Laura Childs Motif for Murder

Motif for Murder

Laura Childs

Berkley, Sept 2006, $22.95, 288 pp.

ISBN 0425212041

Although Carmela and Shamus have been separated for a while, they are now back together living in the Garden State mansion that belongs to his sister Glory who hates her sister-in-law. One morning when Shamus goes downstairs to make breakfast for Carmela, she hears a noise; she goes down to investigate and she sees a car pull away with Shamus in the trunk. An upset Carmela goes across the street to talk to Uncle Henry only to find him shot to death.

When Glory finds out what happened to Henry and Shamus, she kicks Carmela out of her mansion. The kidnappers call Carmela saying they want five million dollars in exchange for Shamus. She receives a note from Shamus asking her to meet the demands of the kidnappers, but it also contains a clue to his whereabouts. She and her friend Ava look for and find him but the danger isn't over because the kidnappers aren't the mastermind which means they are still in danger. Carmela almost gets killed twice by a merciless stone cold greedy killer.

Laura Childs writes an entertaining who-done-it that takes place in New Orleans in the post Katrina days. Readers get an idea how the residents coped with the clean up and how happy they are that the French quarter is nearly back to normal. The mystery is well thought out with many suspects and enough red herrings to keep things interesting. The heroine is a plucky, strong and independent woman who takes charge when necessary as she is the original steel magnolia

Harriet Klausner