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A Scrapbooking Mystery #1
Keepsake Crimes
New Orleans scrapbooking shop owner Carmela Bertrand delights her customers with the sophisticated looks she achieves with their scrapbooks. But among her client's keepsakes she finds a tip of her own-about a murder...
244 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 6, 2003
245 people are currently reading
2870 people want to read
About the author
Laura Childs
93 books2,253 followersLaura 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
February 13, 2012
**Two and a half stars**
The mystery part of the story was okay. I didn't really see it coming in the end which is always good, but then again, I don't think Childs leaves clues for you to possibly figure out who it is. The whole mystery part of the story is red herring. Which is a little deceitful, I think, for a mystery novel.
The scrapbooking part of the story was also just okay. I am a scrapbooker and I keep up with the trends and the tips are just very old school. The book was published in 2003 and it is hard to fault the book for that...trends come and go, and I'm sure that the techniques talked about were popular at the time.
Now for the New Orleans part...if I were one of the experts that Childs thanked at the beginning of the book, I would be really upset. I am from New Orleans and in the beginning of the book I thought that she might get it partly right, but then it started to go terribly down hill. Spelling the biggest parades that there are completely wrong is completely inexcusable. Saying that Metairie (which she spelled wrong too) is across the river from New Orleans when its on the same side of the river is shameful. Saying that someone drove down "the River Road" to take pictures of some of the old plantations, "the Destrehan, the Laura, the Houmas House" is mind boggling. You don't need to say "the" before each plantation. Its like saying you have the cancer. It might be grammatically correct, but you still wouldn't say it. No local would ever say that. And to repeatedly call a streetcar a trolley is complete blasphemy. I could excuse some of this stuff if the main characters weren't suppose to be born and raised locals, but they are. Chapters 20-23 basically have our Carmela, our main character, run from the French Quarter to the Garden District and then to the CBD and then back to her house in the French Quarter by 2...and you know because it was early yet, she ran down to Audubon park to help children learn how to paint. And she did all this by driving her own car...not taking a streetcar. Nice normal day, you would think, except that it happens on Bacchus Sunday and there is no way any of that is happening, could or would happen. At least 4 parades run through the Garden District on that day starting at 11:00am. These parades end in the CBD. Carmela would have had to fought through tons of street closures, obscene traffic, and would have spent 45 minutes looking for a place to park. Getting back to the CBD would have been just as hard if not worse. Then to leave her home to go back to Audubon Park which is in the Garden District to help teach a class is utterly ridiculous as that class would have been canceled because everything normal is canceled due to Mardi Gras. Now I know that I'm nit-picking here, cause sometimes allowances have to be made to tell your story and I get that. And if you had never been to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, then there is nothing wrong with this chunk of story. There are no outright errors, she doesn't mention these parades so that's all good. But as I was reading this part of the book, I kept thinking, "But its Bacchus Sunday, there is no way this could possibly happen." It was inwardly frustrating. The whole New Orleans part of the book just felt like Childs came to New Orleans for two days and walked away thinking that she knew everything.
Childs also had a tendency to give characters names as if they came from Savannah, GA instead of New Orleans. We don't have a bunch of people running about called Buford Maple.
Childs also would replace real places or real people with made up ones so those people and places aren't associated with certain things. And I totally understand that, but then she should completely change the names instead of weirdly mixing them up with other stuff. The famous restaurant Antoine's becomes Beltoine's. Blaine Kern (float builder extraordinaire) becomes Jekyl Hardy which would seem okay except famous local celebrity Mr. Mardi Gras is named Arthur Hardy and then it just becomes all confusing.
Sorry about the rant, I just felt that this book was extraordinarily frustrating from a local's standpoint. I really liked the way Childs described Charleston in her Tea Shop Mysteries, to the point where I would love to take a vacation there. But now I'm left to wonder what she got wrong about Charleston.
The mystery part of the story was okay. I didn't really see it coming in the end which is always good, but then again, I don't think Childs leaves clues for you to possibly figure out who it is. The whole mystery part of the story is red herring. Which is a little deceitful, I think, for a mystery novel.
The scrapbooking part of the story was also just okay. I am a scrapbooker and I keep up with the trends and the tips are just very old school. The book was published in 2003 and it is hard to fault the book for that...trends come and go, and I'm sure that the techniques talked about were popular at the time.
Now for the New Orleans part...if I were one of the experts that Childs thanked at the beginning of the book, I would be really upset. I am from New Orleans and in the beginning of the book I thought that she might get it partly right, but then it started to go terribly down hill. Spelling the biggest parades that there are completely wrong is completely inexcusable. Saying that Metairie (which she spelled wrong too) is across the river from New Orleans when its on the same side of the river is shameful. Saying that someone drove down "the River Road" to take pictures of some of the old plantations, "the Destrehan, the Laura, the Houmas House" is mind boggling. You don't need to say "the" before each plantation. Its like saying you have the cancer. It might be grammatically correct, but you still wouldn't say it. No local would ever say that. And to repeatedly call a streetcar a trolley is complete blasphemy. I could excuse some of this stuff if the main characters weren't suppose to be born and raised locals, but they are. Chapters 20-23 basically have our Carmela, our main character, run from the French Quarter to the Garden District and then to the CBD and then back to her house in the French Quarter by 2...and you know because it was early yet, she ran down to Audubon park to help children learn how to paint. And she did all this by driving her own car...not taking a streetcar. Nice normal day, you would think, except that it happens on Bacchus Sunday and there is no way any of that is happening, could or would happen. At least 4 parades run through the Garden District on that day starting at 11:00am. These parades end in the CBD. Carmela would have had to fought through tons of street closures, obscene traffic, and would have spent 45 minutes looking for a place to park. Getting back to the CBD would have been just as hard if not worse. Then to leave her home to go back to Audubon Park which is in the Garden District to help teach a class is utterly ridiculous as that class would have been canceled because everything normal is canceled due to Mardi Gras. Now I know that I'm nit-picking here, cause sometimes allowances have to be made to tell your story and I get that. And if you had never been to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, then there is nothing wrong with this chunk of story. There are no outright errors, she doesn't mention these parades so that's all good. But as I was reading this part of the book, I kept thinking, "But its Bacchus Sunday, there is no way this could possibly happen." It was inwardly frustrating. The whole New Orleans part of the book just felt like Childs came to New Orleans for two days and walked away thinking that she knew everything.
Childs also had a tendency to give characters names as if they came from Savannah, GA instead of New Orleans. We don't have a bunch of people running about called Buford Maple.
Childs also would replace real places or real people with made up ones so those people and places aren't associated with certain things. And I totally understand that, but then she should completely change the names instead of weirdly mixing them up with other stuff. The famous restaurant Antoine's becomes Beltoine's. Blaine Kern (float builder extraordinaire) becomes Jekyl Hardy which would seem okay except famous local celebrity Mr. Mardi Gras is named Arthur Hardy and then it just becomes all confusing.
Sorry about the rant, I just felt that this book was extraordinarily frustrating from a local's standpoint. I really liked the way Childs described Charleston in her Tea Shop Mysteries, to the point where I would love to take a vacation there. But now I'm left to wonder what she got wrong about Charleston.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2020
⭐⭐
I knew nothing about scrap booking before reading this book and having started a reading journal this year I was interested to learn more about it. That’s one star for the book, the scrap booking details imparted along the way were informative. Add one star for the setting, the author really nailed New Orleans and the Mardi Gras. Take away one star for the characters, I didn’t like any of them. Carmela the main character seemed spoiled and most of the rest just not likable. Initially I liked Gabby the most, until
The mystery itself was OK but take away a star, Take away last star because I would never reread this, that’s how I came to my two star rating.
Cozies Reading Challenge
I knew nothing about scrap booking before reading this book and having started a reading journal this year I was interested to learn more about it. That’s one star for the book, the scrap booking details imparted along the way were informative. Add one star for the setting, the author really nailed New Orleans and the Mardi Gras. Take away one star for the characters, I didn’t like any of them. Carmela the main character seemed spoiled and most of the rest just not likable. Initially I liked Gabby the most, until
The mystery itself was OK but take away a star, Take away last star because I would never reread this, that’s how I came to my two star rating.
Cozies Reading Challenge
July 21, 2016
*sigh* I really wanted to like this one but, yeah...just no. I can't fault the book for lack of descriptions because there was TONS of detail about New Orleans, Mardi Gras and the various krewes, and all sorts of scrapbooking and paper craft ideas. What there was not a TON of (or even enough of) was the actual mystery. After slogging through the last 1/2 of the book, I was so annoyed when everything got wrapped up in about 1/2 a chapter. The killer is revealed at the very very end of the book and I can't say the who or why was even very satisfying. Then before I could really even blink - the book was over. As in, I have no idea what happened to the bad guy. Were the police involved? Are they in jail? And while I get that our heroine was knocked out, how does EVERYONE else know exactly what happened? Did this get explained? Was I sleep-reading by the end? Oh, who cares... this series is NOT for me.
February 28, 2020
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: 5 Stars (Wish i could rate it 10 Stars!!)
Review:
I picked up this book off the "FREE BOOKS" Table at my local Post Office so going into this one i was unsure what i'd rate it cause ive never read a book by Laura before.
Cozy Mysteries are one of my fave Genre's so this one was enjoyable not just cause it's a Cozy but also cause Scrapbooking is one of my fave hobbies/crafts.
The plot and setting were good, the characters were ok some were too annoying for me tho but over all a good read.
A MUST READ if your looking for a quick and easy book to finish for a Read a thon or a TBR Challenge!!
I'll definately read more by her in the future!!
Rating: 5 Stars (Wish i could rate it 10 Stars!!)
Review:
I picked up this book off the "FREE BOOKS" Table at my local Post Office so going into this one i was unsure what i'd rate it cause ive never read a book by Laura before.
Cozy Mysteries are one of my fave Genre's so this one was enjoyable not just cause it's a Cozy but also cause Scrapbooking is one of my fave hobbies/crafts.
The plot and setting were good, the characters were ok some were too annoying for me tho but over all a good read.
A MUST READ if your looking for a quick and easy book to finish for a Read a thon or a TBR Challenge!!
I'll definately read more by her in the future!!
August 8, 2011
This is the first in Laura Childs scrapbooking mystery series. I was interested to read it because it is set in New Orleans, Louisiana, and because I'm quite mystified by the popularity of scrapbooking. I had a scrap book as a girl and even then I found it boring to put together.
The author's portrayal of Southern women and the Southern lifestyle struck me as a bit stereotypical from the outset. Her description of New Orleans reminds me of my description after a short vacation there, all about the charm and old world ambiance. This drastically changed after actually living there, as bugs, humidity, squalor, and poverty aren't on the tour. Gerry Schmidt, the author, is a marketing executive from Minnesota, I believe. Maybe she'll be more realistic and less like a travel brochure in the next books.
The heroine does little sleuthing, mostly poking around while having scapbook parties with regular customors who have little to do but attend balls and spend time and money making scrapbooks. Mysteries where the author adds charactors and clues to the last chapter in order to have someone to hang the crime on are fairly unsatisfying.
The author includes basic scrapbooking tips and generic cajun-ish recipes at the end of the book, a common marketing ploy these days.
The author's portrayal of Southern women and the Southern lifestyle struck me as a bit stereotypical from the outset. Her description of New Orleans reminds me of my description after a short vacation there, all about the charm and old world ambiance. This drastically changed after actually living there, as bugs, humidity, squalor, and poverty aren't on the tour. Gerry Schmidt, the author, is a marketing executive from Minnesota, I believe. Maybe she'll be more realistic and less like a travel brochure in the next books.
The heroine does little sleuthing, mostly poking around while having scapbook parties with regular customors who have little to do but attend balls and spend time and money making scrapbooks. Mysteries where the author adds charactors and clues to the last chapter in order to have someone to hang the crime on are fairly unsatisfying.
The author includes basic scrapbooking tips and generic cajun-ish recipes at the end of the book, a common marketing ploy these days.
November 5, 2012
Some interesting scrap booking ideas and a lot of charming characters. Not a lot of mystery - at least, not what I was looking for when I picked this book up. I will, with an open mind, read some more of Laura Childs (I think this is my first), because she has a pleasant style.
In KEEPSAKE CRIMES, the setting is New Orleans during Mardi Gras and Ms Childs DID give a detailed view of this setting, which is okay because I‘ve always liked New Orleans.
As a heroine, Carmella is a contradiction. At times spunky, even carelessly so, then a bit wimpy to my mind, an invitation to being used. I will continue reading the series to see if it develops further. Right now, all I can say is that it is a quick, light read if that’s what you’re in the mood for.
In KEEPSAKE CRIMES, the setting is New Orleans during Mardi Gras and Ms Childs DID give a detailed view of this setting, which is okay because I‘ve always liked New Orleans.
As a heroine, Carmella is a contradiction. At times spunky, even carelessly so, then a bit wimpy to my mind, an invitation to being used. I will continue reading the series to see if it develops further. Right now, all I can say is that it is a quick, light read if that’s what you’re in the mood for.
June 30, 2016
This was a fairly entertaining cozy mystery with a quite interesting plot twist at the end. I liked some of the secondary characters in the story more than I liked the protagonist, however, which made it a bit more dull for me than it would have been otherwise. Overall, I liked it well enough, so it's a 3 star read for me.
September 17, 2016
Not a bad read, but a lot of details and not enough clues about the nurder. Did love the scrapbooking details and characters, also the vivid details about the Mardi Gras. Not sure if I will read the next. Howevere want to know if Shamus grows up.
February 1, 2020
*2.5 stars rounded up.
I jumped in on the 16th book in this series, Mumbo Gumbo Murder, at the beginning of the new year when I spotted it on the new book shelf at the library and saw it was set in New Orleans. I enjoyed that one so I decided I'd go back and start the series from the beginning--and take advantage of more of the recipes Laura Childs includes in these books.
Not surprisingly, Childs starts off her new series during Mardi Gras. Her main character Carmela Bertrand owns a scrapbooking store called Memory Mine on the fringes of the French Quarter, while her best friend Ava Grieux owns a voodoo shop catering to the tourist trade.
