Death Swatch (Scrapbooking Series #6) by Laura Childs

From the Publisher

Amid Zydeco rhythms and popping champagne corks, scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand is having a wild night at a Mardi Gras party-until she finds a float designer murdered on a balcony.

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.)

Kirkus Reviews

A murderous run-up to Mardi Gras entangles two madcap pals in a search for a killer and a legendary treasure. Carmela Bertrand, owner of the scrapbook store Memory Mine, and her best friend Ava, owner of JuJu Voodoo, are attending a pre-Mardi Gras party at the home of float designer Jekyl Hardy when they stumble over a dead body. The corpse, strangled with barbed wire, is that of Archie Baudier, who was helping Jekyl design floats for the Pluvius krewe. Carmela, who's tried her hand at crime solving before (Frill Kill, 2007, etc.), agrees to help Jekyl out by doing some sleuthing. The revelation of a secret passage and a hidden coin collection leads the courageous but foolhardy duo to a search for the storied treasure of the famous pirate Jean Lafitte. A mysterious coin dealer, a gunrunning Russian and a dealer in illegal absinthe all make promising suspects. The pair travel to an old plantation house, a bayou island and a moldering cellar in search of clues, always with the feeling that they're being watched. Meanwhile, Carmela's tentative romantic tie to Detective Edgar Babcock heats up despite his warnings to leave the investigation to the police. So much detail about Mardi Gras and so many recipes and scrapbooking tips, that only mystery fans will notice all the loose ends.

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