Love, Die, Neighbor Review by E. B. Davis

 

A prequel to the [Kiki Lowenstein] Mystery Series that has won the hearts of fans all over the world! As the mother of an active toddler and the wife of an often absent husband, Kiki Lowenstein already has both hands full. But when the Lowensteins move into their new house on the same day the construction crew leaves, Kiki must learn to juggle boxes, baby, and big expectations. Her determination to be a good neighbor hits a serious roadblock when she angers the Nordstroms, the couple who live next door. Then Sven Nordstrom dies under mysterious circumstances, and Kiki is forced into the one role she never planned on playing: amateur sleuth.

 

Love, Die, Neighbor is a prequel in the Kiki Lowenstein series, one of many series written by Joanna Campbell Slan, whose specialty is cozy mysteries. But by far, this series must be the most popular because there are now twenty books. Additionally, there are twenty-four short stories/novellas having Kiki Lowenstein as the main character.

 

The first book, Paper, Scissors, Death was published in 2008. Love Die, Neighbor was published in 2017, and I read it first. I’m glad I did. It gave such depth to Kiki, the main character, that I can’t imagine it not being the first book.

 

Writers try not to include too much backstory and historical data so as not to bog down the plot, especially in what must be a first impact book. But as the series progresses successfully, there comes a certain point in the series arc when writers understand their main character is what draws readers. Murders and sleuthing aside, readers want to know more about how the main character got to where she is in life. And thus, prequels are created. As I understand it, there is also a second prequel, Bad Memory Album, written in 2023. I’m not sure what aspect of the series spring boarded this book, but I will find out!

 

In Love, Die, Neighbor, Kiki reveals a sexual encounter at a college frat party resulted in her marriage to the honorable father and subsequent daughter. At first, I thought her daughter was a newborn, but she is nearly two when this book takes place. Trying to clear away construction debris in her new house and dealing with a mobile toddler are bad enough, but she also has to deal with a condescending mother-in-law. And then, she finds the neighbors to be strange and unfriendly. When one of them is murdered, she and her husband come under suspicion, ensuring that Kiki, who needs an intellectual pursuit, is on the case.

 

Kiki is an honorable character who bites her tongue perhaps more than she should. Readers start to champion her when she is belittled by her mother-in-law and ignored by her husband. Kiki doubts his fidelity, a question that remains unanswered at the end of the book. Still, she honors her marriage and takes the higher road with mommy dearest and her unfriendly neighbors.  

 

Who are your favorite main characters? Have you ever written a prequel?