by Joanna Campbell Slan (Author)
Part of the Cozy Mystery Series that's been described as "a cut above the usual craft-themed cozy!" (Publishers Weekly)
A time-honored May Day tradition at a fancy private school turns deadly when a sniper opens fire on a group of young women and their guests.
Bang! Just like that, a wealthy matriarch is shot while watching the springtime ritual. When the shots ring out, Kiki Lowenstein runs for her life, dragging her mother, daughter, and mother-in-law to safety. They barely make it to the parking lot where they huddle together in a car, ignoring screams and shots and shivering with fear until the all-clear sounds. Eventually, a police envoy comes to their rescue. At the station, law enforcement officers suggest the real target wasn't the wealthy matriarch.
Nope.
The intended victim was...drumroll...Kiki!
There's a contract out on her life, and she's worth more dead than alive.
Okay...then who killed the matron? Was it an accident?
None of this makes sense.
In this twisty page-turner of a cozy mystery book, Kiki finds herself handling problems on all sides. She gets chewed out by her browbeating mother, who accuses Kiki of endangering her life. (No surprise!) Kiki's mother-in-law announces her own engagement. (Surprise!) And daughter Anya is despondent because she'll be the last living person named Lowenstein. (Unpleasant surprise!)
To ensure her own safety, Kiki must dig deeply into the family politics surrounding the May Day ritual. Was she in the intended target? Or was the matron? With help from friends in high and low places-including a certain hunky detective-Kiki vows to crack the case.
Despite the drama, this is a charming mystery with laughter and crafts. Readers will cheer as Kiki and her beloved Great Dane, Gracie, navigate family entanglements while dodging danger. Undaunted, this amateur sleuth and her dog will work together to solve the crime.
Although this is a cozy mystery series featuring a lovable dog, the featured springtime ritual is real. The ceremony continues to this day, bringing a dash of secret history to a book with realistic characters.
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!
Author Biography
National bestselling and award-winning author Joanna Campbell Slan has written 30 books and twice as many short stories. She was one of the early Chicken Soup for the Soul contributors, and one of her stories was made into a television show for the PAX Network. RT Reviews has called her one of mystery's "rising stars. Joanna's non-fiction has been endorsed by Toastmasters International; her first novel was shortlisted for the Agatha Award; and her historical fiction has won the Daphne du Maurier Award. She edits the Happy Homicides Anthologies and co-authors the Dollhouse Décor & More series. Visit her at www.JoannaSlan.com
Number of Pages: 320
Dimensions: 0.67 x 8 x 5.25 IN
Publication Date: May 08, 2010
