Mix together a cocktail for murder, add a few salty suspects, toss in a dollop of sweet humor, and you have the recipe for Trimmed to Death, #15 in the Bad Hair Day cozy mystery series.Savvy hairstylist and amateur sleuth Marla Vail enters a charity bake-off contest at a fall festival sponsored by a local farm. While she waits to see if her coconut fudge pie is a winner, Marla joins a scavenger … scavenger hunt where people playing character roles are the targets. Instead of scoring points with a live person, she finds a dead body planted face-down in the strawberry field. Who would want to cut short the life of food magazine publisher and fellow bake-off contestant Francine Dodger? As she investigates, Marla learns there’s no shortage of suspects. A celebrity TV chef, food critic, olive oil importer, food truck owner, pastry chef, and cookbook author may be stirring up more than their next recipe. Can Marla unmask the killer before someone else gets trimmed from life? Recipes Included!
Finalist in the American Fiction Awards
Semi-Finalist in the Kindle Book Awards
Readers’ Favorite Five Star Review
Murder on the Beach Bestseller List
“This sweet cozy mystery has an interesting cast of characters along with plenty of suspects to thicken the plot.” FS Brown, InD’Tale Magazine
“Readers who want a cozy mystery filled with atmosphere, intrigue, and adventure should settle a chair by the fire for a good evening’s read.” D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review
“The dialogue is sharp, the eye for detail is masterful, and the narrative pacing is just right. Plenty of suspicious-seeming characters raise the tension. Even if you’re not yet a “Cozy” fan, you’ll have a blast. All this and recipes, too.” Phil Jason, Florida Weekly
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Another wonderful mystery! Marla and Dalton on the case again. At a culinary competition, Marla discovers another dead body, then a hit and run death of another friend. A rock is thrown at Marla’s house telling her she could be next if she keeps snooping. Multiple interesting stories in the mystery! Complex characters and lots of twists and turns surround them. Wonderful news for Marla and Dalton! I was guessing who the murderer was to the very end! I have read all the books in this series and cannot wait for the next one! I loved the recipes at the end of this book!
In yet another great story, Marla Vail once again is involved in the investigation of a murder. Her detective husband, Dalton, is on the case and Marla the sounding board and information seeker. Suspects abound with interesting connections from the food critique to the owners of the farm to the Italians providing virgin olive oil.
As if that isn’t enough, Marla can’t just have one crisis, and she is also helping her friend Tally Riggs figure out how and where to reopen her boutique cafe, at the same time trying to expand the salon to include a bistro for her customers. On the home front, having a teen ager – though Brianna seems mature for her age and supportive of Marla – always adds to the angst.
As with others in this series, this is well-paced with enough action to keep readers engaged and the story moving along. Although part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone – though I’d recommend starting at the beginning to see how the relationships and characters evolve over time. All in all, if you enjoy cozy mysteries and female sleuths, you’ll enjoy Trimmed to Death. Besides, you get some recipes!
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
What a great read! Marla and Dalton make a wonderful team. I was surprised that they allowed their sixteen year old daughter to get involved in the investigation. My father never discussed his cases at home.
I liked the plot, who killed Francine and then Alyce and why? There is plenty of suspicion to go around. The subplots were intriguing. I learned about olives in a grove setting. Maybe not the way they are processed here in Arizona but similar. My husband won’t each black olives since he learned how they are processed.
I like how it shows some realistic dimensions to Marla and Dalton’s professional lives. They both are concerned with doing a good job professionally, doing what’s right and having a life of their own. It’s nice to see a step daughter embrace having a step mother. This book is believable, well-written and well-developed. The storyline is fast-paced and keeps readers guessing to the end.
I recommend it. See what Francine and Alyce knew or suspected. See how a normal couple can work through daily life and still catch a killer.
I’m staying tuned to see how Marla and Dalton’s lives will be changing.
Also, there are recipes at the end.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
This installment in the Bad Hair Day Mysteries is as captivating as the first! This story takes place at a fair, after Marla and her friend enter a competition, and it is chock full of the twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end! Even when you think you know “whodunit” you discover that is completely not the case! In usual form, a body is discovered and the amateur sleuth Marla sets out to help her detective husband find the killer! There are no shortage of suspects or twists and turns as you swipe your way through this super fun story that embraces you from the beginning…and..I can’t forget to mention the recipes since I won’t give anything away about the story except that you need to read the wonderful book NOW.
