A day in the life by Theodosia Browning by Laura Childs

As a tea shop owner, I get invited to a lot of special event teas. But the craziest one I’ve even attended was a “rat tea” held at a very fancy mansion in Charleston’s ultra luxe historic district. Yes, that’s right, a rat tea. I’m talking about proper waiters costumed in velvet waistcoats and white gloves while wearing fuzzy white rat heads – all while they’re serving tea.

You see, a rat tea hearkens back to eighty years ago when Charleston had a rather large rodent problem. Measures were taken, of course, and the fine ladies who lived in the large manor homes did their part in promoting this by holding fancy rat teas.

So that’s what crazy Doreen Briggs did the other day, she held a rat tea for the crème de la crème of Charleston society. Only somewhere along the line everything slid off the rails. First her husband Beau Briggs started choking on his cup of Pekoe tea. Then the candelabra fell over and ignited the main centerpiece. And then, with smoke and bits of charred silk flowers floating through the air, her gasping husband collapsed into my arms. We did everything we could, but were unable to revive him.

All the society guests freaked out, of course, and were highly suspicious about the tea. And once the police were called in, poor desperate Doreen begged me to intercede. She asked me to conduct a sort of shadow investigation alongside the one the police were running. So now I’m buzzing around my tea shop – The Indigo Tea Shop – serving scones, trying to keep my customers happy, all the while trying to get a handle on a number of certifiably crazy suspects.

There’s Big Reggie, Beau Briggs’s cigar-smoking, sports car-driving business partner. And their snarky PR lady who always seems to dress in skin-tight leather outfits. And a Bernie Madoff-type hedge fund owner who has pocketed seven hundred thousand dollars of Doreen’s money and – please say it ain’t so – is looking to buy a house right next to the one I own. And then there’s a strangely silent waiter who may or may not have seen some nefarious goings-on in the kitchen.

Ah yes, the kitchen. When I dropped by Doreen’s home to speak with her, she was swirling a glass of brandy and looking awfully shaky. I took the glass away from her and went into the kitchen to fix her a nice cup of hot tea instead. But imagine my shock when I poked through the pantry and found a box of Pekoe tea sitting right next to a box of X-terminate Rat Poison! Deciding that particular pairing might be a little too close for comfort, I contacted the Charleston Police. And what a nice young detective they sent over! I’ve been dealing with Detective Tidwell all these years, but he’s awfully cranky and stubborn. Not one to let a girl intrude on a murder investigation.

But Detective Pete Riley seems to be a breath of fresh air. He’s young, efficient, and oh so good looking. In fact, he makes a girl’s heart kind of flutter when he’s around. But now I find myself walking a very thin, precarious line. I want to continue investigating Beau’s murder and I need to figure out just how serious Detective Riley is when he tells me he’d like to get to know me better. Hmm. This is a very tricky case, indeed.

Want to know how all this turns out? Pekoe Most Poison is a thriller-cozy (okay, it’s a thrillzy!) sprinkled with humor and packed with twists and turns you’ll never see coming! In fact, it’s the 17th book in the much-beloved Tea Shop Mystery series.

And as a bonus, here’s one of my favorite recipes from the Indigo Tea Shop:

Apple Nut Squares

2 eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
2 cups apples, chopped
½ cup walnuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine eggs, sugar, and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add egg mixture to flour mixture and combine. Stir in apples and nuts. Spread mixture into a greased and floured 8” x 12” pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool and then cut into squares. Yields about 12 squares.

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You can read more about Theo in Pekoe Most Poison the 17th book in the “Tea Shop” mystery series.

In the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs, Theodosia Browning attends a “Rat Tea,” where the mice will play. . .at murder.

When Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is invited by Doreen Briggs, one of Charleston’s most prominent hostesses, to a “Rat Tea,” she is understandably intrigued. As servers dressed in rodent costumes and wearing white gloves offer elegant finger sandwiches and fine teas, Theo learns these parties date back to early twentieth-century Charleston, where the cream of society would sponsor so-called rat teas to promote city rodent control and better public health.

