This is the sixth book in Laura Childs' Scrapbooking cozy mystery series. This one takes place at Mardi Gras as Carmela and her friend Ava attend a party by friend Jekyl Hardy. Ava is interested in the float designer, Archie, but they are shocked to find him garroted by a piece of barbed wire on the balcony. Carmela agrees to help investigate the death. She and Ava find out that Archie was on the hunt for a legendary treasure and begin following the clues. The hunt leads them to illegal absinthe, shadowy Russian arms dealers and clues to the treasure and possibly the murderers. They travel around the New Orleans area, visiting an old plantation, an island, and other historic sites. Amongst it all, they are working on a women's organized float, keeping their shops open and Carmela opens herself up to a possible relationship with detective Edgar Babcock. This was a fun, light mystery. I enjoy this series, I like Carmela and Ada and the entire cast of characters who inhabit the French Quarter in New Orleans. Since the series is set post-Katrina it contains some insights into the devastation that Hurricane Katrina brought to that glorious old city. In this episode Carmela and Ada are hunting a murderer as well as a treasure. Policeman Babcock is busy warning them to stay out of things while Carmela and Ada are blithely ignoring him at every turn. There were a couple of TSTL moments that kind of bothered me but on the whole they were just checking things out and not throwing themselves into too much danger.I'm looking forward to the next in the series, just to see how things are going in their lives and down in N'awlins.
What do You think about Death Swatch (2008)?
This was another fun New Orlean & Scrapbooking mystery. Costumes and vampires oh-my.
—dennting