The two friends head off that evening to watch the Pluvius Parade. Suddenly a massive float decorated as a sea serpent comes to a halt in front of them and an unconscious man is lowered down. He is taken the hospital where he is pronounced dead of an overdose of ketamine.
Carmela is shocked to learn that her soon-to-be ex-husband Shamus is wanted for questioning in the murder. Apparently he had been seen arguing with the victim earlier in the day. She feels Shamus might be a lot of bad things but he is not a murderer.
There isn't much of a mystery here, just a lot of guess work and not much detecting. Carmela seems to dismiss any real clue that might have helped her solve the puzzle earlier. It's not till the last 15 pages or so that the truth is revealed.
The characters seemed a little flat and stereotypical in this first outing, the scrapbooking dated, but it was fun to read about some of the Mardi Gras activities so I'll hang in there for more. Can't wait to try Carmela's Jambalaya recipe!
I jumped in on the 16th book in this series, Mumbo Gumbo Murder, at the beginning of the new year when I spotted it on the new book shelf at the library and saw it was set in New Orleans. I enjoyed that one so I decided I'd go back and start the series from the beginning--and take advantage of more of the recipes Laura Childs includes in these books.
Not surprisingly, Childs starts off her new series during Mardi Gras. Her main character Carmela Bertrand owns a scrapbooking store called Memory Mine on the fringes of the French Quarter, while her best friend Ava Grieux owns a voodoo shop catering to the tourist trade.
The two friends head off that evening to watch the Pluvius Parade. Suddenly a massive float decorated as a sea serpent comes to a halt in front of them and an unconscious man is lowered down. He is taken the hospital where he is pronounced dead of an overdose of ketamine.
Carmela is shocked to learn that her soon-to-be ex-husband Shamus is wanted for questioning in the murder. Apparently he had been seen arguing with the victim earlier in the day. She feels Shamus might be a lot of bad things but he is not a murderer.
There isn't much of a mystery here, just a lot of guess work and not much detecting. Carmela seems to dismiss any real clue that might have helped her solve the puzzle earlier. It's not till the last 15 pages or so that the truth is revealed.
The characters seemed a little flat and stereotypical in this first outing, the scrapbooking dated, but it was fun to read about some of the Mardi Gras activities so I'll hang in there for more. Can't wait to try Carmela's Jambalaya recipe!
February 13, 2012
I have read many of Laura Childs' tea shop mysteries and have been meaning to try this other series for some time.
The heroine is New Orleans scrapbooking shop owner Carmela Bertrand. She finds herself involved in clearing her soon to be ex-husband Shamus' name when he is wrongly accused of murder. All this unfolds during Mardi Gras.
This was a fun read and a very quick read. In fact, I read most of it this afternoon in just under two hours.
I loved reading about all of Carmela's paper crafts, for I love crafting with paper. There are some good tips at the end of the book if you are interested in achieving some of Carmela's creations that are described in the books.
There are also recipes in the back of the book for some of the recipes that were mentioned in the book.
The heroine is New Orleans scrapbooking shop owner Carmela Bertrand. She finds herself involved in clearing her soon to be ex-husband Shamus' name when he is wrongly accused of murder. All this unfolds during Mardi Gras.
This was a fun read and a very quick read. In fact, I read most of it this afternoon in just under two hours.
I loved reading about all of Carmela's paper crafts, for I love crafting with paper. There are some good tips at the end of the book if you are interested in achieving some of Carmela's creations that are described in the books.
There are also recipes in the back of the book for some of the recipes that were mentioned in the book.
May 10, 2020
A fun cozy mystery with a likeable cast of characters, scrapbooking tips, New Orleans history and setting and Marti Gras. I enjoyed this much more than Childs’ Tea Shop series.
February 5, 2018
This book is a mixed delight. First, it's about scrapbooking, and there are lots of lovely ideas. However, I'm sure I'd LOVE to SEE these ideas, but just reading about them is difficult to picture just what they would be like. Second, it's about New Orleans, with some lovely descriptions of places and things surrounding Mardi Gras ... it's a part of the country I have NOT visited, so none of the references made a lot of sense to me, but sure did make me want to plan a trip down there. The mystery itself was a little confusing, as there were too many other shady deals going on that had nothing to do with the mystery ... but then again, that made it all the more interesting and more difficult to figure out. So I enjoyed the book ... might want to re-read it after I've been to NO.
February 21, 2021
Carmela has separated from her husband, Shamus, and been unceremoniously removed from their shared home (that belonged to his family). Then, Jimmy Earl, a prominent citizen of NOLA dies during Mardi Gras celebrations -- and the police think Shamus had something to do with his demise. Now, it's up to Carmela to figure out who REALLY killed Jimmy Earl before Shamus does time for a crime he didn't commit. The trick will be staying alive long enough to figure it all out.
I really wanted to love this book, but there were a lot of random characters, some of which just felt like space-fillers with no real purpose, and the story bogged down and plodded along from time to time. Hopefully the next book in the series will move along at a better pace.
I really wanted to love this book, but there were a lot of random characters, some of which just felt like space-fillers with no real purpose, and the story bogged down and plodded along from time to time. Hopefully the next book in the series will move along at a better pace.
August 15, 2018
I have to say, I didn't really enjoy this. , the scrap-booking setting isn't one I really get. It also had the problem that it assumes a knowledge of how Mardi Gras works in New Orleans that I don't have, and yet repeated unnecessary details (I really don't need to be told ten times that the main character's car was called Samantha). But most of all, I didn't really warm to the main character.
I prefer the Tea Shop books.
I prefer the Tea Shop books.
July 3, 2025
Easy to read cosy mystery that told a good story. A bit slow to start but as this is the first book in the series, understandable. A nice twist in the plot 3/4 in and a good ending. I like the characters in this world of scrapbooking much better than the characters in Laura Childs Tea shop series. Will look for more to read. Interesting titbits on New Orleans culture and history.
June 25, 2024
fun start to a series
I have had this for a while and finally got around to reading it. It is a nice bit of fun. I will continue the series but I don’t think I will binge it.
I have had this for a while and finally got around to reading it. It is a nice bit of fun. I will continue the series but I don’t think I will binge it.
Read
February 23, 2021As a writer of mysteries, I read and learn from all of the subgenres. I chose to read Keepsake Crimes (A Scrapbooking Mystery) because it is set in New Orleans, and the author, Laura Childs, is a prolific writer of cozy mysteries.
The hero of the story, Carmela Bertrand, owns a scrapbooking store in the French Quarter, and the author does a brilliant job of weaving Carmela’s craft tips into the mystery without bogging down the story.
The mystery begins when a friend of Carmela’s estranged husband is poisoned during a Mardi Gras parade. The estranged husband soon becomes suspect number one in the eyes of the police, and Carmela must solve the crime to get him off the hook.
I found the setting quite enjoyable. I love NOLA. Though I’ve never attended Mardi Gras myself, this novel made me put it on my wish list. Lots of parties. Lots of eating and drinking. Great costumes.
Carmela Bertrand makes an excellent amateur sleuth, and the author did a nice job of plausibly portraying Carmela’s need to solve the mystery. There is a nice bit of romance in the mystery as well. Carmela and her husband are estranged, but it is not clear that they will remain so forever.
I’m not a scrapbooker, but if you are and you like to read cozy mysteries, you should definitely read Keepsake Crimes.
The hero of the story, Carmela Bertrand, owns a scrapbooking store in the French Quarter, and the author does a brilliant job of weaving Carmela’s craft tips into the mystery without bogging down the story.
The mystery begins when a friend of Carmela’s estranged husband is poisoned during a Mardi Gras parade. The estranged husband soon becomes suspect number one in the eyes of the police, and Carmela must solve the crime to get him off the hook.
I found the setting quite enjoyable. I love NOLA. Though I’ve never attended Mardi Gras myself, this novel made me put it on my wish list. Lots of parties. Lots of eating and drinking. Great costumes.
Carmela Bertrand makes an excellent amateur sleuth, and the author did a nice job of plausibly portraying Carmela’s need to solve the mystery. There is a nice bit of romance in the mystery as well. Carmela and her husband are estranged, but it is not clear that they will remain so forever.
I’m not a scrapbooker, but if you are and you like to read cozy mysteries, you should definitely read Keepsake Crimes.
August 29, 2017
My Disclaimer:
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author’s representative. I am voluntarily providing an honest review in which all opinions are fully my own. I am not being compensated in any way.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review
My Review: ✰✰✰✰
This book has been around for quite awhile, but I just have never had a chance to read this series, so I decided this summer was the time to do it. I read several reviews on it and they tended to say that it was light on mystery, so I read it with that in mind. Well, the mystery happens in the beginning. At least the murder does. The accusations began right away, too.
There are twenty-eight chapters in the book and the first seventeen are setting the stage for our heroine, Carmela, to get fired up enough to try to solve the case. I think this is why so many people say it’s light on mystery. For one thing, the only cop involved is one that you can tell is dirty from the first sight of him. For another, there’s a lot of partying and gossiping about it, but not much really happening about the actual murder. It seems frivolous even into chapter 18 when Carmela actually does something to try to find some information about people who might be involved.
But Carmela has been written to be a stand-up, spunky character and she holds up under the accusations against her possibly soon-to-be ex-husband that she can’t locate. She also can’t decide if she still loves him or if she despises him for deserting her six months ago with no explanation other than he needs to work on his photography and have some space of his own.
