-
Permed to Death
- The Bad Hair Day Mysteries, Book 1
- Narrated by: Mary Ann Jacobs
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Hair Raiser
- The Bad Hair Day Mysteries, Book 2
- By: Nancy J. Cohen
- Narrated by: Mary Ann Jacobs
- Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hairstylist Marla Shore volunteers for Taste of the World, a fundraiser sponsored by Ocean Guard. It is a decision she soon regrets. First Chef Pierre's rum-soaked bananas Foster goes up in flames, making her wonder if sabotage caused the incident. Her suspicions deepen as more chefs drop off the roster and Ocean Guard's attorney is murdered. Does the lawyer's death relate to an estate being managed by the group?
-
-
2nd Book as Great as the First
- By Lynnz on 11-23-16
By: Nancy J. Cohen
-
Sprinkle with Murder
- Cupcake Bakery Mystery, Book 1
- By: Jenn McKinlay
- Narrated by: Susan Boyce
- Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. But their first big client is a nightmare. She's a bridezilla who wants 500 custom cupcakes for her wedding. When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead - by cupcake - Mel becomes the prime suspect. To save themselves and their business, the ladies need to find the real murderer, before the cupcake killer ices someone else.
-
-
Cute book... will listen to another
- By Gregory Pickering on 05-04-17
By: Jenn McKinlay
-
Murder in the Mystery Suite
- Book Retreat Mystery, Book 1
- By: Ellery Adams
- Narrated by: Johanna Parker
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tucked away in the rolling hills of rural western Virginia lies the storybook resort of Storyton Hall, catering to book lovers who want to get away from it all. To increase her number of bookings, resort manager Jane Steward has decided to host a Murder and Mayhem week so that fans of the mystery genre can gather together for some role-playing and fantasy crime solving.
-
-
Saccharin sweet and pretentious story.
- By Mariteje on 06-14-18
By: Ellery Adams
-
And Then There Were Crumbs
- A Cookie House Mystery, Book 1
- By: Eve Calder
- Narrated by: Christa Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kate McGuire’s life was sweet in Manhattan before she lost her restaurant job and fiancé both. But sometimes that’s just the way the cookie crumbles, and soon she finds herself starting from scratch in the island town of Coral Cay, Florida. It has everything she’s looking for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window. Once she convinces the shop’s crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire her, Kate can’t tie on her apron fast enough. Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise.
-
-
Pleasantly surprised
- By Indydog on 01-13-20
By: Eve Calder
-
Murder Is Binding
- A Booktown Mystery
- By: Lorna Barrett
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When she moved to Stoneham, city slicker Tricia Miles met nothing but friendly faces. And when she opened her mystery bookstore, she met friendly competition. But when she finds Doris Gleason dead in her own cookbook store, killed by a carving knife, the atmosphere seems more cutthroat than cordial. Someone wanted to get their hands on the rare cookbook that Doris had recently purchased-and the locals think that someone is Tricia.
-
-
Nice Cozy Mystery
- By Jessica on 06-08-11
By: Lorna Barrett
-
Eaves of Destruction
- By: Kate Carlisle
- Narrated by: Angela Starling
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the annual Victorian Home and Garden Tour, Lighthouse Cove, California's premier contractor, Shannon Hammer, realizes that the competition is about to turn deadly.... Shannon is in high demand among rival homeowners who will do anything to win Best in Show. One-upmanship and even espionage break out among neighbors, construction crews, decorators, and landscapers. Thanks to several new hires, Shannon is sure she can handle the extra load - until murder throws a wrench in the works.
-
-
Better than the last book!
- By Christina on 01-12-18
By: Kate Carlisle
-
Hair Raiser
- The Bad Hair Day Mysteries, Book 2
- By: Nancy J. Cohen
- Narrated by: Mary Ann Jacobs
- Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hairstylist Marla Shore volunteers for Taste of the World, a fundraiser sponsored by Ocean Guard. It is a decision she soon regrets. First Chef Pierre's rum-soaked bananas Foster goes up in flames, making her wonder if sabotage caused the incident. Her suspicions deepen as more chefs drop off the roster and Ocean Guard's attorney is murdered. Does the lawyer's death relate to an estate being managed by the group?
