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Kiki Lowenstein Cozy Mystery Series #1-3
Kiki Lowenstein Box Set: The first three titles in the series--Paper, Scissors, Death; Cut, Crop & Die; and Ink, Red, Dead
The first three Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mysteries.
Fans of clean, funny cozies and hobbyists on the trail of fun-filled inspiration will tear through these pages.
This yummy bundle by Agatha Award finalist Joanna Campbell Slan showcases the author’s appealing gift for turning life’s most dismal moments into humor , yet making us feel there’s hope for us all, even at the darkest of times.
Fans of feel-good cozy mysteries, especially funny ones with animals or hobbies, should run, don’t walk, and pick up the pace if they love authors like Alexander McCall Smith, Hope Callaghan, Amy Vansant, and Carolyn Hart. A sure thing for craft cozy fans of Brianna Bates, Laura Childs, Lois Winston, and Mollie Cox Bryan.
"A nicely crafted cozy full of amusing moments, real-life insecurities, and scrapbooking tips." --Kirkus
Volume 1: PAPER, SCISSORS, DEATH
JUST BECAUSE HER HUSBAND’S NAKED, DEAD, AND IN A HOTEL BED…it might not be what it seems. But there’s that scarf in his mouth. Of course it is.
When pampered, passive Kiki Lowenstein’s husband suddenly turns up embarrassingly dead, Kiki transforms swiftly into a fighter, walking right out of her luxurious life and into a scrapbooking store, where she deftly turns a hobby into a moneymaker. As her husband’s secret life expands before her eyes, the police come for her, Family Services comes for her eleven-year-old daughter.
Only one the scrappy hobbyist turns into a budding detective.
Fellow hobbyists will love the way author Slan weaves the art of scrapbooking into the solution, and everyone will love Kiki herself. Slan also provides the ultimate a wonderful floppy-eared dog. Paper, Scissors, Death is the kind of mystery that keeps you turning the pages just to spend time with the characters, who somehow make you feel this could be you if your life turned upside down-- and make you hope you’d turn it around as gracefully.
Volume 2: CUT, CROP & DIE
SWEET MEMORIES MADE OF MURDER—
PASTRY, PIZZA, AND A POISONOUS PILL…
Recovering from financial ruin and the murder of her husband—she’s not saying which was worse—Kiki Lowenstein’s getting her life back on track as a professional scrapbooker, in charge of a huge event at the Missouri Botanical Garden. But during the scrapbooking soiree, somebody goes into anaphylactic shock and dies, right in front of half the hobbyists in the state of Missouri. Bad press for Kiki’s scrapbooking cred!
Author Slan weaves pro scrapbook sleuthing tips effortlessly into the plot, making the reader feel like they’re getting a crash course in cropping and hunting down a depraved murderer. It’s a double how-to for the price of one!
Volume 3: INK, RED, DEAD
AS MANY SECRETS AS PILES OF STUFF—
MURDER IN A HOARDER’S HAVEN…
Kiki and her hobby store co-worker arrive for a scrapbooking crop to discover their client passed out from heat stroke in her feline-filled hoarder’s haven… with a body in her freezer! With a helping hand from her longtime crush Detective Chad Detweiler, Kiki digs deep into a treasure trove of clues—from the hoarder’s semi-estranged children to her barely-touched inheritance—meticulously gluing the pieces together as only a scrapbooker could.
"This [series] should quickly become a favorite." --Booklist
Fans of clean, funny cozies and hobbyists on the trail of fun-filled inspiration will tear through these pages.
This yummy bundle by Agatha Award finalist Joanna Campbell Slan showcases the author’s appealing gift for turning life’s most dismal moments into humor , yet making us feel there’s hope for us all, even at the darkest of times.
Fans of feel-good cozy mysteries, especially funny ones with animals or hobbies, should run, don’t walk, and pick up the pace if they love authors like Alexander McCall Smith, Hope Callaghan, Amy Vansant, and Carolyn Hart. A sure thing for craft cozy fans of Brianna Bates, Laura Childs, Lois Winston, and Mollie Cox Bryan.
"A nicely crafted cozy full of amusing moments, real-life insecurities, and scrapbooking tips." --Kirkus
Volume 1: PAPER, SCISSORS, DEATH
JUST BECAUSE HER HUSBAND’S NAKED, DEAD, AND IN A HOTEL BED…it might not be what it seems. But there’s that scarf in his mouth. Of course it is.
When pampered, passive Kiki Lowenstein’s husband suddenly turns up embarrassingly dead, Kiki transforms swiftly into a fighter, walking right out of her luxurious life and into a scrapbooking store, where she deftly turns a hobby into a moneymaker. As her husband’s secret life expands before her eyes, the police come for her, Family Services comes for her eleven-year-old daughter.
Only one the scrappy hobbyist turns into a budding detective.
Fellow hobbyists will love the way author Slan weaves the art of scrapbooking into the solution, and everyone will love Kiki herself. Slan also provides the ultimate a wonderful floppy-eared dog. Paper, Scissors, Death is the kind of mystery that keeps you turning the pages just to spend time with the characters, who somehow make you feel this could be you if your life turned upside down-- and make you hope you’d turn it around as gracefully.
Volume 2: CUT, CROP & DIE
SWEET MEMORIES MADE OF MURDER—
PASTRY, PIZZA, AND A POISONOUS PILL…
Recovering from financial ruin and the murder of her husband—she’s not saying which was worse—Kiki Lowenstein’s getting her life back on track as a professional scrapbooker, in charge of a huge event at the Missouri Botanical Garden. But during the scrapbooking soiree, somebody goes into anaphylactic shock and dies, right in front of half the hobbyists in the state of Missouri. Bad press for Kiki’s scrapbooking cred!
Author Slan weaves pro scrapbook sleuthing tips effortlessly into the plot, making the reader feel like they’re getting a crash course in cropping and hunting down a depraved murderer. It’s a double how-to for the price of one!
Volume 3: INK, RED, DEAD
AS MANY SECRETS AS PILES OF STUFF—
MURDER IN A HOARDER’S HAVEN…
Kiki and her hobby store co-worker arrive for a scrapbooking crop to discover their client passed out from heat stroke in her feline-filled hoarder’s haven… with a body in her freezer! With a helping hand from her longtime crush Detective Chad Detweiler, Kiki digs deep into a treasure trove of clues—from the hoarder’s semi-estranged children to her barely-touched inheritance—meticulously gluing the pieces together as only a scrapbooker could.
"This [series] should quickly become a favorite." --Booklist
714 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2018
About the author
Joanna Campbell Slan
172 books883 followersNational bestselling and award-winning author Joanna Campbell Slan was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but she grew up in a small town in Indiana. After graduating from Ball State University with a degree in journalism, she worked as a newspaper reporter, a newspaper ad salesperson, a television talk show host, a college teacher, a public relations professional, and a motivational speaker. In that capacity, she was named by Sharing Ideas Magazine as “one of the top 25 speakers in the world.”
Slan's work has appeared in five of the New York Times Bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and one of those became a television show. She is the author of nearly 80 books, nonfiction and fiction, including Death of a Schoolgirl, which won the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence.
Joanna's personal essays have appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and one was made into a television program on the Pax Network. The college textbook Joanna wrote—Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience—has been praised as an invaluable resource by Benjamin Netanyahu’s speechwriter and endorsed by Toastmasters, International.
RT Book Reviews has called Joanna “one of mystery’s rising stars.” Her first novel—Paper, Scissors, Death—was an Agatha Award finalist. It features Kiki Lowenstein, a spunky single mom who lives in St. Louis. The sixth book in that series will be released Summer 2013.
Kirkus Reviews has said, “Slan’s mysteries are most valuable for the well-developed characters and the issues they raise.” RT Book Reviews has said, “Kiki is so darn entertaining that she’ll keep readers hooked.” A series of short stories featuring Kiki are available on Kindle.
Joanna’s newest series—The Jane Eyre Chronicles—began with Death of a Schoolgirl (Berkley) and continues with the release of Death of a Dowager. The series features Charlotte Brontë’s classic heroine Jane Eyre as an amateur sleuth.
As “Lila Dare,” Joanna has penned the fourth book in the Southern Beauty Shop series—Wave Good-bye.
Joanna is married to David Slan. The Slans live on Jupiter Island, Florida.
Website: www.JoannaSlan.com
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/JoannaCampbel...
Twitter: @JoannaSlan
Slan's work has appeared in five of the New York Times Bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and one of those became a television show. She is the author of nearly 80 books, nonfiction and fiction, including Death of a Schoolgirl, which won the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence.
