Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Review & Giveaway: Skeleton Letters by Laura Childs


Hardcover, 336 pages
Expected publication: October 4th 2011 by Berkley Hardcover

ISBN
0425243893 (ISBN13: 9780425243893)
primary language English

Carmela Bertrand, owner of Memory Mine Scrapbooking Shop and her best friend, Ava Gruiex, owner of Juju Voodoo Shop, are both volunteering at St. Tristan's church one morning when they hear a blood-curdling scream and then spot a woman wrestling with a figure dressed in a brown robe complete with cowl. Carmela and Ava are not sure what is going on until the brown robed figure smashes a statue down on the head of the woman and then takes off.

Carmela and Ava are almost dumbstruck but quickly stir themselves into action, rushing toward the woman who is now slumped over on the floor. Despite Carmela's best resuscitation efforts, the woman is dead. Both Carmela and Ava are overcome with grief as they realize the victim is one of their good friends, Byrle Coopersmith. What a horrible way to go; killed by a statue of one saint in another saint's church. If you're not safe in church, where are you safe? Not only is her death a tragedy but a unique gold and silver crucifix is missing. Is it personal or was Byrle trying to stop a robbery and just in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Since the murdered woman was such a good friend of Carmela and Ava, they naturally want to help in the investigation. Of course, the police tell them to back off even though the unlikely pair has been instrumental in helping to solve some of the murders in their New Orleans neighborhood.  But, they are determined to get justice for Byrle and let nothing get in their way. Well, almost nothing. Word gets out that they are poking around in the murder and their lives are in danger. If they could just figure out who has a vested interest in the antique crucifix  and with a little help from an unexpected source. . . . they might be able to solve the case.

Laura Childs always writes a fun cozy mystery and she has been one of my favorite authors over the years whether it is her Tea Shop series, the Scrapbooking series or her Cackleberry Club series. I always get the feeling I am right in the scene. Sometimes I figure out whodunnit, other times I don't and sometimes like this time, it takes me almost to the end of the book. It's an entertaining journey to the crime's solution anyway. Scrapbooking tips and several recipes are included at the end of the book.

For more info on Laura Childs, please visit her website or Facebook page. The link to Berkley below will also give you a chronological list of Laura's books.

To celebrate today's release of Skeleton Letters, Berkley is allowing me to host a giveaway for one copy of the book. Open to US only and the deadline to enter is October 14th at 5 PM (est). Please be sure to leave an e mail address in your comment. Good Luck!  Bonus entries available for this contest are as follows:

+1 for posting on your facebook page with link to giveaway
+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.


If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win Skeleton Letters in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

26 comments:

  1. Don't enter me as I already have the book. I enjoy her series and am glad you liked this one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love this series.

    I follow via GFC.
    I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/Bookworm307/status/121217039108030464
    and I posted it on my Facebook Profile


    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=631056242

    Beverly aka Booklady
    bevarcher (at) me (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would love to read this book.

    I am a old gfc follower +2
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. thanks for this great giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love that this mystery features scrapbooking, as that is one of my favorite hobbies (after reading, of course) I am finding out there is a cozy for just about everyone! Great review on this one today!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds like a good mystery. Please enter me.

    I'm a follower on GFC, wfnren

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
    http://wrensthoughts.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love this series!

    Monie @ readingwithmonie.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm a follower with GFC as MonieG.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love Laura Childs! She is a guaranteed winner with cozies.
    Please enter me in this giveaway.

    +1 I posted this giveaway on my Facebook page:

    http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1802916392

    +2 I am an old GFC follower of your blog.

    +3 I tweeted:

    http://kayespenguinposts.blogspot.com/ Giveaway of Laura Childs' "Skeleton Letters"

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well written cozies are so much fun!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I really enjoy this series by Childs and would love to be entered to win!

    +2 I am an old GFC follower.

    Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. No need to enter me but I love the name "JuJu Voodoo."

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have been wanting to try one of her books because of the scrapbooking aspect. I scrap but never have I killed anyone with my paper cutter!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'd love to win a copy of this book.

    I'm a follower under the name of Susan.

    sdryburgh at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. another awesome giveaway!! thank you!!!!

    +1 shared on FB: www.facebook.com/cyn209

    +2 GFC follower as cyn209

    ReplyDelete
  16. darn!! forgot my email addy:

    cyn209(AT)juno(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would love to win this one!! I'm new to scrapbooking so this is very appealing to me. I also love New Orleans and will read anything set there!!

    Old gfc follower

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. A favorite author of mine. Sounds like a winner to me!

    +2 GFC follower as Karen B.

    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm ashamed to say I've never read a Laura Childs book. I need to fix that since she has given you so many entertaining hours over the years. I like that this one requires you to stay alert till the very end. I'll add my name to the list.

    margot dot peck at gmail dot com
    I'm a regular follower.

    ReplyDelete
  20. great giveaway
    follow via gfc + 2 samantha35
    drakebdog@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love cozies and wish I managed to read more of them. This is one series I'd love to start, this or the tea shop ones. No need to enter me.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for the giveaway!
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  23. follower by GFC
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  24. This seems like a fun one Kaye. I'd love a chance to win - thank you

    bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love her books. Thanks for the nice review and giveaway.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  26. great giveaway
    follow via gfc- samantha35
    drakebdog@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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