Carmela Bertrand is dining with her beau, handsome, ginger-
haired Detective Edgar Babcock. They have just finished a
superb dinner at the four-star Diamond Award restaurant,
Commander's Palace. It is located in the Garden District in
New Orleans. Carmela is a pretty, blue-grey eyed gal with a
fairly athletic body from walking her two dogs. She still
enjoys a few curves that are admired and that appeal to Babcock.
Their evening has been romantic and special. Isabelle Black,
an assistant district attorney, stops by their table to chat. They speak briefly
about her upcoming wedding. She preens as she shows off her
stunning three-carat diamond engagement ring and leaves
smiling.
Leaving the restaurant, they walk a few blocks to where
Babcock parked his car. They approach the legendary
Lafayette Cemetery when a scream pierces the quiet
evening. Babcock races into the cemetery with Carmela
trying to keep up with him. They find the body of Isabelle
Black, strangled with a piece of lace. Police begin
investigating and so does sleuth Carmela Bertrand. She does
it quietly so Babcock does not find out. First, she starts
with the vintage lace.
Lots of suspects starting with the groom-to-be; his
mother, who does not approve of his choice; best man, a VP in
charge of a development of a new casino on the
site of the old and battered amusement park. Could it be
one of the good old boys, whose politics, bribes and under-
the-table dealings force him to kill? The maid of honor, who
seems much too close to the groom-to-be? The ex-boyfriend
and now super chef? When the chips are down and the final
clues are a piece of parchment and a piece of lace, it is
Carmela who puts the pieces together and voila, the killer
is....
Laura Childs brings the color and charm of
New Orleans to her readers. Scrapbooking enthusiasts will
love her creative hints. The yummy recipes add to the
flavor of this delicious and fun mystery. Filled with great
restaurants, customs, and characters that are easy to love or
hate. I enjoyed PARCHMENT AND OLD LACE and recommend it to
anyone who loves a thrilling mystery with a location that is
easy - the Big Easy. It is perfect!
The New York Times bestselling author of
Gossamer Ghost returns to the Big Easy and the
historic
Garden District, where scrapbook shop owner Carmela
Bertrand
discovers a bride-to-be murdered in the legendary
Lafayette
Cemetery…
Carmela couldn’t imagine a finer
evening than dinner at Commander’s Palace with her beau,
Detective Edgar Babcock. The food and the company are
equally divine—with the exception of Isabelle Black
stopping
by to brag about her upcoming wedding. Resuming the
romance
with a walk in the evening air, the couple is interrupted
once again—this time by a terrifying scream from inside
the
cemetery.
Having just seen Isabelle, Carmela and
Edgar now find her lying across an aboveground tomb,
strangled to death with a piece of vintage lace. Carmela
would rather leave the investigating to Edgar, but she
can’t
say no to Isabelle’s sister Ellie, the tarot card reader
at
Juju Voodoo, when she asks her to help. As she untangles
the
enemies of Isabelle’s past, Carmela hopes she can draw
out
the killer before someone else gets cold
feet.
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy