Picture a Minnesota storyteller who swapped boardrooms for cozy tearooms, crafting mysteries that keep readers hooked—meet Laura Childs! Under this pen name, Gerry Schmitt has become a New York Times bestselling author, enchanting fans with her thrilling yet charming cozy mysteries. Her knack for vivid settings and plucky heroines has made her a queen of the genre.
From Charleston’s historic streets to New Orleans’ spooky French Quarter, Childs’s stories blend local flavor with clever whodunits. With over 50 novels across three beloved series, she’s built a devoted following who can’t resist her ‘thrillzy’ style—a cozy mystery with the pace of a thriller.
The Making of Laura Childs
Born as Gerry Schmitt in rural Minnesota, Laura Childs grew up with a love for storytelling, penning her first short story, George the Ghost, at age six. Before becoming a literary star, she was a powerhouse in the marketing world, serving as CEO and Creative Director of her own firm. She even dabbled in screenplays and produced a reality TV show. But her passion for mysteries, inspired by frequent travels to Asia and a keen eye for human quirks, led her to writing. In 2001, she debuted as Laura Childs with Death by Darjeeling, launching her Tea Shop Mysteries and a new chapter in her life.
Laura Childs’s Unforgettable Stories
Childs’s Tea Shop Mysteries, set in Charleston, star Theodosia Browning, a savvy tea shop owner and amateur sleuth. In Death by Darjeeling, Theodosia solves a murder that threatens her Indigo Tea Shop’s reputation, all while serving perfect brews. The series, now spanning over 25 books, weaves Charleston’s history and charm into each plot, with recipes like scones and tea-infused treats tucked in the back.
The Scrapbooking Mysteries, set in New Orleans, follow Carmela Bertrand, whose Memory Mine shop is a hub for crafts and crime-solving. Keepsake Crimes kicks off the series with a Mardi Gras murder, blending the city’s jazz, voodoo, and spooky cemeteries into an edgier cozy vibe. The Cackleberry Club Mysteries, set in the fictional Midwest town of Kindred, feature three forty-something women—Suzanne, Toni, and Petra—running a café-bookshop. Eggs in Purgatory introduces their knack for cracking cases over egg dishes, with recipes and a dash of spirituality.
Known for her ‘thrillzy’ style, Childs crafts fast-paced plots with tasteful murders, likable heroines, and immersive settings. Her research shines through, from Charleston’s tea plantations to New Orleans’ Mardi Gras madness, making each book a mini-vacation with a mystery twist.
Why Laura Childs Matters
Laura Childs has redefined cozy mysteries, blending thriller-like excitement with the genre’s charm. Her strong female protagonists—entrepreneurial, witty, and independent—inspire readers, while her vivid settings make places like Charleston and New Orleans characters in their own right. With multiple New York Times bestsellers and a nod from Book Riot as one of the top cozy mystery series, Childs has cemented her legacy. Her books, packed with recipes and local lore, offer fans a comforting yet thrilling escape, proving cozies can be both fun and fierce.
- Pen Name: Laura Childs (Gerry Schmitt)
- Key Works: Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, Cackleberry Club Mysteries
- First Book: Death by Darjeeling (2001)
- Fun Fact: She’s a tea enthusiast and dog lover with two Chinese Shar-Peis!
Ready for a cozy mystery with a thrilling twist? Snag Death by Darjeeling and dive into Laura Childs’s charming, crime-solving world!