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Psychic Barber Mysteries #1
The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air
CUT HAIR - READ MINDS - SOLVE A MURDER
Make your appointment for a fun amateur sleuth story that's one part "The Long Goodbye," dabs of "Blanche on the Lam" and "Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" with just a little X-Men mixed in, too.
DANICA LUMAN has used her secret psychic abilities to squeeze by in the San Fernando Valley. Her powers help her give great haircuts - she sees into customers' minds and knows exactly what styles they want. Things are steady until one day, while giving a strange man a high-and-tight, the image Danica sees is of a dead body.
What Danica lacks in detective training, she makes up for in stubbornness. She takes on the role of amateur detective only to sink deeper into the muddy mystery, with each clue dragging her further into the weird underbelly of Los Angeles. Fighting off unpaid bills, attempts on her life and dangerous family squabbles, Danica gets tangled up trying to solve the murder and discover how it connects to the cops, a student newspaper, and an old man who calls himself "the Mayor of Bel Air."
Read the book, enjoy this amateur sleuth adventure, and sign up for the newsletters to learn more!
Make your appointment for a fun amateur sleuth story that's one part "The Long Goodbye," dabs of "Blanche on the Lam" and "Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" with just a little X-Men mixed in, too.
DANICA LUMAN has used her secret psychic abilities to squeeze by in the San Fernando Valley. Her powers help her give great haircuts - she sees into customers' minds and knows exactly what styles they want. Things are steady until one day, while giving a strange man a high-and-tight, the image Danica sees is of a dead body.
What Danica lacks in detective training, she makes up for in stubbornness. She takes on the role of amateur detective only to sink deeper into the muddy mystery, with each clue dragging her further into the weird underbelly of Los Angeles. Fighting off unpaid bills, attempts on her life and dangerous family squabbles, Danica gets tangled up trying to solve the murder and discover how it connects to the cops, a student newspaper, and an old man who calls himself "the Mayor of Bel Air."
Read the book, enjoy this amateur sleuth adventure, and sign up for the newsletters to learn more!
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2021
5 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Phillip Mottaz
7 books27 followersPhillip Mottaz wrote his first novel when he was only 39. After growing up in Illinois’ smallest city, he studied improv and sketch comedy in Chicago. Since moving to Los Angeles, he has written every kind of script imaginable, produced multiple podcasts and — to date — has developed no psychic abilities. He is known for funny, quirky, weird mystery novels, and for adding strange details to his author bio.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 24, 2021
In the novel – The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air: a psychic barber mystery – Phillip Mottaz successfully writes a new twist into a who-done-it plot, by introducing us to a psychic barber heroine who has no intention of becoming a modern-day detective. It is as if Oda Mae from Ghost, became a barber.
Mottaz takes us on the nine-day magical mystery tour of our heroine – Danica Luman. Danica, our psychic barber, has all the makings of an intriguing leading lady: mysterious, funny, quirky, baggage from her past and truly psychic! As Mottaz spins his mystery and Danica cuts her teeth as a sleuth, we are introduced to a wide variety of colorful characters, suspects, clients, family, loves and friends in Danica’s seemingly mundane life. She is engagingly complicated and struggling with a definite moral code. I turned each page to revel in her discoveries, applaud her instincts or to share her disappointments. We fly through the nine days of Danica’s life and the moral responsibilities that come with this “gift.”
I was thoroughly engaged and excited as I read The Murderous Haircut…. I have a personal connection to Mottaz and Danica; I, too, am a rural Illinois transplant to Southern California and I found many commonalities with the heroine’s feelings and memories. Mottaz is adept in his description of characters, locations, odors, landscapes, and feelings. His account of the polarization between Danica’s midwestern values verses California … negotiations, rang loud and clear. This novel reads like a movie.
I rate this book – 5/5. It was a fun departure from my day to day routine and I am anxious to recommend it to my friends and family. Let’s hope that this is the first in a series of Danica’s adventures.
Mottaz takes us on the nine-day magical mystery tour of our heroine – Danica Luman. Danica, our psychic barber, has all the makings of an intriguing leading lady: mysterious, funny, quirky, baggage from her past and truly psychic! As Mottaz spins his mystery and Danica cuts her teeth as a sleuth, we are introduced to a wide variety of colorful characters, suspects, clients, family, loves and friends in Danica’s seemingly mundane life. She is engagingly complicated and struggling with a definite moral code. I turned each page to revel in her discoveries, applaud her instincts or to share her disappointments. We fly through the nine days of Danica’s life and the moral responsibilities that come with this “gift.”
