Occupation: Proprietor of Memory Mine Scrapbook Shop
It’s autumn again in New Orleans. Which means it’s time to light up the pumpkins and grab a shroud for this very spooky time of year.
And here’s the thing, even though my best friend Ava owns a voodoo shop, I really don’t go looking for trouble. It just seems to find me. Just the other night, after a delightful dinner at Commander’s Palace with my very hunky boyfriend Edgar Babcock, I was pulled into a murder.
Shrieks from the nearby Lafayette Cemetery had us running in to help even though the fog was trickling between tombstones and the wind was moaning in the trees. What did we find? A murdered bride-to-be. A bride-to-be who was also the sister of Ava’s fortune teller, Ellie Black.
So here I am, pulled into a nasty crime, trying to snoop out a dangerous killer. And every step of the way I find myself threatened by a truly dysfunctional group of very nasty suspects. As luck would have it, however, there happen to be a few clues – some snippets of antique lace and pieces of parchment paper. Was someone making a scrapbook? Or do these clues lead somewhere else? That’s what I’m trying to figure out. And, believe me, it isn’t easy when you feel like you’ve been plunged into a classic Gothic mystery. Yes, this crime has all the elements – spooky New Orleans cemetery, bonkers mother-in-law, creaking Garden District mansions, and lots of twists and turns.
Good thing I’ve got my BFF Ava to help out. She’s a crazy Southern gal and former beauty queen who’s basically unhinged. She wears outrageous outfits (like leather and leopard), does Botox, and bats her fake eyelashes at any guy who comes within ten feet of her.
But that’s another story. Right now I’ve got to get cracking and investigate something called a Mourning Cloak Show at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Can you believe it? They have a display of mourning clothes from the late eighteen hundreds. I wonder if I’ll stumble onto something? I wonder if the antique lace we found at the murder scene will match some of their lace?
And afterwards, Ava wants to drag me back to the cemetery for a séance – to see if we can contact our poor murdered bride-to-be. Holy cats. The way things are going, I wonder if I’ll come out of this alive!
You can read more about Carmela in Parchment and Old Lace, the 13th book in the “Scrapbooking” mystery series, co-written with Terrie Farley Moran and published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Keepsake Crimes.
Parchment and Old Lace Book Description
In this cozy-thriller, scrapbook maven Carmela Bertrand tries to track down the killer of a young bride-to-be who’s been brutally murdered in a New Orleans cemetery. Could it be the conflicted groom, stalker attorney, jealous bridesmaid, or crazy mother-in-law to be? As Carmela sorts through this dysfunctional group of suspects, a snippets of antique lace and parchment become critical clues. It all comes to a head at a raucous casino party and ends with a frantic chase through an abandoned theme park. From New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs, Parchment and Old Lace delivers a gripping, realistic mystery that also includes scrapbook tips and recipes for Pecan Pie Muffins, Sweet Potato Casserole, and Big Easy Butter Chicken.
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GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on October 15 for the chance to win a signed copy of Parchment and Old Lace. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Good luck everyone! Two lucky commenters will be randomly selected.
About the author
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty-five mysteries, including the Scrapbooking Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries, as well as the soon to be released Afton Tangler Thriller series. She is the former CEO of her own marketing firm, has won dozens of TV and radio awards, and produced two reality TV shows. She and her professor husband enjoy travel and their two Shar-Pei dogs. Visit Laura at www.laurachilds.com.
Awesome! Can’t wait to read this! Thanks for the chance!
Great post. This is a wonderful series and I can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love the Tea Shop series. It’s time to give this series a try.
Have not had a chance to read any in this series but this book sounds wonderful. Thank you for the chance.
Parchment and Old Lace sounds like a delightful mystery. Thank you for the chance to win.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
I love the author; thanks for the chance to win 🙂
This sounds like a book my mom would enjoy!!
Really enjoy this series – the pacing, the setting, the relationship between the characters, and the scrapbooking tips. Yet another one I’m hideously behind on. So far behind I could start over at the beginning and they’d all feel new. Hmmm, I sense a book buying binge for the Kindle.
I’ve been keeping up with this author for years and always look forward to her newest book. Thanks for the post!
Love this author and would love to read this new book
I must get back to this series!
Parchment and Old Lace sounds like a good mystery. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book.
Someone I know gave this book 5 stars but would have liked to give it 100 stars. Now that sounds like a good book! Thank you for the giveaway.
would love this!
Laura Childs is among my favorite authors. I would love to own this book.
I enjoy all of Laura Childs’ books. Thanks for the giveaway.
What a great cover and enjoy this series. Thanks for the giveaway.
I absolutely love all of Laura Childs’ books and look forward to the next in each series.
I am soooo looking forward to reading this book ! Thanks for the giveaway ! kathambre@yahoo.com
Sounds like a great read.
Halloween and New Orleans just go together—I think voodoo and cemeteries are just a part of that city.
Thanks for the giveaway.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Thanks, Dru and Carmela/Laura. Congratulations on such a long-running series. Would love to win a copy.
Wonderful feature and giveaway. Thanks.
This book sounds so exciting, thanks for the giveaway!
Such a detective! ! Thanks for the overview. Going on my TBR list.
Let the good times roll!
Would love to win a copy of Parchment and Old Lace. Love NOLA!
Thanks for the review and giveaway!
I’m not familiar with Carmela Bertrand’s books. I will definitely enjoy adding this to my to be read list. robeader53@yahoo.com
I love the Keepsake Crimes series. Would love to win Parchment and Old Lace, Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I enjoy Laura’s books. Her books got me hooked on cozy mysteries.
What a great sounding book! I would love to read it.
Thanks for the giveaway. It sounds like a story I would really enjoy.
Love this series but am way behind. Time to catch up!
Love this series. I am a bit behind too but I have a lot of great reads ahead.
This sounds like a great read! It’s on my want to read list!
Love this series! Can’t wait to hang out with Carmela and Ava again!
Another book trip to New Orleans with Carmela and Ava? Fabulous! I love all of Laura Childs’ series and eagerly await the next one in each. I’m so thrilled that the wait for Parchment and Old Lace is just about over. Thanks for the chance to win.
A new series for me! Look forward to reading this one!
Laura Childs has never disappointed! Her series are great!
Hope I win.
I’m a fast cozy mystery reader and can stay up with the latest book in my favorite authors’ series; but not laura Childs! But I’m willing to try. Always pleased to see Laura’s name on a new cozy mystery cover! Thanks for the chance to win!
This sounds like a winner.
I would love to read Parchment and Old Lace. Thanks for the opportunity to win; good luck to all.📖📚
Love this title!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway….
I like the premise of this cozy. I love to read about her four-legged children.
contest is closed.