
Published by Berkley on October 4th 2016
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 310
I received this book for free from Great Escapes Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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The Winter Market in the French Quarter is in full swing, but murder isn’t taking a holiday in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Parchment and Old Lace...
The holidays are a busy time for scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand—but not so hectic that she doesn’t have time to enjoy browsing the booths at the Winter Market with her best friend Ava. The last thing the ladies expect to see is a thrashing man stabbed by a serving fork, dying in front of them. The victim is loathed restaurant critic Martin Lash, who posted his scathing reviews on the Glutton for Punishment website. And the prime suspect is New Orleans restauranteur Quigg Brevard—who was seen giving the critic a tongue-lashing minutes before someone stuck a fork in him. An old flame of Carmela, Quigg asks for her help, which does not please her current beau, Detective Edgar Babcock, to say the least. Before her relationship is the next victim, Carmela needs to find a murderer who had no reservations about punishing the culinary curmudgeon... INCLUDES SCRAPBOOKING TIPS
Carmela Bertrand is peacefully browsing the New Orleans winter market with her best friend Ava. Their time is interrupted when they come across an argument with Carmela’s former beau Quigg and food reviewer Martin Lash. A short time later Martin Lash falls dead at Carmela’s feet with a chef’s fork in his throat. Suspicion immediately falls on Quigg, Carmela’s current boyfriend Babcock would like nothing more than to put Quigg in Jail. Quigg asks Carmela to do some investigating and clear his name. This causes her relationship with Babcock to get a little shaky. She must find the killer before it ends her relationship.
In ” an Oyster Shell – This book was hard to get into at first but ended with an interesting mystery that had me engrossed.
The Pearls – I loved the setting of New Orleans. The descriptions were vibrant of shops, people, and food. It felt as if you were right there. I especially liked all the attention paid to food. I learned some new recipes that I would love to try like Egg Sardu.
There was a slight love triangle. Quigg the old boyfriend is trying to win Carmela back. Carmela is trying to keep her relationship with Babcock from falling apart. It added an interesting element to the story.
The mystery was fun. It was imaginative and though I guessed part of the mystery right there was something so unexpected as well. It ended up being a really good story.
The Sand – The book was hard to get into. It was missing a lot of backstories that I assume you get in the other books. So it doesn’t work too well as a stand-alone.
3.5 Pearls!
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
September 24 – Cinnamon, Sugar and Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW REPOST, RECIPE
September 24 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW REPOST, GUEST POST
September 25 – Socrates’ Book Reviews– SPOTLIGHT
September 25 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
September 26 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW REPOST
September 26 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
September 27 – Bookworm Cafe – REVIEW
September 28 – Writing Pearls – REVIEW
September 28 – Valerie’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
September 29 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 29 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
September 30 – The Power of Words – SPOTLIGHT
October 1 – My Funny View of Life – REVIEW
October 2 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – REVIEW
October 2 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 3 – Varietats – REVIEW, GUEST POST
October 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 4 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
October 5 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 6 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
October 6 – Teresa Trent Author Site – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
October 7 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST
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LORI CASWELL recently posted…#Review – #Giveaway – A Cajun Christmas Killing: A Cajun Country Mystery by Ellen Byron – Great Escapes Tour @crookedlanebks
Great series! Looking forward to reading “Crepe Factor”.
Thanks so much for your review of Crepe Factor. Quigg was a bit of a problem for Carmela, wasn’t he? Laura
Thanks so much for your review. Quigg was a bit of a problem for Carmela, wasn’t he? Laura
Look forward to reading. Beautiful cover. Thank you for the giveaway.