One of the best things about cozy mysteries is that you never know what you are going to learn in each book. The Bad Hair Day Mysteries is one of my favorite series.
This book takes us away from the spa to a local food fair event and bake-off. The competition is rough but it is the behind the scenes grudges that are killer.
I like the relationships between the characters, both familiar and new, in this book.
As Marla’s step-daughter is growing up, it is a precipitous balance between the well mannered, helpful girl we’ve seen and the independent teenager she is becoming. Initially Marla did not want children. When she took in her best friend’s baby after a tragedy, some maternal hormones must have been jumpstarted. Now Marla is worried about how empty the house will be, too soon, when Brianna heads off to college.
Detective Vail has come to understand how valuable his wife’s instinct and intellect are to his investigations. He also knows he can not keep her from snooping and trying to find answers.
His main concern is her safety. Will Marla’s penchant for asking questions make her a target?
Discovering the motive will make a huge difference in narrowing the suspect field.
There is much going on and conflicting clues and evidence makes it a difficult case to solve.
In this next book of the series Marla and her friend Tally have entered a baking competition. The winner will receive a large check that would be put to expanding their business. They decide to enter a scavenger hunt while waiting for the winners to be announced. Since they have to do it solo they both head out to see if they can find all the clues needed to win. While looking for the person that holds the last clue Marla stumbles over the body of Francine Dodger, another contestant in the baking competition. Marla immediately calls her detective husband Dalton because not only is he there, he also entered one of the other competitions. After coming to the conclusion that Francine was murdered, Marla knows she must help her husband in figuring out who the killer is and why. Was it another competitor? Could it have been the owner of the farm where the competition was held? Did it have something to do with her work? There are so many suspects that Marla knows they must look for clues to make the list smaller. Meanwhile Marla and Dalton have been talking about having a baby and even though Marla has warmed up to the idea she still has some reservations. Follow along as Marla questions suspects, pursues clues, and finds out a ton of interesting facts about all the people involved. When another contestant is killed in a hit and run, there is a real urgency in finding out who the killer is before someone else meets an untimely end. This is such a wonderful series filled with a solid cast of characters who I’ve grown to love with each new book. I feel invested in their lives and have enjoyed their progression throughout the series. I can’t wait to see where the author takes us next.
There is a lot going on in Trimmed to Death! While on a scavenger hunt at the festival, Marla finds the body of a bake-off contestant who is wearing the jacket of a different contestant. This story has well developed characters and lots of suspects. It will be difficult to discover the actual motive and killer. I really enjoyed this story.
Marla takes part in a charity bake-off with the hopes of winning the grand prize. The prize money would help her expand the services she provides at her salon and day spa. While waiting for the judges to select a winner she takes part in a non-traditional scavenger hunt. Participants are looking for people wearing costumes related to the clues. While looking for the last person she stumbles across a body. Marla finds herself trying to find a killer and comes up with a long list of suspects. Before she solves this mystery she may become a victim herself.
I have enjoyed this series since book one. The latest book was very good. There are several new characters to meet and the author does a good job developing them. The subplot in this book is a thread that has carried over from several books and finally has resolution. I recommend this book. I believe it could stand alone, but I suggest reading the series from the beginning.
Hair stylist Marla Vail and her friend Tally enter a cooking competition. Neither wins the cash prize, but one contestant, Francine Dodger, lost her life. Marla’s hunky detective husband, Dalton Vail, asks for her help with Francine’s case, and she leaps right in. Discovering who killed Francine isn’t easy. Marla dashes from hair client to sleuthing while battling a weak stomach. The killer is wise to her pursuit and threatens her.
Trimmed to Death is a solid cozy replete with olive facts, dogs, small town rivalries, entrepreneurship, and killer recipes. Another entertaining read from author Nancy J Cohen. So many great choices for whodunnit. She kept me guessing to the end!
Had me from the very first page. There were elements of surprise. Didn’t solve murder till the last chapter. I was surprised. Lots of information on the olive trade. Things I didn’t know. Good family read. Love this series. A must read.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Marla Vail wants to expand her salon and spa to include a small cafe so when she hears about a bake-off contest with a $10,000 prize she signs up and enters her coconut fudge pie. The contest is part of the fall festival taking place on a local farm and many other activities are happening. Marla’s husband Dalton even enters some prime produce. There is also a fun scavenger hunt with people dressed up to promote healthy eating. Marla decides to play along while waiting for the cook-off winners to be announced. She finds every person except for the final one. The person was also a bake-off contestant, where could she have gone? Marla decides to venture into the strawberry patch and that is where she finds Francine Dodger but she won’t be doing any more baking or healthy eating. Marla has found another dead body. Dalton and Marla quickly realize anyone at the festival could be her killer. They have to narrow down the suspects and that isn’t going to be easy.
