Skeleton Letters

A Scrapbooking Mystery #9

by Laura Childs

New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs sends her scrappy sleuths into New Orleans' French Quarter.

Is nothing sacred? 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 lies lifeless next to a smashed statue of St. Sebastien-and a mysterious hooded figure has absconded with an antique crucifix.

As Carmela and Ava are drawn deeper into New Orleans' 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...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Crafts, Audiobook

323 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2011

About the author

Laura Childs is a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt and she is the best-selling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Scrapbook Mysteries, and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries.

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries - set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She's also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn't rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries - a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans' spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries - set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe's undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in two "sittings" b/c it is a library book. It took me a while to get into the mystery and when I did, I thought I would enjoy it much more at the end than I did. The ending was abrupt, the killer caught, and that was that.

Since I have enjoyed all of her Tea series and most of the books in this series, I will continue with the next book after a break to read other cozies..

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in New Orleans, this cozy mystery is perfect for fans just getting into the genre or are looking for an easy read. Initially, I started this book in audio and while it was okay, I think I much preferred reading the book instead.

When Carmela and Ava catch the end of a murder happening in a church, they are forced to give their statements and try to remember their dear friend in the way she was meant to be remembered instead of how she was killed. But of course Carmela won’t give up that easily.

This case is made a little more complicated when something also goes missing from the church that their friend was killed in. So the cops are having a more difficult time with it.

I really liked this story. It’s a great one for readers who are looking for a refresher because Ava and Carmela together are always a great time. I really like exploring their friendship because while Carmela also has her boyfriend, Badcock, this is another type of relationship I like seeing panned out in my books. And because the victim is one of their close friends and regular scrapbooking buddies, friendship is a big theme explored in this book.

Again, you don’t need to read every book in order for this series because they are mysteries and they standalone well so if you’re daunted by the number of books in this series, don’t be. They are great just to pick up and enjoy any time of the year.

[Vicky Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was pretty bad. The writing wasn't good, mainly because the author did her best to avoid using the word 'said.' When are people going to learn that said isn't a terrible word? Better to be repetitive than use verbs like 'gulped.' The protagonist was an obnoxious twit who thought she was qualified to solve the murder just because she was there when it happened. She was also the kind of sleuth who points the blame at anyone with questionable character or a dark past. "He's an outcast? Then that means he's the killer!" "Oh wait, she stole money one time seven years ago? Then she's the killer!" I hate these sleuths. It didn't help that everyone was a busybody as well.

It's better to stick with Childs' Tea Shop Mysteries series. The characters are likable and the protagonist actually thinks logically.

[Letta Raven · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did it to myself. I have been swearing I would break up with this author the last the books and I think she finally broke me.

Carmela has gone from an intelligent, strong female entrepreneur to being a weak, vapid, whiney twit.

When Carmela and Ava witness a struggle in a church, they don't yell or run into the fray, they stand and watch in shock. They assume they bad guy is someone with a record or a man who gives his restaurant a weird name.

Also, in New Orleans, doesn't everybody have some kind of delightful quirk that makes them stand out? Well that is exactly what makes these totally judgmental and unsavvy ladies decide they should believe you committed the crime.

I'm sorry to see the author writing such vapid characters. They certainly didn't start out that way. So long. Farewell. Cheers.

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Carmella and Ava find the body of one of their scrapbooking members in a church, they are bound to investigate. Murder coupled with theft of a church relic makes this a dangerous murder to solve.

[Debbie]

It's a fun little read when you're traveling.

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 9th book in A Scrapbooking Mystery series. Fun cozy mystery set in New Orleans. Light and charming.

[Carol Moore Kollar · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Carmela and friend Ava are privy to a crime in the church, they do some sleuthing on their own despite warnings from the police. A scrapbooking mystery!

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another entry in the Scrapbooking Mystery series, and it's enjoyable. Carmela and Ava once again find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery. It's all by accident, of course, but soon their investigation leads them to more murder and mayhem. Truthfully, after having so many people die around them, these two should really just avoid everyone. Or everyone should avoid them! LOL!

The story kicks off with Carmela visiting her good pal Ava at St. Tristan's church where she is volunteering. Both then witness a robbery that ends with a mutual friend of theirs being killed. Soon potential suspects begin piling up as Carmela and Ava snoop around. Between the mystery, there are many pages devoted to scrapbooking and other paper crafts. The book just moves along, and there were a few times I was wondering why certain events were happening. All eventually made sense and Childs does a good job of having a lot of misdirection and making everything make sense in the end. Well, I take that back. I'm not entirely sure I buy the eventual murderer. The crimes committed seem a bit strenuous. That's all I will say about that.

This is a good entry in the series. It might not be the best of the books, but it was an easy read.

[Lindig · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few others in this series and was never overwhelmed, but this one takes the cake. I think writers should be very very careful in dialogue when using anything other than "said." On page 9 "So we need to do everything in our power," Carmilla gulped, "to find whoever did this." This is after we've had some "shrilling" and some "grunting." Very annoying. At the beginning of Ch.3, Carmela and Ava "slipped into" the shop. Why? Doesn't Carmela own it? Can't they just walk in? There's much more I could nitpick about but it's obvious that the story didn't pull me in so I remained on the surface and noticed every possible nit to pick. Sorry.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Challenges: RRRCs September 2019 (very belated) - Hawk/messengers, angels, saints (St. Tristan/St. Sebastien); RRRCs Stacking the Series 2020 - Scrapbooking Mysteries/Book 9. So many threads of this story were never brought to conclusion; an epilogue or final wrap up chapter was sorely needed. As usual, the character with the least amount of clues for the reader to even consider guilt in the crime was the one who did it; the final motive was specious when so many other suspects had real groundwork laid for their guilt. But, I read this series because of the scrapbooking element and the other creative endeavors in which Carmela gets involved, and want to know where the series is going enough to keep reading.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 9th book in the Scrapbooking cozy mystery series. Carmela and Ava witness a horrific murder with a smashed statue in a local church. The killer, dressed in a monk-like robe, also gets away with a precious crucifix. They are shocked to find that the murdered woman is part of their scrapbooking circle and do their best to find out who might have been the killer. They have a variety of suspects, from a gothic restaurant owner, an obnoxious socialite, or a cult called the Seekers, among others. The two must figure it out before the killer takes them out as well. The book contains scrapbooking tips and tricks.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anther interesting adventure from Carmela and Ava. On to the next....

Is nothing sacred? 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 lies lifeless next to a smashed statue of St. Sebastien-and a mysterious hooded figure has absconded with an antique crucifix.

As Carmela and Ava are drawn deeper into New Orleans' 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...

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Childs is my favourite cosy mystery author and this book didn't disappoint!
A fun read with Carmela and her friend Ava trying to solve the mystery of the murder of a close friend. The setting of New Orleans is a great locale for the mystery and I love her descriptions of the city and the surrounding areas. The Garden District is so aptly described and it brings back memories of our visit to this exciting city.
Carmela's relationship with police detective Edgar Babcock is still going strong and he manages to bring just the right amount of romance to the novel, definitely not too "sappy".

[Andrea Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although better than the previous Scrapbooking Mystery, Skeleton Letters is still sub-par compared to the installments at the beginning of the series. The book nearly lost me completely in the middle, when Carmela and Ava showed up at a soup kitchen with a "Louis Vuitton handbag and Ralph Lauren coat" and complained about having to wear aprons, serve the less fortunate, and how badly the food smelled. PLEASE! For someone described as "kindhearted," Carmela is an awfully spoiled little brat. I'm not sure why I keep reading these, I must be some sort of glutton for literary punishment.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I always love the New Orleans Scrapbook Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs, it wasn't until after I finished reading it that I felt a lot of questions just weren't answered. As usual,it was an interesting story; however while the ending revealed the murderer; it didn't answer what happened to the cross that was stolen, nor how the murderer managed to get the second body hanging to make it seem like a suicide. These points were made in the body of the story, but were never explained away at the end.

