Tuesday, March 31, 2020

The Lost Gargoyle of Paris - A Review

Review


THE LOST GARGOYLE OF PARIS by Gigi Pandian
An Accidental Alchemist Novella

The discovery of an illustration by Victor Hugo after the fire in Notre Dame brings Zoe Faust and Dorian to Paris. With this monumental discovery the alchemist and her gargoyle friend want to make certain that backwards alchemists haven't resurfaced. When Zoe discovers the illustration has been stolen she wonders if Dorian could have taken it, and if he did steal it, where is he? If he's innocent, who actually stole the piece of history?

Last year's tragic fire at Notre Dame left people heart-broken throughout the world. A symbol, not only of religion, but art, architecture, and Paris itself engulfed in flames, a national treasure being lost. In reality, while parts were lost, a good portion of the cathedral was able to be saved. In fiction, a treasure was found. I was curious how Zoe, and especially Dorian, would deal with the destruction and I was so happy to see them confront it in this new Accidental Alchemist novella.

One of the things Gigi Pandian does best is weave historical fact into a mystery novel and she does it here with aplomb. Her rich narrative, combining fact with a believable fiction, is my favorite part of THE LOST GARGOYLE OF PARIS. In addition, this novella showcases her talent at the locked room mystery. There's plenty of humor to be found here too. I still chuckle when I picture Dorian is his disguise. And getting up into the small Parisian apartment to begin with.

THE LOST GARGOYLE OF PARIS is a gem. Fast paced, this brief novella still manages to cram in lots of content into a seemingly impossible crime while allowing its characters to shine.

Recipes Included.

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Murder in the Cemetery - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Carrie Ramos to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Carrie in the pages of the Edmund DeCleryk Mystery series by Karen Shughart. Murder in the Cemetery is the second book in the series and was released last month.


Well, here I am, the police chief of Lighthouse Cove, NY, which is a small village located on the south shore of Lake Ontario. I haven’t been in the position for very long, less than two years, I was the deputy chief under Ben Fisher before that. Ben was a wonderful boss and became my friend and mentor, but he relocated with his wife to Casa Grande, Arizona to be closer to family members and now works as police chief there. At times I miss him, he was very wise and a calming influence on me, but I know the door is always open for me to call him when I need advice.

I work closely these days with Ed DeCleryk, who was police chief before Ben but retired and became a criminal consultant. The man is one of the most competent I’ve ever met, although we do sometimes bump heads when working on a murder investigation together. He has the credentials and experience, before becoming police chief he headed up a violent crimes’ unit in Albany, and before that he was a Navy SEAL, but my instincts are good despite my being almost 30 years younger than he. I stand my ground and can usually convince him that I do know what I’m talking about.

Being police chief has its challenges. When I accepted the job, I figured that the crimes I’d be dealing with would be DUIs, an occasional domestic violence complaint, bar fights, some burglaries and in the summer, boating related accidents. But the world, even here in our idyllic village, is changing, and Ed and I have investigated two murders in almost as many years. Solving them hasn’t been as easy as I expected.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, I love working with Ed, and I adore his wife, Annie, who runs our local historical society and museum. My husband, Matt, who is an emergency room doctor at the hospital in Newark, and I have become friends with them. They live in an old, restored ship captain’s home on the water, and we and our two children have spent many a pleasant afternoon there, barbecuing in their backyard or lazily chugging about the lake on their pontoon.

As any career woman knows, managing both a job and a family can be challenging. Our oldest, Natalya, just turned three, and Arturo is 18-months old. They require a lot of time and attention. Matt is a big help; he recently changed his working hours from nights to days to be home in the evenings to help feed, bathe and put the children to bed, or for when I have meetings or am called to a crime scene.

But still, the children’s needs take precedence, and lately I’ve been wishing I were home more often to spend more time with them. Matt and I are tired a lot; sleeping isn’t an option if you have a sick child or one who jumps into bed with you because she’s had a terrible nightmare or saw monsters in her closet. My remedy for exhaustion is to frequent Bistro Louise, which is located right across the street from my office and serves a wonderful array of coffee drinks- mine are always caffeinated!

So, there you have it. My life as police chief and a mother and wife is certainly busy, but it’s also fulfilling, and I wouldn’t change a thing!

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Murder in the Cemetery: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery by Karen Shughart

About Murder in the Cemetery

 
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series 
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press (February 3, 2020)  
Paperback: 279 pages 
On a bright, spring afternoon the body of George Wright, a childhood friend of criminal consultant Edmund DeCleryk, is discovered at a cemetery where casualties of the War of 1812 are buried. After conducting an autopsy, the medical examiner determines that George has been murdered, the cause of death by poisoning. Lighthouse Cove Police Chief Carrie Ramos hires Ed to investigate, with his spunky wife, Annie assisting him.
Suspects include a physician’s assistant, college student and a family member, among others; however, George’s demise may be the result of secrets that have surfaced from the grave. You’ll discover what Ed found on the beach in Murder in the Museum and how that, and an artifact dating back to the early 1800s, are linked to this untimely death.
Annie loves to cook, and at the end of the book she shares recipes for meals she prepared for friends and loved ones.

About Karen Shughart


Karen Shughart studied English Literature at S.U.N.Y Buffalo, received a B.A. in Comprehensive Literature from the University of Pittsburgh and completed graduate courses in English from Shippensburg University. In addition to Murder in the Cemetery (book two of the Edmund DeCleryk Cozy mystery series), she is also the author of Murder in the Museum (book one of the series), two non-fiction books and has worked as an editor, publicist, photographer, journalist, teacher and non-profit executive. Before moving to a small village on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Karen and her husband resided in south central Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg. To sign up for her blogs and newsletters or for more information, visit her website at https:// www.karenshughart.com.

Author Links:
Website: https://www.karenshughart.com  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenshughartauthor/  
Blog: https://ladiesofmystery.com/karenshughart  
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2094018.Karen_Shughart
Hometown Reads/Rochester Reads: https://hometownreads.com/books/murder-in-the-cemetery LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-shughart-738970161/
 

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Friday, March 27, 2020

Murder on Cape Cod - A Review

Review


MURDER ON CAPE COD by Maddie Day
The First Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery

Mackenzie "Mac" Almeida appreciates her life as a small business owner in the Cape Cod hamlet of Westham. Her bicycle rental and repair shop is always busy, she has a wonderful boyfriend, and her cozy mystery book club keeps her mind active. Walking home from a book club meeting she stumbles in the fog, only to realize that she's tripped over the dead body of the local handyman. She also realizes the knife in the dead man looks just like the custom one her half brother owns. Her book club friends are eager to solve a murder mystery, just like their books, while Mac has reservations. But, to protect herself and her brother she decides to organize her fellow sleuths and look into the matter. With so many people discretely investigating, no one could get hurt, right?

The first Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery introduces us to a charming new protagonist. Mac is down to earth, resourceful, and willing to cooperate with the police. A best friend who owns a taffy shop to walk with every morning, an enterprising librarian, a minister father, an astrologist mother, a social grandmother, and a variety of friends create a great foundation to not only support each other, but solve a mystery together. I love dogs and adore cats, but it's nice to see a different type of companion animal in a mystery. Belle, an African Grey parrot. is both sassy and loving, providing an extra layer of character development. Another fun aspect to the series is that Mac's book club is for cozy mysteries! It not only references current books in the genre, it also shows the prejudice some cozy readers face from certain book people!

While MURDER ON CAPE COD is definitely a cozy mystery, and not a bit dark, not everything is perfect in this cozy world. I appreciate the real life touches added to this book, including ex cons and having a main character who is a recovering alcoholic. I also enjoyed meeting characters who happen to have varied ethnic backgrounds, from Cape Verdean to Wampanoag!

MURDER ON CAPE COD brings together a diverse cast of characters in an appealing tourist town. Intelligent snooping by friends and family ensure both a successful investigation and a great start to a new series.

Recipes Included.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day. This book is the first in the Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series.

Mackenzie "Mac" Almeida appreciates her life as a small business owner in the Cape Cod hamlet of Westham. Her bicycle rental and repair shop is always busy, she has a wonderful boyfriend, and her cozy mystery book club keeps her mind active. Walking home from a book club meeting she stumbles in the fog, only to realize that she's tripped over the dead body of the local handyman. She also realizes the knife in the dead man looks just like the custom one her half brother owns. Her book club friends are eager to solve a mystery, just like their books, while Mac has reservations. But to protect herself and her brother she decides to organize her fellow sleuths and look into the matter. With so many people discretely investigating, no one could get hurt, right?

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Murder at the Mena House - A Review

Review


MURDER AT THE MENA HOUSE by Erica Ruth Neubauer
The First Jane Wunderly Mystery

In 1926 Cairo Jane Wunderly is looking forward to the prospect of visiting the pyramids and enjoying a cocktail or two with her aunt. But her aunt is acting oddly, drinking even more than usual and spending time with two young women, leaving her niece to fend for herself. With a hotel full of guests, Jane is not alone for long. Although she has no time for good looking men, a disastrous marriage cured her of any romantic notions, Jane can't help but be intrigued by the enigmatic Brit, Redvers. The brash young socialite Anna Stainton does have eyes for him though, as well as all of the other handsome fellows in the vicinity, and takes an instant dislike to Jane, causing more than one scene. Thus when Anna is murdered, police immediately see Jane as the prime suspect. With other hotel guests acting suspiciously, and in order to save her own neck, Jane is determined to discover the truth, wherever it leads!

I knew from the first sentence that I'd love this book, and love it I do! Jane is charming and someone I'd like to call a friend. A nightmare of a marriage has left residual effects, but has not dampened her spirit or outlook on life. Redvers is a perfect mysterious man, charming, but possibly dangerous. Is he too good to be true? Several subplots gave me plenty of suspicions about what was going on, most of which were proved wrong, thereby creating a complex and intriguing mystery.

MURDER AT THE MENA HOUSE is imbued with plenty of charm, a dash of romance, and historical detail set in an exotic local. Along with a cerebral puzzle, there are plenty of laughs as well as a pulse pounding, adrenaline fueled climax!

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Mysterious Merchandise - A Review & Giveaway

Review


MYSTERIOUS MERCHANDISE by Astoria Wright
The First Witches Thrift Shop Mystery

Alice Adelcraft was expecting to go on a job interview. She was not expecting a cat to lead her to a heretofore unknown world...and a dead body. Now aware that witches do exist, she begins to straddle the two worlds, cognizant that the murder was just the beginning and that something dangerous is afoot. When an orphaned teen gets blamed for the murder, Alice knows she has to stand up for him and prove his innocence. Despite being "Untalented" Alice does have the knowledge imparted from her late father and Mrs. Kinjo, but will it be enough?

I particularly enjoy books in which the main character is introduced to a whole new world, especially when it's magickal and MYSTERIOUS MERCHANDISE is just such a one. I appreciated Alice's knowledge of the jinn and her relationship with Mrs. Kinjo as well as her determination to fit in with Magic Row and its inhabitants. I absolutely love Naveed and am properly intrigued by both Sebastian Delvaux and Rhys Merlin.

There's a societal message here too, about orphaned and latch key kids. Long compartmentalized as juvenile delinquent troublemakers, they don't always have someone on their side. Alice, orphaned herself, sees the goodness within and decides to be their champion, albeit, not their pushover.

MYSTERIOUS MERCHANDISE is a smart entry into a new magickal series. This quick read is filled with interesting characters, a good combination of humor and jeopardy, and just enough foreshadowing to make me eager for the next installment!

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Mysterious Merchandise (A Witch's Thrift Shop Mystery) by Astoria Wright

About Mysterious Merchandise

 
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series  
Novelwright Press, LLC (March 21, 2020)  
Paperback: 142 pages 
When a black cat crosses Alice Adelcraft’s path, her luck changes, as does her worldview, especially when she stumbles into A Witch’s Thrift Shop. The merchandise is mysterious, the customers are curious, and the sign on the door reads: Shoplifters will be hexed. It might all be a joke, but the body of a witch outside proves someone was dead serious. Can Alice discover who killed the witch before the magical community discovers she isn’t one of them?

About Astoria Wright


Astoria Wright is a cozy fantasy author and a poet who is inspired by rainy days, good books, and positive people. She is often found sitting by a window or in her backyard sipping tea or coffee and writing or reading cozy mysteries, fantasy novels, or poetry. Join her mailing list at www.astoriawright.com to see stories, poems, and thoughts that she only shares there.

