Homicide in High Heels

High Heels #8

by Gemma Halliday

It’s springtime in California! The flowers are in bloom, the fashion week runways are fierce, and fans of America’s favorite pastime are filling the baseball stadiums to root for their favorite team. But when the girlfriend of the L.A. Stars rookie MVP winds up dead at a chic Beverly Hills salon, it’s suddenly up to fashion designer Maddie Springer to track down the “Tanning Salon Killer.” Armed with the help of her wacky cast of friends and family, Maddie finds herself with a list of suspects that includes the cast of the reality TV show Baseball Wives, a desperate blackmail victim, and an entire baseball team! If Maddie can brave the hot dogs and cat fights, she just might be able to catch a killer...before he strikes again!

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Cozy Mystery, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary, Cozy

63 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2014

About the author

Gemma had a hard time figuring out what she wanted to be when she grew up. She worked as a film and television actress, a teddy bear importer, a department store administrator, a preschool teacher, a temporary tattoo artist, and a 900 number psychic, before finally selling her first book, Spying in High Heels, in 2005 and deciding to be a writer.

Since then, Gemma has written several mystery novels and been the recipient of numerous awards, including a National Reader's Choice award and three RITA nominations. Her books have hit both the USA Today and the New York Times Bestseller lists.

Gemma now makes her home in the San Francisco Bay area where she is hard at work on her next book.

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

This is a kindle e-book from the local library. Number eight in the series.

Maddie is about to enter the beauty salon 💇 to have her broken finger nail repaired when they find a dead body. What happened? The dead body is the girlfriend of a baseball player. It turns out too be murder and the investigation begins. Maddie finds the truth leading to the arrest of the killer.

I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of romantic family and friends relationships mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀💘🏡

[Siv30 · Rating 4 out of 5]

אהבתי את הספר הזה. גם העלילה היתה טובה והכתיבה משעשעת ולא טרחנית.

גופת אישה נמצאת במכון היופי של אביה החורג של מאדי. מסתבר שהיא חברתו של שחקן בייסבול.

מאדי נכנסת לחקירה כאשר מכון היופי עומד בסכנת סגירה וכאשר רמירז מושעה מהחקירה בגלל שתקף את אחד מהשחקנים.

רמירז נשאר עם התאומים בבית ומאדי מדלגת ברחובות בניסיון לפענח את הרצח.

בספר הזה פילקס חוזר לשתף פעולה עם מאדי. לצערי האינטראקציה בינהם לא מגיעה לרמות המשעשעות שהיו בספרים המוקדמים.

בספר הזה, דמותו של רמירז מתפתחת יפה טזה היה רעיון טוב להשאיר אותו עם התאומים בבית.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I've missed Maddi and her sidekicks Dana and Marco.

Maddi is at her stepfather's salon when they discover a dead body, much to her Detective husband chagrin. When Ramirez gets suspended for punching out a ball player on the team they are investigating he issues the words to Maddi "I need you to investigate the murder for me."
For Maddi & her sidekicks it's like music to their ears, they love to sleuthe even though they usually end up in some kind of trouble.

This one takes you on a ride through major baseball players and their wives. It seems everyone has something to hide, but who has the biggest secret to commit murder for.

Homicide in High Heels is the latest from Gemma Haliday and you will not be disappointed. If you have not read this series it's pure entertainment. Funny, intriquing and enjoying.

Received ARC for an honest review.

[Sakina · Rating 3 out of 5]

OMG!!! Another book in the High Heel series! YAY!!! So excited for more Maddie, Dana and Marco and obviously Ramirez!

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Maddie and Jack Ramirez, Maddie is a high heel shoe designer, Jack is a LAPD homicide detective. Alone time for them is pretty difficult for them, what with the jobs and the adorable twins, Olivia and Max, that they parent. Finally they have a chance for time alone, even if it is to a baseball game. Trying to protect herself from a foul ball, Maddie covers her head with her arms, and ends up with a broken nail, horrors to most any woman! Luckily her step father, Ralph, who she refers to her faux dad, owns Fernando’s salon. First stop the next morning, the salon for a quick nail repair. Which turns into a much longer stop than she had bargained for. Wishing to thank one the salons customers, Lacey who is also a semi celebrity, for the ball tickets, Ralph and Maddie knock at the door where Lacey is finishing up her spray tan. After repeated knocks and calling through the door, Ralph goes to get the keys. Opening the door to the room, they find Lacey on the floor, quite dead. Who could have murdered Lacey, who was in a locked room, was is someone from her past? Someone from a TV show, The Real Baseball Wives, which Lacey had been offered a role on? Was it her hunky boyfriend, who played for the baseball team, the Stars? Or was it a completely random act of violence? When Jack is removed from the case, they decide that Maddie will go into undercover investigator mode, even though she has no experience, and Jack would fill Maddie’s place and become Mr. Mom, who also has no experience.
Join Maddie and Jack, along with their entertaining family and friends, in their confused lives, as they try to be wonderful parents, as they try to solve Lacey’s murder, and as they try to corral the party planner for the twins big 1 year birthday. Will they solve the murder, will they make it through the party? You can be part of this fun filled story, run to the book store when this one is released, or even better pre-order it and you’ll get it as soon as it’s out. Gemma has written another fun, fast paced story, I always look forward to her books, they’re a great read to cozy up with a cuppa, and read to your heart’s desire.

