Trimmed To Death (A Bad Hair Day Mystery) - Softcover

Cohen, Nancy J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1432866869 ISBN 13: 9781432866860

Publisher: Wheeler Publishing Large Print, 2019

Synopsis

Savvy hairstylist and amateur sleuth Marla Vail enters a charity bake-off contest at a fall festival sponsored by a local farm. While she waits to see if her coconut fudge pie is a winner, Marla joins a scavenger hunt where people playing character roles are the targets. Instead of scoring points with a live person, she finds a dead body planted face-down in the strawberry field. Who would want to cut short the life of food magazine publisher and fellow bake-off contestant Francine Dodger?

Francine is wearing a jacket borrowed from another entrant, food blogger Alyce Greene. With their similar builds, hair colors, and pixie haircuts, the women could have been mistaken for each other from behind. Was it possible Alyce had been the intended target instead of Francine? When another entrant is killed, Marla fears the rest of the contestants might be next.

Marla's friend, deli owner Arnie Hartman, knows the farm owner's son. He begs Marla to help clear the smear on the farm's reputation. She's joined by her husband, homicide detective Dalton Vail, in interviewing the bake-off contestants and judges. There's no shortage of suspects. A celebrity TV chef, food critic, olive oil importer, food truck owner, pastry chef, and cookbook author may be stirring up more than their next recipe. Can Marla unmask the killer before someone else gets trimmed from life? Recipes Included!

"From fundraiser activity, culinary insights, and probes into Marla's logic to recipes and romance which pepper the story line and embellish its twists and turns, readers who want a cozy mystery filled with atmosphere, intrigue, and adventure should settle a chair by the fire for a good evening's read." D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

About this title

About the Author

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have been named Best Cozy Mystery by Suspense Magazine, won a Readers' Favorite gold medal, placed first in the Chanticleer Book Awards and third in the Arizona Literary Awards. Nancy's instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery, was nominated for an Agatha Award. A featured speaker at libraries, conferences, and community events, she is listed in Contemporary Authors, Poets & Writers, and Who's Who in U.S. Writers, Editors, & Poets. When not busy writing, she enjoys fine dining, cruising, visiting Disney World, and shopping. Visit her at NancyJCohen.com

Review

One reason why Nancy J. Cohen is an award-winning cozy mystery author is that her stories are packed with personality, upbeat scenarios, and the solid pairing of a murder mystery with broader community entanglements. In this story, Marla isn't just a sole proprietor operating independent of her world: she's thoroughly connected to the community through her salon and work. Descriptions are thus nicely crafted and filled with atmosphere and detail that bring Marla's world to life, sometimes with a touch of ironic observation...From fundraiser activity, culinary insights, and probes into Marla's logic to recipes and romance which pepper the story line and embellish its twists and turns, readers who want a cozy mystery filled with atmosphere, intrigue, and adventure should settle a chair by the fire for a good evening's read." D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

About this edition

• Publisher: Wheeler Publishing Large Print
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1432866869
• ISBN 13: 9781432866860
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 451