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!