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Fiber & Brimstone (2011)

by Laura Childs(Favorite Author)

3.78 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0425244024 (ISBN13: 9780425244029)

languge

English

genre

Mystery & Thriller

publisher

Berkley

series

A Scrapbooking Mystery

review 1: This book is just as good at the first one I read with her scrap book theme. Once again the heroine Carmela manages to get in the middle of murder. 2 dead bodies are discovered by her and Ava. Divorced from her husband she is now dating the police inspector who does not want her involved.It is Halloween time in New Orleans. A big deal from all accounts. A ballet called "Ballet Dracula", a tour through haunted sites and vampire sightings. A costume party where the theme is bondage. In between all that Carmela is trying to solve the crime in between running her scrap book store and her classes she is hosting. I am jealous of the ladies that have all the time to come in every day to her store and scrap book. Her life is exciting and on the edge.Can't wait until I get her next... more book and see what more trouble she can get into.
review 2: I picked up Fiber and Brimstone because I have read previous books in this series before, and it's Halloween and I wanted a Halloween-centered read. That being said, I have read a few in this series before and enjoyed them, although I am one of the few that DID NOT enjoy the Tea series written by Childs. In the tea series, I was just irked that Theodosia seems to run with a higher social-class and came across as "snobby", and I was turned off by it. Carmela never came off in that manner until this book, and I was disappointed by it. Things I have enjoyed in the Scrapbooking Mysteries/Fiber & Brimstone:*Wonderful New Orleans setting that incorportes the local flavor nicely* Crafting mystery centered around scrapbooking, which is enjoyable* Ava, Carmela's best friend is a scream & such an ecccentric character, owns the JuJu Voodoo shop* Edgar Babcock, homicide detective/snappy dappy dresser is likable but professional, I enjoy his and Carmela's banter.However, in this installment, it seemed like Ava and Carmela, along with Jekyll and Quigg just run around New Orleans attending one Halloween dig after another dressed in different Halloween outfits. Carmela barely works, and just comes across snarky with Babcock, when it's she that's really sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Another thing that bugs me is Carmela is divorced from rich-banker boy Shamus, even going so far as to fight for his childhood home in the divorce. Carmela is granted the house, and now she leaves it empty and proceeds to talk about selling it. However, if she needs something from him, she doesn't hesitate to call. This just came across to me as revengeful and petty, and it drug my opinion of her character down. The mystery was just so-so for me, but I did enjoy the Halloween setting. Alot of the secondary characters from previous installments barely made appearances such as Baby and Tandy, and I enjoyed them. I don't know, Carmela was a more likable character previously, now she comes across as spoiled and petty. I will try one more, maybe Skeleton Letters, to see if my opinion improves; however, if it doesn't this series will go the way of the Tea Series, in the NA (not again) pile. less

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