Shear Fear at The Curl Up and Dye

by Belinda Page

Harper, a free-spirited artist, loves her small town but fears losing her dream after losing her job.

To win a stylist position, she enters a haircut competition.

However, when they arrive at the contest, they find a ghastly crime scene with monogrammed scissors sticking into an upholstered hairdresser's chair.

Harper competes against her childhood enemy and notorious mean girl, Melissa, who seems to be hiding something.

The monogrammed shears point to an unlikely suspect, and Harper reluctantly needs Melissa's help to save the salon, her social reputation, and her dream.

Savor the clues as they twist and turn discussed over tea sandwiches and gossip until the shocking discovery made by the unlikely partners!

Genres: Cozy Mystery

98 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2023

About the author

Belinda Page is the pen name of a cozy mystery writer who has a particular fondness for dachshunds! Her beloved furry companion, Max, has stolen readers' hearts everywhere with his enchanting escapades.
When she’s not spinning intriguing tales, Belinda works as a dedicated counselor in her community. In her downtime, she enjoys the therapeutic joys of meal prep and gardening—especially nurturing her prized tomato plants. Not to mention, she’s always on a quest to perfect her scrumptious spaghetti sauce, adding a pinch of love to every dish.
Keep up with Belinda's newest book release, bundle sales, and more by following her profile.

Reviews

[Aparna J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belinda Page takes readers on a delightful journey into the heart of small-town drama and mystery in "Shear Fear At The Curl Up And Dye".This cozy mystery unfolds in a picturesque Southern setting, where the serenity of a quaint beauty salon is shattered by a ghastly crime, setting the stage for a thrilling tale.

Page's masterful storytelling skillfully weaves together elements of suspense, small-town charm, and a dash of Southern flair. The protagonist, Harper, a free-spirited artist facing the fear of losing her dream, becomes an endearing character that readers can easily root for. Her determination to save the salon amidst the chaos and uncertainty adds depth to the narrative.

What truly sets this mystery apart is the clever incorporation of a hairdressing competition turned crime scene, complete with monogrammed scissors piercing an upholstered chair. The interplay between Harper and her childhood rival, Melissa, adds layers of intrigue and suspense, keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

Page's character development shines through the unlikely alliance between Harper and Melissa. Their reluctant collaboration to unravel the mystery while navigating their personal differences adds a refreshing dynamic to the storyline, emphasizing the importance of unity in the face of adversity.

is a delightful blend of mystery, Southern charm, and a touch of rivalry that keeps the pages turning. Belinda Page has crafted a captivating cozy mystery that will leave readers eagerly anticipating her next literary endeavor.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connie , the salon owner , her assistants is Jenna,and Pearl, they are working away chatting with customers when in storms Harper. Harper Winslow has just lost her job, she’s an artist and has dreams but if she can’t keep a job…She is telling the salon ladies when in popped her mum Georgia with Beauregard her Beagle. Pearl suggests that Connie takes her on at the salon as she’d attended beauty school after all.. Melissa Montgomery enters the salon next. Harper considers her a rival as a mean girl , so when she drops the bombshell that she’s after a job at the salon , she truly is! A competition is thus announced for two days later ,whoever does the cleanest cut and neatest styling gets a job. On the competition morning thought on lifting the mat for the key to the salon it was gone , not noticing the door is slightly ajar. Harper walked in straight to the back to put the coffee machine on before going through to the salon switching on the lights, her eyes set on an horrific sight . Smeared everywhere was what looked like blood and a salon chair had a pair of hair cutting shears embedded in the stuffing . Where’s Connie ? When Melissa turns up having a pair of her scissors missing she fears she’s being framed and eventually agree to go sleuthing together . This mystery story is a great light read with humour and wit , great characters ,relatable camaraderie , good descriptions so a compelling and immersive experience .

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Orazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a southern belle cozy mystery.

I have to say I usually love the books by this author but this one made me grit my teeth. Could be because I am a Northener with little patience for the Southernisms of the book. Or could be because this book seemed to ramble before getting to the meat of the story and didn't seem as cohesive as all the other books by the author.

The book is based around the Curl Up and Dye beauty parlor and it's collection of eccentric characters. Connie owns the salon, Jenna and Pearl are employees, twin sisters Paulette and Claudette are regulars, Harper Winslow and her frenemy Melissa Montgomery would both like a job there and Georgia is Harper's mother. Harper was fired from her job at the local hardware store and Connie offers to give her a trial run by doing a volunteer's hair in front of her. Melissa gets the same offer when she asks about a job. Meanwhile Connie disappears and Harper finds the salon is covered in blood. Harper and Melissa try to investigate the situation while Harper is also offered a showing in a new set gallery for her paintings by a former school friend. At her show she solves the "crime" and uses the sale proceeds to fix the financial situation at the salon.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shear Fear at the Curl Up and Dye is the first book in the Southern Belle Cozy Mystery series. It had a cute cast of characters and a good mystery. I had trouble with the writing style, it didn't flow easily and I struggled following along. It jumped around a good bit and I never felt I could connect with any of the characters. I was kind of surprised with the writing style because it seemed so different than the author's Doggy Bakery series’ book one. I really loved that book, it flowed so easily (I never gave it a second thought, I just enjoyed reading along). I thought the characters in Southern Belle series could be interesting, I just struggled with how the story was told, for some reason that I can't seem to explain well.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melanie Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I read this book, I waffled between characters who might be guilty and admittedly never zeroed in on the truth until Harper, stylist/artist, explained it. The mystery was a quick and easy read with a believable plot that kept me guessing. The real beauty of the book was the relationships. The salon girls, mother and daughter, old friends, new friends all came together to build the unique plot and help create a very believable small town tale.
I enjoyed the redemption arc . Secretly I was hoping the mean girl got hers but the redemption arc the author added was better. The blush of a new romance also added to the cute story that can be read in a sitting or two. I would recommend this book and maybe suggest you give it a whirl next time you are sitting in your stylist chair.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[CatMomReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think you can get this book for free in some promotions. If you do happen to get it and like me, be disappointed, I don't find this representative of the author's work. Her Bow Wow Bakery series is very well written and enjoyable.

This novella had a disjointed narrative, some consistency issues and overall was not an enjoyable read. The ending was silly, even for a cozy and some of the characters' reactions were just strange and out of place in my opinion. It was just not well put together overall.

So, I cannot recommend this book and I am not sure what happened here, but Page is a good author and her Bow Wow Bakery series is worth reading.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kay Cobbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. To begin with, I love the title and the play on words, including the use of “shear” instead of “sheer”. Harper has lost her job due to her focus on her art and she finds solace at the Curl Up and Dye which is run by friends. She is offered a job, but must compete for it with Melissa, who she has never got on with. An early morning preparation, exposes Harper to a scene of horror; the scene of a potential murder and the disappearance of the owner, Connie. What follows is a well constructed story, as Harper tries to get to the bottom of the mystery. It is a tale of misunderstandings, but mainly the story of friendship and how important it is in our lives. Another winner by Belinda Page.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper rushes into the hair salon Curl up and Dye announcing that, once again, she’s been fired! She needs a job & Connie, the owner offers her a job. Soon after that Melissa comes into he shop wanting a job, so they have to have a competition. On the morning of the competition, Harper gets there early, the back door is open & when she enters there is blood everywhere, even the ceiling & a pair of shears stuck in one of the chairs. Connie cannot be found. Is she still alive? Harper makes it her job to find out. Meanwhile an old friend returns to the town & is opening an art gallery & offers Harper some space to show her art. Very successfully it seems & on her opening night the mystery is also solved.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper has just been fired from her job. It's hard to keep a job when there's no passion for it. All Harper really wants to do is work at the Curl Up and Dye salon and paint. When the owner of the salon disappears, everybody is shocked and expecting the worst. Is she alive or dead? Harper desperately needs a job at the salon in order to chase her dream of being an artist. With the possibility of having her own exhibit at the new art gallery, Harper has to find out what really happened to the salon owner! I loved the special relationships Harper has with her friends and family. This is a fairly short read but it really packs a punch! Hope there's plenty more to come!

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

After being fired from her job, Harper Winslow needs an income to follow her dream of becoming an artist. The local hairdresser offers her a chance to prove her styling talent and Harper's eager to accept until her arch-rival appears, also demanding a job. Pit against each other in a style competition, both are determined to win. But then the hairdresser goes missing and her salon is covered in blood with shears sticking into one of the chairs. What could have happened?

