December TBR

December 2024 TBR

Welcome back to the blog! My December TBR is made up entirely by one of my favorite authors and favorite book series. I was first introduced to Laura Childs books with the Tea Shop Mystery Series and loved the writing style, location, characters, plots, etc. While I was searching for Laura Childs books on Thriftbooks I discovered the Scrapbooking series. Right away I knew that I would love the series for no other reason than the fact that it's set in New Orleans, I started with one book in the series and loved the energy. I recently hit up thriftbooks again and bought three of the books that were in stock. I can't wait to start.

Title 

Gossamer Ghost 

Author 

Laura Childs 

Series 

A Scrapbooking Mystery 

Synopsis 

Carmela Betrand knows Halloween in New Orleans means a week of rabble - rousing, costumed craziness - and she can't wait to get the party started. But when a local antiques dealer turns up dead, Carmela suddenly finds herself in a real- life danse macabre…. 

An evening’s work deciding on the class schedule for her scrapbooking shop has put Carmela in the mood to kick up her heels. But after some strange noises draw her into Oddities, the neighboring antiques shop, Carmela’s night is abruptly put on hold when a bloody body falls out of a curio cabinet and into her arms. 

While shop owner Marcus Joubert was known for being an eccentric with a penchant for eclectic merchandise, Carmela never thought he was the kind of man who could inspire the passion required to kill. But when Marcus’s assistant - and fiancee- Mavis, reveals that a priceless death mask was also stolen, it becomes clear that murder wasn't the culprit's sole intention.

Carmela can't resist the urge to investigate the growing mystery, but as the list of suspects increases, she realizes it'll take every trick in the book to unmask the killer thief before there's another night of murderous mischief.

Title 

Glitter Bomb

Author 

Laura Childs 

Series 

A New Orleans Scrapbooking Mystery 

Synopsis 

Mardi Gras in the French Quarter kicks off with a bang and a body in the latest New Orleans Scrapbooking Mystery.

Scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand is excited for Mardi Gras in New Orleans to officially commence with the marching of the Pluvius Parade. What could be better than a week of beignets, beads, and - hopefully - some quality time with her boyfriend, Detective Edgar Babcock? Not even spotting her ex- husband, Shamus, and his krewe heading up the parade on their gigantic King Neptune float can burst Carmela's bubble.

But the revelry suddenly turns to disaster when Shamus's float crashes and explodes, shocking spectators and marchers alike. When the smoke clears, the CEO of a local hedge fund, Hughes Wilder, is found dead, and the wreck seems less like an accident and more like a murder. Shamus begs Carmela to investigate after his bad investment in Wilder's fund comes out, making him a key suspect.

With Shamus's name on the line and the remaining French Quarter festivities threatened, Carmela needs to track down a killer with an explosive temper before the case blows up in her face.

Title 

Skeleton Letters 

Author 

Laura Childs 

Series 

A Scrapbooking Mystery 

Synopsis 

Is nothing sacred? When a fellow scrapbooker is bludgeoned with a religious statue in historic St. Tristan's Church, it's a clear case of murder in the cathedral. But a stolen relic may hold the key to catching the culprit.

The last thing Carmela Bertrand and her friend Ava expected to bear witness to in St. Tristan's Church was a crime. But now a beloved member of their scrapbooking circle is lying lifeless next to a smashed statue of St. Sebastian - and a mysterious hooded figure has absconded with an antique silver and gold crucifix. With the church open to the public and a popular tourist attraction, it looks like the police don't have a prayer of finding the killer.

But if anyone can get to the bottom of the crime, it's Carmela's main squeeze, Detective Edgar Babcock - with a little assistance from some scrappy sleuths. As Carmela and Ava are drawn deeper into New Orleans’s French Quarter in search of the missing crucifix, they may need the help of more than a few patron saints. Because this is one killer they don't want to cross.

About the Author 

Laura Childs is the New York Times best-selling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Cackleberry Club Mysteries, and the Scrapbooking Mysteries.

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