Postcards From The Dead by Laura Childs

New Orleans and Mardi Gras have long since been the setting for murder mysteries, but author Laura Childs puts a different spin on the concept with amateur sleuth Carmela Bertrand and POSTCARDS FROM THE DEAD.

Carmela, owner of Memory Mine Scrapbooking, is awaiting her turn in the camera spotlight when something goes terrible wrong. KBEZ-TV reporter Kimber Breeze is conducting interviews on the fourth floor balcony of a hotel in the French Quarter overlooking the Mardi Gras parade below.

Just as she’s about to be interviewed,  Carmela sees Kimber’s terrified face in the waiting room’s live feed monitor. When she rushes out onto the tiny balcony, Carmela finds Kimber’s lifeless body dangling by a cord over the floats below.

Although her boyfriend, Homicide Detective Edgar Babcock, tells her not to get involved, Carmela can’t help herself. When she begins receiving unnerving postcards apparently from the dead reporter, Carmela enlists the help of her best friend Ava Gruiex to uncover the truth.

As Carmela and Ava search for the killer, they take the reader on a journey through New Orleans, its culture and its landscape. There is a nice blend of mystery, murder, mayhem, humor, a dabble of romance and even a second crime to solve. In addition, Childs incorporates friendship, loyalty and a bit of gossip involving the Scrapbooking gang.

With each new installment in this series, Childs continues to develop and enrich her characters. Following along with their progress enhances the reading experience making the characters more realistic.

Childs slowly pulls you in with each line. As she paints a picture with her words, she places the reader in the heart of the action with her characters. Before the reader realizes it, they’re spellbound unable to put the book down not wanting to leave the scene for fear of what will happen next.

POSTCARDS FROM THE DEAD is the 10th installment in the Scrapbook Mystery series, but can be read alone. There are subtle references to prior events, but they are done in such a way as not to confuse or lose new readers. The book also offers delicious New Orleans recipes, Scrapbooking tips and a preview of the next installment in Childs’ Cackleberry Club Mystery series, STAKE & EGGS, slated for release in December.

Scrapbooking doesn’t have to be in your blood to enjoy this story, only the love of a good mystery.

Postcards From The Dead by Laura Childs, A Scrapbooking Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2012, ISBN: 978-0425252758, Hardcover, 336 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the author and publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copies did not influence my review.
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope you enjoy a taste of New Orleans with a dash of murder mystery.