-
-
2nd Book as Great as the First
- By Lynnz on 11-23-16
By: Nancy J. Cohen
-
Sprinkle with Murder
- Cupcake Bakery Mystery, Book 1
- By: Jenn McKinlay
- Narrated by: Susan Boyce
- Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. But their first big client is a nightmare. She's a bridezilla who wants 500 custom cupcakes for her wedding. When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead - by cupcake - Mel becomes the prime suspect. To save themselves and their business, the ladies need to find the real murderer, before the cupcake killer ices someone else.
-
-
Cute book... will listen to another
- By Gregory Pickering on 05-04-17
By: Jenn McKinlay
-
Murder in the Mystery Suite
- Book Retreat Mystery, Book 1
- By: Ellery Adams
- Narrated by: Johanna Parker
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tucked away in the rolling hills of rural western Virginia lies the storybook resort of Storyton Hall, catering to book lovers who want to get away from it all. To increase her number of bookings, resort manager Jane Steward has decided to host a Murder and Mayhem week so that fans of the mystery genre can gather together for some role-playing and fantasy crime solving.
-
-
Saccharin sweet and pretentious story.
- By Mariteje on 06-14-18
By: Ellery Adams
-
And Then There Were Crumbs
- A Cookie House Mystery, Book 1
- By: Eve Calder
- Narrated by: Christa Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kate McGuire’s life was sweet in Manhattan before she lost her restaurant job and fiancé both. But sometimes that’s just the way the cookie crumbles, and soon she finds herself starting from scratch in the island town of Coral Cay, Florida. It has everything she’s looking for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window. Once she convinces the shop’s crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire her, Kate can’t tie on her apron fast enough. Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise.
-
-
Pleasantly surprised
- By Indydog on 01-13-20
By: Eve Calder
-
Murder Is Binding
- A Booktown Mystery
- By: Lorna Barrett
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When she moved to Stoneham, city slicker Tricia Miles met nothing but friendly faces. And when she opened her mystery bookstore, she met friendly competition. But when she finds Doris Gleason dead in her own cookbook store, killed by a carving knife, the atmosphere seems more cutthroat than cordial. Someone wanted to get their hands on the rare cookbook that Doris had recently purchased-and the locals think that someone is Tricia.
-
-
Nice Cozy Mystery
- By Jessica on 06-08-11
By: Lorna Barrett
-
Eaves of Destruction
- By: Kate Carlisle
- Narrated by: Angela Starling
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the annual Victorian Home and Garden Tour, Lighthouse Cove, California's premier contractor, Shannon Hammer, realizes that the competition is about to turn deadly.... Shannon is in high demand among rival homeowners who will do anything to win Best in Show. One-upmanship and even espionage break out among neighbors, construction crews, decorators, and landscapers. Thanks to several new hires, Shannon is sure she can handle the extra load - until murder throws a wrench in the works.
-
-
Better than the last book!
- By Christina on 01-12-18
By: Kate Carlisle
-
The Grim Reader
- By: Kate Carlisle
- Narrated by: Susie Berneis
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Brooklyn and her hunky new husband, Derek, are excited to be guests at Dharma’s first annual book festival. The entire town is involved, and Brooklyn’s mom, Rebecca, is taking charge. Brooklyn couldn’t be more proud of her mom’s do-it-all attitude, so when a greedy local businessman who seems intent on destroying Dharma starts harassing Rebecca, Brooklyn is ready to take him down. Rebecca is able to hold her own with the nasty jerk until one of her fellow festival committee members is brutally murdered and the money for the festival seems to have vanished into thin air.
-
-
ANOTHER BIBLIOPHILE MYSTER6
- By Ed Campbell on 07-07-20
By: Kate Carlisle
-
Sherlock Holmes
- By: Arthur Conan Doyle, Stephen Fry - introductions
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 62 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ever since he made his first appearance in A Study In Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes has enthralled and delighted millions of fans throughout the world. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the definitive collection of Sherlock Holmes - four novels and four collections of short stories. And, exclusively for Audible, Stephen has written and narrated eight insightful introductions, one for each title.