But this party goes from odd to chaotic when a fire starts at one of the tables and Doreen’s entrepreneur husband suddenly goes into convulsions and drops dead. Has his favorite orange pekoe tea been poisoned? Theo smells a rat.

The distraught Doreen soon engages Theo to pursue a discreet inquiry into who might have murdered her husband. As Theo and her tea sommelier review the guest list for suspects, they soon find themselves drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. . .

Includes recipes and tea time tips

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About the author
Laura Childs is the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced two reality TV shows. She is married to Dr. Bob, a professor of Chinese art history, enjoys travel, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs. Connect with Laura at laurachilds.com.

All comments are welcomed.

Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Pekoe Most Poison. US entries only, please. The giveaway ends March 10, 2017. Good luck everyone!

Pekoe Most Poison is available at retail and online booksellers or you can ask your local library to get it for you.

A Day in the Life with Suzanne Dietz by Laura Childs

When autumn lingers and the oaks and maples are still brazenly showing fall foliage, it’s a fine time to take a drive in the country and pick up some wheels of Cheddar cheese at Mike Mullen’s dairy farm. That sounds easy enough, right? But a couple of days ago, it all blew up into a huge crisis. Walking into Mike’s barn, I was greeted by the urgent, upturned faces of four dozen cows that hadn’t been milked. Thinking something must have happened to Mike, I hurried back to his cheese workshop where all the magic happens. But when I went in, there was poor Mike, laying on the floor, blood spattered all over the place, and his clothes ripped to shreds as if he was some sort of desert island castaway.

And, yes, he was dead.

I’m no scaredy cat, so I stayed as calm as possible and called Sheriff Doogie. And then I called my fiancé Sam, who happens to be the town doctor. They came rip-roaring in, took a look at the scene of the crime, and sort of scratched their heads. They couldn’t imagine who would commit a terrible crime on such a mild-mannered farmer.

Well, the upshot of the whole thing is that now I’m embroiled in the murder investigation. And of course I’ve got the Cackleberry Club to run as well. Besides Sam, the Cackleberry Club, along with my partners Toni and Petra, are the loves of my life. We’re a homey little restaurant that makes everything from scratch (especially all manner of egg dishes!) and stages a ton of events such as our Knitter’s Tea and Friday night pizza party.

But back to the murder. I’ve got a few suspects on my short list. A shunned neighbor boy who may or may not be a witness. A strange, taciturn man who’s transporting horses to Canada. Mike’s unhappy wife Claudia. And a pushy corporate vendor who’s forever bulling his way into the Cackleberry Club.

Somehow, I manage to keep my good humor and my romance with Sam sizzling, all the while dealing with Junior’s broken leg, a wild chase through the woods, prowlers in my backyard, and stolen horses. Sound like my plate is full? It surely is. So please please stop by the Cackleberry Club and let us fill your plate, too. Or as least share a few of our delicious recipes. Because Egg Drop Dead is outrageous and downright fun. It’s a new kind of thriller-cozy (a thrillzy!) that’s liberally sprinkled with humor and packed with twists and turns you’ll never see coming!

Bonus recipe! Warm up your winter days with Egg Drop Dead Soup

Egg Drop Dead Soup

2 cups Chicken Broth
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 eggs, beaten
2 small green onions, chopped finely
Salt and pepper to taste

In a saucepan, bring chicken broth, ground ginger, and soy sauce to a simmer. Slowly stream in the beaten eggs while stirring the soup in one direction. Add chopped green onions. Add salt and pepper to taste. Yields 4 servings.

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Egg Drop Dead is the seventh book in the Cackleberry Club mystery series, published by Penguin Random House, December 2016.

In Laura Childs’s New York Times bestselling mystery series, Suzanne, Petra, and Toni—co-owners of the Cackleberry Club café—are back to track down another bad egg. . .