Joanna's personal essays have appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and one was made into a television program on the Pax Network. The college textbook Joanna wrote—Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience—has been praised as an invaluable resource by Benjamin Netanyahu’s speechwriter and endorsed by Toastmasters, International.
RT Book Reviews has called Joanna “one of mystery’s rising stars.” Her first novel—Paper, Scissors, Death—was an Agatha Award finalist. It features Kiki Lowenstein, a spunky single mom who lives in St. Louis. The sixth book in that series will be released Summer 2013.
Kirkus Reviews has said, “Slan’s mysteries are most valuable for the well-developed characters and the issues they raise.” RT Book Reviews has said, “Kiki is so darn entertaining that she’ll keep readers hooked.” A series of short stories featuring Kiki are available on Kindle.
Joanna’s newest series—The Jane Eyre Chronicles—began with Death of a Schoolgirl (Berkley) and continues with the release of Death of a Dowager. The series features Charlotte Brontë’s classic heroine Jane Eyre as an amateur sleuth.
As “Lila Dare,” Joanna has penned the fourth book in the Southern Beauty Shop series—Wave Good-bye.
Joanna is married to David Slan. The Slans live on Jupiter Island, Florida.
Website: www.JoannaSlan.com
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/JoannaCampbel...
Twitter: @JoannaSlan
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 1, 2019
Three books. Great intro
This was my first introduction to this author and was a fun read. The lead character grows throughout the stories. There are different kinds of crafts mentioned. I will look for more books by this author.
This was my first introduction to this author and was a fun read. The lead character grows throughout the stories. There are different kinds of crafts mentioned. I will look for more books by this author.
June 1, 2020
This is a series that you just can't put down. I like the interaction of Kiki and her mother in law. There is another curve with every chapter and the characters are a delight. I look forward to the rest of the series. I don't intend to miss a single one of them.
September 7, 2020
Kiki
Each book solves the mystery of a dead body, or two. The first is her husband, who supposedly dies of normal causes. Not, was cheating on his wife and found out his partner was making off with money from their business.
Next was a scrapbooker, who died from an allergic reaction. She was s mean lady who had stolen one of her friends ideas and won a contest.
Lastly a dead body in a freezer of a scrapbooking lady who hoarded cats. And other ladies missing, but no bodies...
All the stories involve Kiki and her daughter Anya. A handsome police detective,Chad Detweiler. And Kiki's Jewish wealthy mother in law, Shield. Also includes many other interesting characters.
Each book solves the mystery of a dead body, or two. The first is her husband, who supposedly dies of normal causes. Not, was cheating on his wife and found out his partner was making off with money from their business.
Next was a scrapbooker, who died from an allergic reaction. She was s mean lady who had stolen one of her friends ideas and won a contest.
Lastly a dead body in a freezer of a scrapbooking lady who hoarded cats. And other ladies missing, but no bodies...
All the stories involve Kiki and her daughter Anya. A handsome police detective,Chad Detweiler. And Kiki's Jewish wealthy mother in law, Shield. Also includes many other interesting characters.
January 6, 2022
I can’t believe it took me this long to discover this series!
I started reading this set expecting just more cozy mysteries but they are so much more! Joanna Campbell Slan delivered good solid mysteries while including the elements of cozies that I really enjoy. The three books are well written and include humor, romance, danger, along with some good life lessons and statements about our society.
Kiki is a woman learning to be strong through adversity. Along the way, she is raising her daughter with a good moral compass, making new friends, and solving some murders. This is a thoroughly enjoyable series that any cozy lover will enjoy.
I started reading this set expecting just more cozy mysteries but they are so much more! Joanna Campbell Slan delivered good solid mysteries while including the elements of cozies that I really enjoy. The three books are well written and include humor, romance, danger, along with some good life lessons and statements about our society.
Kiki is a woman learning to be strong through adversity. Along the way, she is raising her daughter with a good moral compass, making new friends, and solving some murders. This is a thoroughly enjoyable series that any cozy lover will enjoy.
September 3, 2020
Scrapbooking Mysteries
I read the first three books of this series and thoroughly enjoyed them. Kiki, the main character, is real hoot. She,s a young widowed mother of a teenager daughter, who never finished college and has never had a job-until now! The books have the underlying theme of her husband's murder and the funky detective who's working the case. Lot's of fun characters, pets and murders! Can't wait to read the next one!
