An exploding Mardi Gras float has got to be the strangest murder weapon scrappy sleuth Carmela Bertrand has ever encountered in this latest Scrapbooking Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author.It’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans and scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand is excited to be attending the Pluvius Parade along with her best friend Ava. Carmela’s ex-husband Shamus rides by the … Ava. Carmela’s ex-husband Shamus rides by the duo on his float at the head of the parade, when suddenly the revelry turns to disaster. Shamus’ float crashes and explodes, and although Shamus escapes unhurt, a member of his krewe is killed.
Carmela and Ava plunge into an investigation of the krewe-member’s death, but as they dig deeper it starts to look less like an accident and more like a murder….and Shamus seems less like a victim, and more like a suspect.
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This is an entertaining book if you like mysteries that are heavy on the locational charm. You get lots of details and stories about life in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Carmela is a protagonist determined to get to the bottom of things, even at the expense of all else. If you like other books in this series, this one stays true to form.
What a fun weekend read! Laura Childs is a new-to-me author, and I’m having a great time exploring her different series. This one is a scrapbooking mystery. I love all the crafting and creative ideas she sprinkles in throughout the story. She has some great, strong characters and does a wonderful job of showing the food, flavor, and culture of New Orleans.
I have enjoyed this series in the past but in this outing Carmela feels increasingly illogical and two dimensional.
I had so much fun reading this book! From the beginning I was whisked off from my comfy chair and set down in New Orleans, just in time to celebrate Mardi Gras! The authors did an amazing job bringing the sights, sounds, taste, fun and excitement come alive. I was bewitched! The hours flew by and interruptions were barely tolerated. I wanted to stay immersed in the vivid party atmosphere that was going on in my mind. This was my first adventure in A New Orleans Scrapbooking Mystery Series but certainly not my last. Glitter Bomb is one of those books that invites you to delight your senses, as well as your mind, between its covers.
I love the characters and their senses of humor. They play off of each other with the warmth and knowledge that long time friends have. I felt like I was a part of the friendships even though I haven’t read the previous books. The mystery was well done, starting the book off with a bang! I was kept guessing and even included a suspect whose job normally keeps me from suspecting them. In the end, I was wrong about my list. I love it! That’s entertainment!
There are scrapbooking tips and recipes at the end of the book. My level of crafting is kindergarten but I do love doing them. Scrapbooking has intimidated me but I am thinking that maybe I can try my hand at a small book. I also made two of the recipes. Lazy Girl Peach Pie was delicious and so easy to make, it lived up to its name. My dog, Zoey, was in heaven over the dog treats, (also easy peasey). My mouth is watering at the thought of trying out the rest of the recipes.
Loved this book!
I love these characters and the way that they relate to each other. This was a fun, interesting and great book, had a very hard time putting it down. Love Carmela and Ava and the way they ‘fall’ into things.
It’s time for Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carmela and Ava are ready to have some fun. Unfortunately, during one of the first parades, a float crashes and explodes killing one of the Krewe members. Carmela’s ex-husband, Shamus, is a suspect in the murder of the man as he lost money to him. He begs Carmela to help investigate. Another fun book in this series that kept me on my toes and trying to guess the killer. Can’t wait for Carmela and Babcock to get married!! I love this series and the craft tips and recipes! Keep these books coming!!!!!
Love Laura Childs series – all 3!!! Can’t wait for the next book
Love her books. Always a great read.
Exploding from the get go, Glitter Bomb is a blast that keeps the pages turning and the good times rolling. Love both of these authors.
In this installment of the New Orleans Scrapbooking Mysteries, murder during Mardi Gras is colorfully explosive and makes for a great read!
Author Laura Childs knows how to pack a punch into a mystery. GLITTER BOMB is exciting, fun, and at times, intense. And I’ve noticed a subtle change in the tone of the stories since author Terrie Farley Moran has come on board. It’s a good change. You can’t go wrong with two fabulous authors writing a book together.
Over all, GLITTER BOMB was an excellent mystery with plenty of twists and turns, as well as false leads to keep my inner sleuth guessing all the way to the end.
Returning fans of the series are going to love GLITTER BOMB. New readers will enjoy it as well and may become hooked enough to start the series from the beginning.
I do offer a profanity warning to cozy mystery purists.
Loved this book. So much fun to revisit characters I have grown to love. Quirky characters who sometimes make me yell “No! Don’t do that!” But they do it anyway and get in trouble. There are a few situations in this book I didn’t see coming. This is a fun read.
The main motives behind murder are generally money, revenge, love (gone wrong) and desperation. Where does GLITTER come into it?