Maintaining good personal relationships with their suppliers is one of the secrets of the Cackleberry Club café’s success, so Suzanne doesn’t mind going out to Mike Mullen’s dairy farm to pick up some wheels of cheese. She’s looking forward to a nice visit with the mild-mannered farmer before heading back to their hectic kitchen.

But when she arrives, Mike’s nowhere to be found. The moaning of his cows leads her to look in the barn, where she discovers a bloodcurdling sight—the farmer’s dead body. Apparently not everyone was as fond of Mike Mullen as the Cackleberry Club.

Churning with grief and outrage, Suzanne, Petra, and Toni vow to find the farmer’s murderer—but as they get closer to the truth, the desperate killer gets whipped into a frenzy and plans to put the squeeze on them. . .

RECIPES INCLUDED!

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About the author
Laura Childs is the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced two reality TV shows. She is married to Dr. Bob, a professor of Chinese art history, enjoys travel, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs. Visit Laura at laurachilds.com.

All comments are welcomed.

Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Egg Drop Dead. US entries only, please. The giveaway ends December 11, 2016. Good luck everyone!

A Day in the Life of Carmela Bertrand by Laura Childs

Holidays in the French Quarter of New Orleans mean cathedral concerts, fancy reveillon dinners, and the traditional Winter Market. Which probably sounds idyllic, right? But here’s the thing – my very best friend, Ava, and I were strolling through the Winter Market the other night, looking at jewelry, nibbling tasty food from the food vendors, and drinking wine (lots of wine!) when the most awful thing happened. Suddenly, out of nowhere, we heard a horrible moaning and gurgling sound, as if some poor soul was being strangled. Then, imagine our shock when a man staggered out from behind one of the tents with an enormous kitchen fork stuck in his throat! I mean, this guy looked like some awful kind of zombie. He clomped right up to us with this strange dead-eyed look, still gibbering and moaning, causing poor Ava to let loose a blood curdling scream. And then, with his carotid artery spewing blood like a New Orleans courtyard fountain – he fell over dead!

Of course the police and ambulances came rip-roaring in. And when a few things got sorted out, the dead guy turned out to be Martin Lash, a crusty restaurant reviewer for the Glutton for Punishment food blog.

Then another huge problem reared its ugly head. The police turned a cold, hard eye on Quigg Brevard, a good looking dude who happens to be my old flame as well as a local restauranteur who’d just had a rather public squabble with Lash. Much to my consternation, Quigg begged me to jump in and help clear his good name. I know I shouldn’t have agreed to help, but how could I say no? (He is quite the charmer.)

But the tricky thing is, I’m dating Detective Edgar Babcock, who just happens to be investigating this heinous crime. So while I’m at Memory Mine, my Scrapbook Shop in the French Quarter, teaching classes and waiting on customers, I’m also secretly investigating Martin Lash’s murder.

There are a whole bunch of suspects, too. From restaurant owners who got burned by Lash’s vicious reviews, to a couple of real estate developers who were building condos on some wetland that Lash had pledged to protect.

And then, to add fuel to the fire, there’s been another murder.

So now Ava and I are thoroughly embroiled in trying to solve this case. We’re also enjoying our usual romp through New Orleans, eating the finest foods, flirting with eligible men, flaunting the latest fashions, and (oh yeah!) running for our lives through the bayous and being chased through those crazy above-ground cemeteries.

Is Crepe Factor outrageous? Yes. It’s a thriller-cozy (a thrillzy) that’s liberally sprinkled with humor and packed with exciting scrapbook and craft tips!

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Crepe Factor is the 14th book in the Scrapbooking mystery series, published by Penguin Random House, October 2016.

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.

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About the author
Laura Childs is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show. She is married to Dr. Bob, a professor of Chinese art history, enjoys travel, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

All comments are welcomed.

Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Crepe Factor. US entries only, please. The giveaway ends October 7, 2016 at 11:59 AM EST. Good luck everyone!

