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An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.

An enhanced and newly revised edition of Book #2 (of 13 books) of the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series featuring scrapbooker and animal lover, Kiki Lowenstein.

If you love clean, cozy mystery series that feature realistic, well-developed characters, Kiki and her pals will quickly become your new best friends. This fast-paced plot includes an intriguing mystery, a romance gone wrong, and the struggles of a single mom who's determined to make her way in the world while parenting her young daughter.

Plot: When widely hated hobbyist Yvonne Gaynor eats a tainted pastry at Kiki's scrapbooking party, it triggers an allergy that leads to Yvonne's death. Someone tampered with the treats! Even though Yvonne had enough enemies to fill a memory album, the blame is pinned on the store where Kiki works. Now our intrepid scrapbooker faces two threats: a job loss and jail time. Despite help from the handsome yet annoyingly coy Detective Detweiler, Kiki has her work cut out for her in solving the crime.

Praise:

"Kiki's second outing is a nicely crafted cozy full of amusing moments, real-life insecurities and scrapbooking tips."―Kirkus Reviews

"Slan fulfills all the promise of her first novel (Paper, Scissors, Death, 2008) with this second entry in the Kiki Lowenstein scrapbooker series. Her writing is much more assured this time out, and the book is filled with characters who we care about."―Booklist

"Slan has written another enthralling, interesting, fast-paced mystery. I look forward to the further adventures of Kiki and her crew."―Reviewing the Evidence

"Topically relevant and chock-full of side stories." -- Library Journal

"(Slan's books are) a cut above the usual craft-themed cozy." -- Publisher's Weekly

350 pages, Kindle Edition

592 people are currently reading
977 people want to read

About the author

Joanna Campbell Slan

163 books858 followers
National 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

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5 stars
831 (37%)
4 stars
789 (36%)
3 stars
449 (20%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
Profile Image for Meg.
611 reviews
October 20, 2017
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It took me a little to get going but once I did it zoomed along. There were moments of repetition but otherwise a good read.
Profile Image for Diane Rapp.
Author 18 books111 followers
November 7, 2017
Clever Story Kept Me Reading
The plot thickens when a scrapbooker attending a crop is murdered. This bodes badly for their store as no one really liked the woman, so Kiki tries to unravel the mystery. She's nearly overwhelmed by bad events. The clever story kept me reading until the wee hours.
783 reviews2 followers
August 19, 2009
Poor Kiki! It was bad enough that her two-timing husband George went and got himself killed in the first Scrap-N-Craft Mystery, Paper, Scissors, Death, but now someone is messing with her new found livelihood as scrapbooker extraordinaire at St. Louis’ Time in a Bottle.
In this second installment, Kiki; her boss, Dodi; and newest team member, Bama are hosting a crop at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. When Yvonne Gardener, the latest scrapbooking star in the metro area, succumbs to a rare allergy, all eyes are cast those who had access to the afternoon edibles.
Campbell Slan brings back the characters from the first book that I fell in love with. First there’s her daughter Anya. A good kid who is rather spoiled, but not too much. Then there’s Kiki’s mother-in-law, Sheila, who is having a heck of a time trying to kill the mole invasion in her pristine lawn as well as manage Kiki’s love life. Detective Detweiler, the love interest and lead investigator in Paper, Scissors, Death,(PSD) is trying to hide a big, big secret and breaking Kiki’s heart. Kik’s former maid and dog-sitting buddy, Mert, sounds more like a country hick than I remembered. Then there’s Gracie, Kiki and Anya’s beloved horse of a dog.
Kiki meets more than one man, including a felon, who wants to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart. After George and Detweiler did her dirty, Kiki isn’t as trusting as she used to be. Still, she isn’t ready to become a nun yet.
Cut, Crop & Die is a fun way to spend an afternoon watching it snow or at the beach. The red herrings are well placed and surprises await on every page.
Review originally appeared on www.armchairinterviews.com
Profile Image for Mary.
1,829 reviews7 followers
March 24, 2024
Enjoyed this one .
Profile Image for Corky.
416 reviews4 followers
June 7, 2010
Kiki is a "character" much the way Stephanie Plum is a "character". Thos of you reading this that read Janet Evanovich will certainly understand that statement.

Kiki Lowenstein is a newly widowed scrapbooker, whose passion and hobby is now supporting her and her daughter Anya. She gets some help with her daughter from her very wealthy, and very opinionated mother in law.

In this mystery, the second of the series, a fellow scrapbooker dies at a local conference organized by Kiki's boss. What Kiki goes through to clear the store's name is just too funny. The mischief her "investigation" creates will make you laugh out loud!
Profile Image for Brooke.
475 reviews19 followers
September 14, 2009
An enjoyable read! It made me laugh out loud &, of course, being a scrapper, I loved the incorporated tips & techniques!! I can't wait to read the first one (which I missed) & this book definitely left an opening for a third!! Looking forward to it! =)
Profile Image for Karol.
771 reviews35 followers
September 4, 2022
Decent story, but poor editing. (For example, daughter Anya referred to as "my 12 year old daughter" and then very soon as "my 11 year old daughter". Then Anya went back to being 12 again.

Many characters (or at least people with first and last names) appeared in this 2nd book as a single mention with no connection to the story. But not quite as many as in the first book. I have to wonder at the author's fascination with names: Did she have hundreds of acquaintances asking her to mention them in one of her books?

Aside from these oddities and a few missing words that I was able to supply for myself as I read, I enjoyed the story enough that I will go on to the next one in my boxed set of the first 6.
414 reviews6 followers
January 11, 2024
Loved this second book in the series. If you need a light-weight read with a fun story line and great characters - this is it. I literally laughed out loud at one point - the scene description was so spot on that laughter just burst out of me!
Profile Image for Tammy.
699 reviews47 followers
March 23, 2025
I love this series that revolves around a scrapbooker. It is an amusing cozy mystery with a few new characters and a few surprises with the original characters. Add some information about moles, and a mystery to solve during the chaos. I think I finished it too soon and want more.
Profile Image for Susan Swiderski.
Author 3 books40 followers
October 28, 2013
I'm not into scrapbooking, but that doesn't mean I didn't thoroughly enjoy this story about a bunch of ladies who are. When a less-than-popular gal keels over at a big scrapbooking event, there's no lack of suspects. Along with the whodunit mystery, this book contains other interesting side stories and welcome doses of humor. My favorite involves a rich socialite's ongoing battle with a bunch of lawn-ruining moles. (Think Bill Murray in "Caddyshack"... only in high heels and a Chanel suit...)

The only thing I didn't like was the scrapbooking how-tos included at the end of numerous chapters. I think it would have been better to lump all of that stuff together into a "helpful addendum" at the end of the book. Interrupting the story to provide information smacked of commercial breaks to me, and reading them would have temporarily broken the connection with the story. Not that I read them, but I think avid scrapbookers might have appreciated a "story first- instructions later" kinda format, as well.

Bottom line? A terrific tale. If you don't want to read the story-break instructions, don't. It worked for me.
Profile Image for Judy.
3,374 reviews30 followers
June 20, 2017
Another good entry in the Kiki Lowenstein mystery series, this one has a former client who has been banned from the Time in a Bottle scrap/booking shop dying at a crop hosted by Time in a Bottle at an event put together by a consortium of independent scrap-booking shops. The owner of another local shop does her best to use the murder to kill Time in a Bottle's business, but Kiki is on the case, along with Detweiler. Besides the decent mystery, there is good character development as Kiki becomes more self-confident, and begins to have a better relationship with her mother-in-law. Meanwhile it turns out Detweiler is married, which leaves Kiki trying to avoid him, while he tries to explain. As of the end of the book we still don't know what that's about.
Profile Image for Veronica Noechel.
134 reviews12 followers
December 20, 2013
Unfortunately, I let this linger in my "currently reading" section for far too long, so this may not be the most detailed review. This wasn't my favorite in the series, but I didn't have that "I wish I had read something else instead" feeling either. I'm curious to see where this series is going. I'm a scrapbooking nerd as well as a true crime/forensics dork so these are up my alley, but I'm hoping we get to see the regular characters gain some more depth and their own compelling storylines since that's what keeps a series worth coming back to. Hard to tell after just a couple of books, but since I've already picked up a few more titles in the series, I guess we'll find out.
Profile Image for Sheila.
3,351 reviews57 followers
December 8, 2015
This continues the Kiki Lowenstein series. A rival scrapbooker is murdered at a crop that Dodie and Kiki are hosting. Suspicion falls on all who knew her because none liked her. Now Kiki needs to solve the murder since her friends are being questioned by the police. Also new men are popping up in Kiki's sphere.

I loved this mystery. It was well written but I did figure out the motive and who did it. Some revelations come out that shocked me. Kiki and Sheila are getting along but how long will that last. Sheila's mole problems were comic relief. I enjoy this series so much. I cannot wait to read more.
5,950 reviews67 followers
June 2, 2009
Scrapbooker Kiki Lowenstein is shocked when an unpopular woman dies at a scrapping event sponsored by Kiki's employer, but it's even worse than she thinks--the woman was poisoned, and many scrapbookers seem to blame the store. Fortunately, Kiki's formerly distant mother-in-law seems to be more friendly, as Kiki's daughter is reaching a difficult pre-teen stage. In addition to her job troubles, Kiki has man troubles, and of course the murderer she unmasked in Slan's first mystery is still on the loose and out for revenge.
Profile Image for Kerrie.
12 reviews4 followers
July 23, 2012
this was deffo one for the girls, it was light hearted and fun and although someone was murdered, they were a bit of a rotter so that was ok :oD!
I did find it a little patronizing in places and I could have done without the crafty tips at the end of each chapter but on the whole it has left me wanting to read the next so all good in my world. Also, the main character was instantly likeable and so made for an enjoyable, quick and easy read.
Profile Image for Linda.
2,318 reviews58 followers
February 7, 2016
I'm really enjoying this series. There is a lot going on in Kiki's life and I can't wait to see what happens next. I was also proud of myself for figuring out whodunit pretty early for me and also figuring out the motive as well.
Profile Image for Cindy.
957 reviews33 followers
May 20, 2012
I really enjoyed this book and will look for more by this author. You will really like it if you are a scrapbooker. A really entertaining cozy mystery!
Profile Image for Kay Cobbold.
259 reviews11 followers
October 17, 2025
Joanna Campbell Slan's "Cut, Crop, Die" is a masterful sequel that effortlessly draws you back into the complex and relatable life of Kiki Lowenstein. I may be new to the series, but I am already wholly captivated.
The plot kicks off with Kiki, still looking over her shoulder from the last book, stumbling into another murder scene. Her subsequent investigation to clear her friends and her workplace is gripping, but it's the rich tapestry of her personal life that truly elevates this story.
The author skillfully weaves multiple compelling threads: Kiki's touching and often humorous dynamic with her mother-in-law, Sheila; the all-too-real struggles of parenting a pre-teen daughter; and the pressing need to find a safe new home. The subplot involving her friend Dodie's healthcare and financial worries adds further depth and realism.
I was particularly impressed with how the novel handled serious topics like anti-Semitic incidents with sympathy and grace. And just when I thought Kiki had enough on her plate, a devastating revelation about Detweiler and a cliffhanger ending left me breathless and desperate for the next book. "Cut, Crop, Die" is a perfectly balanced cozy mystery—equal parts suspense, heart, and character growth.
1,219 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2024
This book is mostly lightweight and easy to read. There are a few tense moments, especially when there is a question about what they find after the party. The mystery is decent and the murderer not obvious until the clues are presented. It's nice to see Kiki's mother-in-law becoming closer and more "human" to her. Especially when the reminder of her relationship with her own mother is pretty painful. Not really certain what's going on with the new employee - Bama. There appears to be more there than meets the eye. There is definitely more going on with Dettweiler. I'm certain that will continue to be a storyline. Some editing and repetitive parts made for some confusion in the text.
Profile Image for Laura.
3,205 reviews348 followers
July 14, 2022
What is up with Kiki's love life? If you can call it that.
This book delves into all sorts of relationships and forms of love.
Also jealousy, competition, teenage hormones, and friendship from unlikely sources.

The scrapbooking business seems to be at the center of this mystery, but could there be another motive when attacks don't appear to be random.
Besides a strange death that Kiki can't stay out of, this addition to the series has many hilarious moments, including several involving Kiki's usually stuffy and stern mother-in-law.

Something here for everyone including helpful crafting tips.
Profile Image for Mallory.
136 reviews2 followers
August 13, 2022
This one was better than the first one. We're definitely on an upswing. I like the unknown whodunit, it kept me guessing through most of the book. I do like the angsty things happening in Kiki's world... I love that her and Shelia are finding a commonality and forging a relationship. It's nice and well deserved for both of them. Oooh I didn't like the Gracie scare :( it had me seriously upset going in. My stomach was hurting reading it... I'm still not convinced about Bama, but I guess we'll see how that plays out as well... and I have a feeling there's a lot we don't know about Detweiler...yet!
59 reviews
May 4, 2023
scrappy characters

Maybe I should read Book #1. Don’t know what I missed. Kiki seems to have problems with falling in love or lust with men. And she’s too independent to listen to reason. I think she has a chip on her shoulder and needs to lose it, and then she could get along better with her Co workers and mother in law. Greaciewas good but the Jack Russell really could have been a star
Profile Image for Cherie Waggie.
Author 7 books3 followers
July 13, 2023
This is the fourth of this series that I have read. I have read so many mysteries where the main character is a woman with no backbone. This tends to get on my nerves. Kiki is one of those women. She lets everyone walk all over her, including her, in this book, 11 year old daughter and her former mother-in-law. No. Absolutely not. A 'boyfriend' who has red flags flying around his head she can't see? Any woman would see them a million miles away. I like this series but grow a backbone Kiki.
Profile Image for Celest.
713 reviews8 followers
July 15, 2023
There's Never A Dull Moment In Kiki's Life

Book two and Kiki's still stumbling her way through her life. With all of the responsibilities of a job, raising a daughter, solving murderers, there's never a dull moment. Adding in a little romance and some close calls from murderers you've got an exciting adventure. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book, number three is waiting for me.
Profile Image for ReadaBook.
443 reviews3 followers
September 16, 2025
As someone who has no interest in scrapbooking, I still found the setting interesting, as I’m learning about this hobby that apparently many people enjoy. There has been further development in several characters. Can’t say I like everyone, but the storytelling is interesting enough. This series is basically a lightweight cozy mystery. It’s worry-free mindless reading, which takes my mind off some of the issues in my life for which a break is helping me to deal with them!
724 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2022
Wonderful!

What a wonderful series this has been so far! I'm enjoying the intrigue and all the characters. My only surprise is that I didn't find this series earlier. It appears I have a ways to go and I'm eager to move on to see which young man Kiki decides to date. She seems knee deep in guys all of a sudden. So off we go. Thank you much Mrs. Joanna.
138 reviews3 followers
August 3, 2022
This series is a REAL WINNER!!!!

I love finding a great read and finding a great series is even better!! Fun, entertaining with a dab or two of mystery and romance is a homerun!!! Love Kiki and all the characters and pets. Everybody should enjoy great writing and a storyline wingdinger!!!! READ AND LOVE IT!!!!! I HAVE...READY FOR #3!!!!!!







287 reviews3 followers
November 14, 2022
What a mystery!

I've said it before and I will say it again, What A Book ! I went through every single emotion as I read this book. it is hilarious and sad and angry. Then there"s all kinds of problems with the males in there life.Yes I had a hard time putting this book down and so will you.
Profile Image for Bette.
785 reviews
December 28, 2023
While learning new techniques, discovering new products, generating new clients, and helping the current clients of Dodie’s store, Time in a bottle, where Kiki works; she is busy snooping to solve a murder.
Light-hearted summer read. I learned a lot about scrapbooking and just a little about how to remove moles from a yard. Enjoyed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews

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