Allow two of the best mystery writers to collaborate and we find out.
When she is not running a business and teaching classes at her scrapbooking store, Carmela Bertrand is doing her best not to upset her hopefully-soon-fiance by investigating a murder where her ex-husband is a prime suspect. There was no love lost for the victim and no lack of motives around the local community. There is really no love left for Carmela’s ex, either. but her sense of justice and curiosity make it difficult for her to say no.
The action begins with a blast right at the start and the pace does not slow. Told with wit and entertaining twists, as the danger to our favorite heroines builds, you’ll never see this ending coming!
A fantastic series for any crafty person.
GLITTER BOMB by Laura Childs with Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifteenth Scrapbooking Mystery
Although it’s a week before Mardi Gras celebrations and parades have already hit New Orleans and Carmela Bertrand and her bestie Ava are out on the town joining in on the fun. Fun turns to horror when the float with Carmela’s ex-husband starts careening wildly and ultimately explodes throwing krewe members into the throng. The lone fatality wasn’t the result of an accident, however, it was murder. Carmella’s ex is now begging her to investigate while her fiance is begging her to keep out of it. Carmella’s too curious and has been through too many murder investigations to stop now. But will her involvement end her engagement? Or her life?
GLITTER BOMB is a rollicking roller coaster ride through Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Once again Carmela and Ava have more events to join in than there are drunks on Bourbon Street! From fancy balls and candlelight home tours, to road rallies and more, the duo showcases some of the fun ways to enjoy the city and the holiday.
I enjoyed how the relationship between Carmela and Babcock is challenged and lingering feelings between Carmela and Shamus are explored. I also appreciated the mystery and the variety of suspects, all acting suitably suspicious! I like how Memory Mine has grown from a scrapbooking store to encompass even more paper arts and now graphic design. Paper arts tips and recipes add to the charm of this fifteenth Scrapbooking mystery.
GLITTER BOMB is a fast paced, fun mystery. Grab it and bring some of the excitement of Mardi Gras and murder home!
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
In this next book of the series Carmela and her friend Ava are enjoying the annual Pluvis Parade when a bomb goes off in the float passing by them. The float happens to be the one Carmela’s ex Shamus is riding and she watches as him and several others are thrown from it. She jumps in to see if she can help and discovers that one of the riders didn’t make it. Who would blow up a float and why? Was the dead man targeted, or was it that specific float? Shamus new the dead man and asks Carmela to help figure out who killed him, you see Shamus had reasons of his own to want the man dead. The man worked with money and lost millions from several different investors. Did one of the people whose money he lost kill him? Could it have been his wife who is having an affair? Was it just an accident and he wasn’t the intended victim? Follow along as Carmela and Ava track down suspects, ask questions, and look for clues. Will they be able to find the answers they are looking for before they end up hurt or dead? This is such a fun series that always delivers a great mystery along with a fascinating location. The crafts included are always top notch and the food mentioned makes you want to immediately dive into some Louisiana cuisine.
It’s always an adventure to spend time with Carmela and Ava in New Orleans. When you add a glittery death during Mardi Gras, you have the recipe for a rollicking wild party. I loved every minute of my time between these pages. I highly recommend this entire series! I received my copy as an ARC, but the opinions are all mine.
Glitter Bomb by Laura Childs is the fifteenth A Scrapbooking Mystery. Carmela Bertrand and Ava Gruiex are watching the Pluvius Parade and are not surprised when they see that Carmela’s ex-husband, Shamus Meechum hitched a ride on the head float. The head float features King Neptune with gold glitter pluming out from his head over the revelers. All the sudden the float starts acting wonky and then—BOOM! An explosion erupted from King Neptune’s head and gold glitter is everywhere as well as the riders of the float. The men start getting up, but one lays unmoving on the ground. Hughes Wilder, the Pluvius Krewe captain, is pronounced dead at the scene and Lt. Edgar Babcock, Carmela’s fiancé (sort of) is on the case (this could be awkward). The next day, Shamus stumbles into Memory Mine seeking Carmela’s help (of course). A bomb had been set in the float right under Hughes Wilder’s seat and Shamus is at the top of the suspect list thanks to an unwise investment. Carmela knows that Shamus does not have the brain power to execute this type of killing. Carmela, with Ava’s eager assistance, begins investigating the other krewe members and investors. They need to proceed carefully, or they could up as confetti on Bourbon Street.
