In addition to her house-flipping talents, Jazzi Zanders is breaking ground as a sleuth. But she’s going to need every tool at her disposal to solve two crimes . . .
In their hair salon, Jazzi’s sister Olivia and mother are savvy businesswomen whose creativity brings fashion and flair to the folks of Rivers Bluff, Indiana. So when their newest hairstylist Misty is caught scamming clients’ debit cards and selling beauty products during off hours to pocket the profits, Olivia fires her. But Misty retaliates by hitting back with a defamation lawsuit—which she is more than happy to drop if Olivia pays her ten grand.
But neither blackmail nor courtroom fees are accrued after Misty’s body is discovered in the salon with Olivia’s scissors stuck in her chest. Olivia may be the number one suspect, but her murdered employee had a reputation for making enemies.
Then Jazzi’s ex Chad appears, asking for help with his marital strife. This already awkward situation worsens when Chad’s wife vanishes and the police investigate him. Now, it’s up to Jazzi to clear both her sister’s and ex’s names while the killer—or killers—could be a mere hair breadth’s away . . .
Judi Lynn received a Master’s Degree from Indiana University as an elementary school teacher after attending the IPFW campus. She taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades for six years before having her two daughters. She loves gardening, cooking and trying new recipes.
First I would like to state that I received this book through the Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity and honor in being able to read this book. When I received this book I began reading it at once. I really enjoy the authors writing style, pulls you into the book from the very beginning and you don't want to put the book down. It kept me on the edge of my seat reading from cover to cover. All the characters are very well portrayed though out. When you are finished you wish you weren't. A most wonderful read and I highly recommend this book
Con tutti libri che si sono impilati nella mia TBR mi ero completamente dimenticata di questa serie, che pure mi piace tantissimo. Qui, come negli altri libri, si acquistano chili a leggere tutti i manicaretti che vengono preparati e mangiati e si sogna a occhi aperti case ristrutturate a nostro piacere. Come al solito la protagonista viene portata a spasso dal detective-amico perché la gente si apre con lei, in più scopre qualche indizio per puro caso, però è piacevole scoprire come vengono risolti i due misteri che sono al centro di questo libro.
Absolutely loved this one! Fantastic from start to finish!
Before I dive into my review, I want to reiterate something I put in an update: It's a myth that you have to wait 24 hours before reporting an adult missing. Absolutely not true. If someone you know is missing, call the police as soon as possible.
Ok, on to the review and this was a humdinger of a book! There were several mysteries, the "side murders" were the murder of a recently hired employee, Misty, in the hair salon owned by her sister and mother. That one was, as well as another murder of a waitress, were wrapped up pretty quickly. The big plot revolved around Jazzi's ex-boyfriend Chad, who Jazzi agreed to help after his wife, Ginger, went missing. Chad and Ginger's marriage had been rocky, but were working hard to repair their marriage when she went missing and was later found dead. Chad was suspected of the murder, but Jazzi knew he didn't do it and worked with Detective Gaff to find the real killer. The whole plot was put together so well and you know what I liked? That the murders are actually investigated thoroughly, there's no jumping to conclusions and wasting time taking people into custody for finding a body. Gaff, who always seems to catch the cases that Jazzi gets involved with, is pretty realistic for a detective, despite the fact that he brings a civilian along to question people (which I'm willing to overlook, otherwise there wouldn't be much to the books) and I love how he and Jazzi work together. And although she's busy detecting, Jazzi, Jerod and Ansel always complete their latest house flip ahead of schedule (you know, now that I think about it, that's the most unrealistic thing about this series; home renovations never end early and on budget. I've watched enough HGTV to know!) And to top it all off, the endings are always satisfying and realistic. Sprinkle in all the good family-gathering-with-good-food vibes (I always feel like I gain 10 lbs reading about everything Jazzi makes) and you have the perfect recipe for a great cozy mystery read. Definitely a full 5 star read!
