In this delightful cozy mystery set in New Orleans, Carmela
Bertrand and her Ava are devastated when they witness the
murder of their good friend, Byrle at St. Tristan's Church.
Although Carmela and Ava saw Byrle fall to her death, they
only managed to catch a glimpse of their friend struggling
with a man wearing a monk's brown robe. Not only was Byrle
murdered at St Tristan's, but a crucifix, a precious
artifact recently unearthed outside the church, was also
stolen. Detective Babcock, Carmela's boyfriend gives her
strict orders to leave the investigating to him, but Carmela
is determined to do own her investigation to catch the man
who murdered her friend.
Carmela is the proud owner of Memory Mine, a scrapbook
store, but with the help of her friend and coworker Gabby,
she plans to fit some off the record investigating into her
busy schedule. Ava owns an up and coming Voodoo store but
finds the idea of trying to find the murderer on their own
unsettling. Carmela, however, is up for anything -- even if
she has to lie to her strict go-by-the-books detective
boyfriend. Carmela and Ava's first dip into the world of
homicide investigating is to return to the scene of the
crime. But when Ava and Carmela find themselves face to
face with the man wearing a monk's brown robe, Brother Paul
has only one thing to say to them "Seekers." Brother Paul's
tip sends Carmela and Ava chasing after a possible cult,
which may have had designs on stealing St. Tristan's
crucifix.
Brother Paul isn't Carmela's only suspect. St. Tristan's
choir director, Norton Fried just happened to have finished
choir practice minutes before the murder, when they bump
into him in the sealed off church. He is immediately added
to their list of suspects, especially when he warns them
that curiosity killed the cat. Carmela strikes gold when she
discovers that Norton Friend and her snobby ex neighbor,
Rain Monroe, both collect crucifixes. But Carmela is
running out of time trying to single out the clever murderer
from her list of possible suspects. Just when Carmela has a
lead and possible witness, the murderer makes sure the
witness is silenced forever.
SKELETON LETTERS is an addictive murder mystery which would
have Miss Marple at a loss for words. Laura Childs picked
the perfect city for this clever mystery. Carmela and Ava's
crusade to find the man who killed their friend by hitting
the most eccentric hot spots in New Orleans give the novel a
gothic feel, which makes the readers feel they are in the
middle of an Anne Rice novel. Easily spooked readers will
even get the creeps as Ava and Carmela wonder around old
cemeteries at night hoping to find a clue leading to
murderer. The novel offers plenty of laughs as well.
Carmela and Ava's wicked sense of humor will keep readers
entertained. The amateur detectives are witty and
resourceful fashionistas who readers will wish they could
jump into the novel and befriend. SKELETON LETTERS is a hit
and brings the charm of The Big Easy to life in this
delicious murder mystery, and yes, scrapbooking tips and
recipes are actually included!
Is nothing sacred? The last thing Carmela Bertrand and
her
friend Ava expected to bear witness to in St. Tristan's
Church was a crime. But now a beloved member of their
scrapbooking circle lies lifeless next to a smashed
statue
of St. Sebastien-and a mysterious hooded figure has
absconded with an antique crucifix.
As Carmela and Ava are drawn deeper into New Orleans'
French Quarter in search of the missing crucifix, they
may
need the help of more than a few patron saints. Because
this is one killer they don't want to cross...
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy