Motif for Murder (Center Point Premier Mystery (Large Print)) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Laura Childs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2007 | Series: Center Point Premier Mystery (Large Print)

In the terrible wake of Hurricane Katrina, scrapbooking shop owner Carmela Bertrand has her hands full getting Memory Mine back in business- and her relationship with her ex-husband, Shamus, back on its feet. But the reconciliation is shattered when Shamus is kidnapped from their home. And when Carmela hurries to tell Shamus's Uncle Henry, she finds him sitting in his library-with a bullet through his forehead.

As a memorial to Uncle Henry, Carmela puts together a sentimental scrapbook of memories and keepsakes. What she doesn't realize is that her book holds a clue that could identify the fiend behind the kidnapping and killing. And when the murderer finds out that she may be on to him, he's going to try to close the book on Carmela once and for all.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Childs's fourth scrapbooking mystery (after 2004's Bound for Murder), her first in hardcover, offers plenty of action even if it doesn't take full advantage of its setting, post-Katrina New Orleans. Just when series heroine Carmela Bertrand decides that reuniting with Shamus Meechum, her bad-boy ex-husband, might be a mistake, Shamus is kidnapped. Carmela rushes across the alley to seek help from Shamus's elderly uncle Henry, only to find Henry murdered. Det. Edgar Babcock isn't thrilled to have another case involving the meddling Carmela, and his irritation increases when Carmela and her best friend, Ava, rescue Shamus from the kidnappers themselves. Once Shamus is safe, he reverts to his old ways, adding to Carmela's woes. Mix in the usual scrapbooking and craft tips, and you have another engaging read from this reliable cozy author. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Laura Childs is a bestselling author. In her past life she was a Clio Award-winning advertising writer and CEO of her own marketing firm. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 303 pages
• Publisher: Center Point Large Print (January 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585478881
• ISBN-13: 978-1585478880
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,069,330 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

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting new view of the Characters, September 10, 2006

By 

Coppertop (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Motif for Murder (A Scrapbooking Mystery) (Hardcover)

Another installment in her Scrapbooking mystery series from Laura Childs. I had thoroughly enjoyed the first three and was a bit worried that this series wouldn't continue (it's set in New Orleans...she started up again after Hurricane Katrina, though, with proper mention to the diaster).

This book doesn't spend as much time in Memory Mine (her store) and gives us a much more indepth look at Shamus' character. I'm still not sure if I like the ending...you'll have to read it and see what you think. I'm also not sure what my opinion of Shamus is anymore, either. We'll all have to wait and see where Childs' goes with the Shamus/Carmela link.

This mystery is really all Carmela and her friend, Ava. The book begins with the kidnapping of Shamus and the murder of Shamus' uncle, Henry Meechum. Glory throws her usual little tantrum (I really hate that woman) and Carmela is off on her own. Shamus is rescued pretty quickly and he wants Carmela to help him solve Henry's murder, but while Carmela keeps at it, Shamus keeps going off on other things and getting distracted. While I wasn't able to guess the murderer, I did figure out pretty early where the clue was going to be once Carmela figured it out.

Although I liked this book, I really think this is the weakest so far. I definitely enjoyed the other books more. Childs really tantalizes us with Shamus and Carmela getting a little "happily ever after" at the beginning and then pulls it out from under us (yes, I admit, I like happy endings).

If you are just coming to this series, I would recommend starting with Keepsake Crimes, the first in the series, and not this one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Post-Katrina New Orleans, December 18, 2006

By 

Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Motif for Murder (A Scrapbooking Mystery) (Hardcover)

Carmela, owner of a New Orleans scrapbooking store, is trying to get her business back together as well as her relationship with her ex-husband, Shamus. Things change quickly when Shamus is kidnapped and his Uncle Henry is murdered. Of course the New Orleans police cannot be trusted to solve the mystery, so Carmela launches her own investigation. She and her friend Ava talk to several possible suspects in an attempt to find out who had a reason to resort to kidnapping and murder. The best thing about this book is the setting, and there are quite a few interesting references to different aspects of New Orleans. On the down side, there are several spelling mistakes in the book which is always a distraction. Also the plot is not very compelling and the characters are quite one-dimensional. I found myself not very interested in whether Carmela and Shamus continue their on-again-off-again relationship or not.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Scrapbooking Mystery, January 4, 2007

By 

Kathryn Olmstead (Deerfield, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Motif for Murder (A Scrapbooking Mystery) (Hardcover)

I really like all her books but this one was recameaded by our yahoo group. It not only has scrapbooking but alot about altered books. How to etc. That is why our altered book group thought we would like to read it. It is a very good read even for people who are not into scrapbooking or altered books. They might even get interested in doing so after reading this book. Good mystery.