Glitter Bomb is part of the delightful A Scrapbooking Mystery series. While Glitter Bomb can be read alone, I highly recommend reading all the books in the series. I have enjoyed watching Carmela develop over the course of the series as she went from divorcee to savvy business owner and sleuth. I still do not know what she saw in Shamus (it is baffling). Carmela is currently engaged to Lt. Edgar Bertrand. I am on the fence about this relationship. I wish he would quit discouraging her investigations. Bertrand should know by now Carmela will always help those in her circle (even Shamus) and she is just plain curious. I love the scrapbooking projects mentioned in the book. There are some creative ideas that I am looking forward to playing with in my studio. I found Glitter Bomb to be well-written with a fast pace. Carmela and Ava are a hoot. I enjoy their witty repartee. Ava and Carmela do not let grass grow under their feet on this investigation. Of course, you can always count on Ava to spice things up. This time Ava promised to house sit for her boyfriend’s parents and committed the pair to appearing in a fashion show. Laura Childs brought the French Quarter during Mardi Gras alive for me with her word imagery. The mystery had several suspects along with a red herring or two and good clues. Cozy mystery sleuths, though, will find it a cinch to identify the guilty party. The ending is exciting, suspenseful, romantic and funny. The last line is amusing which is a great way to end a book. There is a preview of Eggs on Ice at the end along with scrapbooking tips and recipes for New Orleans delicacies. I am giving Glitter Bomb 4.5 out of 5 stars (I loved it). I cannot wait to read Mumbo Jumbo which is the next installment in A Scrapbooking Mystery series.
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.
The Mardi Gras festivities are in full swing. The
floats of the Pluvius Parade are progressing down
the street when BOOM…the Neptune floats crashes
then explodes scattering glitter throughout the
crowd plus the covering face of a man who seems
to choke on the glitter. The dead body that results
from the explosion is Hughes Wilder. This man made
bad investments at the expensive of a huge amount
of investors’ including many of the krewe members.
An accidental death or murder???
Carmela Bertrand who lives in New Orleans owns
and runs a very successful scrapbooking and
graphic design shop. Carmela along with her best
friend, Ava Gruiex were attending the parade. The
float fiasco happened in front of them. Carmela’s,
ex-husband was a member of the floats krewe.
He comes to Carmela when he becomes a suspect
in the murder.
Carmela has a tendency to get involved in murder
investigations. Her fiancé Edgar Babcock who is a
homicide detective for the NOPD tells her to stay out
of the investigation for her own safety.
The story takes the reader into the festive Mardi Gras
as we wonder along the streets of New Orleans.
You will taste the various New Orlean cuisine, enjoy
the costume parties, the music through the authors
vivid and fluid description.
You will take part in the scrapbook making techniques.
The end of the book supplies the reader with recipes,
stamping, scrapbooking and craft ideas.
The book is filled with suspense, mystery, drama, fast
paced scenes, humor and a touch of romance. There
is a cast of colorful, vivid, well defined characters who
all have their own secrets.
Although this is book # 15 in the Scrapbooking Mystery
series, I had no problem following the story or the
characters as the author mixes the past and present
together effortlessly.
A Highly Recommended Read.
I volunteered to read Glitter Bomb. Thanks to First-To-
Read and Penguin for the opportunity. My opinion is my
own.
The book takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana during Mardi Gras. Carmela Bertrand is an owner of a scrapbook store that is right in the middle of the action. Carmela and her friend Ava are going to a parade and the float explodes right in front of them. A well known business man was murdered in this explosion. Carmela’s ex-husband Shamus is on the float and he knows that she has an inquisitive nature. He also knows that people will talk to her so he sweet talks her into investigating the case herself especially because he does not want to be the main murder suspect anymore. Unfortunately for Carmela her boyfriend (soon to be Fiance) Detective Babcock is the lead investigator on the case and he tells her to stay away from it. At the beginning the disaster looks like it could be an accident but quickly Carmela realizes it was actually a murder. She just can’t seem to stay away from the investigation. Trouble even finds her a couple of times. Luckily in the end the murder is solved and everyone is safe.
This book is part of a series. I have not read any of the other books and I did not feel lost. I did like the writing style so I will go back and see if I can find the other books and try to read them. I definitely would read any more in the series after it.
I received this book from First to read in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I picked this title because what’s not to love about a murder during Mardi Gras! Carmela Bertrand is the owner of a scrapbook store and is an amateur investigator. When her ex-husband becomes a murder suspect, he wrangles her into helping to clear his name. She and her best friend face danger and go to a lot of Mardi Gras events during this one. This book was a lot of fun and was a quick read. I highly enjoyed this one and can’t wait for the next one!