A cozy mystery, by nature, should always be a little scary. But can it be funny
as well? Hey, I couldn’t help myself when I wrote CREPE FACTOR, the newest
installment in my bestselling Scrapbooking Mystery series. The novel is set in
New Orleans after all, a city that prides itself on being magical, crazy, and
downright irreverent. So of course my plot enjoys a hearty wink and a nod from
the infamous Big Easy. As do my characters.
There’s Carmela, of course, my main character and scrapbook maven who owns
Memory Mine Scrapbook Shop in the French Quarter. When she’s not arguing with
her ex-husband Shamus Meechum (alias the rich rat) over doggy custody of Boo and
Poobah, she’s chasing down bad guys, rushing out for oyster po-boys and
beignets, worrying about keeping her figure and what New Orleans’ industrial
strength humidity is doing to her hair, and being driven to distraction by the
phony French Countess Saint-Marche who owns the glitzy shop Lucrezia next to hers.
Add to this lethal mix Ms. Ava Gruiex, a self-proclaimed hoochie momma, wearer
of all things leopard and leather, Botox fan, and owner of Juju Voodoo. Ava is
Carmela’s best friend and they just loooove getting into trouble together.
Whether it’s hanging out at Dr. Boogie’s Jazz Club, chasing (and being chased)
through the bayous, or having a fling at a wild Mardi Gras party, the two of
them never stop having fun.
Do we need a sobering note in our mystery? Why start now, when the death scene
in CREPE FACTOR is quite
literally to die for? Picture this – a sourpuss food reviewer that nobody likes
is stuck in the neck with a kitchen fork and comes staggering out from behind
the tents at the French Quarter Winter Market for all to see. Carmela and Ava
get involved, of course, and the fun really begins.
One of my favorite tasks as an author is to write a rip-roaring ending. And I
guarantee that the ending in CREPE FACTOR will not
disappoint. In chasing down the killer, Carmela and Ava enlist the help of
Squirrel and Moony, a couple of good old boys from the Baritaria Bayou, and
their motley hound dog Cooter. They all spill out of Carmela’s car, muddy and
sun-burned, onto a red carpet, shocking patrons dressed in black tie as they
rush into the ultra-fancy Hotel Vendue. Hilarity ensues, a gigantic ice
sculpture is toppled, and Carmela exposes the killer as Cooter laps up spilled
caviar and champagne. Because, really, with a dog named Cooter you just know
it’s going to be funny.
All my best,
Laura Childs
Halfway between a cozy
and a thriller – a thrillzy!
Laura Childs is the USA Today and New York Times
bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and
Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO of her own
marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show.
She is married to Dr. Bob, a professor of Chinese art history, enjoys travel,
and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.
Find out more at www.laurachilds.com
Scrapbooking
Mystery #14
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!
Mystery Hobbies | Mystery Cozy [Berkley, On Sale: October 4, 2016, Hardcover / e-Book,
ISBN: 9780425266700 / eISBN: 9781101617571]
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