-
-
Chapter Guide!
- By Katya Rice on 05-25-18
By: Arthur Conan Doyle, and others
-
A Shot in the Dark
- Mydworth Mysteries - A Cosy Historical Mystery Series 1
- By: Matthew Costello, Neil Richards
- Narrated by: Nathaniel Parker
- Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sussex, England, 1929. Mydworth is a sleepy English market town just 50 miles from London. But things are about to liven up there, when young and handsome Sir Harry Mortimer returns home from his diplomatic posting in Cairo, with his beautiful and unconventional American wife, Kat. No sooner have the two arrived, when a jewel robbery occurs at Harry's aunt's home - Mydworth Manor. The police are baffled and overwhelmed with the case. But Harry and Kat have an edge in the hunt for the dangerous culprit.
-
-
A good start.
- By justthisonce on 02-09-20
By: Matthew Costello, and others
-
Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries
- Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery Series, Book 1
- By: Tonya Kappes
- Narrated by: Johanna Parker
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mae West, a far cry from the Hollywood actress, has been thrown for a loop. Her plush lifestyle in the big city of New York comes to a screeching halt after the FBI raids her mansion and arrests her husband, Paul West, for a Ponzi scheme that rips people out of millions of dollars. Mae finds herself homeless, friendless, and penniless. All hope isn't lost... the only thing Mae got to keep that the government didn't seize is a tourist camp ground, Happy Trails, in Normal, Kentucky.
-
-
A very good start
- By S. on 04-14-19
By: Tonya Kappes
-
The Secret, Book & Scone Society
- By: Ellery Adams
- Narrated by: Cris Dukehart
- Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Miracle Springs is a place of healing. Strangers flock there hoping that the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. And, if none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked scone from the Gingerbread House bakery, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That's Nora's special talent: prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person's deepest pain and lighten their heaviest burden.
-
-
Loved it
- By Bookwyrme on 11-10-17
By: Ellery Adams
-
Scene of the Grind
- A Killer Coffee Mystery, Book 1
- By: Tonya Kappes
- Narrated by: Madeline Mrozek
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Roxanne Bloom quit her job as a lawyer, divorced her cheating husband, and moved to the quaint town of Honey Springs, Kentucky, where she'd spent many of her teenage summers visiting her eccentric and fun-loving Aunt Maxi. Roxy follows her dream and opens The Bean Hive, Honey Springs' first coffee house on the town's newly revitalized boardwalk. It opens just in time for Honey Springs' annual Honey Festival. Roxy's life couldn't be better.
-
-
What a great listen!
- By Dee on 06-25-18
By: Tonya Kappes
-
Cherringham - A Cosy Crime Series Compilation
- Cherringham 28-30
- By: Matthew Costello, Neil Richards
- Narrated by: Neil Dudgeon
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jack's a retired ex-cop from New York, seeking the simple life in Cherringham. Sarah's a Web designer who's moved back to the village find herself. But their lives are anything but quiet as the two team up to solve Cherringham's criminal mysteries. This compilation contains episodes 28 - 30. A DINNER TO DIE FOR. When a new restaurant with a starred American chef opens in Cherringham, it seems the Spotted Pig has a worthy rival. But a series of disturbing incidents turns that rivalry into something dangerous - perhaps even fatal.
-
-
Like Midsommer Mysteries. Fun series.
- By Jamie Pauley on 08-05-19
By: Matthew Costello, and others
-
Murder with Puffins
- By: Donna Andrews
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Meg Langslow and her boyfriend, Michael, are searching for some romantic alone time. She knows the perfect place for a private getaway: her aunt's cottage on the tiny island of Monhegan. But when a series of events leads to the couple being trapped in the cottage with her entire family, their private getaway vacation slowly turns into a disaster. Meg doesn't think anything more could go wrong until a resident of the island with close ties to her mother is murdered. When her father becomes the chief suspect, she knows she can no longer sit by the cozy fireplace.
