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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Mumbo Gumbo Murder by Laura Childs and Terrie Farley Moran is the 16th A Scrapbooking Mystery. Carmela Bertrand and Ava Gruiex finished watching the kick-off parade for Jazz Fest and went to Royal Street where a street fair is taking place. They hear glass breaking along with shouting and rush to investigate. At Dulcimers Antiques owned by Devon Dowling, they find the shop is a mess with Devon dead on the Persian carpet. Carmela wants to know what happened to her friend and sets out to get answers despite the warning from her fiancé, Detective Edgar Babcock. Mumbo Gumbo Murder is a delightfully entertaining cozy mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series, but you would be missing out on some charming cozy mysteries. I thought Mumbo Gumbo Murder was well-written with developed characters and a wonderful setting (New Orleans). The descriptions brought the city alive for me. Carmela Bertrand owns Memory Mine Scrapbooking Shop in the French Quarter which she runs with the assistance of Gabby Mercer-Morris. Carmela is a creative and clever woman who has two dogs (maybe three now), divorced, and has a penchant for getting into fixes. Ava Gruiex is Carmela’s best friend who owns Juju Voodoo and likes to wear tight, revealing clothing plus she is outrageous (never met a man she wouldn’t flirt with). I enjoy the dialogue between Carmela and Ava. They are a fun duo whose antics will have you laughing. Ava decides to consult a matchmaker so she can find a good man. Carmela finds herself roped into Quigg Brevard’s new venture. She likes the idea and so does everyone else except Edgar Babcock. Edgar wants Carmela to set the wedding date and begin planning their nuptials. Carmela wants to marry Edgar, but something (like her disastrous first marriage) is holding her back. I had to laugh when Edgar mentioned getting bow ties for the two dogs (they need to be appropriately attired for the wedding). Carmela works on some creative projects at Memory Mine including a paper theater and I was drooling over the descriptions of the items in Memory Mine (hundreds of papers, stamps, Paperclay, ribbon, and so much more). There is even a mention of one of my favorite magazine companies, Somerset Studio. The murder of Devon Dowling has Carmela asking questions, digging up clues, and prying information out of Edgar. There is misdirection along with direct clues. I wish, though, that I had not been able to identify the killer so early in the story plus there were unanswered questions at the end. I hope we hear wedding bells for Carmela soon. She just needs to figure out where she wishes to get married and when. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mumbo Gumbo Murder and I look forward to Cadmium Red Dead next year. There are New Orleans recipes at the end along with Scrapbook, Stamping and Craft Tips. Two of my favorite lines from Mumbo Gumbo Murder were “Nothing like a good exorcism to set you straight again” and “I swear, this is the last time I buy Louboutin knockoffs!”. Mumbo Gumbo Murder is a pleasing cozy mystery with paper projects, wedding woes, a bowwow bystander, a mystified matchmaker, a bothersome ex-beau, and a frustrated fiancé.
kimdavishb's review against another edition
5.0
MUMBO GUMBO MURDER, the sixteenth book in the popular Scrapbooking Mystery series by Laura Childs and Terrie Farley Moran, is a fun romp through the streets of New Orleans during Jazz Fest. The author duo brings the French Quarter to life and the reader is treated to the sights, sounds, and tastes of this vibrant city. And oh the tastes… New Orleans is a foodie-lovers’ paradise and the protagonist, Carmela Bertrand, and her sidekick, Ava, eat and drink their way through the festival making me wish I could be there with them. I also enjoyed the parade scenes with the Beastmaster Puppets. The tidbits of information the authors provide on how the puppeteers manipulate them, especially the jumbo-sized puppets, was quite interesting. The reader is also treated to the creepy side of New Orleans through the vampire society and the voodoo shops. Ava, owner of one of the voodoo shops, adds zing to the antics she gets into with scrapbook shop owner Carmela. As a team their capers spice up the pages of this entertaining read and while it’s a mystery with murder, they often reminded me of a younger Lucy and Ethel.
While the settings, tastes, and zany antics contribute lighthearted fun, the authors still deliver a solid mystery for Carmela and Ava to solve. The action starts with a literal bang from the very beginning and continues with page-turning intrigue. Even though Carmela is engaged to Detective Edgar Babcock, who begs her not to get involved, she still manages to insert herself into the thick of the investigation. This time it’s her antiques dealing friend who is murdered and after rescuing the dead man’s adorable pug, she can’t help but want to find out who ended his life. Could his death be related to the rumors swirling around that he owned a piece of President Lincoln’s coat, worn on the night of his assassination? Or was there something of value hidden away in his shop that was worth killing for? As Carmela asks questions and listens to gossip, while eating her way through town, the suspect lists grows. With an action-packed conclusion, Ms. Childs and Ms. Moran provide a satisfactory end to a highly entertaining read.
Like I mentioned before, New Orleans is a food-lovers’ paradise. Fortunate for the reader, the authors include several recipes at the back of the book along with scrapbooking tips and craft ideas.
I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While the settings, tastes, and zany antics contribute lighthearted fun, the authors still deliver a solid mystery for Carmela and Ava to solve. The action starts with a literal bang from the very beginning and continues with page-turning intrigue. Even though Carmela is engaged to Detective Edgar Babcock, who begs her not to get involved, she still manages to insert herself into the thick of the investigation. This time it’s her antiques dealing friend who is murdered and after rescuing the dead man’s adorable pug, she can’t help but want to find out who ended his life. Could his death be related to the rumors swirling around that he owned a piece of President Lincoln’s coat, worn on the night of his assassination? Or was there something of value hidden away in his shop that was worth killing for? As Carmela asks questions and listens to gossip, while eating her way through town, the suspect lists grows. With an action-packed conclusion, Ms. Childs and Ms. Moran provide a satisfactory end to a highly entertaining read.