I was thoroughly engaged and excited as I read The Murderous Haircut…. I have a personal connection to Mottaz and Danica; I, too, am a rural Illinois transplant to Southern California and I found many commonalities with the heroine’s feelings and memories. Mottaz is adept in his description of characters, locations, odors, landscapes, and feelings. His account of the polarization between Danica’s midwestern values verses California … negotiations, rang loud and clear. This novel reads like a movie.
I rate this book – 5/5. It was a fun departure from my day to day routine and I am anxious to recommend it to my friends and family. Let’s hope that this is the first in a series of Danica’s adventures.
August 25, 2021
Phillip Mottaz has just become my new favorite author and I am already anxiously awaiting his next release.
The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air is the first book in a hilariously intriguing new series.
What would you do if you had psychic abilities? Become a barber, right? Who better to know what you really want than your local psychic? This is an amazing tale of a regular girl who uses her powers to give a good haircut and stumbles her way into a good old fashioned whodunnit when she “sees” a dead body in the thoughts of one of her clients.
The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air is the first book in a hilariously intriguing new series.
What would you do if you had psychic abilities? Become a barber, right? Who better to know what you really want than your local psychic? This is an amazing tale of a regular girl who uses her powers to give a good haircut and stumbles her way into a good old fashioned whodunnit when she “sees” a dead body in the thoughts of one of her clients.
August 24, 2021
An awesome read, with twists and twirls that will keep me coming back to every future installment of the Psychic Barber series.
Come for the mystery, but stay for the winning character at its heart: Danica Luman. Mottaz has created a gem of a detective - seen here on her first case, having to "fake it to make it."
Though a grounded mystery book, Danica has a very specific (sometimes hilarious... sometimes tragic) gift: She can channel thoughts with just a touch. A great power when figuring out haircut dreams -- but a chaotic one when uncovering a murder.
Though the book has a body count, Mottaz' style has a playful charm and is refreshingly unique - don't dive into this unless you're the kind of reader (like me) that wants their authors to occasionally use words like "foomff" and make references to Madonna in 'Dick Tracy.'
Set in 2008 Van Nuys, it's rich with authentic locals and locales that create a true Los Angeles crime story: private investigators, USC kid reporters, wannabe actresses.
Vivid flashbacks reveal much about Danica's past, but the story also expertly weaves her personal life into the intrigue. Her career and relationships have to take a back seat as the mystery consumes her life - but that's exciting wish fulfillment to readers like us who love a great investigation, all surrounding a gumshoe that sometimes has to rely on toy glasses as a disguise and hiding onions in glove compartments to survive and save the day. It's weird and wonderful. Relatable and cool. Do it!
Come for the mystery, but stay for the winning character at its heart: Danica Luman. Mottaz has created a gem of a detective - seen here on her first case, having to "fake it to make it."
Though a grounded mystery book, Danica has a very specific (sometimes hilarious... sometimes tragic) gift: She can channel thoughts with just a touch. A great power when figuring out haircut dreams -- but a chaotic one when uncovering a murder.
Though the book has a body count, Mottaz' style has a playful charm and is refreshingly unique - don't dive into this unless you're the kind of reader (like me) that wants their authors to occasionally use words like "foomff" and make references to Madonna in 'Dick Tracy.'
Set in 2008 Van Nuys, it's rich with authentic locals and locales that create a true Los Angeles crime story: private investigators, USC kid reporters, wannabe actresses.
Vivid flashbacks reveal much about Danica's past, but the story also expertly weaves her personal life into the intrigue. Her career and relationships have to take a back seat as the mystery consumes her life - but that's exciting wish fulfillment to readers like us who love a great investigation, all surrounding a gumshoe that sometimes has to rely on toy glasses as a disguise and hiding onions in glove compartments to survive and save the day. It's weird and wonderful. Relatable and cool. Do it!
August 24, 2021
Phillip Mottaz has penned a fantastic cozy mystery and a great read.
Phillip's comedy background shines in his writing and his descriptions made me laugh out loud so many times. I started reading them out loud to my roommate so she could have a good laugh, too.
These characters are wonderful and I cannot wait to come back to them in follow-up books. (Phillip NEEDS to give the PI his own series… or a side story at least.)
I really enjoyed how the main character was a believable woman with many of my own flaws. She's very relatable and fun to root for. It's a funny set-up that is grounded in great characters. We are seamlessly swept into the story from page one.
I also love how Phillip lets us into the main character’s process behind deciding to become someone who 'solves a murder.'
This is the perfect book for commutes and vacations.
It’s got a murder, laughs, and high-powered LA-types. What more do you need?
Phillip's comedy background shines in his writing and his descriptions made me laugh out loud so many times. I started reading them out loud to my roommate so she could have a good laugh, too.
These characters are wonderful and I cannot wait to come back to them in follow-up books. (Phillip NEEDS to give the PI his own series… or a side story at least.)
I really enjoyed how the main character was a believable woman with many of my own flaws. She's very relatable and fun to root for. It's a funny set-up that is grounded in great characters. We are seamlessly swept into the story from page one.
I also love how Phillip lets us into the main character’s process behind deciding to become someone who 'solves a murder.'
This is the perfect book for commutes and vacations.
It’s got a murder, laughs, and high-powered LA-types. What more do you need?
September 17, 2021
This story takes the reader on a thrilling adventure within the San Fernando
Valley. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. A high profile murder, a protagonist with a
secret?
This story took me on a roller coaster of
different emotions and thoughts and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
With the book taking place in the San Fernando Valley it was truly amazing that I
could vividly see the locations being described as if I was personally in the story itself. I
was also able to relate to the protagonist. She was so unique and wholesome that
anyone reading cannot help but want her to succeed in life. I recommend this book to
anyone that loves a layered mystery and of course to someone that like myself loves to
put themselves into the protagonist seat and try to solve the mystery along the way as
well. Phillip Mottaz is a brilliant author and great at creating a mystery that have never
read before. I can’t wait to read more of his stories in the future.
Valley. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. A high profile murder, a protagonist with a
secret?
This story took me on a roller coaster of
different emotions and thoughts and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
With the book taking place in the San Fernando Valley it was truly amazing that I
could vividly see the locations being described as if I was personally in the story itself. I
was also able to relate to the protagonist. She was so unique and wholesome that
anyone reading cannot help but want her to succeed in life. I recommend this book to
anyone that loves a layered mystery and of course to someone that like myself loves to
put themselves into the protagonist seat and try to solve the mystery along the way as
well. Phillip Mottaz is a brilliant author and great at creating a mystery that have never
read before. I can’t wait to read more of his stories in the future.
August 31, 2021
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book in the new Psychic Barber Mystery series. I genuinely loved this book. The author put genuine work into creating an everyday person who stumbles down the road of solving a mystery which is a welcome relief to the tedium of the protagonist found in so many other murder mysteries.
Danica, the protagonist, was funny, quirky, and flawed. She was developed to resemble a person we would all know as opposed to a person who conveniently has all the resources and talents to advance the plot and solve the mystery. This made the reading experience much more enjoyable. I was constantly cringing at the things Danica was doing. The things most sleuths know, but she didn't.
I am very excited to read the next book in this series.
Danica, the protagonist, was funny, quirky, and flawed. She was developed to resemble a person we would all know as opposed to a person who conveniently has all the resources and talents to advance the plot and solve the mystery. This made the reading experience much more enjoyable. I was constantly cringing at the things Danica was doing. The things most sleuths know, but she didn't.
I am very excited to read the next book in this series.
August 27, 2021
If the title sounds a little too cute, don’t let it get to you. Murderous Haircut is a fun and exciting read with a very satisfying sense of wit. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a “just a few pages a night” type book, but you might catch yourself staying up a few more minutes to read the next chapter. I appreciated how Danica Luman, the main character, moves through her investigation in honest and true novice fashion, which makes it seem like it could be me trying to solve a murder (fun!).
It sounds strange, but I drew some comparisons to The Martian because, like that book’s main character who has to go step-by-step to stay alive on faith that a good outcome will materialize, you follow Danica day-by-day as she learns on the fly how to be a detective, unsure if her decisions are good ones but building confidence with every choice. Her hesitancy, introspection, and self doubt are very well counter-balanced by her courage and moral compass, which makes her a great character to see develop into a detective.
It sounds strange, but I drew some comparisons to The Martian because, like that book’s main character who has to go step-by-step to stay alive on faith that a good outcome will materialize, you follow Danica day-by-day as she learns on the fly how to be a detective, unsure if her decisions are good ones but building confidence with every choice. Her hesitancy, introspection, and self doubt are very well counter-balanced by her courage and moral compass, which makes her a great character to see develop into a detective.