-
-
Made me laugh several times!
- By Anonymous User on 03-02-19
By: Donna Andrews
-
Naked in Death
- In Death, Book 1
- By: J. D. Robb
- Narrated by: Susan Ericksen
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant hunting for a ruthless killer. In over ten years on the force, she’s seen it all - and knows her survival depends on her instincts. And she’s going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire - and a suspect in Eve’s murder investigation.
-
-
"Bag of Chips" series
- By Wendy on 11-26-13
By: J. D. Robb
-
The Black Echo: Harry Bosch Series, Book 1
- By: Michael Connelly
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For maverick LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch, the body in the drainpipe at Mulholland Dam is more than another anonymous statistic. This one is personal...because the murdered man was a fellow Vietnam "tunnel rat" who had fought side by side with him in a hellish underground war. Now Bosch is about to relive the horror of Nam.
-
-
Great first book in this police procedural series
- By Tyrannosaurus on 09-29-17
By: Michael Connelly
-
1st to Die
- The Women's Murder Club
- By: James Patterson
- Narrated by: Suzanne Toren
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There's a killer on the loose in San Francisco, and he's stalking newlyweds. When the usual procedures to stop him don't work, four women, each holding a piece of the puzzle, form a Women's Murder Club to collaborate outside the box and pursue the case. 1st to Die is the start of a new series of crime thrillers from James Patterson.
-
-
Skip the Prologue
- By Chuck on 01-11-05
By: James Patterson
-
Tart of Darkness
- The Chef-to-Go Mysteries, Book 1
- By: Denise Swanson
- Narrated by: Melissa Moran
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dani unexpectedly inherits an enormous old house in a quaint college town and pursues her true passion - cooking! She opens Chef-to-Go, preparing delicious, ready-made meals for hungry students as well as providing personal chef services. To help support her new business, she opens her home to a few students, renting them rooms and becoming almost like a big sister figure in their lives. But just as Dani is relishing her sweet new life, the friend of one of her boarders is murdered, and Dani becomes one of the primary suspects!
-
-
NOT A Clean Cozy
- By hutchinre on 06-19-19
By: Denise Swanson
Publisher's Summary
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.
Critic Reviews
More from the same
What listeners say about Permed to Death
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sara
- 07-07-16
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.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cheri
- 07-11-16
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.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Troublemer(tammy hovey)
- 04-27-17
What a bad day
I enjoy reading/listening to paranormal cozy mysteries. I just recently decided to listen to others that were not paranormal. This book was the first one i have ready by this author and it did not disappoint. i really enjoyed and look forward to reading more.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lynnz
- 08-16-16
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.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Myztikal
- 03-28-18
A Fantastic First in the Series!
I had actually read book #4 before this one. I liked that, but I didn’t love it. (I was highlighting inconsistencies like crazy.)
As a first book, perhaps this was given multiple revisions before hitting the virtual shelves. Not to be mistaken it’s flawless, but inconsistencies could be more easily overlooked and forgiven (although no way would employees be able to come into a crime scene after the fact.)
Believe it or not, I liked this one more! Maybe it helped that although the death happened almost immediately, you’ll clearly dislike the victim enough, you may have to stop yourself from thinking Thank goodness we’re done with her.
Clues are littered throughout that, although chances are you won’t easily guess, you would wonder why you didn’t see it coming!
In my younger mom days -versus my current younger grandmother days - I frequented my favorite nail/spa salon and remained loyal to my favorite stylist. This had that nostalgia feeling to it and really captures- if not exploits the character into - the ‘typical’ stereotype.
I thank the author who extended the promo code after my initial review and apologize for the length of time for my listen and review.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Victoria J. Mejia-Gewe
- 11-18-17
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
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- tarafarah7: Tara Brown
- 02-25-17
Book 1 in The Bad Hair Day Mysteries
I loved this book. :-) It's a light and easy book to listen to and it kept me guessing! The main character is very likable, and even though I do not spend time at salons getting my hair done, it is fun to listen to a series that centers around one! The narrator did a really good job with her pace and volume, and she kept my interest throughout. I'm excited that there are more in this series available on Audible! I'm going to buy the next one right now! I recommend this book to those who like cozy mysteries!! Thank you!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sally Schmidt
- 09-04-16
Great start to a series - has it all!
