Welcome to my world. I’m hairstylist and sometimes sleuth Marla Vail. Things have been hectic in my life between work at my salon and caring for my family. Or at least, they were going well until my husband, Dalton, and I went sightseeing one day. Dalton has always been a history buff, and when I heard about a local battle reenactment being held over Fourth of July weekend, I knew he’d want to attend.

The annual event was taking place at Pioneer Village, a Florida living history park. We left our one-year-old son at home with Dalton’s parents so we could have the day to ourselves. We enjoyed touring the village with its costumed guides before the battle started. The skirmish between U.S. Army soldiers and Seminole warriors appeared authentic with gunshots and smoke and the chaos of war.

Then it became too authentic when things exploded around us like a faulty firecracker. A woman’s screams drew us toward the fishing shed. The village schoolteacher pointed a shaky finger at a still form on the wooden deck. Someone had planted a tomahawk in the town marshal’s head.

With Dalton about to retire from his job as a homicide detective, I couldn’t let him handle the case alone. But after I spoke to each of the villagers, someone shot at me with arrows. Clearly, my questions had ignited a powder keg. Like I needed more trouble, right? Nonetheless, I won’t give up until the culprit is behind bars. And I don’t mean the old jail house at the village.

I hope your interest is sparked to follow me along on this journey. Here’s hoping we solve this case fast so things can get back to normal.

Star Tangled Murder, A Bad Hair Day Mysteries Book #18
Genre: Cozy
Release: March 2023
Format: Print and Digital
Purchase Link

Hairstylist Marla Vail and her husband get tangled up in murder when their Fourth of July visit to a living history village ends with a bang—and a body.

Salon owner Marla Vail and her detective husband Dalton are having a blast visiting a Florida living history village over Fourth of July weekend. But when a Seminole battle reenactment turns up a real dead body, it sets off fireworks among the villagers. One of the cast members has gone off script to murder the town marshal with a tomahawk in his head.

As Dalton gets involved in the investigation, Marla determines to help him solve the case. Her flare for uncovering secrets reveals that everyone in the village is a suspect. Instead of celebrating the holiday with red, white, and barbecues, she discovers secrets, lies, and false avenues. Did the marshal’s murder have anything to do with a lost Confederate payroll, or did his plans to renovate the park light a fuse that he couldn’t snuff out?

In a place where history comes alive, the dead bodies are piling up. Marla would rather be chilling and grilling, but somebody’s mind is on killing. If she’s not careful, her sleuthing might blow up in her face like a faulty firecracker and she’ll become the next victim.

Recipes Included!

About the author
Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have won numerous awards, including Nancy’s instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery. When not busy writing, Nancy enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.

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