Paper, Scissors, Death: A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery

by: Joanna Campbell Slan

Published by: Midnight Ink

Reviewed by Julie Failla Earhart

Writing is all about writing what you know–or what you are willing to research. Author of at
least eight books about scrapbooking, Joanna Campbell Slan mixes her passion for scrapbooking and her passion for writing, and viola! Paper, Scissors, Death: A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery was born.

This first book in what appears to be a series finds the rich-but-down-to-earth Kiki learning that her husband George has died naked in a St. Louis motel room. The reader knows it’s murder and not something as lurid as a heart attack during an afternoon delight, but Kiki doesn’t.

Kiki not only has to deal with George’s two-timing death, but he’s left her without a penny to her name. She has to sell her gold Lexus and find a way to support herself and her daughter Anya. It doesn’t help that there isn’t enough money for the staples, but Anya’s private school costs more than Kiki could possible make in a year. George’s mother is willing to do anything for Anya, but she despises Kiki’s mere existence.

Kiki, a scrapbooker extraordinaire, turns to her hobby for income. She gets a freelance gig at the store she frequented when she had money. One of her first jobs is as the instructor at a bridal shower. Kiki makes a supposedly cutting remark to one of the shower’s guests. When the guest, also an old flame of George’s turns up dead, Kiki is the primary suspect. I didn’t really understand that logic as the remark was rather lame.

Nonetheless, Kiki not only has two murders to solve, but someone has broken into the shabby place she and Anya now call home.

Paper, Scissors, Death: A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery was a fun and quick read. I enjoyed the scrapbooking tips Slan gives. Not a scrapbooker myself, the hobby sounds complicated, but it did not get in the way of this light-hearted, fun cozy. I’m already ready for Kiki’s next adventure.

Armchair Interviews says: A good front-of-the-fire read.

Author’s Web site: http://www.JoannaSlan.com