Highlights to Heaven

Bad Hair Day #5

by Nancy J. Cohen

Join southern sleuth Marla Shore on another hair-raising adventure as she lands a case close to home in this lighthearted cozy mystery.

Hairstylist and amateur sleuth Marla Shore lands a case close to home when her animal-loving neighbor—a man aptly named Goat—disappears, leaving his pets alone and a dead body in his master bedroom. Even more disturbing is the pattern of highlights Marla notes in the victim’s hair.

She recognizes the signature technique of her former mentor, master stylist Cutter Corrigan. Soon she’s untangling clues that link Goat, Cutter, and the unsavory pet fur trade to her own past. Someone at her former beauty school has a hair-raising secret worth killing to keep.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Cozy, Chick Lit

304 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2003

About the author

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have been named Best Cozy Mystery by Suspense Magazine, won the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and the RONE Award, placed first in the Chanticleer International Book Awards and third in the Arizona Literary Awards. Her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook, have won the FAPA President’s Book Award, the Royal Palm Literary Award, and IAN Book of the Year. Nancy’s imaginative romances have proven popular with fans as well. These books have won the HOLT Medallion and Best Book in Romantic SciFi/Fantasy at The Romance Reviews. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Florida Romance Writers and Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World. Visit her at NancyJCohen.com

Reviews

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a really really good book! Each one in the series gets better and better! I love this series so much I cannot wait to read the next book! So much action in this story, Marla really got into a mess this time! Her neighbor Goat has disappeared and a dead man is in his bed. One of her beauty school instructors Cutter Corrigan may be involved. Some of her classmates are found dead, so much going on in this story and an unexpected twist! I'm on to start the next book now!

[Judi Easley · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thoughts: OMG, Marla with a cause! Our favorite hairdresser plays with the big boys in this one and things get pretty scary even with her favorite cop along.

[Julia Lednicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly miffed

It might just be me, but it seemed like the mystery plot on this one was a bit convoluted. I also had trouble keeping up with who was who among the large cast of characters. I did enjoy following Marla as she puzzled out this case, though, from the standpoint that she’s a strong protagonist and amateur sleuth. Enjoyed the developments between Marla and Dalton. Nice intensification of conflict and relationship drama mixed with overcoming obstacles as their romance progresses.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read.

[Christine P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh boy, does Marla get herself in some 'hairy' situations in Highlights to Heaven. This is book 5 in the series and I am still enjoying them. As usual this book spun some interesting information into the story about the disease of citrus trees. I took this to heart since, I've mentioned, I also live in FL and this has happened to our citrus tees, so I was very glad to learn what happened to the trees and what I probably should have done. Marla and Vail also take a trip to Mt. Dora (which is only a short drive from me) and she describes the shops and restaurant's making me want to take a trip up there soon!
Marla and Vail are really coming together now and I'm not sure I like how fast it's going but Hey, I don't write 'em, I just read 'em. I have to admit in some of her books it took me a long while to figure out the murderer but in this book I figured it out pretty quickly. Another great read.

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is as enjoyable as the rest of the series, but I am starting to join some of the other reviewers in their incredulity that it is possible for Marla to own and operate a salon while she is off investigating murders and dealing with her growing relationship not only with Vail, but his daughter Brianna, as she does in this book. While it is nice to see the couple deal with normal hiccups in a growing relationship, it's getting hard to believe Marla could actually run her salon like this and not have a mutiny from her staff or go under.

[Cary · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK this is as far as I go! I still have the same issues as a few books ago. 1) How can she actually run a salon with all the time away from the place? 2) How come every murder is somehow connected to her directly or indirectly! 3) I'm tired of the little lectures on whatever topic is involved in the book. 4) How can she be beat up & harassed so much and still keep on sleuthing?

Yep, I'm done!

[Missy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book #33 read in 2011

What a stupid, stupid main character. I spent most of the book thinking she was going to get herself killed. My favorite part of the story was the bonding between Marla and Brie.

[Phillis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice easy read. This is a character series called Bad Hair Mysteries or something like that. Takes place in Florida. The main charactr owns a beauty salon and some how gets involvd in murder. That's how she met her boyfriend who is a detective.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable entry in the series. I liked how Marla and Dalton's relationship was evolving. The mystery was good but confusing at times with all the technicalities in it and even Marla felt that as well.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this author looking for Florida writers. I was impressed with Nancy J Cohen and the way she weaves the drama. There are like 18 books in this series so I have begun to read the series now. This was a fun mystery with no vampires! Highly recommend the easy reading, cuteness of her books!

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I read this before. Very familiar, and yet I never did the whole series before.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good Bad Air mystery. I somehow skipped this book so I had to go back 1 book. Oh well, but still enjoyed reading it.

[Kaitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first in the series that I have read. While the book wasn't able to hold my interest as well as other authors, I will most likely read one more from the series.

[JT (Jasmine Tailfeather) Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun read1

[Melissa Stoltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book better than some of the others I have read by her.

[Ali Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. A lot of different plots all at once. Just think when you're figuring out something to a clue it changes again! Pay attention to all of the characters.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this mystery.

It was very entertaining and what I call an easy read; but at the same time the mystery had enough turns and twists to keep me guessing.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 - Not Bad