Special Guest – Joanna Campbell Slan – Author of Purple, Blame, Game: A Kiki Lowenstein Cozy Mystery #GuestPost #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @jcslan

Purple, Blame, Game: Kiki Lowenstein Cozy Mystery
by Joanna Campbell Slan

It is my pleasure to welcome Joanna Campbell Slan back to Escape With Dollycas today!

“The Secret Society of Crafters”
(Purple, Blame, Game: Book #21 in the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series
by Joanna Campbell Slan)

One of the unexpected joys of learning crochet has been discovering the secret society of crafters.

Trust me—it exists.

The minute you pull out yarn in public, other crafters appear as if summoned by magic.

“I used to crochet.”

“My grandmother taught me.”

“I always wanted to learn.”

“That pattern is adorable!”

Suddenly you’re having conversations with complete strangers in coffee shops, airports, waiting rooms, and bookstores.

I love that.

In fact, when I was in Belgium last winter, I noticed signboards throughout the downtown. The images were of people of all ages who were crocheting. It’s a national campaign that touts the benefits of both crochet and community! How cool is that!

Crochet creates community in such a gentle way. There’s no competition. People encourage each other. Help untangle knots. Celebrate finished projects. Share tips and stories. In a world that sometimes feels loud and divided, crafting feels wonderfully human.

That spirit became central to Purple, Blame, Game.

Kiki’s crochet classes bring together women from very different backgrounds, personalities, and life experiences. Some are lonely. Some are grieving. Some are searching for purpose. Some simply want to learn something new.

And then—because this is a mystery novel—everything goes sideways.

Accusations begin flying.

Trust breaks down.

Secrets surface.

And eventually, someone winds up dead. (It wouldn’t be much of a mystery if a crime didn’t happen, would it?)

But even in the middle of chaos, I wanted the crafting community itself to feel real and comforting.

Because honestly? Crochet people are some of the nicest people on earth.

Even if one of them occasionally stumbles across a murder.
**
Photo I took in Belgium, showing campaign to encourage people to crochet.

Thank  you, Joanna, for visiting today!

Keep reading to find out more about Purple Blame Game and Joanna!

About Purple, Blame, Game

Purple, Blame, Game: Kiki Lowenstein Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
21st in Series
Setting – St. Louis, Missouri
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spot On Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 2, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 233 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8196679131
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0H2GRXDXS
Digital
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GPQFM5GT

No good deed goes unpunished…

Kiki Lowenstein is used to juggling crafts, customers, and chaos—but she never expected her latest charity project to lead to murder.

When Kiki offers free crochet classes to make stuffed animals for hospitalized children, the project seems like the perfect way to give back. But tensions quickly rise among her students, and a heated confrontation sparks rumors, accusations, and a social media frenzy that threatens to destroy lives.

Then everything takes a deadly turn.

On a foggy Mardi Gras morning, Kiki discovers the body of Celeste Harrow behind her store.

Suddenly, Kiki is caught in a tangled web of secrets, lies, and motives. The victim had made enemies. Plenty of them. And now, Kiki must figure out who turned a good deed into a deadly game—before suspicion lands squarely on her.

With her business at risk, her family in the spotlight, and a determined detective asking hard questions, Kiki must rely on her instincts (and a little help from her friends) to uncover the truth.

Because in this cozy mystery, nothing is as harmless as it seems…

Perfect for fans of:

• Cozy mysteries with strong female sleuths

• Crafting, crochet, and creative communities

• Fast-paced whodunits with humor and heart

• Series like Hannah Swensen, Aurora Teagarden, and Tea Shop Mysteries

A Kiki Lowenstein Cozy Mystery — can be enjoyed as a standalone!

About Joanna Campbell Slan 

Joanna Campbell Slan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author of nearly 80 books, known for her page-turning cozy mysteries and emotionally rich women’s fiction. Her stories blend amateur sleuths, strong female friendships, humor, and heart—earning praise from Publishers Weekly as “a cut above the usual craft-themed cozy.”

Best known for her long-running Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series (Agatha Award finalist), Joanna creates unforgettable characters who grow, adapt, and triumph. Her popular Cara Mia Delgatto Mysteries, set on Florida’s Treasure Coast, and her award-winning Jane Eyre Chronicles—recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Literary Excellence—showcase her range across contemporary, historical, and literary-inspired suspense.

Joanna’s books resonate with readers who love:

• Cozy mysteries with strong female protagonists
• Craft-themed and small-town settings
• Stories about friendship, reinvention, and second chances
• Clean mysteries with humor, heart, and suspense

In addition to fiction, Joanna is an internationally recognized teacher and author of nonfiction books on public speaking and crafting. Her work has been praised by top communication experts, and she has contributed to the beloved Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

A native Floridian, Joanna lives on Florida’s Treasure Coast, where she draws inspiration from coastal life, creativity, and her passion for crafts like Zentangle®, crochet, and upcycling.

Her mission: to make the world a better place—one story at a time.

Author Links
Learn more about Joanna here—linktr.ee/jcslan
Newsletter sign-up     Blog (Substack)
Website —   Facebook —  Facebook Group —   Twitter/X —
Amazon Author Page — Instagram — Goodreads — Bookbub  — Pinterest

Purchase Links –

Find All the Books in this Series HERE.
Find all Joanna Campbell Slan’s Books HERE.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
June 3 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
June 4 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
June 5 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
June 6 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
June 7 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 8 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 9 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 10 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – RECIPE
June 11 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
June 12 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 13 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
June 14 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 15 – Carla Loves To Read – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 15 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

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