Gossamer Ghost

By: Laura Childs

Narrated by: Danielle Ferland

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Carmela Bertrand knows that Halloween in New Orleans means a week of rabble-rousing, costumed craziness - and she can't wait to get the party started. But when a local antiques dealer turns up dead, Carmela suddenly finds herself in a real-life danse macabre.… An evening's work deciding on the class schedule for her scrapbooking shop has put Carmela in the mood to kick up her heels. But after some strange noises draw her into Oddities, the neighboring antiques shop, Carmela's night is abruptly put on hold when a bloody body falls out of a curio cabinet - and into her arms. While shop owner Marcus Joubert was known for being an eccentric with a penchant for eclectic merchandise, Carmela never thought he was the kind of man who could inspire the passion required to kill. But when Marcus' assistant - and fiancée - Mavis reveals that a priceless death mask was also stolen, it becomes clear that murder wasn't the culprit's sole intention. Carmela can't resist the urge to investigate the growing mystery, but as the list of suspects increases, she realizes it'll take every trick in the book to unmask the killer thief before there's another night of murderous mischief…

©2014 Gerry Schmidt & Associates, Inc. (P)2014 Recorded Books

It's Halloween week in the Big Easy

Memory Mine scrapbooking shop owner, Carmella Bertrand, and Ava Gruiex, owner of JuJu Voodoo are BFFs but nothing alike. Ava is the friend everyone needs in their life. You're never sure about what is going to come out of their mouth, or what hilarious nonsense she will come up with next and both she and Carmella are faithful friends to each other.
In this episode/book it is Ava and Jekyll and other colorful characters that add the humor.

Oh, the “get ups” they and Carmella come up with… It is Halloween week after all.
As a scrapbooker and someone who likes to cook and try new things, I like to read about scrapbooking and cooking. To have it mixed in with a mystery to solve makes a wonderful combination. There are always several possibilities for the murderer in Ms. Childs’ books which make them fun and the backdrop of Halloween in New Orleans makes this book even more so. At the end, it was a little on the slap-stick side but I enjoyed it none the less.

As a plus, these books always have craft and scrapbook ideas at the end as well as New Orleans recipes. Tonight I tried the Pork Chops and Cream Corn. It was both tasty, super simple, and fast to put together.

Horrible Narrator

The narrator is caustic and clipped. Will not be listening to anymore books with her reading.

I am not 8 y/o

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

a different name for carmella.- sounds like her mom was high on ooey gooey marsmallow ice cream topping when she named her.

What didn’t you like about Danielle Ferland’s performance?

she sounds like she thinks she's reading dr. suess to 8 year olds. she'd be great reading kids stuff, but I keep thinking she's reading with a smile on her face and a finger in her cheek.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment in the narrator

Any additional comments?

sorry - I don't like not liking something