Make, Take, Murder: A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-n-Craft Mystery

At the start of Slan's enjoyable fourth scrapbooking mystery (after 2010's Photo, Snap, Shot), Kiki Lowenstein, part owner of the craft shop Time in a Bottle, in St. Louis, Mo., is fishing in a Dumpster for a lost paycheck when she finds a severed human leg—which turns out to belong to a crafting regular, Cindy Grabowski, who's gone missing. Investigating the murder is Det. Chad Detweiler, an unhappily married cop with serious hots for Kiki and whom Kiki yoyos between loving and loathing. But all romance takes a backseat to the search for the killer, who Kiki is determined to prove is the victim's abusive husband. Holiday season is in full swing as Kiki juggles Hanukkah and Christmas traditions while trying to solve more than one crime. Interspersed are great crafting tips and tasty recipes, though you have to wonder about Kiki's adolescent swings between love interests. (May)