Customer Reviews

Frill Kill (A Scrapbooking Mystery)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Halloween season is upon the French Quarter in New Orleans and Carmela attends a party at her friend Ava's voodoo shop. As if things aren't scarey enough, Carmela discovers a dead body in the alley near her friend's shop. One of Ava's employees is accused of the murder, but Ava and Carmela are convinced that he is innocent. Their "unofficial" investigation begins, and they find several suspects, while going through some frightening experiencs. This is another enjoyable entry in the Scrapbooking Mystery series. I do hope that author Laura Childs will find a way to get rid of Shamus, Carmela's soon-to-be-ex-husband, in future books,as he is an annoying character who does not enhance the series.

With Halloween barely a week away, New Orleans is getting even spookier than usual. Carmela's friend Ava throws a party at her shop, Juju Voodoo, complete with a sexy tarot reader named Giovanni. The only thing he doesn't foretell is that on her way home from the party, Carmela will find the body of a beautiful model named Amber behind a dumpster--right before being knocked unconscious herself.

Giovanni, the tarot reader, appears to have saved her--or was he already there? He turns into the police's number one suspect, but Carmela and Ava both stand by him, even with his tendency to dodge certain questions. There's plenty of evidence to keep Carmela busy, though. Horrible tooth marks are found around the victims neck, along with some nonhuman hairs found at the scene. Police can't seem to figure out what kind of animal the hairs came from or what could have bitten the victims' throat like that.

There are plenty of theories over who's responsible--a French Quarter stalker, a jealous lover, even a werewolf--and Carmela is left wandering who she can trust. Carmela must figure who or WHAT the killer is before she has strange tooth marks of her own!

Laura Childs has done it again! Frill Kill is the fifth installment in Childs' popular scrapbooking series. I enjoyed this book so much I skipped a few meals just to finish it! Frill Kill also includes several handy scrapbooking tips and some yummy New Orleans recipes. I can't wait for Childs' next book!

Childs is a consummate tea drinker, scrapbooker and dog lover.

Armchair Interviews says: Laura Childs is the bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries and the Scrapbooking Mysteries series.

I have read all of Laura Child's scrapbooking mysteries and I have enjoyed every one of them. They are fun and easy to read - sort of like a Nancy Drew book for grownups. There are always some creative scrapbooking ideas and recipes included with the story which I really like. I also love the backdrop of New Orleans in the plotlines.

Thanks for the great read!

Frill Kill is the most recent installment in the hectic life of Carmella and her friends. The draw for me in this series is the Historical and Geographical setting of the New Orleans area. I have visited there prior to Katrina, and have a friend who grew up there and frequently visits. While I wish that Ms. Childs had included an episode that actually covered the hurricane, I am glad that she chose to continue the series. I am thinking that scrapbooking can only go so far as an industry, and that perhaps she needs to have her main character expand her shop to include something more lasting in popularity. It seems that she is edging toward interior design in the past few books. It would be a nice fit.

I recently loaned an earlier book (motif for murder) to my friend who grew up in New Orleans. She immediately focused on the scrapbooking aspect, which surprised me. I hope she is not turned off by the voodoo shop aspect represented by Carmella's friend, Ava who owns the fictitious Ju ju voodoo. Since Voodoo does not figure prominently, I don't think she will. Another friend who saw my copy of Motif, liked the recipes, which made me notice them more. So lately I have been looking for recipes. I forgot to check to see if there are recipes in this book. I am almost finished and am still guess about who actually killed the victim, but more interested in what happens between Carmella and her estranged husband. And eagerly waiting the next installment.

This is the 5th book in the Scrapbooking series set in New Orleans. This one occurs around Halloween. Carmela's friend Ava has hired a handsome tarot reader for her store. When a model for a local designer ends up dead behind the dumpster and Carmela is attacked in her discovery of the body, Giovanni is the prime suspect. This is complicated by the apparent animal attack to the body which is played up by an annoying TV reporter. Giovanni's brother works in a circus, was a former boyfriend of the model and trains wolves. But there is more than meets the eye. Carmela and Ava investigate and have to deal with high fashion, fake werewolves, and Carmela's soon to be ex-husband on the way to discovering the killer. This was a decent mystery although some of the storyline was a bit unbelievable, including having Carmela and Ava selected to walk the catwalk at a major show for the local designer. It was an okay story, but again, I prefer the Tea Shop series to this one.

I've read all of the Scrapbook Mysteries in this series up to this one. This book was MUCH better than the last one. I thought the topic of the mystery was interesting - set against a backdrop of Halloween celebrations in New Orleans post-Katrina. I was glad that Carmela was finally pursuing a divorce from her lame husband. The story kept me guessing until the end. The only downside to this book is that the discovery of the killer was very abrupt. I would have preferred that there was a little more time devoted to the discovery. It seemed that the story went from a "mystery killer" to "oh - there you are!". Overall I enjoyed the book as a very light read. It's not the best but it wasn't toobad. Since I've aleady read so many of them, I will read the next in the series.

I've only just started this book but already can find myself falling into the story. Laura Childs gets the reader very involved in the who, what and (we already know the where). Her books are a fun read.

Carmela runs a scrapbooking store, Memory Mine, in the French quarter of New Orleans. Her best friend, Ava, has a Halloween party at her voodoo shop, Juju Voodoo. Her new employee Giovanni is a sexy tarot card reader and brings in the crowds.

When Carmela is knocked unconscious and Amber's dead body is found near her in the alley near Ava's shop, Giovanni becomes the prime suspect. Ava and Carmela believe him to be innocent so they set out to try to locate the real killer without putting themselves in further danger.

I really enjoy this series. Ava and Carmela are such fun. I enjoy all the descriptions of the scrapbooking as well as the ambiance of New Orleans. It's a place I'd like to visit someday, so I enjoy reading mysteries set there.

This series is a great cozy mystery series that is easy to read and well plotted out. I highly recommend this book and series.

Love this book. Love the quirky characters and the references to New Orleans. Fun and enjoyable to read. Always look forward to a new Laura Childs book.

Laura Childs does it again, a perfect blend of suspense and scrapbooking fun. I look forward to all of her new books and read them in just a few days once I get them.