Author Links:
Webpage: www.astoriawright.com 
Blog: www.astoriawright.com/updates  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astoriawrightauthor/  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/astoriawright  
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/astoriawright  
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/astoria-wright  
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/astoriawright/  

Purchase Links: Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Kobo - Audible

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Friday, March 20, 2020

A Sprinkling of Murder - A Review

Review


A SPRINKLING OF MURDER by Daryl Wood Gerber
The First Fairy Garden Mystery

Courtney Kelly wanted some magic back in her life, as well as a measure of independence. So she left her father's landscaping business to start her own gardening shop, one that specialized in fairy gardens. Hard work and a positive attitude, along with a little something special, have helped Open Your Imagination thrive, but when she discovers her business neighbor dead in her shop, Courtney finds her store in trouble and herself a suspect. While Courtney never had a problem with the dead dog groomer, several other people did, including his wife and his landlord. Did they have something to do with his untimely death? Or was Courtney's neighbor, who decries that fairies aren't real and has been trying to undermine Open Your Imagination, behind the murder? With a sneaky reporter, an overprotective father, and a nosy councilwoman trying to get involved it's a good thing that Courtney has a very unique helper.

I was thrilled when I heard that there was going to be a mystery series with a fairy garden theme. I love fairies and have been wanting to create a fairy garden for some time. With A SPRINKLING OF MURDER Daryl Wood Gerber has created a wonderful world and inspired me to play in the dirt and welcome fairies to my garden and my life.

A SPRINKLING OF MURDER is adroitly penned with enough suspects to provide several twists and turns to the story. Aside from the possible villains, a variety of other interesting characters inhabit the Fairy Garden Mystery series; the best friend whose last name is Brownie and thus wants to sample every type of brownie made, the easy going old high school friend who will become a love interest, and Courtney Kelly herself, the likable protagonist with a good heart who wants to spread her wings. In fact, her heart may be too good. Courtney goes above and beyond to befriend those who vilify her making her a much better person than I! But my favorite character has to be the mischievous fairy Fiona. Yes, there are real fairies to be found amongst the pages here. Fiona is a feisty fairy determined to help Courtney...and have fun as she tries to get back in good graces with the fairy queen.

A SPRINKLING OF MURDER is an enchanting mystery that asks you to believe. Believe, not only in fairies, but in yourself and the intrinsic goodness of people.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer. This book is the first in the Jane Wunderly Mystery series and will be released March 31, 2020.

In 1926 Cairo Jane Wunderly is looking forward to the prospect of visiting the pyramids and enjoying a cocktail or two with her aunt. But her aunt is acting oddly, drinking even more than usual and spending time with two young women, leaving her niece to fend for herself. With a hotel full of guests, Jane is not alone for long. Although she has no time for good looking men, a disastrous marriage cured her of any romantic notions, Jane can't help but be intrigued by the enigmatic Brit, Mr. Redvers. The brash young socialite Anna Stainton does have eyes for him though, as well as all of the other handsome fellow in the vicinity, and takes an instant dislike to Jane, causing more than one scene. Thus when Anna is murdered, police immediately see Jane as the prime suspect. With other hotel guests acting suspiciously, and in order to save her own neck, Jane is determined to discover the truth, wherever it leads!







Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Die Die Blackbird - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Teresa Trent back to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Teresa pens The Piney Woods Mystery series. Die Die Blackbird is the third book in the series.


Kathy: In Die Die Blackbird Nora Alexander welcomes paranormal investigators to the Tunie Hotel. Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had a paranormal encounter?

TT: I do believe in ghosts. When I was a child, we lived in a house in Illinois for about three years that had been a part of the underground railroad. There was a hidden room in the basement and an escape hatch in the roof. Chairs would rock, doors would open, and there was always the feeling that someone was watching you. I would play piano in what used to be the parlor and felt a presence when I would be the only one in the room.


Kathy: I've taken part in a few paranormal investigations, have you?

TT: My husband and I went on a ghost tour in downtown Houston one time, and I didn't feel anything until we got to the Spaghetti Factory, a haunted restaurant. I wasn't scared, just uncomfortable. We took a picture on the stairs, and there were white orbs all around us. I don't seek out paranormal investigations in real life because they creep me out too much. I'll keep watching them on tv where nothing will hitchhike with me back home.


Kathy: The town's quilting group isn't pleased with all of the paranormal equipment in the hotel. I find the various "ghost hunting" tools quite interesting. Do you have a favorite?