August 27, 2021
I love a good mystery novel. In my opinion, a good mystery must have two things to make it great. The first is a compelling hero that we enjoy following and learning about. The second is an intriguing mystery that is difficult for the reader to solve, but not impossible if they are paying attention. This book accomplishes both of those criteria in a tremendous way. Our hero, Danica, is thrust into this story because of her “unusual” power. She has no training as a detective, but her desire to help fuels her journey throughout the book. The author does a wonderful job painting the picture of Los Angeles as well as letting us “get to know” Danica as she tries to unravel what is going on.
The clues are given to us in small bites. Makes the reader curious, but never frustrated. Once the solution is given, it seems so obvious and made me want to read the book again.
The real gem of the story is Danica. She is a well-rounded character that I enjoyed learning about as the mystery unfolds. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
The clues are given to us in small bites. Makes the reader curious, but never frustrated. Once the solution is given, it seems so obvious and made me want to read the book again.
The real gem of the story is Danica. She is a well-rounded character that I enjoyed learning about as the mystery unfolds. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
August 27, 2021
A fresh and fun take on the LA-crime noir genre! Not an easy feat given the amount of LA-based crime stories. Through the eyes of a hair stylist with psychic abilities, we are led into the world of crime, high society, higher ed, sleazy private investigators, hair salons, and experience LA in a new light. The lead character Danica Luman is relatable, compelling, and sarcastic and makes for a great companion as the plot unfolds and tension builds. Mottaz blends pop culture satire, loads of humor, a nice amount of tension, quirky, lived-in characters, and an original twisty spin on the unlikely detective who is compelled to jump in over her head and solve a case. Impressive debut. Highly recommended.
August 26, 2021
I am an avid reader of all genres and the type of person who likes “just about everything”, but believe me when I say, I loved this book. Having lived in Los Angeles for the last fifteen years, I really enjoyed the almost eerily accurate descriptions and details of our warm and gritty city. I could imagine myself in the barber shop and wish Danica could read my mind the next time I need a haircut.
I’m also someone who likes to believe they can guess the ending or predict the outcome of most stories. I have to tell you that I did not guess this one! No spoilers here, just go read it!
I can’t wait for the next one!
I’m also someone who likes to believe they can guess the ending or predict the outcome of most stories. I have to tell you that I did not guess this one! No spoilers here, just go read it!
I can’t wait for the next one!
August 28, 2021
The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air, is fantastic. Its main character, Danica, who is a psychic barber is written so that it is actually interesting and fun to see what goes on in her mind. The way she uses her unique and quirky gift is great, and the writers sense of humor makes it that much more fun to read. Also, as someone who lives in Los Angeles, I really enjoyed the fact I know most of the places the book takes place in.
September 2, 2021
A really fun detective story, a whimsical light touch, and the gritty streets of Los Angeles make TMHOTMOBA (lol) a fun, super entertaining read.
It's about a psychic barber solving a murder, so it's not taking itself too seriously. But at the same time, Mottaz presents a compelling story that keeps you moving to the next chapter.
The excellent writing keeps the story moving - it's a great book for having fun and being entertained. Highly recommend.
It's about a psychic barber solving a murder, so it's not taking itself too seriously. But at the same time, Mottaz presents a compelling story that keeps you moving to the next chapter.
The excellent writing keeps the story moving - it's a great book for having fun and being entertained. Highly recommend.
August 27, 2021
Who wouldn’t love the perfect haircut?! The premise of limited psychic ability for barbers is priceless, but so is the plot of this book. Truly likable but flawed characters, a setting that references both LA and tiny Midwest towns, twists and hints—I loved it all. Waiting for the next book in the series.
August 28, 2021
Good, twisty mystery with a great character and just a touch of supernatural. Feels like a modern noir but not in a cheesy way. Great lived-in portrayal of Los Angeles and its breadth of social classes.
August 28, 2021
A classic mystery with a modern twist. Just weird enough to make it even more interesting. Blew through this book because it was such a fun read.
October 21, 2021
A big congratulations to the author, Phillip Mottaz, on his first book. I enjoyed it very much. Danica Luman was a very interesting main character. Loved following her adventures in trying to solve this mystery/murder. Her stubbornness and perseverance as she dealt with all the challenges she faced kept the story moving. Keep writing, Mr. Mottaz. You are on to something here.
