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Bekki The Beautician #1
Hairspray and Homicide
When Bekki catches her cheating boyfriend in the act she decides to return to her home town to repair her broken heart. The quiet town of Harroway where nothing much happens. Her mother is retiring and she is going to run her family’s hair and beauty salon. But, when the owner of the rival salon, Daisy, is found murdered after Bekki threatened her, Bekki becomes the prime suspect. She must do whatever she can to clear her name and find the real murderer. Wanting a break from men in general, after being burned by her ex, the last thing Bekki expects is to run into her old flame, Detective Nick Malonie. While sexy, handsome Detective Nick is trying to do his job and prevent her from doing it for him she is finding it very hard to avoid him.Will Bekki be able to resist her feelings for Nick and find the real killer?
107 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2013
145 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
August 31, 2019
This was a really quick and cute read! It was the cozy formula that I like: mean person ends up dead. You just gotta love Bekki and her tenacious attitude for clearing her own name. I mean who would blame someone for working hard to clear themselves if they're accused of murdering their rival? Luckily, the handsome detective Nick was a former summer romance of Bekki's from high school and knew that she wasn't capable of murder. He did have to walk a fine line to keep his detective partner from thinking that he was the least bit playing favorites with Bekki, which may or may not have resulted in her arrest at one point. There weren't many suspects to choose from, so it wasn't really hard to guess, but it was fun and entertaining to watch Bekki and Nick on their separate tracks to see justice done.
I just started this series on Kindle Unlimited and definitely want to continue. I really liked Bekki and Sammy's friendship. Bekki's mom and dad are sweethearts too, and I'm just anxious for Bekki and Nick to reunite after all these years.
I just started this series on Kindle Unlimited and definitely want to continue. I really liked Bekki and Sammy's friendship. Bekki's mom and dad are sweethearts too, and I'm just anxious for Bekki and Nick to reunite after all these years.
July 31, 2014
This review was originally posted on Fantasy is More Fun
My Initial Reaction...
My first thought after finishing Hairspray and Homicide wast that it was way too simple. The characters were simple, the mystery was PAINFULLY obvious, and it didn't have really any of the cute or wacky I've come to expect from my cozies.
The Good...
There was potential there for something really good. Like if the person who did it wasn't obvious - and there was a way to do that. Or if the little bit we did see about the characters were more developed. I know it was a novella, but I still expect some level completeness. Ok, I guess I kind of drifted off to the bad already.... what else? It was very well written grammatically, for the most part.
The Bad...
Hairspray and Homicide needed a lot more development. And to call it a cozy mystery is kind of a joke. When I think of a cozy mystery I think of wacky fun and some level of mystery. And I like to believe that the detective work makes sense. No one - not the cop and not the MC - was asking the right questions. This was detective work at its worst.
And it had elements it really could have exploited to it's fullest potential. A small town setting full of busy bodies. A girl returning home to the small town from the big city. Bad breakup. Cop ex-boyfriend. Scandal and affairs. Yep - all the building blocks were there, they just weren't executed well :/
Concluding Sentiments...
I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I'm glad this was a freebie and I only spent a couple hours on Hairspray and Homicide - it was a real let down.
My Initial Reaction...
My first thought after finishing Hairspray and Homicide wast that it was way too simple. The characters were simple, the mystery was PAINFULLY obvious, and it didn't have really any of the cute or wacky I've come to expect from my cozies.
The Good...
There was potential there for something really good. Like if the person who did it wasn't obvious - and there was a way to do that. Or if the little bit we did see about the characters were more developed. I know it was a novella, but I still expect some level completeness. Ok, I guess I kind of drifted off to the bad already.... what else? It was very well written grammatically, for the most part.
The Bad...
Hairspray and Homicide needed a lot more development. And to call it a cozy mystery is kind of a joke. When I think of a cozy mystery I think of wacky fun and some level of mystery. And I like to believe that the detective work makes sense. No one - not the cop and not the MC - was asking the right questions. This was detective work at its worst.
And it had elements it really could have exploited to it's fullest potential. A small town setting full of busy bodies. A girl returning home to the small town from the big city. Bad breakup. Cop ex-boyfriend. Scandal and affairs. Yep - all the building blocks were there, they just weren't executed well :/
Concluding Sentiments...
I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I'm glad this was a freebie and I only spent a couple hours on Hairspray and Homicide - it was a real let down.
December 9, 2020
Loved Nick. He was so patient and supportive. Understanding and kind. Even when Bekki was getting involved in his case and she was the suspect, he had the patience of Job.
Every character was fun and interesting. Bekki and Nick are great. Bekki has a nose for gossip and snooping but in a goodhearted way. It is this nose for snooping that has her itch to work on crimes on the side. She is a smart and sweet girl but does get herself in scraps due to her snooping. Nick is the detective that just has you melt. He is kind, handsome, smart and loyal. So sweet and honest.
These two are cute together although they are hard pressed to say they are. Nick has no issues saying it and letting her know. Bekki on the other hand is gun shy after her last boyfriend. So it is a slow go on the relationship and that just adds to the fun of the book. The story is fun and cute. The vibe from the book is good and has you smile at the antics of Bekki as she tries to find the killer and figure out how she feels for Nick. Look forward to the second in the series.
Every character was fun and interesting. Bekki and Nick are great. Bekki has a nose for gossip and snooping but in a goodhearted way. It is this nose for snooping that has her itch to work on crimes on the side. She is a smart and sweet girl but does get herself in scraps due to her snooping. Nick is the detective that just has you melt. He is kind, handsome, smart and loyal. So sweet and honest.
These two are cute together although they are hard pressed to say they are. Nick has no issues saying it and letting her know. Bekki on the other hand is gun shy after her last boyfriend. So it is a slow go on the relationship and that just adds to the fun of the book. The story is fun and cute. The vibe from the book is good and has you smile at the antics of Bekki as she tries to find the killer and figure out how she feels for Nick. Look forward to the second in the series.
May 12, 2014
My experience with free e-books is "You get what you pay for." This book is no exception.
May 26, 2014
A good mystery
Hairspray and Homicide was a very good read. It held my attention from the very beginning and Bekki was and awesome character
Hairspray and Homicide was a very good read. It held my attention from the very beginning and Bekki was and awesome character
July 13, 2017
Far too short.
It's a real shame that the book is so short. I was just getting into it and it rushed to a conclusion. Left me very disappointed.
It's a real shame that the book is so short. I was just getting into it and it rushed to a conclusion. Left me very disappointed.
February 16, 2024
Bekki gets her heart broken in New York City and returns home to her small town, to take over her mother's beauty salon. She is now accused of murdering her archenemy and competitor on her first full day back in town. Her old boyfriend Nick Malonie (rhymes with baloney?) is the police detective, but he is not looking to clear her only arrest her. What is a girl to do? She's got to go out and find a murderer on her own.
I love cozy mysteries, they give me a chance to relax, try some puzzle-solving, and best of all, to laugh. Having said that I must say that I am disappointed in this story, it had elements of a cozy mystery, it just never got off the ground.
Since this is the first offering in this series perhaps, the author will develop her characters and plot more in later stories. I may try another book in the future.
I love cozy mysteries, they give me a chance to relax, try some puzzle-solving, and best of all, to laugh. Having said that I must say that I am disappointed in this story, it had elements of a cozy mystery, it just never got off the ground.
Since this is the first offering in this series perhaps, the author will develop her characters and plot more in later stories. I may try another book in the future.
December 7, 2019
I love Cindy Bell's other series and thought I would give this one a try. I was not disappointed. Bekki is a fun main character with some serious self defense moves. I love that she can protect herself and not be waiting for the man to save her. Her old boyfriend Detective Nick is hot and steamy and the story line was quick moving and interesting. A great read.
November 6, 2017
Good as always.
The start of a new series for me. And I real!y enjoyed this first episode so I expect that the rest of this series will just as good. A great addition to all her other series. Very well worth the read.
The start of a new series for me. And I real!y enjoyed this first episode so I expect that the rest of this series will just as good. A great addition to all her other series. Very well worth the read.
February 2, 2025
Bekki the Beautician returns to her hometown to help run her mother’s beauty salon. Shortly, she gets arrested for the murder of the main competition. Can she prove her own innocence?
A quick and easy mystery!
A quick and easy mystery!
October 4, 2017
Great story..
I enjoyed this story of adventure and suspense. The author has done a great job of creating a good cast of characters, the story was a fine mystery.
I enjoyed this story of adventure and suspense. The author has done a great job of creating a good cast of characters, the story was a fine mystery.
April 30, 2018
An enjoyable read but just a bit too short..
March 1, 2023
Quick and fun
It was a fast read,but good and charming, lets see how the next book pans out. Can't wait for next ride
It was a fast read,but good and charming, lets see how the next book pans out. Can't wait for next ride
March 3, 2023
Short and sweet but the characters are not overly interesting at the moment. I will consider reading another book at some point, but it was not enough to want to read it right now.
April 9, 2020
This book is the beginning of a new series.
Bekkie is an interesting character and I enjoyed this book.
Will be checking out the next book in this series.
Bekkie is an interesting character and I enjoyed this book.
Will be checking out the next book in this series.
October 15, 2017
This was a cute little story. Bekki, other than having a name I will never remember how to spell, was an interesting character. She has spunk, and she is willing to stand up for herself. Though she should have taken a step back in this book, she managed to show Nick that he wasn't infallible.
The tension between Nick and Bekki throughout this book was interesting. I hope that we find out more about their past relationship. I feel like there is so much there that is still untapped.
I enjoyed the first book and I'm looking forward to the following books in this series.
The tension between Nick and Bekki throughout this book was interesting. I hope that we find out more about their past relationship. I feel like there is so much there that is still untapped.
I enjoyed the first book and I'm looking forward to the following books in this series.
October 27, 2013
“Hairspray and Homicide” by Cindy Bell is a cozy mystery which is a series. The main character, Bekki, a top hairstylist in New York City, has just had her world cave in around her. She has lost her reason for living; her man has dumped her. She does what any girl in her position would do; she goes back to her roots. Back home, she finds her mom, dad and a long-lost love. However, she also finds herself in the middle of a feud between her mom and her mom’s business rival, which leads to murder.
This is the first cozy mystery which I have read, and while I find it a little simple, it was enjoyable to spend a few hours instead few days reading one story. Unlike most of the series that I read, I am not enticed to read the second book. I realized that a cozy mystery is by nature a shorter version of a story. However, I am used to having the characters fleshed out for me, which was not the case in “Hairspray and Homicide”. I will give the genre, Cozy Mysteries” another try at a later date.
This is the first cozy mystery which I have read, and while I find it a little simple, it was enjoyable to spend a few hours instead few days reading one story. Unlike most of the series that I read, I am not enticed to read the second book. I realized that a cozy mystery is by nature a shorter version of a story. However, I am used to having the characters fleshed out for me, which was not the case in “Hairspray and Homicide”. I will give the genre, Cozy Mysteries” another try at a later date.
May 29, 2017
The book started off promising, but the last half was incredibly rushed.
One of the selling points of a good mystery is the build-up to the reveal of the culprit. Half of the fun for the reader is going through, looking for clues so that they can come to the conclusion of who the guilty party is on their own. (Or is it just me?)
This book didn't really have that.
It attempted it, sure. The book tried to draw some parallel between Bekki's recent break-up with her boyfriend, and situations not being quite what we expect them to be. But it fell flat. The parallel wasn't very well explained, and despite the real murderer having no reason to fess up to Becky, he tells her everything, with very little prompting.
What could have been an enjoyable mystery instead just became a rushed, confusing mess.
One of the selling points of a good mystery is the build-up to the reveal of the culprit. Half of the fun for the reader is going through, looking for clues so that they can come to the conclusion of who the guilty party is on their own. (Or is it just me?)
This book didn't really have that.
It attempted it, sure. The book tried to draw some parallel between Bekki's recent break-up with her boyfriend, and situations not being quite what we expect them to be. But it fell flat. The parallel wasn't very well explained, and despite the real murderer having no reason to fess up to Becky, he tells her everything, with very little prompting.
What could have been an enjoyable mystery instead just became a rushed, confusing mess.
September 10, 2016
Quick fun read. A refreshing mystery with very little swearing and no smut. Complete change of pace from my recent reads. I enjoyed it
January 17, 2016
Before starting my review I want p0tential purchasers to keep in mind - This is a novella (or short story whichever you prefer), and as such the reviews should take that fact into consideration.