TT: I love electronic voice phenomena recorders but sometimes have to question the validity of what ghost hunters say they here. I wrote a scene in Die Die Blackbird where I put in a garbled sound, and the paranormal investigators come up with an entire sentence. Another device is a camera that they aim at a certain area, and if there is a spirit, it comes out like a stick man. Is it real? I couldn't tell you.


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

TT: In the first book (Murder of a Good Man) of The Piney Woods series, Nora sees the ghost of Mr. Tunie, the original owner of the Tunie Hotel. If there was one ghost, then why wouldn't there be more? Also, I wanted to explore the world of paranormal investigators. I think some of them are absolutely legitimate and others not so much. How do you verify something like that? All of that inspired me to write about a search for Sam Houston—the go-to ghost in the state of Texas.


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Nora?

TT: I don't want to say too much because it would spoil the story, but I see some romance and some murder in her future.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

TT: My next book in the Pecan Bayou Series will be coming out in late spring. Die a Yellow Ribbon was inspired by the movie It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. The residents of Pecan Bayou are after the elusive golden pecan. Who will find it and win a luxury cruise? All of the Pecan Bayou cast is searching high and low in the heat of a Texas summer.

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Die Die Blackbird (A Piney Woods Mystery) by Teresa Trent

About Die Die Blackbird

 
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series  
Publisher: Camel Press (January 14, 2020) 
Paperback: 210 pages  Digital Print Length: 159 pages
Nora Alexander is finding her job exciting as she welcomes paranormal investigators Jack and Daisy Foley to the Tunie Hotel. They are trying to contact the ghost of Sam Houston not only for their internet production but because it is reported there is a stash of Santa Anna's gold hidden somewhere. They are operating on the theory that Sam Houston visited a lady of the evening in Piney Woods and locate Red Ruth Inn where a parking lot now stands. Not only do these two stir the spirit world, but they also bother some of the town's most established citizens including the town's quilting group who doesn't appreciate their overtaking of the hotel with ghost hunting equipment.
When a townsperson is murdered with suspected ties to the local gang, The Alamo Runners, Nora finds herself wanting to protect his wife and daughter all the while getting cryptic messages from beyond. Jack and Daisy aren't the only ones with a connection to the other side.

About Teresa Trent

 
Teresa Trent writes cozy mysteries that take place in small towns in Texas. The Piney Woods Series came to be because her older brother worked in the hotel industry for over twenty years and would relate all the things and people he had experienced. Because Teresa loves history and a little bit of the paranormal, the Tunie Hotel was born! Teresa is also the author of the Pecan Bayou Cozy Mystery Series.

AUTHOR LINKS:
Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N 

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Sunday, March 15, 2020

Easter Hair Hunt - A Guest Post Recipe and Giveaway


I'm happy to welcome Nancy J. Cohen to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Nancy writes the Bad Hair Day Mystery series. Easter Hair Hunt is the sixteenth book in the series and was released last week.


Roast Leg of Lamb by Nancy J. Cohen


Meats roasted in the slow cooker always come out tender and flake off the fork. Roast leg of lamb is no exception. Hairstylist Marla Vail makes this for Easter dinner in between work at her salon and investigating murder suspects in Easter Hair Hunt, my latest title. Here’s a brief excerpt showing Marla in the kitchen followed by the recipe.

As Sunday rolled around, Marla’s prediction came true. Dalton left early to get caught up on paperwork. Marla started preparing the leg of lamb to put into the slow cooker. Kate—Dalton’s mom—had bought the pot for her as a holiday gift. She said Marla would be super busy once the baby arrived, and putting in a meal to simmer all day might be helpful.
As per the recipe she’d found, Marla cut slits into the meat and inserted sprigs of rosemary and garlic cloves. After drizzling olive oil over the roast, she placed it into the slow cooker. Next she squeezed cut halves of lemon over the top and dropped the rinds into the pot. With the temperature on low, she set the timer for eight hours.
She considered what to do next. A spinach salad would start off the main meal. That was Dalton’s domain. He’d put all the ingredients together when he got home. Rosemary red potatoes and fresh asparagus were the accompaniments, but she wouldn’t fix those until later.
Marla’s mother, Anita, was bringing a carrot cake for dessert, while Dalton’s parents, Kate and John, were bringing wine. Brianna had called dibs on making garlic cheese biscuits.
Soon the house was filled with delicious aromas. Brianna, after segregating the ingredients she would use later, went to her room to finish her homework. Marla assembled the stuffed mushrooms and chili dip she’d serve for appetizers and refrigerated them to bake later.