A Day in the Life of Theodosia Browning by Laura Childs

I stared in awe at the glittering butterfly brooch crusted with emeralds, diamonds, rubies, and amethysts. It was spectacular, just one of the myriad pieces at the Jewelry Extravaganza that my friend Brooke Carter Crocket had arranged. She’d begged and borrowed from the finest museums and jewelers – Tiffany, Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels – to stage this special black tie presentation. And everyone from the hoi-poloi of Charleston, South Carolina was here tonight to drink champagne and gasp at these magnificent antique and collectible gems.

Of course, I’d have to sell about a million scones and serve another million cups of Darjeeling tea at my Indigo Tea Shop to even begin to afford one of these pricey baubles. Still, a girl could dream.

But as champagne corks popped and bone china teacups clinked, there was a sudden earsplitting crack. What on earth, I wondered? Glancing around, I feared some hapless guest had fallen headlong into a glass case. Instead, what I saw stunned me. Like a knife slicing through butter, the shiny chrome grill of a black SUV shoved its way right through the showroom’s front window.

Shards of glass flew everywhere, nicking and slashing the guests. Surprised cries turned to terrified screams as everyone lurched and fought to get out of the way. Even more frightening, the enormous black truck relentlessly powered its way into the shop, all cylinders firing, its engine roaring like a runaway locomotive.

Like special effects in an action flick, two more panels of glass exploded inward like a hail of bullets. Everyone shrieked in terror again and I felt the sting of glass and plaster as it rained down upon the back of my neck.

Scrambling on hands and knees now, I ducked behind the sales counter, figuring it might offer better protection than an all-glass display case.

Still, the situation was horrible. People were injured and screaming for help. Careful, fearful of what I might see, I peered around the end of the counter.

The jewelry shop was pure chaos, a war zone. The black SUV was all the way inside the shop, its throaty engine still rumbling. Slivers of glass lay everywhere while guests crouched on their hands and knees, cut and bleeding. My first thought was, “Who’s hurt?” and “How can I help?” Then my gaze shifted and I found myself staring directly into the blazing eyes of a red demon!

But no, the more rational part of my brain told her it was someone, a person, wearing a hideous demon mask. A terrorist? Here in little old Charleston?

Quick as a snapping turtle’s bite, two more demons tumbled out of the black truck, all dressed head to toe in black clothing and looking like hellish clowns in some bizarre circus act.

“Down! Down! Everybody down!” one of the demons screamed.

I was pretty sure the screamer carried a snub-nosed pistol in his right hand, so I ducked behind the case again. A split-second later, a surge of adrenaline kicked in and I realized I was probably smack dab in the middle of a highly orchestrated, smash and grab robbery. It was the kind of bold robbery I’d only heard about – the kind that took place in Paris or Monaco where daring vandals slammed vehicles directly through storefronts and made off with millions of dollars worth of diamond jewelry or Chanel handbags.

I snuck another look just as one of the demon invaders pulled a silver canister from his jacket pocket.

“Go!” the demon shouted to his companions.

Now all three robbers pulled gas masks over their demon faces. The leader twisted the lid, there was a loud pop, and black smoke billowed from the canister. A smoke bomb!

The vandals, all wearing rubber gas masks that made them look like high tech versions of the Elephant Man, went straight to work like practiced professionals. Brandishing crowbars and shiny hammers, they methodically smashed every showcase, grabbing pearls, diamonds, and gold jewelry from their black velvet nests. Every precious piece of jewelry was snatched up and all I could do was watch, scrunch down, and dial 9-1-1 on my cell phone.

It seemed like forever before I heard the blaring sirens of the police cruisers and ambulances arriving on the scene. By that time, the jewelry was gone and so were the robbers. Dear lord, what a way to end the day!

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Devonshire Scream is the 17th book in the Tea Shop mystery series published by Berkley Prime Crime, March 2016.

