Death Swatch: A Scrapbooking Mystery    by Laura Childs Order:  USA  Can Berkley, 2008 (2008) Hardcover     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Death Swatch, Laura Childs' sixth mystery in her Scrapbooking series, proves to be another delightful romp through New Orleans and its pre-season Mardi Gras. The atmosphere is frenetic, with the local shopkeepers preparing for the onslaught of tourists to share in the New Orleans revelry, while at the same time themselves attempting to take in as much of the fun as they can manage. No one expected they would have to add murder to the mix. Jeykl Hardy, float builder and designer, is in the midst of pouring champagne for guests at his annual party when one of those guests, Archie Baudier, is strangled with a length of barbed wire! Enter the police and all bets are off. Edgar Babcock, in charge of the official investigation, tries to persuade Scrapbook Shop owner Carmela Bertrand not to stick her curious nose into the murder inquiry. She and her friend Ava tend to get into the thick of things, and at times have put themselves in danger. This murder is no exception. Their snooping places them in several hairy situations. In the meantime, preparations for Archie's funeral are in place and the floats for the big parade are nearly ready. Leave it to Carmela and Ava to uncover the mystery, but not without fun dialogue and outlandish costumes A touch of romance lights Carmela's eyes - if only her almost-ex husband would sign the divorce papers. Scrapbooking advice and great recipes are welcome additions to the last pages of Death Swatch. Though the beach reading season is almost over, don't discount this prize of a cozy as a relaxing read. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews