Ready, Scrap, Shoot: A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-n-Craft Mystery

Agatha-finalist Slan’s well-crafted fifth scrap-n-craft mystery (after 2011’s Make, Take, Murder) finds single mom Kiki Lowenstein at a breaking point—her shrew of a mother has paid her a surprise visit; her job at the scrapbook store Time in a Bottle is becoming tense; her boyfriend’s ex-wife is stalking her; and to top it off, during a celebration at her daughter’s school, a sniper fatally shoots one of St. Louis’s wealthiest women. The police think Kiki was the sniper’s real target, especially since her husband’s killer is still on the loose, threatening her and her loved ones. Kiki must struggle to stay sane as well as alive as she once again turns sleuth. The book’s focus on the complex nature of mother/daughter relationships and caring for aging parents will resonate with many. Subtle humor, with a few laugh-out-loud moments, balances the darker episodes. Agent: Paige Wheeler, Folio Literary Management. (Apr.)