In this cozy-thriller, tea shop maven Theodosia Browning tries to track down a gang of jewel thieves who stage a daring “smash and grab” raid during a fancy soiree at Heart’s Desire Fine Jewelry in Charleston. Could it be the wealthy yacht broker, transplanted European, motorcycle-riding tough guy, or mild-mannered professor? The FBI thinks international jewel thieves are at work, but when the Heritage Society decides to put a priceless Faberge Egg on display, Theodosia takes matters into her own hands and investigates. From New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs, Devonshire Scream delivers a gripping, realistic murder that also includes tea tips and recipes for Cranberry Cream Scones, Shortbread Squares, and Waldorf Tea Sandwiches.

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About the author
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty-eight mysteries, including the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. Little Girl Gone, the first book in her new Afton Tangler Thriller Series, hits bookstores July 5. Laura is the former CEO of her own marketing firm, has won dozens of TV and radio awards, written three screenplays, and produced two reality TV shows. She and her college professor husband enjoy travel and their two Shar-Pei dogs. Visit Laura at www.laurachilds.com and Facebook

Giveaway: Laura is giving away a hardcover copy of Devonshire Scream to one lucky winner. Leave comment below for your chance to win. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end March 22, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!

All comments are welcomed.

Another Day in the Life with Carmela Bertrand by Laura Childs

Occupation: Proprietor of Memory Mine Scrapbook Shop

It’s autumn again in New Orleans. Which means it’s time to light up the pumpkins and grab a shroud for this very spooky time of year.

And here’s the thing, even though my best friend Ava owns a voodoo shop, I really don’t go looking for trouble. It just seems to find me. Just the other night, after a delightful dinner at Commander’s Palace with my very hunky boyfriend Edgar Babcock, I was pulled into a murder.

Shrieks from the nearby Lafayette Cemetery had us running in to help even though the fog was trickling between tombstones and the wind was moaning in the trees. What did we find? A murdered bride-to-be. A bride-to-be who was also the sister of Ava’s fortune teller, Ellie Black.

So here I am, pulled into a nasty crime, trying to snoop out a dangerous killer. And every step of the way I find myself threatened by a truly dysfunctional group of very nasty suspects. As luck would have it, however, there happen to be a few clues – some snippets of antique lace and pieces of parchment paper. Was someone making a scrapbook? Or do these clues lead somewhere else? That’s what I’m trying to figure out. And, believe me, it isn’t easy when you feel like you’ve been plunged into a classic Gothic mystery. Yes, this crime has all the elements – spooky New Orleans cemetery, bonkers mother-in-law, creaking Garden District mansions, and lots of twists and turns.

Good thing I’ve got my BFF Ava to help out. She’s a crazy Southern gal and former beauty queen who’s basically unhinged. She wears outrageous outfits (like leather and leopard), does Botox, and bats her fake eyelashes at any guy who comes within ten feet of her.

But that’s another story. Right now I’ve got to get cracking and investigate something called a Mourning Cloak Show at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Can you believe it? They have a display of mourning clothes from the late eighteen hundreds. I wonder if I’ll stumble onto something? I wonder if the antique lace we found at the murder scene will match some of their lace?

And afterwards, Ava wants to drag me back to the cemetery for a séance – to see if we can contact our poor murdered bride-to-be. Holy cats. The way things are going, I wonder if I’ll come out of this alive!

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You can read more about Carmela in Parchment and Old Lace, the 13th book in the “Scrapbooking” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Keepsake Crimes.

Parchment and Old Lace Book Description

In this cozy-thriller, scrapbook maven Carmela Bertrand tries to track down the killer of a young bride-to-be who’s been brutally murdered in a New Orleans cemetery. Could it be the conflicted groom, stalker attorney, jealous bridesmaid, or crazy mother-in-law to be? As Carmela sorts through this dysfunctional group of suspects, a snippets of antique lace and parchment become critical clues. It all comes to a head at a raucous casino party and ends with a frantic chase through an abandoned theme park. From New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs, Parchment and Old Lace delivers a gripping, realistic mystery that also includes scrapbook tips and recipes for Pecan Pie Muffins, Sweet Potato Casserole, and Big Easy Butter Chicken.