  
SLOW COOKER ROAST LEG OF LAMB
Ingredients
3 to 4 lb. boneless leg of lamb
4 peeled cloves garlic, cut in half
0.75 oz. package fresh rosemary
Olive oil
1 lemon, halved
1 jar mint jelly (optional)

Directions
Using a small knife, make several incisions in the lamb. Stuff a half clove of garlic and a few rosemary sprigs into each cut. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over lamb. Place the meat in the slow cooker. Squeeze the lemon over the lamb, and drop the lemon shells into the slow cooker. Cook the lamb on low for 8 hours or until the meat easily pulls apart. It should register at least 135 degrees on a meat thermometer.

Uncover and discard lemon shells and rosemary sprigs. Transfer meat to cutting board. Cover with foil and let rest for 15 minutes. Slice and serve warm with mint jelly on the side. Serves 6 to 8.



<><><> 

Easter Hair Hunt, #16 in the Bad Hair Day Mysteries by Nancy J. Cohen

An Easter egg hunt at historic Tremayne Manor leads hairstylist Marla Vail to discover more than just dyed eggs. The dead body in the bunny costume is definitely not having a good hare day. Marla and her husband, homicide detective Dalton Vail, make an eggcellent team. He knows Marla finds solving mysteries and hare-raising adventures to be irresistible, but she may have found a basketful of trouble this time. Can Marla pull a rabbit out of her hat and crack the case of the body in the bunny suit? Recipes Included!

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Print Edition Coming Soon

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Her books have won numerous awards, including the instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery. A featured speaker at libraries, conferences and community events, Nancy is a past president of Florida Romance Writers and Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter. When not busy writing, she enjoys cooking, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.

Follow Nancy Online

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Easter Hair Hunt (The Bad Hair Day Mysteries) by Nancy J. Cohen

About Easter Hair Hunt

 
Cozy Mystery 16th in Series  
Publisher: Orange Grove Press (March 10, 2020)  
Print Length: 233 pages 
Hare today, dead tomorrow… Can a stylish sleuth pull a rabbit out of her hat to solve an Easter murder in this to-dye-for cozy mystery?
When hairstylist Marla Vail attends an Easter egg hunt at historic Tremayne Manor, she’s only there to fix hair for a client, Bonnie “Blinky” Morris. But when she’s asked to comb the grounds for leftover goodies, Marla discovers more than just a few dyed eggs. The dead body in the bunny costume is definitely not having a good hare day. And Blinky seems to have disappeared down a rabbit hole.
When trying to solve a murder, everyone needs a friend who’s all ears. For Marla, that’s her husband, homicide detective Dalton Vail. They make an eggcellent team. Dalton isn’t the kind to leap to conclusions, but with his wife seven months pregnant, and knowing Marla finds crime-solving to be irresistible, he worries about her running off on another hare-raising adventure.
Marla’s peeps are hoping for a happy ending, but she may have found a basketful of trouble this time. Can she crack the case before Blinky becomes the next victim?
Recipes Included!

About Nancy J. Cohen


Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have been named Best Cozy Mystery by Suspense Magazine, won a Readers’ Favorite gold medal and a RONE Award, earned first place in the Chanticleer International Book Awards and third place in the Arizona Literary Awards. Nancy’s instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery, was nominated for an Agatha Award, earned first place in the Royal Palm Literary Awards and the TopShelf Magazine Book Awards, and won a gold medal in the President’s Book Awards. A featured speaker at libraries, conferences, and community events, Nancy is a past president of Florida Romance Writers and Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter. She is listed in Contemporary Authors, Poets & Writers, and Who’s Who in U.S. Writers, Editors, & Poets. When not busy writing, she enjoys cooking, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.

Author Links:  
Website – https://nancyjcohen.com  
Blog – https://nancyjcohen.com/blog  
Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/nancyjcohen
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NancyJCohenAuthor  
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/nancyjcohen
Pinterest – https://pinterest.com/njcohen/  
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyjcohen  
Instagram – https://instagram.com/nancyjcohen  
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nancy-j-cohen  

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