Crepe Factor Archives

Time to go to New Orleans and visit with scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand. She’s about to hit the proverbial “fork in the road” in this cozy mystery. Grab yourself a beignet and a cup of joe and let’s visit with Carmela. Be sure to look out for the Prize Guy to enter the giveaway! Laura and Terrie are giving away paperback copies of Crepe Factor.

Guest Post by Carmela Bertrand, Main Character

in Crepe Factor by Laura Childs and Terrie Farley Moran

First of all, I’d like to thank Teresa Trent, author extraordinaire, for inviting me to be here today. Since I’m a character in a cozy mystery it feels like a nice, warm place to be.

On the other hand, I’m here to talk about murder. You see, I live in New Orleans. It’s a crazy city – we’ve got Mardi Gras, great jazz, above ground cemeteries, grand architecture, and bad behavior. Besides owning Memory Mine, a scrapbook and craft show in the French quarter, I hang out a lot with Ava Gruiex, my BFF. Ava owns Juju Voodoo, wears the tightest leather pants you’ve ever seen, and is fashion model gorgeous. But for some reason, we seem to find ourselves neck deep in trouble.

Imagine this if you will – we’re at the French Quarter Winter Marker, drinking wine and minding our own business. When, suddenly, this food reviewer (that nobody likes) staggers out from behind one of the food tents with a ginormous kitchen fork stuck in his neck!

Not our doing, of course, but somehow Quigg Brevard, one of my ex-ex-boyfriends, gets accused of the murder. I’m not exactly a trained investigator, but I can’t resist getting involved. Tracking down suspects is tough however – people seriously didn’t like this guy – so it’s not easy to sort out true motivated killers from plain old New Orleans crazy. But we soldier on and investigate, rubbing shoulders with greedy real estate developers, strange environmentalists, and seriously toxic suspects.

When things get too complicated, Ava and I enlist the aid of Squirrel and Moony, a couple of good old boys from the Baritaria Bayou, along with their motley hound dog Cooter. One things leads to another and we narrow down the killer, and then decide to make a mad dash to the ultra-fancy Hotel Vendue and confront him. When we spill out of my car onto a red carpet, looing all muddy and sun-burned, it’s a bit of a shock to the guests who are there for a fancy black tie gala.

No problem. We all rush in anyway and finger the killer, get into a knock-down-drag-out fight, and manage to topple a gigantic ice sculpture. Luckily, the cops arrive, actually believe us, and the killer is brought to justice. (Of course Cooter gets to lap up all the spilled caviar and champagne he wants.)

No matter where we are – hanging at Dr. Boogie’s Jazz Club, chasing through the bayous, eating beignets, or having a fling at a wild party, Ava and I have tons of fun throughout Crepe Factor. Probably almost as much fun as you’ll have reading it!

All my best,

Carmela Bertrand

CREPE FACTOR

Crepe Factor
(A Scrapbooking Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
14th in Series
Berkley (October 3, 2017)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425266717
E-Book ASIN: B01AHKY37I

Synopsis

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 lurching 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…

Scrapbooking tips and recipes included!

Click Here to Enter the Giveaway–> Crepe Factor in Paperback!

About The Authors

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’s Links:

Webpage – http://www.laurachilds.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31

terrie farley moran

Short-listed twice for The Best American Mystery Stories, Terrie Farley Moran is delighted to introduce mystery fans to the Read ’Em and Eat café and bookstore, which debuted with Well Read, Then Dead. followed by Caught Read-Handed and Read to Death released in July of this year. The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is playing games and reading stories with any or all of her grandchildren.