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GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on October 15 for the chance to win a signed copy of Parchment and Old Lace. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Good luck everyone! Two lucky commenters will be randomly selected.

About the author
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty-five mysteries, including the Scrapbooking Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries, as well as the soon to be released Afton Tangler Thriller series. She is the former CEO of her own marketing firm, has won dozens of TV and radio awards, and produced two reality TV shows. She and her professor husband enjoy travel and their two Shar-Pei dogs. Visit Laura at www.laurachilds.com.

There’s Always A Body With Theodosia Browning by Laura Childs

Normally I’m not a big fan of black-tie affairs. In fact, I usually don’t get all gussied up for all the tea in China. But tonight was different. I could hardly say no to my handsome, hunky boyfriend who’s the PR guy at the Gibbes Museum in Charleston, SC.

Unfortunately, the evening was problematic from the get-go. First of all, the crowd was enormous – all the museum’s big buck donors had come to see and celebrate the opening of an authentic Chinese tea house. There were beating drums, dancing dragons, lots of tea and Chinese dim-sum, and . . . something quite nasty, too.

Here’s the thing. All I did was peek into the photo booth that had been brought in for the amusement of the rich guests. But you know what I found inside? A body. That’s right, a dead body! And now everyone is running around like a bunch of frightened chickens. The police have cordoned off the premises, the detectives are questioning everyone, and it looks like my boyfriend is in danger of losing his job.

Obviously, this put me on high alert and I immediately started sniffing around for clues. Well, it didn’t take long to put together an entire roster of suspects. Now I just have to dig in, get smart, and question a bunch of slightly quirky people. Oh, and I have to run the Indigo Tea Shop as well, and honcho our Titanic Tea and our Tower of London Tea. And then there’s the big Halloween celebration in the Historic District.

To top things off, I’ve got an annoying newspaper reporter buzzing around me, the newly-minted widow is weeping on my shoulder with a case of full-blown hysterics, and now I’m hearing a hint of infidelity on the dead guy’s part.

How does this all turn out? I’d love to stick around and chat with you, but I think you’d enjoy the story even more if you read Ming Tea Murder for yourself!

Love,
Theodosia

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You can read more about Theodosia in Ming Tea Murder, the 16th book in the “Tea Shop” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Death By Darjeeling.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on May 20 for the chance to win a print copy of Ming Tea Murder. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Two lucky commenters will be randomly selected. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.

About the author
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Cackleberry Club Mysteries, and Scrapbook Mysteries, and a recent recipient of the Romantic Times Book Review’s Award for Best Amateur Sleuth. 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, enjoys fund-raising for various non-profit organizations, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

A New Day in the Life of Suzanne Deitz by Laura Childs

proprietor of the Cackleberry Club

It’s been a crazy summer and I’d hoped things would settle down here at the Cackleberry Club. Unfortunately, that’s just not been the case. A few days ago (while I was getting my roots touched up), there was a terrible fire in downtown Kindred and Hannah Venable, a dear friend, was killed. Now Sheriff Doogie is telling us (that’s Toni, Petra, and myself) that it may have been arson!

Obviously, that put the three of us on high alert, so we started sniffing around for clues. We came up with a number of suspects that we’re keeping an eye on right now – a vengeful husband, an ex-fireman, and an expert in explosives. I know tracking down a killer sounds like a terribly difficult task, but the ladies and I have vowed to figure this out. Of course, we’ve had a few other things heaped on our plates, too. Besides running the café, there’s the horse show at the county fair, Kit Kazlik’s vintage wedding, a fancy sunflower tea party, and our big dinner theatre on Saturday night.