She convinces her sister-in-law, who is a VP at the family bank to let her look at her husband’s office at the bank to see if there might be some clue to why he has disappeared and whether or not he could possibly be involved in this mystery. Her sister-in-law grudgingly goes along with it. Carmela finds a file that doesn’t seem quite right to her and she tucks it into her handbag. From that file, she decides who might be involved and she starts poking around. She’s got good instincts, but she’s not quite on the right track. It’s like she’s sniffing up the right tree, just not the right branch.
While taking some photos for a project, she’s attacked and ends up in the hospital with her errant husband at her side, who ties up all the loose ends that she hasn’t already figured out. But I call “foul play” when an author holds the cards so close to her chest that there’s no way you can figure out the mystery with what she’s given you. There was too much missing from the story for us to figure it out. Some good guessing brought me close to one part, but the other part was too concealed. A puzzle with missing pieces is frustrating. It won’t stop me from reading the next book in this series to see what the series as a whole is like. I recommend this book to cozy readers, especially if you enjoy scrapbooking as I do. If you have more insight into this series, please share it with me. Laura Childs is a prolific author keeping all three of her series current.
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author’s representative. I am voluntarily providing an honest review in which all opinions are fully my own. I am not being compensated in any way.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review
My Review: ✰✰✰✰
This book has been around for quite awhile, but I just have never had a chance to read this series, so I decided this summer was the time to do it. I read several reviews on it and they tended to say that it was light on mystery, so I read it with that in mind. Well, the mystery happens in the beginning. At least the murder does. The accusations began right away, too.
There are twenty-eight chapters in the book and the first seventeen are setting the stage for our heroine, Carmela, to get fired up enough to try to solve the case. I think this is why so many people say it’s light on mystery. For one thing, the only cop involved is one that you can tell is dirty from the first sight of him. For another, there’s a lot of partying and gossiping about it, but not much really happening about the actual murder. It seems frivolous even into chapter 18 when Carmela actually does something to try to find some information about people who might be involved.
But Carmela has been written to be a stand-up, spunky character and she holds up under the accusations against her possibly soon-to-be ex-husband that she can’t locate. She also can’t decide if she still loves him or if she despises him for deserting her six months ago with no explanation other than he needs to work on his photography and have some space of his own.
She convinces her sister-in-law, who is a VP at the family bank to let her look at her husband’s office at the bank to see if there might be some clue to why he has disappeared and whether or not he could possibly be involved in this mystery. Her sister-in-law grudgingly goes along with it. Carmela finds a file that doesn’t seem quite right to her and she tucks it into her handbag. From that file, she decides who might be involved and she starts poking around. She’s got good instincts, but she’s not quite on the right track. It’s like she’s sniffing up the right tree, just not the right branch.
While taking some photos for a project, she’s attacked and ends up in the hospital with her errant husband at her side, who ties up all the loose ends that she hasn’t already figured out. But I call “foul play” when an author holds the cards so close to her chest that there’s no way you can figure out the mystery with what she’s given you. There was too much missing from the story for us to figure it out. Some good guessing brought me close to one part, but the other part was too concealed. A puzzle with missing pieces is frustrating. It won’t stop me from reading the next book in this series to see what the series as a whole is like. I recommend this book to cozy readers, especially if you enjoy scrapbooking as I do. If you have more insight into this series, please share it with me. Laura Childs is a prolific author keeping all three of her series current.
August 3, 2016
I appreciated Laura Child's / Gerry Schmitt's introduction to Louisiana, USA. She crammed-in a deluge of facts she obviously had lined-up for readers. Some scenes coloured-in this distinct culture very naturally within their fictional world and I enjoyed that. Too many pages went to the scrapbooking hobby in Carmela's shop. This is supposed to be the backdrop of this series. Any story wanting to present a mystery needs to prioritize the progress of its resolution and adventures relating to it. There is room for acquainting the primary characters and their milieu, particularly in a first volume and I like Baby and Tandy. Ava is a stick figure.
The premise is bizarre: Carmela married a banker's son. Her husband was keen on photography and disappeared. His sister ousted Carmela from the family-owned home under presumption of divorce, even though he calls his sojourn temporary. This is preposterous in every way. He could pursue photography married! In this novel, there is a suspicious death that Carmela is compelled to clear him of. The mystery would have to be good, to glom onto characters readers don't respect. Unfortunately it was poorly put-together. I'd best only say the motive was outrageously illogical. No one would kill for such a flimsy reason, no one need kill to obtain that superficial goal, and the hostage segment was pointless.
