Kiki Lowenstein Mysteries Series

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.

THE SCHOOL NURSE CALLS TO SAY THAT KIKI'S DAUGHTER HAS STUMBLED OVER THE CORPSE OF A DEAD TEACHER. BUT don't worry. Everything's all right. (Ha!) And Kiki might just believe that a badly shaken daughter is the worst of her worries . . . EXCEPT that pre-teen Anya might have actually seen the killer fleeing the scene of the crime. Now Kiki must track down a murderer before the creep "guarantees" Anya's silence forever. After taking a vow to have nothing to do with her crush, the hunky police detective, Kiki is all on her own. Her natural curiosity, bravery, and crafting skills are all that stand between her and a dead daughter. But Kiki is nothing if not determined. Her digging around uncovers a decades-old secret, one that still haunts St. Louis today. Kiki will put her life on the line to save her child.

A MAY DAY PAGEANT TURNS DEADLY WHEN A SNIPER TAKES AIM-AND A WEALTHY MATRIARCH, A BEER BARON'S DAUGHTER IS SHOT. Is it possible that Kiki was the real target? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. After running for her life, Kiki needs a shoulder to cry on. Instead, she gets chewed out by her browbeating mother. But things can always get worse . . . and they do. Kiki's mother-in-law announces that she's getting married, and Kiki's daughter, Anya, becomes unglued. Suddenly, Anya will be the last Lowenstein standing . . . and that's enough to break a young girl's heart. Meanwhile, an old enemy has put out a contract on Kiki. She's worth a lot more dead than alive, which isn't surprising given the state of Kiki's finances. This would be a good time to focus on work at the scrapbooking and craft store-except Kiki can't shake the memory of those sniper shots raining down. While creating a memorial album for the murdered heiress, Kiki discovers murky family politics that could be a motive for murder. With help from friends in high and low places, including hunky beau Chad Detweiler, Kiki finds herself facing a grave ultimatum: catch the killer or be cropped out of her own family album.

DUMPSTER DIVING FOR HER LOST PAYCHECK IS DEFINITELY THE LOW POINT OF KIKI LOWENSTEIN'S DAY-THAT IS, UNTIL SHE FINDS A SEVERED LEG IN THE TRASH. Who'd toss a body part in the garbage outside of Time in a Bottle, the crafts store where Kiki works? Accompanying the grisly "gift" is a creepy computerized voice message, a warning to the store's "rich and snotty" female shoppers. Kiki soon discovers that the amputated leg belonged to a customer with a tyrannical and violent husband, a powerful man in the community. And that jerk is now harassing Kiki. Kiki decides she's had enough. She can't wait passively on the sidelines. Combing through the customer's scrapbook projects for hidden clues, Kiki takes it on herself to find the killer. Meanwhile, drama inside the crafts store builds to a fevered pitch. Kiki keeps trying to make friends with her new co-worker. Why is the other girl so stand-offish? Kiki's feelings and her ego are wounded. In fact, the pain is deep enough to lead Kiki into temptation. And that brings out the worst in our spunky heroine. Can Kiki make amends in time to save her job? And figure out whether her abused customer is missing in action or dead as a doornail?

THE DEATH OF A RIVAL CRAFTER IS NOTHING TO SNEEZE ABOUT . . . KIKI'S LEFT CRYING THE BLUES In front of a meeting room full of customers and merchants, Kiki watches helplessly as a rival crafter takes one bite of a scone and goes into anaphylactic shock. Suddenly all eyes turn to Kiki Lowenstein, who was Dead Woman's archenemy. Just that fast, Kiki's moment of triumph turns into a disaster. Just when Kiki was settling into her new job, her first real career, she's become the poster child for dead customers. But Kiki's life isn't all doom and gloom. On the bright side, her mother-in-law has invited her to a gala event. A spa day is in order . . . and that doesn't go as planned either. In fact, Kiki's heart is about to smashed into a zillion tiny piece. That dead woman was the least of poor Kiki's problems.

The wedding should have been perfect. Kiki Lowenstein certainly did her part to make everything just right for her mother-in-law Sheila's special day. But the discovery of a corpse can put a damper on any festivity. Why did somebody want to cut a retired plastic surgeon out of the big picture? If you like to be entertained, inspired, and educated, Joanna Campbell Slan writes the sort of books you'll love! See why fans call Kiki their "new best friend." This series is a sure thing for fans of Clare O'Donohue, Elaine Viets, Diane Mott Davidson, Brianna Bates, Laura Childs, Lois Winston, and Mollie Cox Bryan.

When police detective Chad Detweiler's estranged wife is found shot to death with bullets from his revolver, the proud papa-to-be finds himself up the creek without a lawyer. The dead woman's family immediately points the finger at the detective. An exhausted Kiki does all she can to be supportive. After all, the dead woman was a drug addict! But when Detweiler's family makes a request that Kiki can't honor without breaking a promise, a solemn oath to her daughter, Kiki puts her foot down. Worried, heartsick, and the target of the Detweiler family's rage, Kiki must keep up appearances and hold her head high, even as the entire St. Louis area brands her as a slutty excuse for a woman. Maybe she is, but she's also a loyal friend. When her boss at Time in a Bottle, the craft store, is confronted by the heartbreaking, new information about the death of her son, Kiki offers emotional support. She embarks on a memorial project as a way to unravel the facts surrounding the boy's untimely demise. Even as she untangles the messy threads connected to the past, Kiki can't stop herself from wondering if the man she loves is tangled up in murder. Could it be that the hunky cop just snapped?

THE HALLOWEEN FUNDRAISER WAS A CUT ABOVE MOST EVENTS . . . UNTIL SOMEONE'S THROAT GOT SLASHED Good-hearted Kiki Lowenstein plans a Halloween charity crop at a historic haunted house. The crafting is going great until someone attacks Laurel, one of Kiki's employees. The attack puts a real damper on the festivities. Sure, there are tons of reasons to hate Laurel. She's beautiful, shapely, and intelligent. But she's also kind and gentle. Why would anybody want to see her dead? Hint: Maybe it's because of her second job? A very pregnant Kiki connects the dots and quickly discovers that she has been clueless far too long. Closely held secrets point to a web of deception, one that has Kiki tied in knots. But the spunky scrapbooker refuses to lie down and die. Someone tried to cut Laurel down, and Kiki isn't about to let a would-be killer get away with attempted murder. Bumping her snooping skills up a notch, Kiki whittles down her suspect list. Meanwhile, on the home front, she's stabbed in the back by someone she trusted. Will our intrepid crafter survive the unkindest cut of all?

INSTEAD OF CHURCH BELLS, SHOTS RING OUT AT KIKI'S WEDDING . . . "Till death do us part" comes way too soon for newlywed Kiki Lowenstein. A very pregnant Kiki Lowenstein and her fiance Detective Chad Detweiler are trying to race the stork to the altar, when their vows are interrupted by a shoot-out. Kiki and the children hide in the shed with their local neighborhood donkey! When the all-clear sounds, everyone's worried about the expectant mother. But the problem isn't hers. It's Detweiler's, and he's been seriously hurt. What if this is only the beginning? What if the gunman comes back? With the help of her nanny, Bronwyn Macavity, Kiki vows to track down the man who ruined her wedding and put her family at risk. The super-crafter and mousy mom is well-accustomed to playing amateur sleuth, but now she faces a new role, one that's a stretch even for her, when she steps into the spotlight as an exotic dancer! Even a big belly bump won't stop this intrepid amateur sleuth from pursuing justice.

WHO PUT THE HOMICIDE IN THE HOLIDAYS? NOT KIKI . . . BUT SHE BETTER TRACK DOWN THE PERSON WHO KILLED ONE OF HER CUSTOMERS OR SHE'LL BE HANGING STOCKINGS BY HERSELF! Kiki is eight months pregnant and trying to cram as much ho-ho-ho into the holidays as possible. When a customer drops dead during an offsite event, this intrepid scrapbooking sleuth is left holding the bag. After her name is cleared, Kiki isn't one to sit around while her friends are threatened with false imprisonment. Instead, she vows to wrap up this case and tie it with a bow. Leave it to Kiki to determine who was nice, and who was very, very naughty, indeed. A nasty Christmas Grinch is targeting one of Kiki's friends-and that's just not kosher. No way is Kiki going to take a back seat in Santa's sled while one of her pals is thrown under the bus. Besides, the murder weapon itself just plain "bugs" her. Kiki might not qualify as Santa's Helper, but she's definitely on the "good girl" list. She plans to make these murder charges stick like a fresh roll of Scotch tape. Meanwhile, the entire crew at her store is working hard to carry out her Twelve Days of Christmas crafting extravaganza! That's one busy Santa's workshop.

THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY DIVORCE . . . YOURS AND THE JERK'S. In this case, there's Clancy's side and then there's the JERK's side. Of course, Kiki sides with Clancy because they're BFFs (Best Friends Forever). As for the JERK, well, the poor guy can't make up his mind. The JERK has left and come back to Clancy once before. Now he's fed up with his young girlfriend and wants to come back to Clancy yet again. Or does he? Then JERK drives over a bridge in a low-lying area known for flash floods. Wouldn't you know it-his car is swept away and he's found unconscious. As he lies in his hospital bed fighting for his life, Clancy and his girlfriend are waging warfare, and it ain't pretty. One secret after another tumbles out. Kiki is there for Clancy to lean on, but Kiki has problems of her own. Another divorce has her attention, as does the corpse Kiki finds in a car. Kiki's hunky husband is dealing with police department problems. Her bi-racial son is being picked on. Her daughter's Hebrew tutor is decidedly against mixed marriages. And Kiki needs to hire more help at her store, Time in a Bottle.

IN SUB-ZERO JANURARY, AN INFANT IS ABDUCTED . . . AND KIKI MIGHT BE THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN TRACK DOWN THE CULPRIT. The arrival of Kiki's baby is cause for celebration, but Kiki herself suffers from a severe case of post-partum blues. Her mood darkens further when she learns that her friend Bonnie's newborn infant has been stolen from a local hospital. Bonnie is too grief-stricken to help the authorities. Can Kiki pull herself together long enough to step in? Bonnie won't talk to anyone else. It's a lot to ask of Kiki, especially when the people around her don't recognize the depths of her despair. As with many post-partum sufferers, Kiki is too down to reach out and demand the help she needs. Her brave face is actually hurting her rather than helping. Since she's been typecast as "unsinkable," no one can see how badly she's suffering. With each hour that passes, the chances of finding Bonnie's baby alive grow slimmer. And Kiki's funk grows deeper. She's feeling more and more isolated. Can someone turn this tragic situation around? Where's Kiki's support network when she needs it?

TWO FBI AGENTS COME LOOKING FOR KIKI'S NANNY, AND SUDDENLY THE HOUSEHOLD IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. Kiki and her husband must ask themselves the toughest question they'll ever have to face: Can we trust this person with our kids? The answer might say more about them than it does about their nanny, Brawny. But how can you trust someone whose whole life has been a lie? And boy, oh, boy, do Brawny's secrets bring up trust issues for everyone under Kiki's roof. Especially for Kiki's sensitive, thirteen-year-old daughter. (Will she ever get over this betrayal?) It all starts when a totally forgettable woman is found shot dead in her car . . . and whose fault is that? Given the number of blended families today, can a step-parent ever catch a break? Was the murder a drive-by shooting gone wrong? Or an intentional, targeted murder? One of Kiki's friends is accused of hiring a hitman, after a cashier's check for a million dollars goes missing. It's a puzzle with too many pieces, but Kiki's determined to see justice done.

AN EPIDEMIC OF TEENAGE SUICIDES LEAVES A RURAL COMMUNITY GRIEVING-AND THE DEATH TOLL KEEPS RISING. CAN KIKI GO UNDERCOVER AS AN ART TEACHER AT A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TO HELP? SHE SHOULDN'T. To clear her calendar, Kiki must juggle multiple obligations and make a tough decision: Can she trust her in-laws (including her alcoholic mother-in-law) to take an out-of-state vacation with her kids? To make everything work, Kiki must move in with her OTHER mother-in-law and that's enough to make Kiki want to commit suicide. Once in place, Kiki suspects these are not just copycat deaths. There's another dynamic at work. Could it be that someone is encouraging vulnerable young adults to take their own lives? Who would orchestrate something so evil? The perpetrator has to be someone inside the school. Where Kiki is. Alone. Defenseless. But who? And what if the mastermind realizes that Kiki is there to foil him . . . or her? As the body count rises, Kiki finds herself enmeshed in a high school culture full of secrets and crushed dreams. Can Kiki figure out who is ordering the kids to die in time to save another teen's life? Or will she be the next victim on this cunning killer's hit list?

Every holiday season, Kiki Lowenstein plans twelve days of classes, her Holiday Craft Extravaganza. And every year, it nearly kills her. As the holiday season approaches, Kiki over-schedules herself and winds up running herself ragged. To make life even more stressful, she must fend off a stalker, a man determined to possess the object of his affection. Kiki's ace full-time employee, Clancy, has HUGE decisions to make. How do you put aside your hurt and disappointment when you've been betrayed? Is it selfish to think of yourself first? As Clancy ponders questions, Kiki stands on the sidelines, knowing this is not her choice to make. Meanwhile, both of Kiki's older kids are having problems with teachers. There's also a staff shortage that leaves Kiki in the lurch, both at home and at the store. Kiki might have found an answer to that dilemma when a mysterious woman applies for a job. Her name is Nona, and she claims to be an old friend of an old friend. Nona seems too good to be true. Sadly, that might be the least of Kiki's problems with the woman. Because Nona isn't what she seems to be. Nona is a Miss Fit.

As the mother of an active toddler and the wife of an often absent husband, Kiki Lowenstein already has both hands full. But when the Lowensteins move into their new house on the same day the construction crew leaves, Kiki must learn to juggle boxes, baby, and big expectations. Her determination to be a good neighbor hits a roadblock when she angers the Nordstroms, the couple who live next door. Meanwhile, Kiki's mother-in-law is disappointed that Kiki isn't an asset to her son's career. She fusses at Kiki for not being more social. And Kiki's lack of friends only adds to her sense of isolation. The young mother is overwhelmed cleaning up after the contractors leave and trying to keep up with a toddler who is sticking stray objects up her nose! Life takes a turn for the better when Kiki bumps into a "cleaning professional" (a cleaning lady) in the household products aisle at Home Depot. But is that any way to make friends? Kiki's mother-in-law is not amused. Things come to an ugly climax when the guy next door, Sven Nordstrom, dies under mysterious circumstances. Sadly, Kiki becomes a suspect. Now this young mother is forced into the one role she never planned on playing: amateur sleuth.