Paper, Scissors, Death

Kiki Lowenstein Mystery, Book 1

By: Joanna Campbell Slan

Narrated by: Amy McFadden

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.

Given the situation, Kiki Lowenstein can't help remembering that her (late) husband got her pregnant while cheating on his girlfriend.

True, he did the right thing at the time, and their much-loved daughter Anya is now eleven years old. But suddenly he's dead, and Kiki's financially embarrassed—that jerk disinherited his own family!

Passive Kiki transforms herself into a fighter, walking right out of her luxurious life and into a scrapbooking store, where she turns a hobby into a moneymaker. Her new gig goes slightly awry when her late husband's not-so-ex-girlfriend insults her in public, but that's just the beginning. How much can one woman stand?

As her husband's secret life explodes before her eyes, Kiki discovers that their daughter has a shocking secret of her own. Then the cops come for Kiki. And Family Services comes for Anya. Kiki has to fight for all she holds dear, and she must start with tracking down her late husband's killer. Hope arrives for Kiki in the twin forms of a hot, homicide detective and her own newfound ability to cope.

©2008 Joanna Campbell Slan (P)2023 Tantor

Refreshing and well written with excellent narration

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book. The main character was a bit too helpless and old fashioned for my taste and im not very familiar with scrapbooking. But Amy McFadden’s narration was so good that I stuck with it.

The writing is excellent and as I kept reading I was happy to find the story was more complex than expected and the main character also evolved in a believable way. Her friends are also interesting characters. It grew on me so I plan to read the next one!

I have since learned the author is a scrapbooking expert and a prolific writer. I may need to check out her other series.