Carmela Bertrand is the owner of a New Orleans scrapbooking
shop called Memory Mine, located not far from the French
Quarter. Just as the city is gearing up for Mardi Gras,
Carmela has agreed to be interviewed by Kimber Breeze, a
news reporter for local station KBEZ-TV. Although Carmela
isn't a big fan of Kimber's, she knows it would be foolish
to turn down free publicity for her store. Just as the
interview is about to take place on the balcony from the
fourth floor on the Hotel Tremain overlooking the French
Quarter, someone sneaks into the hotel and hangs Kimber from
the balcony with an equipment cord.
Carmela is understandably shaken up by this, and her
penchant for sleuthing leads her detective boyfriend to warn
her to stay away from the case, especially since she was at
the scene of the crime. But things get even stranger when
Carmela begins to receive postcards seemingly signed by
Kimber, pleading for help. Who would send something this
macabre? Is it a clue to the murder?
Carmela can't help herself, and she's soon putting together
a list of suspects that grows rather than narrowing.
Kimbers ambition could have provided a motive, but her
uneasy family situation could have just as easily had
something to do with her death, as well. Soon, Carmela is
juggling Mardi Gras activities, her relationship with her
boyfriend (which could be jeopardised with her amateur
detecting attempts), and trying to solve a murder. But will
she be able to figure everything out before she becomes a
victim?
POSTCARDS FROM THE DEAD is the tenth book in the
Scrapbooking Mysteries series, but it the was the
first book
in this series I have read. The author did a great job of
filling in most of the history (such as how all of the
characters were related to Carmela, why she and her
ex-husband are no longer together, and who her friends are)
without giving away plot points in previous books. I
enjoyed the way that she wove in local culture for those who
are familiar with New Orleans, just as she integrated
scrapbooking tips for those who either enjoy or want to
learn more about that particular hobby.
The plot itself was well done, with suspects and motives
that made sense without feeling forced. There wasn't an
overplayed red herring character, and the ample clues were
provided so any reader could feasibly solve the mystery
along with Carmela. The subplots were as interesting as the
main plot, too. I particularly enjoyed trying to figure out
whether the new oddities shop (and proprietor) was as
sinister as Carmela's friend suspected.
Although this series was new to me, I would enjoy going back
to read past books in the series and I'll definitely look
forward to future releases!
New Orleans is in the throes of another fantastic
Mardi
Gras celebration when the party gets crashed by a
murderer.
Now a scrapbooking sleuth is going to have to stop the
partying to catch the killer…
There’s a
parade
rolling through the historic French Quarter, with
gigantic
floats, silver beads, and dizzying lights—and Kimber
Breeze
of KBEZ-TV is broadcasting live from a small balcony on
the
fourth floor of the Hotel Tremain, interviewing locals
and
capturing the spectacle down below. Her next subject will
be
Carmela Bertrand, owner of Memory Mine scrapbooking shop.
Carmela has never been a fan of Kimber, but she isn’t
about
to turn down the chance of good publicity for her shop.
But before Carmela’s shop gets its five minutes
of
fame, a killer slips onto the balcony and strangles
Kimber
with a cord, leaving her body dangling above the parade.
Carmela is horrified, but she quickly discovers the
nightmare isn’t over. Because someone is now leaving
strange
postcards at Carmela’s shop—signed by the dead Kimber.
Now
Carmela and her friend Ava will have to risk their own
necks
to find out who’s posing as a ghost—and to expose a
killer…
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