This is the first book about Bekki who has returned home after a "boyfriend" problem in the city. She takes over her mother's salon and, it seems the feud with the other salon owner. While I'd guessed early on who the murder was, I 'd no idea of the "twist" in it. The book is short, cute and -simply put - just the thing for some "light" reading. I enjoyed it, had a few giggles and that's exactly what I wanted. I am definitely reading more of the series as I enjoyed Bekki, her salon and lastly, want to find out how her "romance" with Nick turns out.
This is the first book about Bekki who has returned home after a "boyfriend" problem in the city. She takes over her mother's salon and, it seems the feud with the other salon owner. While I'd guessed early on who the murder was, I 'd no idea of the "twist" in it. The book is short, cute and -simply put - just the thing for some "light" reading. I enjoyed it, had a few giggles and that's exactly what I wanted. I am definitely reading more of the series as I enjoyed Bekki, her salon and lastly, want to find out how her "romance" with Nick turns out.
October 18, 2016
Barely Back and in Hot Water
Leaving her job in the big city and moving home was a good idea. Or was it? First day in charge of her mom's beauty salon and their rival has started mischief. After telling her off and making threats of what will happen if the woman bad-mouths her parents again, Bekki cools off the heads to the only bar in town. Two men try to rob the place and her black belt skills kick in just before the police arrive. One large man with a broken arm makes her number one suspect in the rival beautician's murder. Nick maybe reluctant because of their past to believe she did it, but his new partner sees only the facts. Can she find the killer before they arrest her?
Leaving her job in the big city and moving home was a good idea. Or was it? First day in charge of her mom's beauty salon and their rival has started mischief. After telling her off and making threats of what will happen if the woman bad-mouths her parents again, Bekki cools off the heads to the only bar in town. Two men try to rob the place and her black belt skills kick in just before the police arrive. One large man with a broken arm makes her number one suspect in the rival beautician's murder. Nick maybe reluctant because of their past to believe she did it, but his new partner sees only the facts. Can she find the killer before they arrest her?
February 25, 2014
Bekki decides to move back home after her relationship with Trevor crumbles. She is planning on taking over her mothers salon. The old rival between her mother and another shop run by Daisy is still in force. When Daisy tries to start trouble again Bekki confronts her and kind of threatens her. When her old flame Nick, who is now the town cop, shows up to arrest her for the murder of Daisy her life is in shambles again.
This is a fun quick read. Good characters and fast moving. Liked it!
This is a fun quick read. Good characters and fast moving. Liked it!
August 30, 2014
Small town girl moves to New York, falls in love, finds him cheating, goes back home and becomes prime suspect in a murder. No foul language, no sex, just a quick read of 51 pages. An old story done in a refreshing way. Perfect if you're short of time or looking for a take-along read for bus or doctors office.
September 13, 2013
No suspense. Seemed more like an outline for a plot, rather than a full book. At one point, I was thumbing back through to see if I'd missed something, because it was so disjointed and not thoroughly fleshed out. Won't be continuing the series
February 25, 2015
A fun read
Another fun cozy mystery about a hairdresser turned sleuth. The characters were relatable and well suited for the small-town setting. The amateur detective herself has a great backstory and personality that one can't help to love. I'm looking forward to reading more!
Another fun cozy mystery about a hairdresser turned sleuth. The characters were relatable and well suited for the small-town setting. The amateur detective herself has a great backstory and personality that one can't help to love. I'm looking forward to reading more!
July 27, 2015
Hairspray and Homicide
Belkin returns home after having her heart broken in NYC. A rival hairdresser turns up dead after arguing with Bekki, so the police suspect her. A predictable read where it's not a great mystery as to who killed this woman.
Belkin returns home after having her heart broken in NYC. A rival hairdresser turns up dead after arguing with Bekki, so the police suspect her. A predictable read where it's not a great mystery as to who killed this woman.
Read
September 24, 2013I loved this cozy mystery. It was fun, fast-paced and I so wanted Bekki and Nick to rekindle their missed love.
March 11, 2014
It's a fun read... an enjoyable way to spend a gloomy afternoon.
May 1, 2014
Good
this was great short story that was a murder mystery about a beauties who was a bully who had many enemies.
this was great short story that was a murder mystery about a beauties who was a bully who had many enemies.
May 5, 2014
This was a fun read. I read it from beginning to end and I enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews