Paper, Scissors, Death

A precursor to the Cozy Mystery Series that’s been described as “a cut above the usual craft-themed cozy!” (Publishers Weekly)

When Kiki Lowenstein learns her husband was discovered naked, dead, and in a hotel bed with a scarf in his mouth—entire her world turns upside down. Just because George was found in a compromising situation, it doesn’t mean… doesn't mean... well, actually, it probably does mean exactly what it seems. Kiki goes from being a wealthy soccer mom to an impoverished widow. Sure, their marriage had problems, and she had always looked the other way at George’s bad boy ways. But now she’s come face-to-face with a pile of steaming dog poop. And yes, that’s on top of a thick stack of bills.

Time for this submissive wife to transform into a fighter in this cozy mystery book with realistic characters. She vows to get justice for George, but first she must find a way to keep food on the table and a roof over her and her daughter’s heads.
Fortunately, this mom-turned-sleuth is tougher than she looks. This twisty, page-turner of a cozy mystery heats up fast. Along the way, Kiki makes new friends and adopts a rescue pet. A big dog. A VERY, very big dog. A harlequin Great Dane. (Another mouth to feed? Yup. Wise idea. Nope.) Her decision turns this adventure into the start of a charming, cozy mystery series with a lovable dog.

In this laugh-out-loud cozy, the hits keep coming. With only one marketable skill, Kiki turns her hobby of scrapbooking into a moneymaker. But can she hold onto her job? It’s questionable after she has a public quarrel with George's ex-girlfriend. To make matters worse, Kiki learns her daughter has been hiding a secret of her own!

The cops come for Kiki.

And Family Services come for Anya.

Will the charges stick like pictures on a scrapbook page? Maybe. Is that attraction to a hunky detective a sign of real love or desperation? Only time will tell. You’ll want to find out in this charming mystery with crafts and laughs.

Paper, Scissors, Death is an Agatha Award finalist that showcases the author's delightful gift for turning life's darkest moments into hope and humor.

This cozy pet mystery with realistic characters follows an amateur sleuth and her dog as they solve crimes while navigating financial ruin, family secrets, and a hot homicide detective who might provide the strong shoulder Kiki needs to cry on.
This is the kind of mystery that keeps you turning pages so you can spend time with characters. And it leaves you hoping you'd handle life’s misfortunes as gracefully as the protagonist does.

This book can be read as a stand-alone, although if you skip the others, you’ll miss a lot of the fun! Eager for a Happily Ever After ending? Then this series will delight you. It’s perfect for readers who love Laura Childs, Clare O'Donohue, Elaine Viets, Alexander McCall Smith, Diane Mott Davidson, Brianna Bates, Ellery Adams, Tonya Kappes, Cindy Bell, Lois Winston, and Mollie Cox Bryan. If you crave stories that entertain, inspire, and educate, Joanna Campbell Slan delivers exactly the kind of books you'll treasure. Discover why readers call Kiki their "new best friend" and grab your copy today!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joanna Campbell Slan was born in Florida but grew up in a small town in Indiana. She and her sisters often walked to the public library, and it was there, in the pages of books, that Joanna found a way to escape from their unhappy family life. According to her mother, her nose "was always in a book." Joanna dreamed of being an author. She put herself through college (Ball State University) as a journalism major while working full-time in a pet shop! After graduation, she held positions at a variety of newspapers and eventually worked in public relations and taught it at Illinois State University. In fact, she wrote scripts for the first FarmAid and won a Silver Anvil (PRSA's Emmy) for her work. She married David Slan, and they have one son, Michael, who is married to Chelsea Edwards. The Slans live on Jupiter Island, Florida, with their Havanese pup, Jax. When she isn't writing, Joanna is crafting. She's a Certified Teacher of Zentangle, an award-winning miniaturist, and a pretty crummy artist. (But she doesn't care.)