(It took me a very long time to read this book because I took a vacation in the middle to my reading. I didn't read on vacation. Luckily, I could pick this book up and keep going, even with a break.)
(It took me a very long time to read this book because I took a vacation in the middle to my reading. I didn't read on vacation. Luckily, I could pick this book up and keep going, even with a break.)
October 27, 2021
Judging this book by its title, which yes, I’ve heard is not something you should do, or something along those lines, I assumed I was in for an irreverent and comically infused murder mystery. What I got was just that ...and so much more!
I am not one for spoilers so you will find none here, but I do want to give you a sense of the story. The protagonist, a strong, young woman named Danica, a hairdresser by trade, who’s own buzz cut hair style would not give confidence to anyone sitting in her salon chair as to her ability to cut someone else’s locks, is not only relatable, but down-right lovable. Right off her description I knew there was much more to the character than her profession. (And can’t we correlate the same anti-judgement we are supposed to apply to the question about the books title or cover to a human character, real or fictionalized, I ask you?) And, of course, my intuition was confirmed when we learn of Danica’s ability to see glimpses into people’s minds just by touching their heads. The fact that she uses her “power” as a means to simply be able to see each client’s true idea of what they want their hair to look like just adds to the humorous intrigue. Until, that is, she accidentally stumbles upon a vision of a murder! Spoiler! Sorry! Although “murder” is in the title. Oh, and then this vision leads her to realize that her true calling might be becoming a private detective! Maybe! Dammit! That’s it! No more spoilers!
The plot of the story has some really nice twists and turns, enough to keep the reader locked in. But the rhythm and cadence of the writing is particularly sharp and mesmerizing. Mr. Mottaz has a knack for turns of phrases. He clearly has a background in comedy, but in this book, his grasp of language and storytelling come though seamlessly and without any glaring effort. This creates a brilliant mood of intrigue and irreverence, of compelling comedic composition, of gifted grammatical guffawing, or any other phrase of alliterated accolades (sorry) you can think of. He also has a love and a solid grasp on the geography of the city of LA in a way that puts the reader inside the story, especially the reader who has ever spent time there. You can feel that he has a genuine love for the quirkiness of the city, and the characters in the story reflect that love as well. And the fact that Danica is not from Los Angeles but is a transplant just like most of the people who live there was not lost on me.
I also appreciated how lean this book is. There is no fat on it. At times, as an avid reader of long books, I almost wanted more backstory. But this isn’t a knock on the book. It’s actually a complement, as I know I’m often in the minority on this desire. What I realized as I read was that I didn’t need the fat. I was given everything that I needed in a tight and efficient word count, and I see that as purposeful. After all, this is a mystery and it needs nothing but the facts, ma’am. Or sir. Or they/them. My point on this is that I was so involved in the characters that it left me wanting more, yes, but that’s a good thing. I just now hope that we will get a few other “Danica” books and more will be revealed in time. Not everything needs to be The Stand, self!
Alas, I’ve said too much! TMHOTMOBA is a page turner. Almost literally. The book itself at times seems to turn the page for you just by the sheer fact that you will be so engrossed in the story that you may not have remembered that you, in fact, were the one to turn the pages. I highly recommend this book for your summer, winter, spring or fall reading lists. And give it as a gift! Because it certainly feels like one.
I am not one for spoilers so you will find none here, but I do want to give you a sense of the story. The protagonist, a strong, young woman named Danica, a hairdresser by trade, who’s own buzz cut hair style would not give confidence to anyone sitting in her salon chair as to her ability to cut someone else’s locks, is not only relatable, but down-right lovable. Right off her description I knew there was much more to the character than her profession. (And can’t we correlate the same anti-judgement we are supposed to apply to the question about the books title or cover to a human character, real or fictionalized, I ask you?) And, of course, my intuition was confirmed when we learn of Danica’s ability to see glimpses into people’s minds just by touching their heads. The fact that she uses her “power” as a means to simply be able to see each client’s true idea of what they want their hair to look like just adds to the humorous intrigue. Until, that is, she accidentally stumbles upon a vision of a murder! Spoiler! Sorry! Although “murder” is in the title. Oh, and then this vision leads her to realize that her true calling might be becoming a private detective! Maybe! Dammit! That’s it! No more spoilers!
The plot of the story has some really nice twists and turns, enough to keep the reader locked in. But the rhythm and cadence of the writing is particularly sharp and mesmerizing. Mr. Mottaz has a knack for turns of phrases. He clearly has a background in comedy, but in this book, his grasp of language and storytelling come though seamlessly and without any glaring effort. This creates a brilliant mood of intrigue and irreverence, of compelling comedic composition, of gifted grammatical guffawing, or any other phrase of alliterated accolades (sorry) you can think of. He also has a love and a solid grasp on the geography of the city of LA in a way that puts the reader inside the story, especially the reader who has ever spent time there. You can feel that he has a genuine love for the quirkiness of the city, and the characters in the story reflect that love as well. And the fact that Danica is not from Los Angeles but is a transplant just like most of the people who live there was not lost on me.
I also appreciated how lean this book is. There is no fat on it. At times, as an avid reader of long books, I almost wanted more backstory. But this isn’t a knock on the book. It’s actually a complement, as I know I’m often in the minority on this desire. What I realized as I read was that I didn’t need the fat. I was given everything that I needed in a tight and efficient word count, and I see that as purposeful. After all, this is a mystery and it needs nothing but the facts, ma’am. Or sir. Or they/them. My point on this is that I was so involved in the characters that it left me wanting more, yes, but that’s a good thing. I just now hope that we will get a few other “Danica” books and more will be revealed in time. Not everything needs to be The Stand, self!
Alas, I’ve said too much! TMHOTMOBA is a page turner. Almost literally. The book itself at times seems to turn the page for you just by the sheer fact that you will be so engrossed in the story that you may not have remembered that you, in fact, were the one to turn the pages. I highly recommend this book for your summer, winter, spring or fall reading lists. And give it as a gift! Because it certainly feels like one.
August 17, 2022
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air by Phillip Mottaz is filled with secrets, entitlement, and a new cozy detective that does things a little different.
Will Danica figure out who murdered Drake before she loses everything, including her life?
Danica Luman
Our sleuth is Danica Luman, a hairdresser from Illinois, who is now in Los Angeles studying to get her barber's license. She is down on her luck and about to lose her apartment. Danica has nothing but a special gift and a job at a local salon to keep her going. Well, until that gift gives her a glimpse at a recent murder. Then Danica decides she should use her gift to help people and herself to catch up on her bills and such.
I like Danica. She is different from any of the other detectives that I have read. Danica stands out, but she embraces that as her unique quirks. She has spunk and initiative, which I like.
The Mystery
Danica decides to investigate the murder of one of Bel Air's wealthy young men. She asks a local private eye for assistance, but he uses her to better his agenda. However, she almost figures out who did it herself by following the evidence and asking questions. Some people don't want this investigated and want Danica to leave it alone. She is the one who won't leave it alone, even though there is no foreseeable money to be gained.
Questions That I Have
Did Danica make any money on the investigation? Does she still have her apartment? How did the psychic not realize that Freddie knew her secret? Who will she embrace as a love interest, Freddie or Tommy? Oh, and how can her cell phone battery last all the way from Los Angeles to Leggitt and back without dying?
Four Stars
I enjoyed the story and getting to know Danica. I was impressed with her ability to handle the investigation. However, she is afraid to show her true self to the one person that she seems to care the most about. Her issues are reasonable considering her gift. My rating for The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air by Phillip Mottaz is four stars. I recommend checking it out.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air by Phillip Mottaz.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Will Danica figure out who murdered Drake before she loses everything, including her life?
Danica Luman
Our sleuth is Danica Luman, a hairdresser from Illinois, who is now in Los Angeles studying to get her barber's license. She is down on her luck and about to lose her apartment. Danica has nothing but a special gift and a job at a local salon to keep her going. Well, until that gift gives her a glimpse at a recent murder. Then Danica decides she should use her gift to help people and herself to catch up on her bills and such.
I like Danica. She is different from any of the other detectives that I have read. Danica stands out, but she embraces that as her unique quirks. She has spunk and initiative, which I like.
The Mystery Danica decides to investigate the murder of one of Bel Air's wealthy young men. She asks a local private eye for assistance, but he uses her to better his agenda. However, she almost figures out who did it herself by following the evidence and asking questions. Some people don't want this investigated and want Danica to leave it alone. She is the one who won't leave it alone, even though there is no foreseeable money to be gained.
