Bad Hair Day Mystery Series – The Book Diva's Reads

Star Tangled Murder, Bad Hair Day Mystery #18, by Nancy Cohen
ISBN: 9781952886256 (Paperback)
ISBN: 9781952886249 (eBook)
ASIN: B0BQS68WS7 (Kindle edition)
Page Count: 284
Release Date: March 14, 2023
Publisher: Orange Grove Press
Genre: Fiction | Cozy Mystery

Hairstylist Marla Vail and her husband get tangled up in murder when their Fourth of July visit to a living history village ends with a bang—and a body.

Salon owner Marla Vail and her detective husband Dalton are having a blast visiting a Florida living history village over Fourth of July weekend. But when a Seminole battle reenactment turns up a real dead body, it sets off fireworks among the villagers. One of the cast members has gone off script to murder the town marshal with a tomahawk.

As Dalton gets involved in the investigation, Marla determines to help him solve the case. Her flare for uncovering secrets reveals that everyone in the village is a suspect. Instead of celebrating the holiday with red, white, and barbecues, she discovers secrets, lies, and false avenues. Did the marshal’s murder have anything to do with a lost Confederate payroll, or did his plans to renovate the park light a fuse that he couldn’t snuff out?

In a place where history comes alive, the dead bodies are piling up. Marla would rather be chilling and grilling, but somebody’s mind is on killing. If she’s not careful, her sleuthing might blow up in her face like a faulty firecracker and she’ll become the next victim. Recipes Included!

Praise for Star Tangled Murder:

“Nancy J. Cohen captures the feel of a living history village. The primary theme revolves around history through the village as well as being set during the Fourth of July. Cohen displays a genuine respect for history as Marla dives into secrets surrounding this village and the danger that goes with it. The writing captures the feel of their surroundings. Another delightful installment brought to life, Star Tangled Murder finds Marla facing more changes in her life as she investigates a murder that connects to history while she balances motherhood, the salon, and sleuthing.” Liz Konkel, Readers’ Favorite

“History and mystery entangle in unusual manners as the story unfolds, revealing a series of lies and possibilities that become even more convoluted and puzzling as Marla and Dalton delve deeper. As the history and more murders evolve, the duo finds themselves ever more twisted in a mystery that leads Marla to consider when to obey her more savvy husband’s detective edicts and instincts and when to embark on her own course of action. The result is delightful …Libraries seeking cozy mysteries replete in psychological strength and American history drama will find Star Tangled Murder a compelling portrait of a historical reenactment gone awry.” D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

“Marla and Dalton have a unique marriage. She has frequently been helpful in some of her husband’s previous cases, since she’s able to ferret out information that formal police interviews can’t. Once again, with Dalton’s encouragement, she begins to nose around. Between the two of them, they discover that most people employed as villagers have a checkered past… Star Tangled Murder shines with excellent plotting, lots of twists and turns, and a satisfying ending. Highly recommended.” Susan Santangelo, Suspense Magazine

Read an Excerpt:

Stepping closer, Marla laid a hand on the older woman’s sleeve. “I’m sorry, but I have to ask. Would you know anyone who might have wanted to harm Phil?”

Gilda shook her off. “What business is it of yours? And why are you asking all these questions, anyway? You’re awfully nosy for tourists.”

Susan stepped forward. “I’m a journalist, and I plan to do an article on the women of the village, if you’d like to be included. It would help bring publicity to the place and perhaps more donations. I noticed a box at the entrance for contributions.”

“You should talk to Angus, but don’t tell him I sent you. He’s the blacksmith.”

“Oh? How does he fit into things?” Susan switched her bag to her other shoulder.

“You’d best let him fill you in. Don’t let his appearance intimate you. He’s a big guy but he has a soft heart. Well, except for his skirmishes with Phil. Those riled him up plenty.”

“What skirmishes?” Marla queried. She didn’t want to press their luck and would move on if Gilda shut down. The tour guide must have been grateful for an audience, though, because she answered the question.

“At town meetings, he and Phil often clashed about their ways of doing things. More than once, Angus told the marshal he’d better keep his nose clean, or things would come crashing down around him. I got the impression they weren’t discussing village rules and regulations.”

Excerpt from Star Tangled Murder by Nancy J. Cohen.
Copyright © 2023 by Nancy J. Cohen.
Published with permission.
All rights reserved.

Meet the Author

Author Nancy J. Cohen: photograph of a smiling white woman with short dark brown hair, wearing a white top and black jacket. — Author Nancy J. Cohen

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 the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and the RONE Award, placed first in the Chanticleer International Book Awards and third in the Arizona Literary Awards. Her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook, have won the FAPA President’s Book Award, the Royal Palm Literary Award, and IAN Book of the Year. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.

Connect with the author via: BookBub | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Website | Blog | YouTube

Read an excerpt:

“May I ask how long it’ll take to clear this area? My mother will want to get into the bedroom as soon as possible. As for the bathroom, it’s been a loss ever since construction started. This job has had a number of delays and now things will be totally held up.”

The detective zeroed in on her words with eagle-like sharpness. “Have there been issues with how the remodel is going so far?”

Marla cringed inwardly at her inadvertent slip. She would blame her ever-present fatigue, but she seemed to have perked up ever since she’d stepped into Ma’s house. Why was that? Because there might be another crime to solve? What did that say about her, with a baby at home and a salon to run?

“You’ll have to talk to my mother about their project,” she told the detective. “Ma knows the details more than me.”

He stepped closer and stared her down. She caught a whiff of garlic from his breakfast. “The people we’re closest to are often the ones with the most to hide.”

“What does that mean?” Marla asked in a sugary tone, refusing to react to his bait.

“Jack Laredo had not arrived yet when your mother unlocked the bathroom door this morning. From all indications, the man must have died between the time your mom left the house and when Lenny Brooks arrived. This means only one person was home alone with him, and that would be your stepfather.”

Meet the Author

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Her books have won numerous awards, including the instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery. A featured speaker at libraries, conferences, and community events, Nancy is past president of Florida Romance Writers and Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising and visiting Disney World.

This excerpt brought to you courtesy of the author, Nancy J. Cohen