Scrapbook Mystery # 15 begins with a Mardi Gras float that goes BOOM and rains a glitterstorm upon the surrounding crowd which includes Carmella Bertrand and bestie, Ava Gruiex. Through the shimmering haze they see a body sprawled on the ground. Carmella’s ex-husband, Shamus, was on the float, and he’s okay, however; his krewe captain’s last breath was smothered out with his airway blocked by glitter. Detective Edgar Babcock, Carmella’s love, is fast to the scene, questioning witnesses, and organizing a search for the “Neptune Bomber”. It seems the victim, Hughes Wilder, had made some bad investments with a huge wad of investors’ money, and somebody decided he should pay with his life.

Humor-filled scenes with non-stop action make this story a pageturner. Ain’t nobody put a ring on either Carmella or Ava’s fingers so the two bachelorettes continue to party, drink, and enjoy the Mardi Gras festivities while they make their way around the French Quarter snooping, asking questions, and nearly getting themselves blown to smithereens. Ms. Childs and co-author, Ms. Moran, keep the dialogue snappy and the pace fiesty hoping their sleuthing efforts will stamp out one suspect in particular with motive to kill and some detonation skills. The plot in this long-running, fan favorite cozy series sparkles and shines like strands of Mardi Gras beads. The trademark originality from both the writer’s guarantees a genuine keeper for cozy mystery book shelves! Handy Scrapbooking Tips and Delicious Recipes to try follow the story.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing. Thank you.

Another fantastic scrapbooking mystery from Laura Childs. I love the New Orleans setting especially at Mardi Gras time. Started off with a band and ended with an alligator. The friendship between Carmela and Ava is always a delight.

This is another fun installment in the scrapbook mystery series. It’s kind of the standard setup: somebody is murdered in a spectacular way, and Carmela is a witness. She starts sniffing around, and Babcock tells her to butt out. There was too much Shamus for my taste, but the Marci Gras backdrop made up for it. This was a fun diversion for a few hours.
I received a free ebook ARC from Berkley Crime via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Carmela and Ava are back to solve the murder of a krewe member. Shamus is back as well, of course, and the reason Carmela gets involved in the murder. Why she still has anything to do with Shamus I'll never understand. Not to much in regards to the crafts Carmela does at her shop, and Babcock has amazing patience in waiting for Carmela to select a wedding date and her constant interaction with her ex-husband..

I received an eARC from Berkley via NetGalley for an honest review. - Like the mystery but Shamus needs to go.

I’ve been reading this series for years and still enjoy every new book. There aren’t a lot of surprises, but the characters have become old friends and the beauty and mystery of New Orleans is always a bonus