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Keepsake Crimes (Scrapbooking, Bk 1)
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Keepsake Crimes (Scrapbooking, Bk 1)
Author: Laura Childs

Book Information
Publisher: Berkley
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Rating:

ISBN-13: 9780425190746 - ISBN-10: 0425190749
Publication Date: 5/6/2003
Pages: 256


Other Versions of this Book: Hardcover

Book Description:
Tucked away on the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans is a cute little scrapbooking store called Memory Mine owned by Carmela Bertrand, an astute business person but unlucky in love. Her husband Shamus dumped her six months ago, claiming he had to find himself. Carmela moved from their fancy home to a funky apartment located on top of a voodoo store. Carmela and friends are taking in one of the Mardi Gras parades when a float stops in front of them. Powerful Jimmy Early Clayton is dead and an autopsy reveals he died from an overdose of ketamine. Shamus was seen having an argument with him and had access to the float and Jimmy Lee's stash of liquor. A vicious rumor campaign starts, stating that Shamus is the killer. Although Carmela is estranged from him, she doesn¿t think her husband is a murderer. She sets out to prove it, but places her life in danger from the killer who doesn't want Carmela putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

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Similar books to this author and title:
Death by Darjeeling (Tea Shop, Bk. 1)Gunpowder Green (Tea Shop Bk 2)The English Breakfast Murder (Tea Shop, Bk 4)Bound for Murder (Scrapbooking Mysteries, Bk 3)


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Top Member Book Reviews

Nicole B. (pixinator) wrote on 7/28/2007...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Part of a mystery series set in New Orleans, LA and the surrounding area. The main character owns a scrapbook store in the French Quarter and solves mysteries. Pretty good, easy read that kept me interested until the very end.

Karen F. (earlsgirl) wrote on 6/11/2007...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

I really wanted to like this series because I'm a scrapbook fiend. I appreciated the New Orleans setting and descriptions, and the scrapbooking theme. However, these characters just didn't do anything for me. This writer also doesn't put "of" after the word "couple". I always like to see a picture of the author on the inside cover too, and that is missing. Who is Laura Childs? Is she an 8th grader? Is she 80 years old? The mystery in this book is boring. She never gets into the character of the murdered or the murderer.

Debbie C. (toomanybooks) wrote on 7/4/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This is a good mystery that revolves around scrapbooking. If you are a mystery lover who scrapbooks, this book is for you!

Marilyn Y. (Scrapydoll) wrote on 7/14/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This is a wonderful first in a series. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. If you like female sleuths and mystery, I recommend this in the first of series.

Becky V. (justducky) wrote on 6/3/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was a very good read and had me hooked on the series.
Instantly a "old" Favorite.

Bobbie Jo C. (bobbiejo) wrote on 3/30/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Great and engaging.
Love the scrapbooking tips and recipes.

Sandy W. (swilhelm) wrote on 3/27/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

A lite mystery set in New Orleans and Mardi Gras with a scrapbooking theme. This is the first in the series.

Cindy D. wrote on 3/27/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

A great book - I am really enjoying this series.

Debbie C. (DebbieC) wrote on 3/14/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Great. First in the series... gives tips

Alice F. (LnnLdy) wrote on 3/11/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

First in a new series with a scrapbooking backdrop. Takes place in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Good story!


Please Rate these Book Reviews

Pamela C. (pj-s-bookcorner) wrote on 6/24/2009...


Having read Laura Childs' teashop mystery series, I believe i prefer it to the scrapbooking series, but still an enjoyable read!

Barbara L. (thecomet) wrote on 8/12/2008...


This is really a nice series. Takes place in New Orleans and there is historical info about the town. The characters - all of them are interesting - from the women who come to the shop and the people in the town. Camela's husband - well still her husband, but separated is being looked at for the murder of one of men in town. Camela the owner of the Scrapbook store is great, she has to get involved in solving the mystery. There are scrapbooking tips in the back and some receipes. Nice read and enjoyable. Recommend

Chrystyna S. (scrapbooks) wrote on 7/20/2008...


I liked this story. It took me a while to get used to the "flowery" and overly descriptive style of writing, but I enjoyed it. About 1/2 way through, I decided to keep going and not stop until the end. I didn't predict who the murderer was, and that is a big plus. If I can't figure it out myself before I get to the end, then it's a good book. (Wish I could say that about a lot of movies and books these days). I'm an avid scrapbooker and enjoyed the scrapbooking component to the main character. Looking forward to getting another Keepsake Crimes book!!

Linda E. (forjoy) wrote on 6/9/2008...


My first read by Laura Childs. I don't know why, but I assumed this was from a Christian author or should I say "basic Christian fiction". I did enjoy the book even with the occasional bad language. The setting of New Orleans and the colorful characters were an eyeopener for me. I went on to read several more from the series and look forward to seeing new titles come out in paperback.

Linda M. (duchessofdp) wrote on 1/24/2008...


I love "cozy mysteries" and scrapbooking, and thought this would a fun read. Sadly, I found the whole story to be rather predictable and "convenient", as was the ending. It focused more on New Orleans and Mardi Gra then on the "mystery" and scrapbooking.

DaLynn M. (dalynnrmc) wrote on 1/1/2008...


I really enjoyed the allusions to scrapbooking, and had to giggle at its inclusion closer to the end of the book after the murderer has been revealed. Other than that and a few neat peeks into pre-Katrina New Orleans, I was not overly impressed with this book.
I've not read anything else by Ms. Childs, and though I'll read the second book in this series, that is only because of the scrapbooking theme, the fact that I've already started the series, and the next book is sitting on my shelf. It's debatable whether I'll continue after book 2, and I will probably not pick up the Tea Shop books.

The author repeats herself, restating facts every 2 or 3 chapters. She does this probably a half dozen times, and I began to feel like she doesn't think her readers are intelligent enough to follow the story. The plot was overly obvious to me, though our heroine seems to completely miss it until the very, very end and just before the revelation. She is completely surprised at the revelation, whereas it simply confirmed my own suspicions.

As a scrapbooker of 10 years, though I enjoyed the allusions to the craft, the tips themselves were not impressive. I did enjoy the fact that they are there, and hope that future books in the series have tips for the more intermediate or advanced level scrappers. I was pleasantly surprised to find a few recipes in the back of the book, though I found the talk of food and cooking a bit out of place with the craft theme.

Overall, a decent read, but not something I'll seek out in the future. I gave 3 1/2 stars for shear enjoyment - and the simple fact that it DOES include a satisfying amount of scrapbook chatter.

Sandra (Piper) wrote on 10/15/2007...


I don't like this series as well as Ms. Child's "Tea" series. I found the women "catty". Did like the scapebooking talk. I did like Boo the dog. Hope the rest of the books in the series have more of him in them. I was concerned for him when the main charater left him running with some hound dogs while she chased down her estranged husband.

Diane M. (ksdmom) wrote on 7/17/2007...


I thought this was pretty good. I liked this series better then then the Tea Shop Mysteries.

A. L. (Zydeco) wrote on 1/31/2007...


Cliche and totally predictable.

Wendy K. wrote on 11/28/2006...


This book was easy reading and more interesting than the normal mystery for anyone who scrapbooks, not edge-of-your seat exciting though.


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