Aside from the murder, Dalton and Marla are settling into married life and Dalton’s daughter Brianna will be applying to colleges soon. After taking care of her friend’s Tally’s son (Hair Brained). Marla has changed her mind about having children, but she may be too late. They are not having much luck in conceiving. In addition to helping with the investigation, Marla is busy with her hair salon and is even planning a fundraiser for a local museum. The fundraiser planning allows her to ask questions about the death of Francine too.
I have really become caught up in the lives of Marla and Dalton. Marla has grown so much over these 15 stories. She has a huge heart and cares about helping her community and the people that inhabit it. She is an excellent step-mom to Brianna, a nice counterbalance to Dalton. He has grown too, and I love seeing them happy together. They also work well as an investigation team. Marla has a way of getting people to open up and tell her things they would never tell the police and Dalton knows it.
Now the mystery is complex with many layers, so many suspects, and one person and another throwing shade and other people under the bus. Several theories are thwarted by evidence but after many twists clues start to come together. Following along was so much fun. The final climax was so exciting I was glued to my seat.
The blend of mystery to family life is excellent, the pace is flawless and the characters are so appealing. The dialogue is spot on and the humor plays off the suspense at all the right times. This book was a fantastic read. The murder part of the story was all wrapped up but the family storyline continues and I truly cannot wait to read what happens next.
Each title in this series can be read on its own so feel free to jump right in with Trimmed to Death, but I bet you will want to go back and read the rest!
“Trimmed to Death” earns 5+/5 Sweet Treats…Clever and Engaging!
Hairstylist turns chef? Nancy J. Cohen has penned a delightful twist to the fifteenth book in her Bad Hair Day series. Cut ‘n Dye salon owner Marla Vail, with BFF Tally Riggs, has entered her coconut fudge pie (recipe included) in a “for charity” bake-off contest. It is a great way to join in with the community for a great cause, but the ten-thousand dollar business grant earmarked for the winner would help facilitate the expansion plans Marla has for her hair salon and spa. The Fall Harvest Festival is an all-day event, hosted by Kinsdale Farms known for growing a variety of produce, and includes several fun activities in which one can participate. Marla and Tally decide to join in the “Find Franny” scavenger hunt. They can’t act as a team, so Tally throws down the gauntlet, “May the best woman win!” Enjoying her hunt for the vegetable-themed characters, who ask questions and impart fascinating information, Marla successfully collects all of her stamps, but locating “Franny” to win the contest is proving problematic. Well, there’s a very good reason…blunt-force trauma!
Wow! Murder or two? Scandals? Scams? Exposé research? Family secrets? Just plain secrets? So much to unpack in this clever mystery! And, newbies can join right in. Nancy has set up an exciting challenge that on the surface looks like plain fun…then, bam! She gives us a dead body, a bushel of suspects with motives, a detailed search with some police approval, a bit of personal peril, and a satisfying ending, riddled with surprises! Nancy kept me engaged with an enjoyable description of the physical environment, character appearance, explanations, and thoughts, but it’s her use of entertaining dialogue that I really enjoyed. Although a third-person narrative is common, good dialogue is an imperative to illustrate personality, tone, and emotion. Nancy does well with friendly banter between Marla and Tally, loving speak between Marla and her husband, and informative conversations between Marla and all the suspects and witnesses. Beyond the murder investigation, Nancy adds the ins and outs of the salon and spa, balancing family with a teenager, and caring for friends and family. All of this and ten recipes from entrees to desserts, many bake-off entries, make for a “must read” book and fans of us all!
This is such a great series. I love the characters and am happy to see how they have progressed. Marla and Tally have entered a baking contest and though neither of them won, they were having fun. Until Marla comes across another dead body. She calls Dalton and now they have another case to solve with the help of Dalton’s daughter and their friends. There are so many suspects and twists and turns to this mystery but Marla has to help Dalton solve it so she can tell him her little secret. She is always afraid he will not want her help with his cases, but he does surprise her from time to time. It is good to see their family bond strengthening.