Wallingford Heights - A Hair Raiser's Adventure: Murder's Close Shave

by Ryan Hale

Death has a way of disturbing even the tidiest of towns, and in Wallingford Heights, 1896, nothing could be more shocking than the murder of the genial barber Elias Whitaker. His shop was a place of lively talk, quick trims, and trusted secrets—until one swift stroke cut his life short.

For Clara, Estelle, Chasity, and Marilou—better known around town as the Hair Raisers—this crime strikes too close to home. Armed with keen instincts, sharp tongues, and access to the kind of gossip no constable could collect, they set out to find the killer.

Their investigation takes them from the genteel parlors of the town’s elite to its shadowy alleys, uncovering a tangle of motives involving jealous rivals, mysterious newcomers, and even an alarming incident with prize-winning vegetables. Along the way, they’ll face arson, petty theft, and dangerous whispers that threaten to turn neighbor against neighbor.

In Murder’s Close Shave, the Hair Raisers must cut through layers of deception to expose the truth—before the next victim’s name is whispered over the clatter of tea cups and curling tongs.

A cozy historical mystery with wit, warmth, and no shortage of close calls, this second adventure proves crime never goes out of style.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2025

Reviews

[Tracey Gerrard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable Murder Mystery!
Set in the small town of Wallingford Heights, this murder mystery is certainly entertaining.
When Elias, the local barber, is murdered, the town becomes a haven for speculation and gossip. And this brings about another mystery for the Hair Raisers—a sleuth team of four women—to come together and uncover the killer.
Murder’s Close Shave is a captivating read, packed full of wonderful characters and an entertaining storyline. A murder mystery that had me hooked! Highly recommended!

[Lucas W Mayberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hair Raiser’s, a group of 4 women who meet up in a hair salon to gossip and put the world to rights and who are also quite handy in amateur sleuthing are on the case when a local barber and respected town councilman is brutally murdered. The case leads them through the murky underbelly of Wallingford Heights and what they discover could change the town forever. One of their own may be in danger when it looks like the murderer has set their sights on one of the Hair Raiser’s and the stakes are never higher. And then when the person who they think is the main suspect is killed themselves it all spirals. This is a rather enjoyable cozy mystery. I was particularly impressed by the level of historical research that obviously went into this, particularly around food health and contamination control in that era. Also what motor cars were like at the time and how they were perceived by normal people amused me a bit. If you enjoy a little bit of history and love cosy mysteries then this is definitely the book for you.

[Charissa Costa Bauhaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second book of the year was Wallingford Heights: A Hair Raiser’s Adventure: Murder’s Close Shave by Ryan Hale. This is the second book in the Wallingford Heights series, or as I like to call them, “the hair books,” and I am really becoming attached to these leading ladies. ❤️

Set in a small town in Massachusetts in the late 1800s, the series follows a group of chatty hairdressers who assist local law enforcement in solving crimes. This second novel offers much deeper character development, and I especially loved seeing the relationships between the women, their husbands (so funny!), and the broader community take shape as the story developed.

There are strong women’s rights themes woven throughout the story, set alongside a few grisly murders, which makes it especially satisfying to watch the characters navigate both social challenges and deadly mysteries. These books are perfect cozy mysteries for mystery readers!

[Kelley D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever whodunit packed with personality and surprises!

The Hairraisers do it again—or should I say, the meddling busybodies strike once more with their inquisitive minds! This installment is bursting with twists and turns, keeping readers on their toes and guessing ‘whodunit’ until the final pages. The characters are impressively developed, with personalities that leap off the page, whil rich descriptions let you vividly imagine the quaint town of Wallingford and its tangle of secrets. If you love mystery with strong atmosphere and memorable characters this book is a must-read. Highly recommend for anyone ready for an entertaining puzzle and colorful cast!

[HAL · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can this author Hale write fantastic Blake Franklin PI stories and yet get the gossipy banter among girlfriends down so accurately and in such an entertaining way? I've read several PI Blake adventures and Hale’s first Wallingford Heights mystery and every one of them is a 5 star keeper on the reader.
Murders Close Shave is meticulous in research and a page turner at the same time. The murder reveal stunned me. It is free from swears and sex and a bit violent ( lightly descriptive -think PG13) so I can easily recommend this for teens and adults. Yes, I received this as a free arc review copy but there is no way I can't give high praise, 5 stars and freely recommended this book - so read and ENJOY!

[Linda Ann Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second entertaining historical murder mystery by author Ryan Hale set in small town Wallingford Heights, Massachusetts takes place in 1896/97. The much respected local barber has been murdered. The Hair Raisers, Clara, Estelle, Chasity and Marilou investigate that murder and more, arson and petty theft. All is not as it seems. Recommend this intriguing read.

[Danny Bradbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this thrilling murder mystery set in a small town in Massachusetts in the late 1800's. The author, Ryan Hale does a great job setting each scene and richly describes each character. The book is a page turner as the town tries to determine who the murderer is, especially a group of ladies who are hot on the case.

I highly recommend reading this novel.

[Jagdish Arora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book because it is warm, entertaining, and easy to enjoy. The small-town mystery feels cozy, but still keeps you curious about what really happened. I enjoy how the characters feel lively and relatable, especially the way they work together to solve the case. The historical details add charm without slowing the story down.

[Eleanor Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked from the get-go! This would make an awesome series or movie! This author is a man who knows men well, but women just as good, too - which is no easy task!
This is not just a mystery, but a story about the times. The author takes you to the 'back then', and you feel its presence all around you. I didn't want the story to end.
Will be reading more books by this author.

[Govno Nichevo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this overall was an okay read. Despite the sedate pace this was a pleasant and entertaining enough read, partly because of the novelty of the period setting. My main frustration was that I had to wait until the epilogue to find out what the motivation for the murder was supposed to be.