title: Death Swatch (A Scrapbooking Mystery)
author:  Laura Childs 
description: A murder in the midst of Mardi Gras propels Childs's enjoyable sixth Scrapbooking mystery (after 2007's <i>Frill Kill</i>). Carmela Bertrand, the owner of the New Orleans scrapbook shop Memory Mine, and her best friend, Ava Gruiex, are eager to begin the festivities with a party hosted by their float designer pal, Jekyl Hardy. But the discovery of the garroted Archie Baudier, Jekyl's assistant, puts a damper on the fun. In their efforts to solve the murder, Carmela and Ava encounter a host of eccentric characters, including a sullen Russian, a rare coin dealer, a meek curator of the local historical society and all manner of costumed party-goers. Carmela, in the process of a divorce, also meets dapper police lieutenant Edgar Babcock, who might be unappreciative of her investigative efforts but provides some romantic heat. Glossing over the effects of Hurricane Katrina, Childs paints a picture of New Orleans sure to appeal to cozy fans. <i>(Sept.)</i> <br />Copyright  Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
zlib_text: ![](index-1_1.jpg)
  
  
  ![](index-3_1.png)
  
  
  **EDGE**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## **DG**
  
  
  **BAT** O **TLE**
  
  
  F
  
  
  **T TLE**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## **AT T**
  
  
  ### DALE BROWN
  
  
  
  
  
  Contents
  
  
  [Cast of Characters ](index_split_000.html#6)
  
  
  iv
  
  
  [Weapons ](index_split_000.html#10)
  
  
  viii
  
  
  [Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Terminology ](index_split_000.html#12)
  
  
  x
  
  
  [Real-World News Excerpts ](index_split_000.html#16)
  
  
  xiv
  
  
  [Prologue ](index_split_000.html#25)
  
  
  The youngest child in the group, an eleven-month-old
  
  
  girl,
  
  
  died…
  
  
  1
  
  
  [Chapter 1](index_split_000.html#45)
  
  
  “Don’t talk to me about bigotry, xenophobia, or
  
  
  racism,”
  
  
  Bob…
  
  
  21
  
  
  [Chapter 2](index_split_000.html#68)
  
  
  Any business consultant would have told them what
  
  
  they
  
  
  already…
  
  
  44
  
  
  [Chapter 3 ](index_split_000.html#109)
  
  
  Army National Guard Captain Ben Gray of the 1st
  
  
  Battalion,…
  
  
  85
  
  
  [Chapter 4](index_split_000.html#160)
  
  
  The man jumped when he saw the American military
  
  
  officer…
  
  
  136
  
  
  [Chapter 5](index_split_000.html#188)
  
  
  “Welcome t