Permed to Death is the first book in Nancy J. Cohen's Bad Hair Day Mystery series. I received a copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
We meet Marla Shore, the owner of the Cut 'N Dye hair salon in Florida, when she comes in early for her not-so-favorite client Bertha Kravitz. She gives Bertha a cup of coffee with her special coffee creamer and leaves the room. When she returns she finds Bertha dead, and the story takes off from there. Marla is the prime suspect in the murder, a fact that seems to surprise and annoy her. However, we find out, little by little, that not only does Bertha have a long list of enemies, Marla has a past she does not want revealed and was in fact being blackmailed by Bertha. And just when we think we have learned all there is to know about Marla – vindictive ex-husband, bossy Jewish mother, business problems – we, and the smug but appealing Detective Dalton Vail, learn yet another detail that keeps Marla #1 on the list of suspects.
So Marla decides to solve the crime herself. She wants to clear her name, protect the secrets of her past, and last but not least also see just where this mutual attraction with the detective might lead.
Marla is your typical cozy mystery amateur sleuth – she has good problem-solving skills and wants to set things right, but is not quite as clever as she thinks she is and recklessly gets herself into danger several times. As she bumbles along we meet an interesting cast of characters, laugh a bit, and feel the relationship with Dalton heating up. We also feel the danger, and clues and details about Marla’s past are revealed like the peeling of an onion. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, something happens and you have to stop and think – who is the killer??
This was a very enjoyable introduction to a series, and perfectly told for an audiobook. Once the action starts it doesn’t stop. The plot is solid. The story is complicated, but not so much so that you can’t follow what is happening. This is especially important for an audiobook, because it’s not that easy to just flip back a few pages to clarify some confusing detail. The setting was authentic; I felt like I was in hot, humid Florida with Marla, and lost myself in the action and the suspense.
Marla and Dalton and her beauty shop employees and friends were believable and interesting enough to make me want to know them better. I care about Marla and want to see where the relationship with Dalton goes and what trouble she might get into next.
The narration was transparent, which I think is critical for an audiobook. When I put in my ear buds I don’t want to be aware of the narrator. Instead, I want to be so caught up in the story that I recognize each character and can’t wait to see what’s next, and that is exactly what happened. I highly recommend this series. I am way behind and intend to catch up with all of Marla’s adventures soon.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- sharon rabner
- 08-31-16
Edge of your seat suspense
If you could sum up Permed to Death in three words, what would they be?
A suspenseful story with lots of twist and turns to keep it exciting till the end.
What did you like best about this story?
Kept me on the edge of my seat till I could find out who the killer was.
Have you listened to any of Mary Ann Jacobs’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Loved the narrator. She had a lilt to her voice that made the story exciting and never dull. She had humor in her voice to make you laugh out loud. Loved her.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I laughed from the humor in parts. Other parts when the suspense got heavy I was wringing my hands.
Any additional comments?
Can't wait till the next book.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tiffany
- 08-22-16
Permed to Death
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
When Marla told Callie about her past.
Any additional comments?
I liked the story. I thought Marla took too long to figure out the bad guy. I thought it was pretty obvious who the villain was halfway through the book. I liked the push/pull tension between Marla and Lance. I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom for my unbiased review.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- IAN
- 07-27-16
Having your hair done, could be murder!
If you could sum up Permed to Death in three words, what would they be?
Funny
Sassy
Enjoyable
What did you like best about this story?
Marla jumping in before thinking. And realising her mistake afterwards!
Which character – as performed by Mary Ann Jacobs – was your favourite?
Lucille
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The conversation with the Santero.
Any additional comments?
This is a very good and funny mystery, well written, plotted. And well narrated by Mary Ann.