New Orleans and Halloween --
they’re made for each other. It’s a week-long
celebration that keeps Memory Mine employees busy. Carmela,
along with boyfriend, Babcock, and friend, Ava, enjoy Frankenstein,
the play, New Orleans’ first ever Zombie Crawl, a Halloween
Ball, and a ride on the Ghost Train.
Unfortunately, Carmela discovering the body of neighboring
shopkeeper isn’t part of the celebration, but it does
add to the creepy Halloween effect. The only object missing
from the shop is a recently acquired Death Mask – even
creepier. It turns out the mask is stolen property and the
late shopkeeper, Marcus, is the accused. Marcus’ assistant
/fiancée, Mavis, believes he's innocent andwants Carmela
to solve Marcus’ murder and salvage his reputation.
Detective Babcock is postive Marcus was a thief. Mavis asks
Carmela to give Babcock some information about Marcus and
the mask, but Babcock wants nothing to do with it. He tells
Carmela to stay out of it, but we know snooping is one habit
Carmela cannot break. Needless to say, she takes the lead
and runs….
Carmela is enjoying the usual Halloween customers at Memory
Mine, but she can’t say the same about fellow merchants
who are taking an interest in the murder and the shop space
next door. Carmela gets a visit from her greedy landlord who
resembles Felonius (Despicable Me), a countess who wants to
name her shop after Lucreza Borgia, a fellow shopkeeper normally
as reserved as a mortician, now freakily frantic, and friend
/ float designer, Jekyl, who channels Anne Rice’s vampire
Lestat in his everyday life. Talk about a Halloween mixer…
In Gossamer Ghost, Childs gives cozy fans everything
want: an armchair mystery, likable characters, and loads of
entertainment. There are plenty suspects and false leads,
but this mystery isn’t just about clues or scrapbooking;
it’s also about New Orleans and BFFs. Carmela and Ava
enjoy the festivities and entertain the readers as Ghostesses
on the Ghost Train. Dressed as Ghost Brides, the two really
throw themselves into it…. It’s a spooktacular
ride you can’t miss.
Gossamer Ghost is the perfect Halloween treat. Be
sure to check out the author's scrapbooking ideas and recipes
at the back of the book.
Gerry Schmitt (aka Laura Childs) has a thriller coming out
called Finders Creepers. It’s the first in
her new Afton Tangler series.
Reviews
of other titles in this series
Bound
for Murder #3 [review]
Motif for Murder #4 [review]
Death Swatch, #6 [ review]
Skeleton Letters, # 9 [review]
Postcards from the Dead, #10 [review]
Gossamer Ghost #12 [review]
Parchment and Old Lace #13 [review]
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