Kept you guessing on the whodunit until the end. I get very tired of all the irritation of Babcock with her sleuthing etc. Ot did not match with the very hurried up conclusion of the book. ( )

Carmela and her friend Ava are enjoying themselves at the Winter Market when a man drops dead at their feet. Well, it’s hard to live when someone has stuck a carving fork in your neck. When Carmela’s ex-boyfriend becomes suspect number one, she agrees to help clear his name. But they need to keep this little agreement secret from her current boyfriend, Detective Edgar Babcock. As you can imagine, Carmela is skirting the law in her investigations, and perhaps even putting herself - and her relationship with Babcock - in danger. Quirky characters in a twisty plot, dosed with humor, make for a fast and enjoyable read. ( )

Call me crazy, but when I pick up a book with "A Scrapbooking Mystery" on the cover, I expect scrapbooking to play a part in the story. This book did not deliver that. In fact, it almost seemed like Carmela considered her scrapbook store a hindrance in her life--she was always leaving it in the hands of her assistant to go off investigating something. I felt like wine, cheese, art, food, and a number of other things were more prominent in this book than scrapbooking (or even papercrafts). This book could have been an entry in another series and worked just as well--or perhaps even better--than it did as a scrapbook mystery.

The scrapbooking tips at the end didn't come up in the story much (other than the crepe paper one that might tie into the crepe paper class that Carmela had in her store) nor did the recipes included in the book (though a couple of them do sound interesting to try).

All in all, I'd say it was a disappointing outing. Which makes me sad, because I enjoy Childs's tea series (or at least I have in the past) and I know I've read other books in this series that did deal more with scrapbooking and papercrafts. I'm somewhat inclined to side with my friend (MJ) who said that there are better scrapbooking mystery series out there if this was the only one I had to base my decision on. ( )

I really enjoyed reading about New Orleans and all it's wonderful attractions. I have always heard that the food is excellent and there are so many things to see there. The author definitely intrigued me so much, I have to visit New Orleans soon. She makes the town come alive with wonderful descriptions and yummy food that I could almost smell. I especially love the main character Carmela.

Carmela has a quaint scrapbook shop. The ideas and creative projects make me want to go out and gather all the supplies and try them. I bet it would be fun to be surrounded by such a creative person. I would be in awe of Carmela because she is so darn cute and creative. She does have a little stubbornness going on and I think her boyfriend Edgar is ready to pull his hair out . He does not like her investigating a crime that he is in charge of. He did seem to be a bit put off by her at times. How is that Carmela seems to be at the right place at the wrong time? When she witnesses a murder of a well known restaurant critic, the chaos ensues.

I give a lot of credit to the writing talent shown throughout this book. The author knows how to keep the reader glued to the story with fast action and characters that jump off the pages. Carmela can't help investigate the murder when "an old friend" becomes a suspect. I didn't really like Quigg that much. I felt like he was clingy and expected Carmela to clear his name without hesitation. To say that the murdered victim is not liked is an understatement. Who would like a person who gives such bad reviews of their restaurant that it seemingly stops customers from coming? The list of suspects start adding up and Carmela is in the thick of it.

The book is fast paced and has twists that I really was surprised at. The investigation takes a weird turn and boy did it become an edge of your seat page turner. Is Carmela in over her head this time? Can she clear her friend's name before something happens to her? Get ready for another fun adventure with Carmela and her friend Ava as they find themselves unraveling secrets that could be destroy someone.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion. ( )

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book, or my review itself.

It's the holiday season, but scrapbook shop owner Carmela has just seen a man die at her feet. The victim has ties to both the restaurant scene and the local environmentalists, and Carmela's ex is a prime suspect.

I loved how Childs made the setting of New Orleans absolutely come alive. It made me want to visit there right away, and eat eat eat!

The characters are also very vivid, and Childs does an excellent job of making each character unique and memorable.

The title didn't really make sense. Crepes don't come into the book at all to my memory.

The solution to the mystery seemed a bit out of nowhere, but Childs did still make it work.

I've enjoyed the other books of Childs' I've read more. This one was enjoyable, but merely okay. ( )