My favourite part was being educated about a sellers' tradition, giving "a little extra" of their wares to customers as a gift, using the Cajun expression: "Lagniappe". I love that. A few lovely moments are why I give at least two stars. It is precious that Gerry dedicated this book to her Father, saying he passed away a little before her first was published. He was surely proud it was forthcoming. Gerry definitely has better work than this.
The premise is bizarre: Carmela married a banker's son. Her husband was keen on photography and disappeared. His sister ousted Carmela from the family-owned home under presumption of divorce, even though he calls his sojourn temporary. This is preposterous in every way. He could pursue photography married! In this novel, there is a suspicious death that Carmela is compelled to clear him of. The mystery would have to be good, to glom onto characters readers don't respect. Unfortunately it was poorly put-together. I'd best only say the motive was outrageously illogical. No one would kill for such a flimsy reason, no one need kill to obtain that superficial goal, and the hostage segment was pointless.
My favourite part was being educated about a sellers' tradition, giving "a little extra" of their wares to customers as a gift, using the Cajun expression: "Lagniappe". I love that. A few lovely moments are why I give at least two stars. It is precious that Gerry dedicated this book to her Father, saying he passed away a little before her first was published. He was surely proud it was forthcoming. Gerry definitely has better work than this.
May 25, 2013
This was a cute mystery; light reading with a little action and an entertaining setting in New Orleans during Mardi Gras with most of the character development told in the main character’s scrapbooking shop.
I liked the book. I haven’t decided if I like it enough to read the other books in the series. It was a sweet read, but it’s a little more fluff than I want a steady diet of in my books
As a scrapbooker, Carmela, the main character, is just a little bit too much of a “miracle crafter.” While she’s handles the business of owning the shop, she also does freelance craftwork and teaches techniques. She never makes a mistake with her crafts and always seems to amaze the people closest to her with the perfect things she whips up. If there had been a shops like hers in my paper scrapping days I’d have just lived there, but I didn’t read any evidence her shop could possibly sustain itself when the sole proprietor has so much time on her hands.
Like I said, it was light reading, but the imagery was pretty and the characters cute and the plot was not really predictable, although in the end it was a little trite. It was still a good relax and escape book.
I liked the book. I haven’t decided if I like it enough to read the other books in the series. It was a sweet read, but it’s a little more fluff than I want a steady diet of in my books
As a scrapbooker, Carmela, the main character, is just a little bit too much of a “miracle crafter.” While she’s handles the business of owning the shop, she also does freelance craftwork and teaches techniques. She never makes a mistake with her crafts and always seems to amaze the people closest to her with the perfect things she whips up. If there had been a shops like hers in my paper scrapping days I’d have just lived there, but I didn’t read any evidence her shop could possibly sustain itself when the sole proprietor has so much time on her hands.
Like I said, it was light reading, but the imagery was pretty and the characters cute and the plot was not really predictable, although in the end it was a little trite. It was still a good relax and escape book.
May 20, 2016
This book had been on my tbr shelf since January, so I decided to read it after I got burnt out on the other books I was reading. This was overalla good book with a strong mystery.
The characters, however, were simply okay, they weren't really as realistic as I'd like them, and I found myself rolling my eyes at Gabby, Shamus, and Carmela more than once. However, I really liked Ava, Tandy, Jekyll, and Baby.
I absolutely loved the setting, in New Orleans. It was so vivid that I could picture it perfect. However, at the same time, I feel that the author spent a bit too much time on describing Mardi Gras, she repeated herself a few times and I found myself skimming over those parts.
The mystery was very good, I didn't see the killer until the very end when the MC realized who it is.
Overall an okay book. Pleasant, and it kept my attention, but yet the characters and overdescription of Mardi Gras had me cringing. I'll probably read the next one, however.
The characters, however, were simply okay, they weren't really as realistic as I'd like them, and I found myself rolling my eyes at Gabby, Shamus, and Carmela more than once. However, I really liked Ava, Tandy, Jekyll, and Baby.
I absolutely loved the setting, in New Orleans. It was so vivid that I could picture it perfect. However, at the same time, I feel that the author spent a bit too much time on describing Mardi Gras, she repeated herself a few times and I found myself skimming over those parts.
The mystery was very good, I didn't see the killer until the very end when the MC realized who it is.
Overall an okay book. Pleasant, and it kept my attention, but yet the characters and overdescription of Mardi Gras had me cringing. I'll probably read the next one, however.
September 5, 2012
This is the first in a series about the owner of a scrapbooking store. Like the Tea Shop books, it's all about the setting and this one is in New Orleans. Maybe because of the setting, it's bawdier than the Tea Shop books which are set in graceful Charleston. This one has more language which seemed to make the characters seem more earthy, although they are well-to-do and society ladies hanging out at expensive Mardi Gras parties. They didn't mesh well. The owner, Carmela, wants to help her no-good husband while trying to hate him, and unfortunately, the scrapbooking stuff was dated which gave the book a dated feel. The mystery was fine and the murderer was unexpected, but you have to like the recurring characters to continue a series. Not sure if I will as the Tea Shop books are better.