To top things off, a baby owl tumbled out of the tree right behind the Cackleberry Club. I’ve been taking care of the poor thing, feeding it “owl smoothies” with an eyedropper, but now I have to somehow get it back to its mama. And of course Toni wants me to go to Cherry Bomb Night at Schmitt’s Bar. Oh, and I still have to write my newspaper column with recipes for Sour Cream Coffee Cake, Cheese Popovers, and Scorched Eggs.

How does this all turn out? Well, I’d love to stick around and chat with you, but I think you’d enjoy the story even more if you read Scorched Eggs for yourself!

Love,
Suzanne

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You can read more about Suzanne in Scorched Eggs, the sixth book in the “Cackleberry Club” mystery series, published by Berkley Primce Crime. The first book in the series is Eggs in Purgatory.

Scorched Eggs Synopsis

In this cozy-thriller (thrillzy?) Suzanne, Toni, and Petra preside over the Cackleberry Club café in the small town of Kindred. Eggs are the specialty here, with murder on the side. But when a fire engulfs the downtown area, the ladies hearts are broken – a dear friend has been killed and all signs point to arson! The ladies attempt to track down the killer as author Laura Childs delivers a banquet of crazy – ladies on the high side of fort, explosives, scary clowns, baby owls, romance, and rodeo writing. Scorched Eggs is a gripping mystery that includes recipes for Chilled Blueberry Soup, Eggs in a Frame, Cheese Popovers, and Scorched Eggs.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on December 8 for the chance to win a copy of SCORCHED EGGS. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

About the author
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Cackleberry Club Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries, and Scrapbook Mysteries, and a recent recipient of the Romantic Times Book Review’s Award for Best Amateur Sleuth. 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, enjoys fund-raising for various non-profit organizations, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

A Day in the Life of Carmela Bertrand by Laura Childs

It was Halloween in New Orleans. A week-long, rabble rousing celebration that grew bigger, badder, and crazier every year. A time for would-be werewolves, witches, and zombies to throw on a wig, howl at the moon, and paint the town the bright red color of fake vampire blood.

Carmela Bertrand, the owner of Memory Mine Scrapbook Shop, was no exception. This year she was debating the merits of wearing a Medieval costume versus a sexy witch dress.

Because what’s a girl to do when she has dozens of party invitations and was dating one of the hottest police detectives in the Big Easy?

Carmela grinned to herself as she grabbed her jacket and latched the door behind her. Stepping out onto Governor Nicholls street, she exhaled softly. Evenings in the French Quarter never failed to impart a sweet contentment. After all, who wouldn’t love to gaze at a purple-black sky that served as a dramatic backdrop for two hundred year-old brick buildings? Or wander through courtyard gardens with pattering fountains and giant froths of jasmine and magnolias?

Pausing outside her front window, Carmela eyed her display of scrapbooks, memory boxes, and altered books. Over the past few years, she’d built Memory Mine into a thriving business, discovering along the way that she actually enjoyed being a small business owner. One of many here on Governor Nicholls Street with its plethora of gift shops, antique shops, and what have you.

What have you?

That thought caused her to pause outside the window of Oddities, the shop next door to hers. Oddities was a strange business run by the even stranger Marcus Joubert. His macabre mix of merchandise included taxidermy animals, funeral jewelry, steam punk, and bleached animal skulls. She’d once spotted an apparatus that looked suspiciously like a thumbscrew.

Tonight, Carmela noted a pair of old leather goggles, piece of scrimshaw, and a top hat and dagger.

For some reason the top hat and dagger struck her as something Jack the Ripper might have had in his possession. Might have even treasured.

Carmela was about to walk away when she heard a funny and slightly ominous series of noises emanating from inside. What might have been a muffled scream followed by a dull thump.

She stepped closer to the window, to see what was happening. No luck. Lights from the street created a nasty, kaleidoscopic glare.

Still . . . she’d heard something, right?

Carmela, who was generally practical in nature but blessed (cursed?) with a giant dollop of inquisitiveness, decided it might be smart to investigate.

