book I have read the n this series so maybe I am missing some context, but this was not for me. I couldn’t believe how the main character jumped to (inaccurate) conclusions and the other characters jumped right in to basically publicly persecute the wrongly accused. None of the characters were appealing to me.
March 13, 2022
I love the setting and the characters. Childs even added a few new fun characters in this story. I missed the relationship between Carmela and Babcock, but enjoyed her antics with Ava enough to get past it. The story ended abruptly, but the ending was funny so I enjoyed it. This was a fun ride and a great escape read.
September 15, 2017
Slightly better than the previous book. I'm stuck at home and these books are available as ebooks, but the pattern is getting to be like a stuck record. Carmel a doesn't even pay much attention to her classes any more. Poor Gabby seems to do all the work.
December 1, 2017
I really enjoy the picture of New Orleans that these books paint along with the fun scrapbooking tips and yummy recipes. Carmela is right in the middle of a mysterious death and the list of suspects is long, but she figures it out in the end.
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