Carmela Bertrand is the owner of a New Orleans scrapbooking shop called Memory Mine, located not far from the French Quarter. Just as the city is gearing up for Mardi Gras, Carmela has agreed to be interviewed by Kimber Breeze, a news reporter for local station KBEZ-TV. Although Carmela isn't a big fan of Kimber's, she knows it would be foolish to turn down free publicity for her store. Just as the interview is about to take place on the balcony from the fourth floor on the Hotel Tremain overlooking the French Quarter, someone sneaks into the hotel and hangs Kimber from the balcony with an equipment cord.

Carmela is understandably shaken up by this, and her penchant for sleuthing leads her detective boyfriend to warn her to stay away from the case, especially since she was at the scene of the crime. But things get even stranger when Carmela begins to receive postcards seemingly signed by Kimber, pleading for help. Who would send something this macabre? Is it a clue to the murder?

Carmela can't help herself, and she's soon putting together a list of suspects that grows rather than narrowing. Kimbers ambition could have provided a motive, but her uneasy family situation could have just as easily had something to do with her death, as well. Soon, Carmela is juggling Mardi Gras activities, her relationship with her boyfriend (which could be jeopardised with her amateur detecting attempts), and trying to solve a murder. But will she be able to figure everything out before she becomes a victim?

POSTCARDS FROM THE DEAD is the tenth book in the Scrapbooking Mysteries series, but it the was the first book in this series I have read. The author did a great job of filling in most of the history (such as how all of the characters were related to Carmela, why she and her ex-husband are no longer together, and who her friends are) without giving away plot points in previous books. I enjoyed the way that she wove in local culture for those who are familiar with New Orleans, just as she integrated scrapbooking tips for those who either enjoy or want to learn more about that particular hobby.

The plot itself was well done, with suspects and motives that made sense without feeling forced. There wasn't an overplayed red herring character, and the ample clues were provided so any reader could feasibly solve the mystery along with Carmela. The subplots were as interesting as the main plot, too. I particularly enjoyed trying to figure out whether the new oddities shop (and proprietor) was as sinister as Carmela's friend suspected.

Although this series was new to me, I would enjoy going back to read past books in the series and I'll definitely look forward to future releases!

Book Summary

New Orleans is in the throes of another fantastic Mardi Gras celebration when the party gets crashed by a murderer. Now a scrapbooking sleuth is going to have to stop the partying to catch the killer…

There’s a parade rolling through the historic French Quarter, with gigantic floats, silver beads, and dizzying lights—and Kimber Breeze of KBEZ-TV is broadcasting live from a small balcony on the fourth floor of the Hotel Tremain, interviewing locals and capturing the spectacle down below. Her next subject will be Carmela Bertrand, owner of Memory Mine scrapbooking shop. Carmela has never been a fan of Kimber, but she isn’t about to turn down the chance of good publicity for her shop.

But before Carmela’s shop gets its five minutes of fame, a killer slips onto the balcony and strangles Kimber with a cord, leaving her body dangling above the parade. Carmela is horrified, but she quickly discovers the nightmare isn’t over. Because someone is now leaving strange postcards at Carmela’s shop—signed by the dead Kimber. Now Carmela and her friend Ava will have to risk their own necks to find out who’s posing as a ghost—and to expose a killer…  

INCLUDES SCRAPBOOKING TIPS