I couldn't connect with the characters (in fact, one of them royally irritated me and, surprisingly, it was not Melissa). Most of the situations were on the absurd side and the finale just had me shaking my head.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Story, Needs Editing Work
This was a cute story and I found the ending to be quite original; however, I struggled with the writing style as well as continuity and grammatical errors. I was surprised at this because I have read the author’s Doggy Bakery series and really enjoyed it, but this book missed the mark for me. I feel like there could be some really good material here for future books in the series, and hopefully future books are more polished and have better story flow. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belinda Page has brought to bold life an array of colorful and quirky characters from a small town hair and nail salon, that has you captivated with the first few lines in the first chapter and keeping you entranced further with an intriguing mystery of a adisappearance if not death. The plot thickens as slight and bold clues are layered in between the day to day continuous lives of the salon with two amateur sleuth pushing for more clues in this short but intriguing cozey mystery. Acquire " Shear Fear at The Curl Up and Dye " so you yourself can enjoy it as much as I have. Kat

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shear Fear at The Curl Up and Dye is book #1 in the Southern Belle Cozy Mystery series by Belinda Page.

I really enjoyed the author’s Doggy Bakery series. This book is written differently and it felt really “quirky” to me. It seemed all over the place and I never connected with any of the characters. I did like the ending and there is a lot of potential for future stories. I’ll be checking out the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solving the Crime . . .

Harper loses her job and is applying to work at the Curl Up and Dye salon. She is an artist as well and hopes to find the time to paint. Connie, the owner, gives her and another girl, Melissa a chance to compete for the job. But then Connie disappears! When the two competitors arrive for the contest, it has become a crime scene with monogrammed scissors on display, stuck in a hairdresser's chair! If Harper joins with Melissa, an old enemy, can the two work together to find out what happened?

[Alison Hoeksema · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fast-moving mystery is based around a fun-sounding beauty salon, and it's interesting to learn more about what goes on with the staff. An unusual hair cutting competition to choose the next stylist is interrupted when a lot of blood is found, and the owner Connie is missing. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and I did not guess the end, which is always good. I enjoyed this first book of a new series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, I did not seek out this book or author, just using it for a short read for a book challenge. It showed a good group of friends, some who work at the salon, others who just drop in to chat. When Harper needs a job, Connie offers her one, but she and another girl must compete for it. When Harper shows up, the girl is dead, and the owner, Connie is missing. What happened and who is the killer?

[Shelly Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shear Fear at The Curl Up and Dye an installment of A Southern Belle cozy mystery series written by Belinda Page. This mystery story is a good, light and quick read with humour and charm,well designed characters, relatable storyline, good descriptions with an overall engaging experience.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining cozy mystery.

A very entertaining and enjoyable cozy mystery that will keep you on your toes guessing who committed a murder. So many twists and turns that it is hard to identify the murderer. A surprise ending to this great book.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am providing my honest opinion.

[Tom Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect but as i got more into the story it became a must read in one go type of book. You may find yourself doing the same as you get to know and love the characters.
Good story, well written and a fun selection of characters.
I received this arc for free and I wanted to leave an honest review.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short cozy mystery. It's a great way to spend an afternoon and get to know the characters. I hope this will be a continuing series as I'd really like to see what happens next. I never read this author before, but I thought she did a great job with her characters. Plus, she kept the story moving along. Very enjoyable.

[Kathy Itson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 stars because I had a hard time getting into the book. But about half way through I could get enough of the book. The ending was not what I was expecting and I loved it. When more books come out in this series I will keep reading.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, entertaining cozy mystery. The characters are intriguing, entertaining and relatable. I enjoyed this story and was sucked in from the very beginning. The story is easy to read and get into. I enjoyed the twist and turns of the mystery and how the case was solved in the end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute cozy mystery set in a hair salon with a cast of quirky characters. Harper, an aspiring artist, with a soft spot for the hair salon, it's owner and patrons, is still trying to settle on a path for her life. When the salon owner goes missing, Harper decides to go looking for her. The investigation covers the hair salon's quirky patrons and employees.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun introduction to what sounds like it’ll be a good series. I really enjoyed the twist toward the end too! Can’t say a whole lot unless I give it away except I hope there’ll be more in the series since I’m eager to see how things in the salon go forward.

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline, the characters are well written and the story is a humorous mystery. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cozy novella that was a page turner with a satisfying conclusion that I didn't see coming. It set up what should be a fun series. I really appreciated the development of certain friendships and situational humor.

[Sherri Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Connie’s beauty salon is the place to be! What a hoot! Harper sounds like she is ready to be in an episode of I Love Lucy right alongside Lucy and Ethyl as they cause havoc and mayhem wherever they go! I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author but after this book, it most surely won't be the last. This was quite thrilling and engaging. I had a hard time putting it down. It's an easy read and totally enjoyable. I hope you love it!

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline, the characters are well written and the story is a humorous mystery. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Brittany selken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little mystery book. It was a short one but it got to the point of the event that had happen in the story. I’m glad that nobody got hurt at the end of the story. Also it had a doggie on the cover so I had to read the story.