[Crystal Toller · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Carmela's and Ava's friends and a scrapbooker is murdered in St. Tristan's Church when Ava is there serving on a committee and Carmela is with her. After witnessing their friend, Beryl's murder, Carmela is asked by Baby Fontaine to look into things and see if she can discover what happened. Carmela's detecting leads to an interesting and unexpected end to the book. Loved the ending and really was surprised by it. Another good addition to this series by a wonderful author. Love this series and highly recommend this book and the series.

[Charlene Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

These mysteries are almost always the same, yet they remain a nice little escape from the world. Sometimes the writing is just a little over the top (definitely eye-rolling), but it's easily overlooked. I do wonder about the scrapbook shop though......what's it like to always have customers shopping and hanging about? Seems some of these ladies would be getting bored hanging out there every week. Still, these books are worth the little time they consume.

[Ann Boytim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in New Orleans Carmela and her friend Ava seem to find themselves bystanders in two murders. The first is in a church and is actually one of their friends from the scrap booking group, a woman who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Carmela does not leave the detective work to the police department and acts on her own instincts to see if she is able to solve this murder

[BJC · Rating 1 out of 5]

Avoid the audiobook. The story struck me as interesting, but I couldn't get beyond the bad narration. Honestly couldn't finish it.

She voiced a major "cajun slang"-speaking character in a flat midwestern accent. Like nails on a chalkboard.

I might try the print version and update this post in the future.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read Laura Childs tea series, but when I saw the cover of this book , I was intrigued. The colorful setting is New Orleans, the characters are adapt at finding and interpreting the clues to a murder's identity, and the are helpful hints for scrapbooking. I want to go back to the beginning of this series so that I can better understand what makes each character tick. A very good read!

[Marilyn Skowron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Relic, A Sect, Jealousy & A Writer

Carmela and Ava witness of theft of a priceless relic and the murderer of a friend. This leads to Carmela using her observastional skills and her haphazard questioning methods to unmask the thief and murderer. The resolution will surprise the reader as it did Carmela.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moves the series along,but not a strong showing. Random title which has nothing to do with the plot. Several interesting possible suspects, which come to nothing. Ridiculous tarot card scene. Unlikely ending.

[Soc Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy read about a scrapbook store owner in New Orleans who is also a good cook and a nosy amateur detective. has some scrapbook tips at the end and some fairly easy, a bit unusual, but edible recipes in the back.

[Claudine Suor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always really like this series, however this book did not seem to have enough of a good plot to it. This particular book just seemed to be more about the adventures of Carmela and Ava. Not really one of my favorites. I will continue with the series though!

[Peggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hated the main character in this book, she showed a total lack of common sense. Inane and ridiculous conversations between female characters, and innumerable character offered as plausible suspects. I have enjoyed some of this authors tea shop mysteries, but will read no more in this series.

[Erika Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice little cozy mystery. The idea is that it is light and fun. I did think that the killer was revealed a bit abruptly. I would've like to see more reasoning on this and at least one character to get some karma.

[Nellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tried another book and will stop reading these cozy mysteries.
I keep comparing to JoAnn Fluke.

These characters act as if the police are incompetent. The go snooping around. They don't report their findings to police.

[Jennifer Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Scrapbooking Series, it's set in New Orleans ( my favorite place) and has incredible characters. If you are looking for a mystery that will keep you guessing all the way to the end of the book, you need to read Skeleton Letters. It will not disappoint!

[Cathie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. It's one of the better books that she wrote. Characters were good. Some twists and turns. Some fun humor. The ending was kind of abrupt, but overall it was a fun cozy mystery read. Highly recommend.