What if Marcus Joubert had taken ill? What if the sounds she heard were of him staggering and falling? So . . . just a quick peek?

Turning the brass doorknob, Carmela stepped inside to total darkness. Unnatural warmth washed over her, as if a space heater had been left on. A clock ticked monotonously. Moments passed and she realized the shop wasn’t completely dark after all. Pinprick spotlights glowed from rafters like bat eyes, illuminating a suit of armor and a candelabra. A stained glass lamp cast a dim orange circle on a shelf alongside frayed leather books.

Unfortunately, none of those lights pumped out any real power. It was like walking into a dark cocktail lounge without the benefit of strong liquid refreshments.

“Marcus?” Carmela called out.

No answer.

“It’s Carmela from next door. I thought I heard something . . .” She advanced a few steps.

There was another noise.

Carmela drew back. Could it have been the soft snick of the back door? Had someone just now slipped out the back?

A prickly feeling, as if being watched by unseen eyes, made Carmela crank her head sharply to the left. And she found herself staring into the grimacing face of a stuffed capuchin monkey perched precariously on a shelf, condemned forever to wear a hideous purple vest and fez.

Startled by the snarling mouth and beady eyes, Carmela whirled away, caught her toe on the Oriental carpet, and stumbled. Her arms flailed in a last ditch effort to save herself, knocking hard against a tall, wooden curio cabinet.

As her hands skittered against wooden doors, the cabinet teetered. Fearing the entire piece was about to fall, Carmela fought to steady it. But the weighty cabinet was slowly tipping forward as its two front doors creaked open.

And like a corpse spilling out of Dr. Caligari’s closet, the dead, bloody body of Marcus Joubert suddenly lurched out at her!

Carmela jumped backwards in shock. No matter, the body tumbled relentlessly toward her in horrible slow motion. There was a low moan, like the stinking sigh of a zombie, as a final air bubble released from the deep recess of his lungs. And then Joubert’s body flopped cold and bloody into Carmela’s outstretched arms!

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You can read more about Carmela in Gossamer Ghost, the 12th book in the “Scrapbook” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Keepsake Crimes.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on October 17 for the chance to win a copy of GOSSAMER GHOST. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

Meet the author
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Scrapbook Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries, and a recent recipient of the Romantic Times Book Review’s Award for Best Amateur Sleuth. 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-profit organizations, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Steeped in Evil by Laura Childs

Steeped in Evil by Laura Childs is the 15th book in the “Tea Shop” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, March 2014

In the newest mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Sweet Tea Revenge, Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is about to learn the true meaning of terroir.

Theodosia Browning has never considered herself a wine connoisseur—tea has always been her forte. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to pass up an invitation to a fancy wine-tasting party at the upscale Knighthall Winery, just outside of Charleston, South Carolina.

But a sweet evening takes on a bitter aftertaste when a dead body is discovered in one of the wine barrels. The son of proprietor Jordan Knight has been murdered.

Dissatisfied with the police investigation, Knight turns to Theo for help. She’s heard through the grapevine that there are both family and business problems at Knighthall. They say in vino veritas, but everyone at the winery seems to be lying through their teeth. Sorting through the guest list as well as family and staff, Theo has her pick of suspects. It may look like the killer has her over a barrel, but cracking tough cases is vintage Theodosia Browning.

I like it. How could I have missed this series? This is the first book that I’m reading in this charming series and it was very enjoyable. Theo is a wonderful character and I like how she gathered all the clues that resulted in the apprehension of a killer. This evenly paced tome hit the right spot giving us enough intrigue to keep me drawn to the story. The suspects were plenty and every time I thought I had a handle on the culprit, the author had some tricks up her sleeve to point me in another direction and boy was I surprised when the killer was revealed. This was a well-written whodunit that put me in the middle of all the action and I look forward to more teas with Theo and her friends.

previously posted on the Cozy Chicks blog