I read the first three books of this series and thoroughly enjoyed them. Kiki, the main character, is real hoot. She,s a young widowed mother of a teenager daughter, who never finished college and has never had a job-until now! The books have the underlying theme of her husband's murder and the funky detective who's working the case. Lot's of fun characters, pets and murders! Can't wait to read the next one!
October 29, 2021
Fun, suspenseful and entertaining!
I loved having Gracie in the story, as I have 2 Great Danes! I enjoyed the story not being too predictable. Whoever edited the book did a poor job, as there were many errors and that kind of takes away from the story. Overall, I would recommend the book!
I loved having Gracie in the story, as I have 2 Great Danes! I enjoyed the story not being too predictable. Whoever edited the book did a poor job, as there were many errors and that kind of takes away from the story. Overall, I would recommend the book!
July 12, 2024
Wonderful series
I buy so many books that I forget which ones I already have. I bought each of the 3 books in this box set individually, read them, and posted their reviews. I loved each book, but I must say book 3 was my absolute favorite in the series so far. The mystery, just wow!
I buy so many books that I forget which ones I already have. I bought each of the 3 books in this box set individually, read them, and posted their reviews. I loved each book, but I must say book 3 was my absolute favorite in the series so far. The mystery, just wow!
August 26, 2019
Fabulously entertaining
From the deep mysteries to the quirky characters to the fluffy animals, I cannot get enough of kiki and her adventures. Entertainment for hours, this author has captured it all in her stories and I am excited to stay up all night reading more!
From the deep mysteries to the quirky characters to the fluffy animals, I cannot get enough of kiki and her adventures. Entertainment for hours, this author has captured it all in her stories and I am excited to stay up all night reading more!
August 30, 2020
Murder and Scrapbooking
This is a well-written and delightful series. Even though bazaar murders take place, each story brought a smile to my face. Once you start reading you will not want to stop. These are cozy stories for sure!!!
This is a well-written and delightful series. Even though bazaar murders take place, each story brought a smile to my face. Once you start reading you will not want to stop. These are cozy stories for sure!!!
January 30, 2021
Loving Kiki
I am loving Kiki and her family and friends her adventures are interesting, funny but also involving I’m keen to read more of her story so have purchased her next adventure...go get em Kiki
I am loving Kiki and her family and friends her adventures are interesting, funny but also involving I’m keen to read more of her story so have purchased her next adventure...go get em Kiki
January 30, 2024
Story great; pace could improve.
Lots of good aspects to this series, but sometimes the author draws out the storyline interminably. In contrast, it got wrapped up really quickly and suddenly in the last chapter.
Lots of good aspects to this series, but sometimes the author draws out the storyline interminably. In contrast, it got wrapped up really quickly and suddenly in the last chapter.
August 25, 2020
Kiki loweenstein
Funny reading this story's the details and the trouble she gets in two and the solving murders it was hard to put down good reading
Funny reading this story's the details and the trouble she gets in two and the solving murders it was hard to put down good reading
September 11, 2020
Kiki is a most delightful character! The first 3 books in the series were a lot of fun...looking forward to more of her adventures!
October 26, 2020
I really love this series. Kiki always finds herself in some sort of trouble, but is always able to figure it out.
December 29, 2020
What a neat series. I loved Kiki and the other characters. I really enjoyed the scrapbooking angle too.
My only criticism would be that editing is needed in the 3rd book. And Detweiler. He's luke warm and insipid. Not right for her.
My only criticism would be that editing is needed in the 3rd book. And Detweiler. He's luke warm and insipid. Not right for her.
February 21, 2021
Great
I love the Kiki books. I l a n about scrap booking and life at the same time. Kiki is a role model for improving oneself.
I love the Kiki books. I l a n about scrap booking and life at the same time. Kiki is a role model for improving oneself.
July 14, 2022
I am adding my reviews under the individual book posts.
Fun series with something for everyone.
Mystery, friendship, romance, overcoming setbacks, cute animals, family dysfunction and some great crafting tips included. I love to laugh along with solving the mysteries.
Fun series with something for everyone.
Mystery, friendship, romance, overcoming setbacks, cute animals, family dysfunction and some great crafting tips included. I love to laugh along with solving the mysteries.
March 15, 2022
Great stories for pet and animal lovers. The main character, Kiki Lowenstein is real, relatable, and enjoyable. I am now on Book 4 and plan on reading through Book 6. Book 4 is a story about a private school Kiki's daughter attends and I just can't put it down. The entire story is very PG rated which works for me. I have enjoyed these books and highly recommend them.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews