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CUT, CROP & DIE
by Joanna Campbell Slan
Midnight Ink, June 2009
319 pages
$14.95
ISBN: 0738712515


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

It's not fun being a single mom. Kiki Lowenstein knows this all too well. Money is always tight. Her mother-in-law doesn't much like her, basically tolerates her because of Anya, Kiki's daughter and the only grandchild. The man in her life, Detective Detweiler, is being coy and sending very mixed messages. The one bright spot, apart from Anya (who is eleven and sending very mixed messages of her own), is her job. She works at Time in a Bottle (TinaB) a scrapbooking store, for Dodie Goldfader, a very strong and supportive woman.

Right now, even work isn't all that much fun. Dodie has hired another woman, Bama, who threatens Kiki in ways difficult to pin down. When TinaB hosts a crop party, things are looking good until Yvonne Gaynor has an allergic reaction and dies. Yvonne isn't a very nice person, as almost anyone will tell you. Dodie's biggest competitor, Ellen Harmon of Memories First, is quick to capitalize on Yvonne's death. While this seems ghoulish, it is bringing lots of customers and their money to Memories First.

Things get even more unpleasant when Yvonne's death turns out to be murder. Yvonne had lots of enemies, and some of them are at TinaB. Detweiler doesn't want Kiki investigating at all; Kiki is positive that none of her friends could be the killer. Throw into the mix some anti-Semitic violence, some general violence directed at Kiki, and her life gets just a little hairy. Toss in two new men (one suave and debonair, one incredibly sexy ex-con) and Kiki's life just kind of gets away from her.

Slan has written another enthralling, interesting, fast-paced mystery. Kiki continues to grow as a character, as do most of the supporting cast. The actual mystery may not be that difficult for readers who pay close attention to details, and watching Slan divert attention is great fun. The handy tips at the ends of the chapters will probably be helpful to those who engage in this fast-growing hobby, as will the coupons and contests at the end of the book. Personally, I look forward to the further adventures of Kiki and her crew.

Reviewed by P.J. Coldren, October 2009

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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