October 5, 2017
If you don't want to read another book about a wonderful competent women being an idiot about a guy who is a whiny self absorbed (except when he wants something) almost ex husband, don't read this book. She can run a business, solve mysteries and yet, doesn't have any brains when it comes to her ex? Pul--eeze. Why have her friends not had an intervention and explained that are better fish in the sea. I made the mistake of reading 3 of these and I'd like to save you all from this fate. I kept waiting for her to kick this guy to the curb and give him his comeuppance. Wait, was that not the mystery? Your brain will just go "Dump him, dump him" and not ever get to whatever the actual plot is. So dump this book.
April 24, 2012
This was the first of this series that I read, and I quite enjoyed it. I liked the New Orleans setting, especially the cemetery scenes where the main character, Carmela, takes pictures, and the details of the new Scrapbooking business Carmela has established after her husband Shamus, scion of a prominent New Orleans banking family, dumps her. The mystery was nothing special. I thought the solution was kind of random. What I liked most were the scrapbooking tips at the end and the temping recipes.
March 4, 2020
For some reason, I never continued this series after reading this one the first time. I read the author's other series and loved them. I decided that it was way past time to get going on this series, so I came back and reread this first book. I thought it was lots of fun. I loved the New Orleans setting and the back drop of the Scrapbooking shop. Carmela made a good main character, and I enjoyed some of the secondary characters. I'm looking forward to continuing on with the series now that I have this book back fresh on my mind.
July 22, 2014
This is my first Laura Childs cozy mystery and I loved it.
The heroine of the book is Carmela Bertrand. She is the owner of a scrapbooking shop in New Orleans. This first book takes place during Mardi Gras. An acquaintance of Carmela's is murdered during a parade and is ultimately blamed on her soon to be ex-husband. She is angry with him but knows he is not a murderer. So she sets about to find the real killer.
The heroine of the book is Carmela Bertrand. She is the owner of a scrapbooking shop in New Orleans. This first book takes place during Mardi Gras. An acquaintance of Carmela's is murdered during a parade and is ultimately blamed on her soon to be ex-husband. She is angry with him but knows he is not a murderer. So she sets about to find the real killer.
July 10, 2012
Good cozy mystery with a great New Orleans Mardi Gras setting. Also includes scrapbooking tips and recipes.
September 1, 2014
I enjoyed this book and loved the New Orleans setting. I will contine on with this series, and I have the first two Tea Shop mysteries by Laura Childs set to go.
April 6, 2020
Good first in the series. I'm interested in more. Like the characters. Thought the mystery was solid. I actually didn't guess the culprit and I usually do.
December 30, 2022
I just got back from New Orleans, so I thought to end my year a nice book set in New Orleans would be just the ticket. This was set in New Orleans, sorta, was a bit different than what I experienced. While I recognized some of the places, food, etc., I have to say the New Orleans I visited was more diverse and not just rich ladies flitting away the day making scrapbooks. Is there that in real life? Sure, probably. But I would have liked to have seen more than that in this book.
Then we have the characters. I suppose the main character, Carmela, was compelling enough. She also had one of the more recognizable names. The rest were like they came from a "make sure you know they're Southern" name generator. I get it, it makes people stand out if you don't name them Bob or Sue or whatever; but when every name is unique then they get lost in the crowd as well. The rest of the characters I also didn't get too attached to and had trouble remembering who was who (probably because my brain wouldn't tie them back to the names). They were all just kinda cotton candy, surface-level detail I guess.
It sounds like I'm really dragging on this book, and to be fair, I was, but I did like the intention of the mystery itself. I did end up guessing who it was, and the motive, but it wasn't easy and wouldn't be one of those mysteries you solve in an instant.
All in all, interesting concept and setting, but maybe just not to my taste. Maybe her tea series is better.
Review by M. Reynard 2022
Then we have the characters. I suppose the main character, Carmela, was compelling enough. She also had one of the more recognizable names. The rest were like they came from a "make sure you know they're Southern" name generator. I get it, it makes people stand out if you don't name them Bob or Sue or whatever; but when every name is unique then they get lost in the crowd as well. The rest of the characters I also didn't get too attached to and had trouble remembering who was who (probably because my brain wouldn't tie them back to the names). They were all just kinda cotton candy, surface-level detail I guess.
It sounds like I'm really dragging on this book, and to be fair, I was, but I did like the intention of the mystery itself. I did end up guessing who it was, and the motive, but it wasn't easy and wouldn't be one of those mysteries you solve in an instant.
All in all, interesting concept and setting, but maybe just not to my taste. Maybe her tea series is better.
Review by M. Reynard 2022
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