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

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: bridal shower albums, Roxanne Baker, Linda Kovaleski, Bill Ballard (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Scrapbooker Kiki Lowenstein leads a comfortable, if unexciting, life in St. Louis with her husband, George, and 11-year-old daughter, Anya. George’s sudden death brings that comfortable life to an end. Kiki suspects murder, and equally devastating, she suddenly has no money. Managing to cope, Kiki soon has a job teaching scrapbooking skills, a new small rental home, and a new big dog. Then George’s college girlfriend also turns up dead, and Kiki finds herself a murder suspect. Slan has written a neatly plotted mystery with engaging characters. She has previously written a number of nonfiction books about scrapbooking and stories for the Chicken Soup series. This is her first published attempt at writing fiction, and the dialogue is a bit stilted, and most of the humor seems forced. However, as Kiki matures in the story, Slan’s writing style also becomes much more fluid and natural. Scrapbookers will love the whole idea of forensic scrapbooking and will relish the tips on the craft sprinkled throughout the story. Books combining crafts and mysteries are becoming increasingly popular. Like the scrapbooking series by Laura Childs, this should quickly become a favorite. --Judy Coon

Product Description

Every scrapbook tells a story. Memories of friends, family . . .and murder?

Mousy housewife Kiki Lowenstein has two great loves: scrapbooking and her young daughter, Anya. But her happy family album is ruined when her husband, George, is found naked and dead in a hotel room. As Kiki tracks down George's murderer, she discovers his sordid secret life.

Cruel taunts by George's former flame compel Kiki to spout an unwise threat. When the woman is murdered, Kiki's scissor-sharp words make her the prime suspect. She could be creating scrapbook keepsakes for the rest of her life-behind bars. Supported by her loyal friends, along with a little help (and a lot of stomach flutters) from the dashing Detective Detweiler, can Kiki cut the true killer out of the picture and design a new life for herself and Anya?

Includes expert scrapbooking tips and techniques, and a coupon for free Snapfish photos!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK; 1 edition (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738712507
• ISBN-13: 978-0738712505
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #348,912 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cropped My Socks Off, September 9, 2008

By	Sarahlynn Lester "Sarahlynn" (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm no scrapbooker. In fact, I'm not very crafty at all, so I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy a "Scrap and Craft" mystery.

I needn't have worried. Kiki the professional victim drove me a little crazy at first, as I'm more of a (less hairy) Dodie, myself. But I loved the way Kiki's friends Dodie and Mert quickly signed her up for "Tough Tamales University, School of Hard Knocks" and toughened her right up.

What I'm saying is that I was hooked from the first line to the last. I finished the book this morning, and have spent the rest of the day still thinking about Kiki's life and imagining what will happen next. The characters were real to me, the sense of place was perfect, and the mystery was solid, deftly handled.

One of my favorite things about this book was the setting. I love a good book set in St. Louis, and this one was more so than most. It wasn't just the names of the streets and malls: I know those Ladue moms, and I loved how Kiki held her flashlight like she was Albert Pujols at bat when she was going after the intruder in her house.

But it's not just local flavor. Slan is a great writer with a real knack for description. When she's depressed, Kiki sees a November sky like mixed concrete. The whole book is full of great little observations like that. And while most of the book is very fast-paced and funny, occasionally Slan slows things down with some fabulous descriptive prose.

I assumed that a scrapbooking mystery would *have* to be a cozy, but I'm not sure if this one is or not. It's definitely a traditional mystery, but there's more heft to this novel than most cozies, weighing in at 327-trade-paperback-sized pages, though it's still a very quick read. That's because there's a bit more action and violence than you might find in most cozies. Not too much violence, and definitely no bad language (Kiki wouldn't stand for it!) but she does find herself in harm's way from time to time.

This was a good, fun read. Highly recommended!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars KUDO's to author Joanna Campbell Slan, September 20, 2008

By	Susan Betts "SBB" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

PAPER, SCISSORS, DEATH by Joanna Campbell Slan is a really fun and enjoyable read. I liked the main character, KiKi Lowenstein right from the start and I adore her relationship with both her pre-teen daghter Anya and her beautiful dog Gracie. Her relationships with her relatives and friends are so realistic because none was perfect and to me that is real.

Although KiKi is an avid scrapbooker, the reader of this book does not need to know a darn thing about "scrapping" to enjoy this book thoroughly. That being said,I loved the scrapbook hints and ideas at the end of some of the chapters.

Now to the core of the book....... the mystery. I adore a good mystery and PAPER, SCISSORS, DEATH is just that. The book kept my interest from start to finish and the suspense was wonderful because, to me, there were many characters who could have been the one to have" dunnit". The descriptions of the characters, the places, the scrapbooking were all so good. I felt like I knew each of them. I especially fell in love with the good looking cop and pictured him looking like...... well I won't say as we all have our own idea of what a good looking cop should look like.

When I was a kid I wanted in the worst way to be Nancy Drew and I couldn't wait to go on to Nancy's next adventures. Now as an adult I look so forward to my next Mary Higgins Clark book, my next " Melanie Travis" book and now my next " KiKi Lowenstein" book!!!!

Keep up the good work Joanna!!!! We are using PAPER, SCISSORS, DEATH as our next BAD GIRLS BOOK CLUB read!!!!!!

Sue Betts, Minnesota

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, September 16, 2008

By	landmarkengr "Kathy" (Roseville, MN USA) - See all my reviews

As soon as I started reading Paper Scissors Death, I knew it would be an enjoyable read. It really kept me coming back and the end has quite a twist that I didn't see coming at all. The last sentence in the book will keep you coming back for more. Joanna did a great job with this book. The references to scrapbooking were right on. She hit the ball out of the park with this one. I can't wait for the sequel!