[Karan Eleni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on karaneleni.com

Three(ish) years ago, I found Spying in High Heels (book #1) and was hooked. I've been on a reading spree ever since! That being said...

Another hit by Gemma Halliday! Book 8 of the High Heels Mysteries series definitely lived up to the expectations set by the earlier stories. It was great to catch up with Maddie and Jack and their family and friends! I always end up reading these books too quickly (read: in one day) so here's hoping there will be a High Heels Mystery #9!!

(I didn't realize it would be so difficult to write this review since I haven't written the previous seven yet. Expect those soon and possibly an update to this one as well.)

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddie stumbles across a body, and this time it's personal. The girlfriend of a star baseball player turns up dead in the tanning booth in the salon owned by Maddy's stepfather. I loved the way Maddie juggles her job, her twins, her murder investigation (which her husband finds himself on the sidelines and actually asks her to help). Some of the characters are delightfully quirky and some of the situations Maddie finds herself involved in are laugh out loud funny. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Angela Raedel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent installment. It's fun to read about Maddie as she struggles with her investigating while trying to raise twins. In this book, she does most of the investigating while Ramirez takes a back seat.

I enjoyed Marco's chaotic plans....

Even though I'm not a sports nut, I enjoyed the baseball theme and the manner of death.

I did not guess the killer (as usual) and that was fine by me. I love being surprised.

I'm sad that I am almost caught up with this series but am happy that the author announced she will be writing more books in this series!!

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty boring and irritating. If I had a “friend” like Marco organising a party at my place without my consent and spending MY money without asking me first I’d probably kill him (or at the very least never speak to him again. Ever). I thought about giving up and don’t finish the book at least three or four times.
The plot is not that bad but Maddie is every time less and less bearable. I think it’s the last book of the series that I force myself to read.

[JMV · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like always. Light, silly and fun read.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

No where near enough Felix. Mild Dana and Maddie adventures but Marco induced laughter for the win. Good twists and turns.

[Robert Bussie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lucy and Ethel of fun mystery fiction is at it again. This time they get wrapped up in a murder involving MLB players and their wives who are on a reality TV show. With the recent sports wives reality TV show sand streaming shows this book is actually pretty timely and entertaining. As with all the books in this series their mystery, action, and dialogue is totally unbelievable, but that is what makes it so much fun!

I did find one thing annoying with this book.... Marco. Don't get me wrong, usually his character is an entertaining comedy relief. However, a little Marco goes a long way and his personality is way to over the top for this much book space. Also, Maddie and Jack needed to put their feet down and rein him in. The first birthday party is for their kids and they just let Marco do whatever he wanted. I was expected Jack to speak up more about it and he did nothing. And then Maddie apologized to Marco for her finally getting upset at him; I did not like how this scenario played out.

The narrator Caroline Shaffer did another great performance save for one character, faux dad Fernando. The voice just sounded weird and to slow.

[Elizabeth Graf · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I enjoy reading Maddie Springer Hugh heel murder solving.

Maddie is at it again. This time a murder happened at faux dad salon, Fernando. Lacey Desto was found dead in the spray tanning machine at the salon. Lacey was the girlfriend of one of the ball players on the LA Stars team. Lacey was not liked by the other baseball wives who also happened to have their own tv series.

In the meantime Ramirez has been suspended from his job and he asked Maddie one thing he never thought he would---if she would investigate the murder of Lacey.

Between the sleuthing Maddie and Dana were doing there is also the one year birthday party being planned by no other than Marco.

If you have enjoyed the previous books then you will most certainly enjoy this one as well.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been wondering, while reading and Maddie was off doing her investigating, when Ramirez would bump into Maddie or vice versa

I liked - for once - that Maddie didn’t end up knocked over the head and passed out again towards the end when she’s close to her discovery. Halliday finally changes the structure of writing in this novel.

I also would have told Marco from the beginning, and especially when things just showed up at the house, to get out. Honestly, worse friend and party planner ever. He never consulted with Maddie. Completely disrespectful.