Questions That I Have
Did Danica make any money on the investigation? Does she still have her apartment? How did the psychic not realize that Freddie knew her secret? Who will she embrace as a love interest, Freddie or Tommy? Oh, and how can her cell phone battery last all the way from Los Angeles to Leggitt and back without dying?
Four Stars
I enjoyed the story and getting to know Danica. I was impressed with her ability to handle the investigation. However, she is afraid to show her true self to the one person that she seems to care the most about. Her issues are reasonable considering her gift. My rating for The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air by Phillip Mottaz is four stars. I recommend checking it out.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air by Phillip Mottaz.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
March 31, 2022
The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air is the thrilling story of Danica, a young woman that is barely making it on a day-to-day basis but has one secret that makes her different - her psychic abilities. While many may see it as a boon, Danica is scared of gathering unwanted attention or seeming like a fool, which makes the ability a bane for her. Therefore, all she uses her abilities for is to see the kind of haircut her clients want and do an amazing job as a hairdresser.
On one such regular day, when Danica is trying to find her client’s desired haircut, she sees a dead body lying on the grass. What does Danica do with this vision?
With a gorgeous cover, the book is written in very easy language. It is a beginner-friendly thriller. The reader gets to dive very deep into the character of Danica, her past, her perspective, her mindset, and her emotions.
You see why she does what she does, what is her motivation etc., along with a page-turning and thrilling story. It may seem a little stretched in the beginning and you may get annoyed with the suspicion building up to become unbearable, but it’s worth it in the end.
My favorite part about the book was the relationship I built with the character of Danica. It made me feel like I am in the book, looking for clues and exploring along with her. I cannot wait for the second book in the series and solve more mysteries with Danica. If you are looking for a page-turner, this is your book!
On one such regular day, when Danica is trying to find her client’s desired haircut, she sees a dead body lying on the grass. What does Danica do with this vision?
With a gorgeous cover, the book is written in very easy language. It is a beginner-friendly thriller. The reader gets to dive very deep into the character of Danica, her past, her perspective, her mindset, and her emotions.
You see why she does what she does, what is her motivation etc., along with a page-turning and thrilling story. It may seem a little stretched in the beginning and you may get annoyed with the suspicion building up to become unbearable, but it’s worth it in the end.
My favorite part about the book was the relationship I built with the character of Danica. It made me feel like I am in the book, looking for clues and exploring along with her. I cannot wait for the second book in the series and solve more mysteries with Danica. If you are looking for a page-turner, this is your book!
June 26, 2025
Rio, Illinois doesn’t have a gas station. 😬
October 10, 2022
I love a good mystery but I especially love a great lead character who I want to root for. The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air by @phillipmottaz had both! The LA setting was authentic and added to my enjoyment, but above that, I enjoyed seeing the city through Danica's eyes.
She's a terrific character and I liked her origin story here (not the barber origin or the psychic origin but the mystery-solving origin). There's something more fun about an amateur detective finding their way and figuring out what their resources are then putting it all together.
I recommend this for folks who:
🔍 Love a cozy mystery
🪄 Enjoy some magical realism in their crime solving (think Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly series)
🌅 An amateur detective origin story
🚶♀️ Los Angeles through a regular person's eyes (aka not a celeb)
While I enjoyed the mystery of this book, I'm really curious about how Danica's character will continue to grow and evolve and if she'll have a found family of co-detectives - her own Scooby gang if she's the Buffy in this universe. Can't wait to check out book 2 of this series (coming next month!)
She's a terrific character and I liked her origin story here (not the barber origin or the psychic origin but the mystery-solving origin). There's something more fun about an amateur detective finding their way and figuring out what their resources are then putting it all together.
I recommend this for folks who:
🔍 Love a cozy mystery
🪄 Enjoy some magical realism in their crime solving (think Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly series)
🌅 An amateur detective origin story
🚶♀️ Los Angeles through a regular person's eyes (aka not a celeb)
While I enjoyed the mystery of this book, I'm really curious about how Danica's character will continue to grow and evolve and if she'll have a found family of co-detectives - her own Scooby gang if she's the Buffy in this universe. Can't wait to check out book 2 of this series (coming next month!)
March 7, 2023
Seriously? This is so much in my neighborhood that I expected Danica to come driving down my street.
Silly and entertaining little mystery that ensures I’ll read the next one.
Silly and entertaining little mystery that ensures I’ll read the next one.
December 7, 2025
I give the author a lot of credit for writing a mystery with a unique concept.
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