Permed to Death

The Bad Hair Day Mysteries, Book 1

De: Nancy J. Cohen

Narrado por: Mary Ann Jacobs

Sassy salon owner Marla Shore is giving grumpy Mrs. Kravitz a perm when her client dies in the shampoo chair. If that isn't enough to give her a bad hair day, handsome Detective Vail suspects Marla of poisoning the woman's coffee creamer. Figuring she'd better expose the real killer before the next victim frizzes out, Marla sets on the trail of a wave of wacky suspects. Her theory regarding whodunit gels only after she looks for the culprit closer to home.

©1999 Nancy J. Cohen (P)2016 Nancy J. Cohen

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A terrific mystery debut for Nancy Cohen. Marla the beautician is a delight!" (Tamar Myers, author of the Pennsylvania Dutch Mysteries)

"Fast-paced and jaunty."( Publishers Weekly)

" Permed to Death is a beauty of a read. The characters are believable, the mystery is well-plotted, and the suspense is a real manicure-ruiner." ( I Love a Mystery)

A good twist on a cozy.

Permed to Death is a every well researched and well written book. I really liked all the twists and turns the story takes and I will read the next book. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with a little something different, then this book is for you.

Great Murder Mystery

I received this audiobook for free for an honest review. I thought Nancy Cohen did a great job with this mystery. She developed the story thoroughly. I was trying to guess what who done it throughout the whole story. When you least expect... The characters were very colorful and detailed. However, could have done without a couple. Got confusing with so many people and how they fit into the story. It also had a bit of comedy to keep you on your toes. I really enjoyed this and will look for more books by Nancy J. Cohen.

Surprisingly Better Than Anticipated!

Wow! This story was much better than I anticipated, and is timeless. Permed to Death was originally published in 1999; however, it reads just like a current story. The story appears to have been revised and updated.

Told from Marla's POV, Permed to Death was a well planned mystery that was witty, suspenseful, had some humor, and a romantic spark between the Detective Vail and Marla.

Some spoilers/teasers:
Unfortunately for Mrs. Kraitz, (or Marla) Mrs. Kraitz dies while she is getting a perm at Marla's shop. Since only Marla and Mrs. Kraitz were the only two in the beauty shop, Marla is considered a suspect by the Detective Vail but without a solid motive, he must consider other suspects. Marla, who has had an unpleasant history with Mrs. Kraitz wants to find the person who killed her, before damaging evidenced is discovered, and a possible motive is revealed. Even though Marla did not kill Mrs. Kraitz, she feels responsible because it happened in her shop, and she becomes a super sleuth and is determined to find out who did the dirty deed.

Detective Vail is attracted to Marla, and while the investigation is going on, he does ask her out. Even though she is one of his suspects, he knows she is trying to investigate the murder, and cleverly appears when Marla finds herself in need.

This is the first story I've heard narrated by Mary Ann Jacobs, and her performance was really good! She was a great fit for this type of story.

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Murder in a salon chair

In Permed to Death by Nancy J. Cohen, Marla Shore comes in to her salon early one day to do the hair of her longtime client, Bertha Kravitz. While waiting for her client’s hair to set, Marla fixes Bertha some coffee, complete with Bertha’s personal can of creamer. Then Marla goes to the back room to get towels, only to hear a gasp. Returning to the main salon room, Marla finds Bertha slumped over, dead. Upon learning that Bertha has been murdered, Marla’s mind flashes back to the age of 19, when a small child she was babysitting managed to get out of her playpen while Marla was fielding a phone call for the parents of the girl and fell into the pool and drowned. A surplus of guilt has influenced her actions ever since. And now, this murder has dredged up another negative part of Marla’s past, for which Bertha had been blackmailing her to get free hair services for years.

Marla finds herself attracted to the detective in the case, Dalton Vail, and he seems interested in her. But Marla knows she must be a suspect since she served Bertha the coffee. Plus, if he digs too deeply, he might uncover her shameful, but not illegal, secret. So Marla decides that she needs to do her own digging to find the truth.

This book was a lighthearted, fun cozy mystery. The setting of the book is creative, and the character of Marla was well-conceived and well-drawn. We see her deal with her Jewish mother, who is anxious for her to marry a Jewish man and holds against Marla the fact that she left her former husband, despite the fact that he was cheating on Marla, because he is Jewish and wealthy.

Mary Ann Jacobs performs the audio edition of the book, making the book really enjoyable. I really like the tone of Jacobs’s voice. With her deep voice, Jacobs adds a unique touch to the book, adding expression without being overly emotive.

Permed to Death is an enjoyable, creative book. It’s very light as a mystery, with an interesting ending. It didn’t draw me into the book quite as much as I would like, but I definitely enjoyed it. I give the book four stars

Reddish gold revenge!

So much I enjoyed..here are few :
Didn't realize this book was from 1999 , it reads like new present day. Mary Ann Jacobs- I haven't heard much that she has narrated but form listening to her voice. She had me. I felt like we're we friends reuniting and she was telling me what she's been upto. What I mean is , she was a great choice, her voice was comforting and it maid Marla come to life for me,as her. I loved that the "action" of this story happened fast and then as you continue it builds each of the scenarios and the other characters in line with Who Killed Grumpy Mrs Kravitz"
I enjoyed the subtlety between detective Vail and Marla. It didn't cask the familiar shadow of an over worked under sexed suspect and detective, all the while maintained momentum.
Determined to prove her own innocence, Marla character wasn't flaky rather naive.
I really loved how the writing showed that all the while having you eager to discover
"Who dunnit"

I have been given this book in exchange for my honest review