I really enjoyed the originality of this book. It's the first one that I have ever read about a hair stylist and a cop's wife to boot, to solve murder cases. This is my first Nancy J Cohen book that I have read as well. She has been on my list to read for quite some time and I am thrilled that I finally got the chance to do so.

I thought Marla was a very interesting character and I could relate to her on a lot of things. I felt her exhaustion and her determination to solve this case for her Mom and Stepdad's sake. That being said, I did feel that in some cases Marla was a bit too pushy with some of the people that she interviewed. Kind of like a 'bull in a china shop' technique. I know that works for a lot of people but I feel that in some cases a little more honey and less vinegar would also give the desired affect.

In all fairness, since is the first book that I have read of the series, I wasn't sure if she is always this way or if it's more in line with her being flat out exhausted and having more of a shortened temper due to lack of sleep and a never ending list of things to do on top of all of this. So, willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Overall, I thought it was a very enjoyable book and I was truly happy to see that everything ended up in a happy ending. I love that in my books. Yes, a lot of people say that isn't very realistic, well, that's what I want in my books. Period.

I really enjoyed this book and I thank Netgalley, Nancy J Cohen, and publishers for the ability to read this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.

Styled for Murder
Nancy J. Cohen
Orange Grove Press
11.16.21

This is the first Nancy Cohen book I’ve read and I enjoyed it very much. The book opens with a bang as a dead body is found in Marla Vail’s mother and stepfather’s bathroom.
Marla sets out to discover the killer and along the way meets an array of interesting and sometimes scurrilous characters.
The dead man worked for the company that was remodeling their bathroom and it leads Marla into an investigation into the company and its workers and owners that at times becomes dodgy and frightening.
Unlike so many other mysteries Marla’s investigations are welcomed by the police working on the case one of whom is her husband. She is not dismissed or put off but listened to and heard and her opinions and speculations are taken seriously.
The characters in the book range from frightening to celebrity, from workers to caterers, and all of them are fascinating.
At the end, when the mystery is finally solved the perp comes as a surprise and a very satisfying one at that.
One thing that the author does is embellish the manuscript with many interesting factoids about things that are going on in the story so it is also educational but not in a dry textbook way rather in a fascinating, “Oh, I didn’t know that” way.
Marla is a hairdresser and owns her own salon and spa and has a young child as well so she is the ultimate working mother that still can find time to solve a mystery.

Marla’s On The Case….
The seventeenth (no less) in the Bad Hair Day Mystery series and we find Marla, hairdresser and sometime amateur sleuth, on the receiving end of a call from her mother. The problem? There’s a dead body in her shower. Of course there is! Needless to say those home renovations are not going well. Now that Marla’s on the case, though, things are bound to run smoothly….aren’t they?! Enjoyable and entertaining cosy mystery with a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of supporting characters. A fun addition to the series.

I enjoyed this book. The baby is too cute. I loved the characters and the story was interesting. I was very surprised by who the killer was. #StyledforMurder #NetGalley