Like I mentioned before, New Orleans is a food-lovers’ paradise. Fortunate for the reader, the authors include several recipes at the back of the book along with scrapbooking tips and craft ideas.
I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
angelic712's review against another edition
3.0
I feel as though her relationship with her boyfriend has gained a bit of equality in this book.
jmj697mn's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite series and of course this one did not disappoint. Loved every fun-filled minute of this caper and can't wait for the next one. I hope Mimi is going to stay!!
erincataldi's review against another edition
2.0
I can't say I had this predicted early but after the second murder I knew who it was. Kitschy and extremely over the top, the best thing about this book isn't any of the characters or the plot itself, it's the setting. New Orleans is the stand out in this cozy mystery; not Carmela the scrapbook store owner, Detective Babcock her grumpy fiance (although to be fair I'd be more than grumpy if my fiance kept discovering bodies), Ava the stylish single romantic best friend, or any of the ten thousand suspects. New Orleans is pretty much the only good thing about this mystery, I can't believe there are FIFTEEN books in the series before you get to this one!! Carmela sure knows how to do the job better than the police apparently! Carmela and her bestie are wandering the streets, enjoying the food and drinks, while watching a street parade when they hear a window break and screaming. They rush over and discover that Carmela's friend (honestly more like acquaintance) has been killed inside his antique store. Since it's her FRIEND, obviously Carmela has to do some sleuthing - why would she ever trust her fiance - you know, the detective on the case?!?! Lots of red herrings, asides about food, crafting tips, and witty banter. Pretty banal in my opinion and I wouldn't read more in the series.
katreader's review against another edition
4.0
MUMBO GUMBO MURDER by Laura Childs with Terrie Farley Moran
The Sixteenth Scrapbooking Mystery
Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava, are celebrating Jazz Fest in the French Quarter when a crashing disturbance interrupts the revel making. The two friends rush to where the commotion seems to be happening only to discover the window of their good friend Devon Dowling's antique shop smashed. With only Devon's dog responding to Carmela's calls she enters the building only to face another destructive onslaught, and the discovery of Devon's body. But Carmela's detective fiancé may have more to get mad about that Carmela insinuating herself in his investigation. Good looking Quigg Brevard has opened up shop right next door to Memory Mine, and has a proposition for her. Will a killer, or a guy with killer looks put Carmela in hot water?
I love Carmela Bertrand, I really do, but in this sixteenth Scrapbooking Mystery she really made me mad. It's one thing to drag her feet about setting a date for her nuptials, or anything else to do with her upcoming wedding, but her behavior really puts her whole relationship with Detective Babcock at risk. What on earth was she playing at with Quigg? Still, I could overlook that, I was a little irked but I could kind of see where she was coming from. However, when she figures out the real reason Devon was murdered, I was aghast at what she did and literally screamed out loud, "You are so stupid!" inadvertently scaring my cats.
Despite thinking Carmela's done lost her mind in her need to seek out adrenaline rushes and simply accepting how over the top Ava is, I did enjoy the book. The mystery itself was excellent and I loved all of the red herrings and various other complications.
MUMBO GUMBO MURDER is a fast paced fun read showcasing many of the wonderful events that make New Orleans so special. I don't know how Carmela and Ava find time for all that fun, but I enjoy being able to experience it vicariously though them.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
The Sixteenth Scrapbooking Mystery
Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava, are celebrating Jazz Fest in the French Quarter when a crashing disturbance interrupts the revel making. The two friends rush to where the commotion seems to be happening only to discover the window of their good friend Devon Dowling's antique shop smashed. With only Devon's dog responding to Carmela's calls she enters the building only to face another destructive onslaught, and the discovery of Devon's body. But Carmela's detective fiancé may have more to get mad about that Carmela insinuating herself in his investigation. Good looking Quigg Brevard has opened up shop right next door to Memory Mine, and has a proposition for her. Will a killer, or a guy with killer looks put Carmela in hot water?
I love Carmela Bertrand, I really do, but in this sixteenth Scrapbooking Mystery she really made me mad. It's one thing to drag her feet about setting a date for her nuptials, or anything else to do with her upcoming wedding, but her behavior really puts her whole relationship with Detective Babcock at risk. What on earth was she playing at with Quigg? Still, I could overlook that, I was a little irked but I could kind of see where she was coming from. However, when she figures out the real reason Devon was murdered, I was aghast at what she did and literally screamed out loud, "You are so stupid!" inadvertently scaring my cats.
Despite thinking Carmela's done lost her mind in her need to seek out adrenaline rushes and simply accepting how over the top Ava is, I did enjoy the book. The mystery itself was excellent and I loved all of the red herrings and various other complications.
MUMBO GUMBO MURDER is a fast paced fun read showcasing many of the wonderful events that make New Orleans so special. I don't know how Carmela and Ava find time for all that fun, but I enjoy being able to experience it vicariously though them.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
bookguyinva2022's review against another edition
3.0
A part of the 3 *s was the quality of narration but more than that the clueless actions of the main character had me cringing. It was an ok storyline with some laugh out loud moments.
l6zarras's review against another edition
3.0
A good "easy to read" mystery. Girl finds murder victim, police don't want her involved, gets into various shenanigans with murder suspects, solves mystery, murderer someone whom police didnt suspect at all.
randombookgrl's review against another edition
5.0
At 16 books in, Laura Childs' Scrapbooking mysteries show no sign of either slowing down or losing their appeal! I got completely caught up in the newest tale, trying to figure out who could have killed beloved antique show owner Devon Dowling.