Death Swatch: A Scrapbooking Mystery (Scrapbooking Mysteries) [Bargain Price] [Hardcover]

Laura Childs (Author)

Book Description

Series: Scrapbooking Mysteries | Publication Date: September 2, 2008

Murder comes to Mardi Gras! The seventh in the popular series—including scrapbooking tips.

Jekyl Hardy is hosting a Mardi Gras party in his French Quarter apartment, amid Zydeco rhythms and popping champagne corks. On a wild night like this, anything can happen. The guests—including scrapbook-store owner Carmela Bertrand—never imagine it will be murder. But as the evening progresses, Jekyl’s neighbor, float designer Archie Baudier, is found on the balcony choked to death with a barbed wire garrote. Buried up to her neck in strange clues, Carmela is sure of only one thing: whoever killed Archie is now following her— straight into the madness of Mardi Gras.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A murder in the midst of Mardi Gras propels Childs's enjoyable sixth Scrapbooking mystery (after 2007's Frill Kill). Carmela Bertrand, the owner of the New Orleans scrapbook shop Memory Mine, and her best friend, Ava Gruiex, are eager to begin the festivities with a party hosted by their float designer pal, Jekyl Hardy. But the discovery of the garroted Archie Baudier, Jekyl's assistant, puts a damper on the fun. In their efforts to solve the murder, Carmela and Ava encounter a host of eccentric characters, including a sullen Russian, a rare coin dealer, a meek curator of the local historical society and all manner of costumed party-goers. Carmela, in the process of a divorce, also meets dapper police lieutenant Edgar Babcock, who might be unappreciative of her investigative efforts but provides some romantic heat. Glossing over the effects of Hurricane Katrina, Childs paints a picture of New Orleans sure to appeal to cozy fans. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Scrapbooking store owner Carmela Bertrand and her good friend Ava find float designer Archie Baudier as he lies dying, strangled with barbed wire at a Mardi Gras party. A friend of the victim's asks Carmela to find the murderer, so she begins an investigation into who would want Baudier dead. Is it a rival float designer or someone who wants his coin collection? The investigation quickly becomes a treasure hunt when Carmela learns that Baudier was searching for pirate Jean Lafitte’s legendary buried treasure. As the investigation proceeds, and as the soon-to-be-divorced Carmela deals with the romantic feelings she has for New Orleans police lieutenant Edgar Babcock, the city gears up for and then attempts to enjoy Mardi Gras in the wake of Katrina. Well-developed main and secondary characters mesh nicely with the vibrant setting and with details on the design of scrapbook pages. --Sue O'Brien --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; 1 edition (September 2, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0425224783
• ASIN: B001U0OGHC
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,564,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries - set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She's also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn't rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries - a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans' spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries - set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe's undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars riveting cerebral amateur sleuth, September 3, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death Swatch (A Scrapbooking Mystery) (Hardcover)

Three years has past since The Hurricane placed New Orleans on life support but the city is returning as symbolized by the Mardi Gras. At least that is the opinion of Memory Mine scrapbook store owner Carmela Bertrand. Accompanied by her friend Ava, owner of a voodoo shop, they attend a party tossed by Jekyl Hardy who introduces them to float designer Archie Baudier. When Carmela goes to leave she finds Archie dead with barbed wire wrapped around his neck.

Jekyl asks Carmela to investigate Archie's murder as she has done successfully before (see FRILL KILL). She agrees and shows him a coin she found on his balcony where Archie died. With Ava's help she begins the inquiries at the apartments of Jekyl and Archie where she finds their hidden compartment containing the deceased's coin collection. Carmela is stunned when she finds out that Archie was an absinthe drinker which is illegal. As she follows the clues, someone is watching her just in case she gets too close to the truth.

Three years since Katrina wiped out the city leaves the story line with a gothic background that enhances the riveting cerebral amateur sleuth while also asking where the Marshal Plan is to rebuild New Orleans and the nearby parishes. Carmela is terrific as she has come a long way baby from the wimp she once was whose spouse abused her emotionally and mentally; in fact she demands a fair settlement from him as they divorce. The case proves how independent and courageous she has become as even a Russian mobster fails to scare her off. Although why she took on the investigation even for a friend is never adequately explained, readers will appreciate the latest scrapbooking cozy with a great final twist and tips and recipes.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Swatch Out for Murder, September 9, 2008

By 

Story Circle Book Reviews - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death Swatch (A Scrapbooking Mystery) (Hardcover)

Party time in New Orleans! Mardi Gras in the Big Easy, and part-Cajun Carmela Bertrand is right there sipping a Purple Haze at her friend Jekyl Hardy's elegant digs in the French Quarter--where else?

Carmela belongs to the French Quarter, and the French Quarter belongs to her. It's where she works at her scrapbook shop, Memory Mine, where she lives, and where she plays--often with her best pal, the flirtatious Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo Shop just across the way. Now Ava introduces her to Jeykl's handsome next-door neighbor Archie. Ava is angling for a Saturday night date with him, but it's not to be. Faster than a vampire's fang, he lies dead, garroted with knotted strands of barbed wire.

The next day, when Carmela is busy giving creative tips to her crafting customers, a distressed Jeykl drops by Memory Mine. Will Carmela do a little sleuthing, find out more about Archie and his death? (This should be no surprise to either Carmela or the reader. Death Swatch is the sixth in author Laura Childs' "Scrapbooking Mysteries" series.) How can Carmela turn down her friend? She and Ava are off on an adventure that takes them, and us, through the glamour of old New Orleans, the building of Mardi Gras floats, and some scary times in a lonely bayou in search not only of the murderer but also of long-hidden treasure.

Childs has a great eye for place and captures the Big Easy well. She manages to throw in a nice (and palatable) dose of American history and some good New Awlins cooking. The final treat is an appendix with craft hints and recipes, including the infamous Purple Haze. Try the bread pudding and "Laissez les bon temps rouler." Let the good times roll!

by Patricia Nordyke Pando
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Up to her stellar best., June 9, 2009

By 

mysterymamm - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death Swatch (A Scrapbooking Mystery) (Hardcover)

I always enjoy the description of one of my favorite cities. The female lead is funny,yet smart. It is good, relaxing reading.