4 out of 5 stars

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the better stories in the series. I thought I had figured out whodunit pretty early on, but it turned out to be a nicely planted red herring that kept me diverted from what actually happened. One of the marks of a good mystery is that you don't figure it out but that when you are finally told
you realize that it is the only answer that made sense and that you should have seen it. This story is like that.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly? My enjoyment of this one was a bit less than the previous books. For some reason, with this book it irritated me that she called her husband Ramirez all the time. It wasn't like she was addressing him, which I could understand. It was as she was telling me the story, she only said her husband's first name a few times.

[Rachel Gioia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oy. This book was dumb. I should have known by the title what I was getting myself into, but I at least thought it would be cute. It was ridiculous ... so unrealistic and extremely over-the-top in every which way. I wasn't even invested in who committed the murder ... not even at the end. Would not recommend.

[Renee Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and mystery!

This is a wonderful book. Maddie Springer is an obviously good sleuth. I'm not giving any spoilers. Just know that you'll laugh out loud...especially when Maddie and Dana almost get caught searching a house. Buy it. Read it. Enjoy!

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

She’s getting dumber and dumber with each book. So are her friends and family. And she still puts herself in danger despite having kids and a husband. And Marco is probably the most annoying character in this series.

[Roseanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good "fluffy" read. I need something lighthearted every now and then.

[Elizabeth Cherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Pretty Good Story

A lot of research must have gone into this book. A lot of sports info, although it could be wrong for all I know! It was a fun read.

[Kathy Monroig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous

Very funny good stress relief I couldn't put it down. Great sitting on the porch reading on a sunny afternoon

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read

Love these books as they keep my attention, are an easy read and make me work to figure out who did it.

[Mrs V Reaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series!!! Got me hooked on her books’ x

[Karl Hakimian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun High Heels mystery. While I clued in pretty early to who done it (not to mention how Ramirez pulled of the super dad thing), that didn't make the story any less fun.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hope you're ready to read about Maddie's constant need to "point [her] car towards X" because that phrase is in here like twenty times !

[Christie Haggard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read once I got into it. It’s not what I typically read but was silly and fun.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddie Ramirez
Jack Ramirez
Maddie is a shoe designer and likes to play detective when she can, her husband Jack is a Police Detective. Jack gets suspended from his job when he punches a baseball player while on a case. Jack then asks Maddie to help him solve the case. Maddie also wants to get the case solved because the murder happened at her step fathers salon. You have a side story of Marco planning a one year birthday party for Maddie and Jack’s twins, that’s way over the top. This is a good, fun read and I would read other books in the series and by Gemma.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I had finished all the High Heels books on my NOOK and was not happy with the last one I read (#6), my library had this one on OverDrive and I didn't want to leave the world on a sour note. So I borrowed it and am so happy I kept up with the series.



Maddie and Ramirez are a couple of years into their marriage and are feeling the strain on the marriage between work, respective family, and the twins (who turn one year old here). So they started to go on date nights to help them keep that loving feeling; dates alternate between something Maddie wants to do with something Ramirez wants to do. As the book opens, it is Ramirez's turn and as luck would have it, Maddie's step-dad gave them free tickets to the local pro baseball team game. Ramirez has really chilled out since that first book; the fun banter between him and Maddie really shines in this book. The next day, a dead body is found at step-dad's salon and for reasons Ramirez is suspended from the case and the police department. The death is tied to the baseball team. So in a twist on the High Heels formula, Ramirez and Maddie team up to solve the crime on their own. I LOVED THIS TWIST! Since Ramirez can't publicly be seen investigating, he is home with the twins and Maddie does the field work.



Of course Maddie doesn't work alone; BFFs Dana and Marco are there to help. Marco also plays a heavy role in the subplot of the twins' birthday, which is nice. Dana still got on my nerves a little, but she was useful this time around. And I really dig the love and acceptance between Mama (Ramirez's mom) and Maddie; no bad blood or jealousy between MIL and DIL. Mama is such a sweetie. Felix makes an appearance, but the deeper into the series the more I am glad Maddie chose Ramirez over Felix.



Yeah, I am here to stay. Just have two more books in the series to read and I will be current.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good
Dana & Maddie together. I love how Maddie calls on Dana for back up and Dana's enthusiasm to help.
That Ramirez asked for Maddie's help because if she had of investigated off her own bat it would have really bugged me.

The less good
Marco. I think he is supposed to be comic relief but Maddie is amusing enough in her own right. Marco is way too over the top and obnoxious. I guess he would be bearable if Maddie wasn't such a doormat about the while birthday thing.
Maddie's investigation technique resembling random flailing around. I prefer a little more thought/intelligence in my sleuths.