Kiki Lowenstein Books in Order

Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path

For the best experience, readers should start their journey into the Scrap-N-Craft universe with Paper, Scissors, Death (2008). This Agatha Award-nominated novel introduces Kiki Lowenstein as a grieving widow and single mother who finds solace—and unexpected detective work—at the local scrapbook shop, Time in a Bottle. Starting here allows you to experience Kiki's personal growth, financial struggles, and evolving relationships in the sequence the author originally intended.

However, if you prefer a strict chronological timeline, you can begin with the prequel novellas, Love, Die, Neighbor and Bad Memory Album. These stories provide crucial backstory about Kiki's marriage to her late husband, George, and her first introduction to the scrapbooking community. While they were published later in the series run, they occur chronologically before the events of the first book.

Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mysteries: Publication Order

Joanna Campbell Slan has written a substantial number of full-length novels in the main series. While the books feature self-contained mysteries, reading them in publication order keeps the overarching character development intact. Here is the publication order based on local catalog records:

1. Paper, Scissors, Death (2008)
2. Cut, Crop & Die (2009)
3. Photo, Snap, Shot (2010)
4. Make, Take, Murder (2011)
5. Ink, Red, Dead (2011)
6. Ready, Scrap, Shoot (2012)
7. Picture Perfect Corpse (2013)
8. Group, Photo, Grave (2013)
9. Killer, Paper, Cut (2013)
10. Handmade, Holiday, Homicide (2014)
11. Shotgun, Wedding, Bells (2015)
12. Glue, Baby, Gone (2016)
13. Love, Die, Neighbor (2017)
14. Fatal, Family, Album (2017)
15. Grand, Death, Auto (2019)
16. Law, Fully, Dead (2020)
17. Fleece, Navi, Dead (2021)
18. Mask or Raid (2023)
19. Bad Memory Album (2023)

Chronological Order and Numbering Caveats

When tracking down these books, you may notice some discrepancies in series numbering on retail sites and book databases. This is due to how the prequels are categorized:

• Love, Die, Neighbor: Published in 2017 as the 13th book, this story functions as a prequel (often designated as Book 0). It details Kiki trying to balance life as a young mother to a toddler and dealing with difficult neighbors before the main series kicks off.
• Bad Memory Album: Published in 2023 as the 19th installment, this is another prequel (often designated as Book 0.5). It covers the origin story of how Kiki first visited the "Time in a Bottle" scrapbook store and met its owner, Dodie Goldfader, searching for fulfillment in her daily routine.

If you choose to read chronologically, place Love, Die, Neighbor first, followed by Bad Memory Album, and then proceed directly to Paper, Scissors, Death.

The Crossover and Spin-off Universe

Joanna Campbell Slan expanded her cozy mystery world with the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series. Cara Mia Delgatto is a woman who relocates to Stuart, Florida, to open an upcycling and repurposed relic shop. The two sleuths cross paths in the holiday collection, Kiki and Cara Mia Christmas Collection (2016). This crossover collection is a delightful treat for fans of both series and is best read after Kiki's 12th book, Glue, Baby, Gone, to align with its publication in late 2016.

Short Stories and Novellas: The Further Adventures

In 2020, Joanna Campbell Slan published a series of 24 short stories and novellas under the banner of The Further Adventures of Kiki Lowenstein. These quick reads fill in details, showcase minor characters, and offer bite-sized scrapbooking mysteries. They are numbered Volume #1 through Volume #24. For convenience, these stories are also compiled into larger anthologies:

• The Further Adventures of Kiki Lowenstein: Collection #1 (2020)
• The Further Adventures of Kiki Lowenstein: Collection #2 (2020)
• The Further Adventures of Kiki Lowenstein: Collection #3 (2020)

What to Know Before You Start

The Kiki Lowenstein series stands out in the cozy mystery genre because of its deep emotional resonance. Unlike some lighthearted cozies, Slan addresses real-life hardships, including grief, financial insecurity, single parenting, and complex social issues. Set against the distinct backdrop of St. Louis, Missouri, the local neighborhoods, cultural landmarks, and local history play a vital role in the atmosphere of the books.

As an added bonus for hobbyists, the physical and digital editions of the books often contain genuine scrapbooking tips, papercrafting ideas, and home-style recipes. Whether you are an avid crafter or simply enjoy a well-plotted mystery with a tenacious, resilient heroine, Kiki's journey offers a satisfying blend of suspense, warmth, and creative inspiration.