|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
Set in New Orleans, Carmela Bertrand's scrapbook shop is located near the French Quarter. One of the charms of this book is the emphasis and education of scrapbooking. Carmela offers classes in her delightful shop, Memory Mine. These classes are so descriptive that readers who are like me with a "craft challenged" mind will be encouraged and inspired. At one point in the story, the shop may be in jeopardy, which causes some anxious moments. Carmela needs her clients/friends. She was literally kicked out of the family home when her husband walked away, leaving her only with personal things and her shar-pei dog, Boo. On to the season of New Orleans! The customs of Mardi Gras abound. Costumed characters are bigger than life. One can and will see the full extent of masks and costumes. The parties attended were lavish and fun, filled with delicious food. One of the traditional customs of Mardi Gras is the king cake. Unfamiliar with this dessert, I found it to be fascinating. King cake is a braided coffee cake topped with frosting; green and purple sugar is sprinkled on top. A plastic baby is baked inside. Whoever the recipient is that bites into this prize will be the next person to provide the king cake. As the festivities gather speed early in the story, Jimmy Earl Clayton dies. Carmela's estranged husband is the Number One suspect. The deceased had a large dose of drugs found in his body. At first this was not surprising because Jimmy Earl had quite a reputation for being a swinging party guy but still something did not ring true. I was guessing who the villain was throughout the book and finally, on page 220, my light bulb moment arrives. This is a fun, good cozy mystery! At the end of the book are some scrapbooking hints and techniques along with some recipes. This is the first in a series. Bring on the second and hurry!
Reviewed by Rita Ratacheck, May 2003
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