Jazzi Zanders makes her living flipping houses with her husband Ansel and cousin Jerod. But she has also developed a reputation for solving mysteries so when someone is murdered in her sister Olivia’s beauty parlor, Olivia naturally turns to Jazzi for help, especially since Olivia is the top suspect. As if that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, her ex Chad needs her help – his wife is missing and the police suspect he is behind her disappearance. Can Jazzi help both Olivia and Chad clear their names while finding a killer or killers?
“The Body in the Beauty Parlor” is the enjoyable sixth book in Judi Lynn’s Jazzi Sanders cozy mystery series. While this is the sixth book in the series, it was the first one that I ever read so I was a bit confused at times about some of the characters – Jazzi comes from a large extended family who get together all the time (I was especially confused about the children and wasn’t even sure if Jazzi and Ansel were married) – but once I got to know the characters I really enjoyed the book. I loved reading about the house flipping and food that Jazzi cooked – this book comes with recipes but I also wish it came with pictures of the house flipping and how I wish I could have smelled (and tasted) the food Jazzi cooks! I love the rest of the characters and the loving relationship between (most of) the family members (although a little bit of Jazzi calling Ansel “my Viking” went a long way). The mysteries are both well done with plenty of suspects (Chad’s storyline is a sad one) – but only in a cozy mystery would the police allow an amateur detective to tag along and ask suspects questions!
“The Body in the Beauty Parlor” is an enjoyable cozy mystery.
this was a really cut cozy mystery. It's the first Jazzi Zanders mystery I've read and I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
This book was a hard one for me to read. It actually had more about the house they were renovating and the meals they were having than the actual murders. I would have enjoyed it much more if the murder investigation had been more prevalent. That being said, there were some parts of the book where they actually did focus on the murder.
Two young women are murdered. One, a scam artist is found dead in a chair at the beauty salon, killed with shears. The second goes missing and is found in a shallow grave in the woods. Two different mysteries, two different killers. Along the way, someone interviewed for the beauty shop murder becomes a suspect for a third murder!
I am very fond of the “A Jazzi Zanders Mystery” series, and the latest book in the collection, Body In The Beauty Parlor only adds to the enjoyment and pleasure this series brings. House renovation isn’t always easy; in fact, in real life, it can be a disaster, but with the pages of these books, it makes it easier than anyone can imagine. The houses are described with genuine passion and always sound amazing. This time, we add the location of Jazzi’s mother and sisters hair salon, which is illustrated wonderfully and the kind of place readers wouldn’t mind getting their hair done.
The murder of a stylist, who was recently fired from the salon, and the sudden disappearance of Chad, Jazzi’s ex’s wife, has everyone in a tailspin. The renovation projects are slowed down while Jazzi does her best to help find a killer and a missing wife. Things become convoluted and serious when Jazzi’s sister is the number one suspect, and it takes some work to find others who may have wanted Misty dead, including one of her roommates.
From the salon to the renovations, from suspects with plenty of motive and red herrings that impede progress, Jazzi walks a tight rope. Body In The Beauty Parlor is well written, the mystery is done well and keeps readers guessing, and the action is enough to keep things tense. There are many discussions about food, and the recipes give readers something new to try. Overall, this was a fun, relaxing read that provides readers with a few smiles and a couple of hours to escape from the trying times we live in.
Now we all saw this one coming once Olivia mentioned in the last book that they were thinking of hiring a new employee!! Things went way to smoothly at first but now Misty, the new employee, turns out to be a scammer. Once she’s fired, she tried to put the squeeze on Olivia and her mom, only to be found stabbed to death with Olivia’s scissors. At the same time, another blast from the past. Chad, who was Jazzi’s ex-fiancée comes to her for help when his wife disappears. With the support of Ansel, she investigates the disappearance and the problems in Chad’s marriage.
The book is filled as usual with the big family meals, the dynamic between Ansel, Jazzi and her cousin Jarod as they rehab houses is great, grandma with the “sight” and Jazzi trying to decipher what those clues mean as it relates to the cases she’s working with Det G. Overall good, medium paced reads
I like this series - I like the descriptions of food (often dishes new to me a a non-American - I want to try to make Philly cheesesteak now!), and the family get togethers that form the background to the murder investigations.
I also enjoy the descriptions of the houses the three of them renovate/flip - although this time we learnt so much about the prospective buyer that it began to point at him as a suspect...
I rated this at two stars although I dnf. Waaaaaay more people than I need to know about! If they were all involved with the murder, I request a rewrite. Narrow the gene pool Ms Lynn. (Or add more murder.) These people, their names, etc just got me too damn confused-- and I can't figure out who did it if everybody just gets lumped together in my mind! So, "NO RECOMEND!"
Thanks to Goodreads giveaway as I received a Kindle copy of this book for a review.
Jazzy has her hands full with two mysteries to solve in this novel. First, a former employed hairstylist is found murdered in her sister, Olivia, and mom’s beauty parlor with a pair of Olivia’s scissors in the stylist chest. The stylist had been fired for scamming client’s credit cards and selling the beauty parlors’s products under the table. She was threatening Olivia with a law suit. Jazzi’s ex, Chad, shows up asking for her help with his marriage and locating his missing wife. Between trying to clear her sister’s name and locate Chad’s missing wife, Jazzi continues working with her cousin, Jerod, and her husband, Ansel, on their current house they are flipping. I do like all the family gatherings and food. The two cases aren’t related but Jazzi does manage to find the real murders for both. I fully recommend this cozy mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sixth outing for Jazzi, her husband, Ansel, their extended family, and group of friends. As always, Jazzi and Ansel are at the heart of the book with Jazzi playing amateur sleuth. In this case, there are two mysteries, both which hit close to home. Her sister, Olivia’s, newest employee is found dead in Olivia’s hair salon, and Jazzi’s ex-fiancé’s wife disappears under highly questionable circumstances. Of course, Jazzi, Ansel, and Jazzi’s cousin, Jerod, also have a house to remodel and flip. Add in a large family, a looming Easter celebration, and Jazzi has her hands full.
As with all the Jazzi mysteries, this is a pleasurable read. The action is split behind sleuthing and Jazzi’s family life. Lynn’s writing style is breezy and easy to read. Characters feel like old friends and the two mysteries are deftly handled. Even Jazzi and Ansel’s pets—Geroge the pug, and cats, Inky and Marmalade—get moments to shine. If you enjoy cozies, this is one series and group of characters who will win your heart. Satisfying from start to finish!
The Body in the Beauty Parlor by Judi Lynn Book #6: Jazzi Zanders Mystery Series Source: Purchase Rating: 4/5 stars
Jazzi Zanders always has her hands full. Between her full-time job flipping houses, her weekly family dinners, and her crime solving hobby, Jazzi has more than she can handle on a regular basis. In her limited free time, Jazzi enjoys hanging out at home with her handsome Viking, playing with her adorable animals, and planning special meals and events for her family. Unfortunately, there isn’t a great deal of down time, currently.
Just as Jazzi, Ansel, and her cousin begin the heavy lifting on a new project, Jazzi is called by her sister Olivia with a very serious problem. Turns out, Olivia’s recently fired hairdresser had the audacity to not only steal from Olivia and her mother’s business, but she also found herself dead as can be with Olivia’s scissors sticking straight out of her chest. While the situation certainly doesn’t look good for Olivia, Jazzi is on the case and won’t stop until she knows the truth of the matter.
With Detective Gaff along for the ride, Jazzi begins a deep dive into the victim’s life and quickly discovers she was not well liked by most who knew her. While this doesn’t narrow down the list of suspects, it certainly does cast suspicion on others more so than Olivia. Because the universe is always watching and waiting for an opportunity to mess with a human, just as Jazzi is knee deep in her sister’s case, she gets a phone call from her despicable ex-boyfriend looking for help with the case of his missing wife. Though Jazzi has reservations about allowing Chad back into her life, Jazzi’s grandmother utters several proclamations Jazzi simply can’t ignore. With two cases unfolding simultaneously, it will be a wonder if Jazzi ever has a free moment for herself.
The Bottom Line: I am still finding this series both entertaining and engaging, but I have to say, even with two mysteries in this read, I was more enthralled by the work done on the flip house and the scrumptious meals concocted by Jazzi. Somehow the meals and the work on the houses simply stood out more this time than in previous books. The house is unlike anything the crew has ever done, and Jazzi and the other women really outdo themselves with the weekly offerings for dinner. It is in these moments, the quieter family and work moments that I get the most pleasure from this series and sincerely hope the creativity of these situations never wanes. Does this mean I didn’t enjoy the mystery bits? Absolutely not! The mysteries are integral to this series and without them the other bits wouldn’t seem so intimate and precious. I’m still all in on this series and look forward to round seven!
Wow, there was so much going on in this book and it kept my interest from beginning to end. I finished in less than 24 hours as I was hooked.
I opted to listen to the audiobook through my library's Hoopla app and was not disappointed. The narrator was wonderful. Perfect accent for Indiana and read all parts with the correct tone.
I found it very interesting that the last several books have focused on babies and Jazzi keeps saying "in the future." Hmm...could it happen sooner than later? I'm all for it as long as Jazzi keeps being represented as a strong woman with a career. I wish I had even half her talent as a remodeler.
Book six takes place around Easter and has two main murders and a cold case. The author did great in connecting them in different ways.
A quick entertaining read for cozy mystery lovers.
* I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from a Goodreads giveaway. *
Since this was the first book in the series that I read, I took a little time to sort out who was who. After that, I got into the story and wanted to know who done it. My only draw back is that this read like someone's diary. By that I mean that there was a lot of extra detail on what was for every meal and all the prep as well as all the steps of every project. While some of that was interesting, it was a little bit too much. I did however enjoy this and will probably read the preceding books.
An ex-employee is killed at Jazzi's sister's shop and Jazzi's ex's wife is missing and lots of planning for Easter.
What I enjoyed: * I like the characters. Jazzi and Ansel are a great couple. * It was interesting to have multiple mysteries this time around * Some people are just horrible people
What could have been better: * It felt like half the book was preparing or eating food when I expect more about flipping houses *
I really liked The Body in the Beauty Parlor. Another great mystery involving Olivia, Jazzi's sister and Chad, Jazzi's ex-boyfriend. In the 6th installment Jazzi helps Gaff solve two murders. I love the food and fixer-upper. I love all the details, the family and the fun. Looking forward to reading book #7.
I give The Body in the Beauty Parlor 4 stars for its cozy read. I would recommend this book to Mystery fans.
If you like home improvement shows or house flippers you’ll love this series. Jazzi and her husband and cousin buy houses and flip them. You can read this one first or go back and read them straight through. Jazzi and her family will feel like your family by the time you have read them all.
I hadn't read any of this series of books, but won a Kindle copy through Goodreads give away. The quality was was Good was most other cozy mysteries I read. I'll most likely Look for earlier titles in series to read. There were A LOT of characters to keep track of however.
I love these fun little murder mysteries. Jazzi is a good assistant for Detective Gaff. The people seem to open up to her more than they do for the cop. These books are fun to read, and I enjoy the family as they have Sunday dinners together. The murders get solved, the family gets together for meals and houses get renovated. On to the next!
This was a good mystery with 2 murders to solve and Jazzi not only cooks everything, remodels houses and solves murders with the police! It was somewhat unrealistic as to all the info the police supplied to those they were interviewing, I’m sure that doesn’t happen. And all the cooking-wow, I’m surprised these people can still walk with all the food they eat. Nice to see some recipes.
Fun read. I enjoyed the dual mystery in this story a lot. Both were good mysteries with personal connections to Jazzi and that made them super interesting. This has definitely become a go to series for me and I look forward to the next one!
This will be my last Jazzi for awhile, can't seem to find the newer ones in my world. I do like this series. I think I will be sorry if the Sunday suppers move to other people's houses. That is my favourite part of the books, everyone together.