It was Halloween in New Orleans. A week-long, rabble rousing celebration that grew bigger, badder, and crazier every year. A time for would-be werewolves, witches, and zombies to throw on a wig, howl at the moon, and paint the town the bright red color of fake vampire blood.
Carmela Bertrand, the owner of Memory Mine Scrapbook Shop, was no exception. This year she was debating the merits of wearing a Medieval costume versus a sexy witch dress.
Because what’s a girl to do when she has dozens of party invitations and was dating one of the hottest police detectives in the Big Easy?
Carmela grinned to herself as she grabbed her jacket and latched the door behind her. Stepping out onto Governor Nicholls street, she exhaled softly. Evenings in the French Quarter never failed to impart a sweet contentment. After all, who wouldn’t love to gaze at a purple-black sky that served as a dramatic backdrop for two hundred year-old brick buildings? Or wander through courtyard gardens with pattering fountains and giant froths of jasmine and magnolias?
Pausing outside her front window, Carmela eyed her display of scrapbooks, memory boxes, and altered books. Over the past few years, she’d built Memory Mine into a thriving business, discovering along the way that she actually enjoyed being a small business owner. One of many here on Governor Nicholls Street with its plethora of gift shops, antique shops, and what have you.
What have you?
That thought caused her to pause outside the window of Oddities, the shop next door to hers. Oddities was a strange business run by the even stranger Marcus Joubert. His macabre mix of merchandise included taxidermy animals, funeral jewelry, steam punk, and bleached animal skulls. She’d once spotted an apparatus that looked suspiciously like a thumbscrew.
Tonight, Carmela noted a pair of old leather goggles, piece of scrimshaw, and a top hat and dagger.
For some reason the top hat and dagger struck her as something Jack the Ripper might have had in his possession. Might have even treasured.
Carmela was about to walk away when she heard a funny and slightly ominous series of noises emanating from inside. What might have been a muffled scream followed by a dull thump.
She stepped closer to the window, to see what was happening. No luck. Lights from the street created a nasty, kaleidoscopic glare.
Still . . . she’d heard something, right?
Carmela, who was generally practical in nature but blessed (cursed?) with a giant dollop of inquisitiveness, decided it might be smart to investigate.
What if Marcus Joubert had taken ill? What if the sounds she heard were of him staggering and falling? So . . . just a quick peek?
Turning the brass doorknob, Carmela stepped inside to total darkness. Unnatural warmth washed over her, as if a space heater had been left on. A clock ticked monotonously. Moments passed and she realized the shop wasn’t completely dark after all. Pinprick spotlights glowed from rafters like bat eyes, illuminating a suit of armor and a candelabra. A stained glass lamp cast a dim orange circle on a shelf alongside frayed leather books.
Unfortunately, none of those lights pumped out any real power. It was like walking into a dark cocktail lounge without the benefit of strong liquid refreshments.
“Marcus?” Carmela called out.
No answer.
“It’s Carmela from next door. I thought I heard something . . .” She advanced a few steps.
There was another noise.
Carmela drew back. Could it have been the soft snick of the back door? Had someone just now slipped out the back?
A prickly feeling, as if being watched by unseen eyes, made Carmela crank her head sharply to the left. And she found herself staring into the grimacing face of a stuffed capuchin monkey perched precariously on a shelf, condemned forever to wear a hideous purple vest and fez.
Startled by the snarling mouth and beady eyes, Carmela whirled away, caught her toe on the Oriental carpet, and stumbled. Her arms flailed in a last ditch effort to save herself, knocking hard against a tall, wooden curio cabinet.
As her hands skittered against wooden doors, the cabinet teetered. Fearing the entire piece was about to fall, Carmela fought to steady it. But the weighty cabinet was slowly tipping forward as its two front doors creaked open.
And like a corpse spilling out of Dr. Caligari’s closet, the dead, bloody body of Marcus Joubert suddenly lurched out at her!
Carmela jumped backwards in shock. No matter, the body tumbled relentlessly toward her in horrible slow motion. There was a low moan, like the stinking sigh of a zombie, as a final air bubble released from the deep recess of his lungs. And then Joubert’s body flopped cold and bloody into Carmela’s outstretched arms!
You can read more about Carmela in Gossamer Ghost, the 12th book in the “Scrapbook” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Keepsake Crimes.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on October 17 for the chance to win a copy of GOSSAMER GHOST. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Meet the author
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Scrapbook Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries, and 
Cackleberry Club Mysteries, and a recent recipient of the Romantic Times Book Review’s Award for Best Amateur Sleuth. 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-profit organizations, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.
Sounds great, Halloween in New Orleans , what could be better 🙂
Great author, one of my favorites; thanks for the chance to win 🙂
Makes me wonder why I have been so long away from this series…:-)
I really enjoy Laura Childs’ writing. Haven’t read a scrap booking tale in a while. It would be fun to own this one.
This is my favorite series – I would love to win a copy. Thank you for hte chance
Love this series and this scene is just deliciously creepy. Halloween, New Orleans, and a fabulous cozy mystery: the perfect combination. Thanks for the chance to win.
I would love this!
I think spending Halloween in New Orleans with Carmela and her friends would be great! Thanks!
This is a great series. I can’t wait to read this book. Happy Halloween !!!
One of my very favorite series.
I love this author’s work—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of this book!
Glad to see there is another installment in this series. Have enjoyed it. I’m a card maker so I can relate.
I love Laura Childs, and this sounds like a perfect seasonal Halloween read.
It would be great to catch yo with Carmela! I have even made a couple of her New Orleans recipes.
It’s the perfect time of year for pumpkins on the steps, costume and dead bodies falling out of cabinets. Who do I have to hex to win a copy of this book?
Love the series.
Thanks, Dru! Congrats, Laura! 12th, in the series…wow!
Love this series, can’t wait to read the newest book
Now that is a Halloween to remember (or never be able to forget)!
I love this series. Thanks for sharing your talent.
Love anything she writes. Thanx for the chance to win
Well. how perfectly seasonal is that? I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t enjoy being tumbled upon by a dead body. But then, it doesn’t sound like Carmela was all that thrilled either. Thanks
This sounds great, I love Halloween stories. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love this author and would be thrilled to win this book! Thank you!
The Cackleberry Club mystery series is the bomb! Need to delve into these other two series Laura writes. Thank you Dru Ann for another fine review.
Laura Childs is one of the authors that really got me into cozy mysteries. Love her and would love to win her latest. Thanks for the chance to win.
Dead body.. Halloween perfection!
Ooooh ghosts. I love Laura Childs books and I’m sure this one will be great too.
Halloween themed mysteries – thanks for the review. kuzlin at aol.com
I love the tea shop book but have never read the scrapbooks. This ghostly choice might be a good beginning.
Love this series
This sounds like a series that I would love!!
I really enjoy this series. Another great fall read.
What an amazing cover!!
& what an awesome giveaway!!
Thank you!!!!
I love this series! New Orleans, Scrapbooking, and Mystery all rolled up into one Awesome cozy series! Thanks!
Wht a wonderful excerpt TEASE!
Lots happening in that cover! I’ll bet lots is happening inside as well. Can’t wait to find out.
This sounds like the perfect Halloween read. I have not read this series, but I love stories cast in New Orleans. Thanks for the gennerous giveaway. I would love to win.
Love this series. And, no I’m not a scrapper. One of my longest relationships! 😉
How do you enter the contest
Oh ok I just found it. Would love to have this to read
Halloween and N’awlin’s has to be a great combination. Looking forward to reading this one.
I would love to spend Halloween in New Orleans—what a perfect atmosphere.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I love her books.
contest is closed.