Cohen, Nancy J. Permed to Death: A Bad Hair Day Mystery

This is a delightful first-time cozy that will comfortably appeal to Romance lovers as well. Marla Shore is the proprietor of the Cut 'N Dye in humid Florida where she has a staff of coloful stylists and a murder to solve. The victim, Bertha Kravitz, was disliked by everyone, family and business associate alike. Bertha dies after drinking a cup of coffee prepared and delivered by Marla during a perm appointment and the plot takes off from there. Enter the dashing Detective Dalton Vail who treats Marla as both a suspect and a potential date and the romantic tension leaps from the pages.

The plot is nicely complicated by Marla's past secrets, her guilt from an accidental drowning in her youth, and her current financial and personal entanglements. The plot becomes somewhat predictable; although, it becomes apparent who the real murderer could be about half way through.

There are some gaps in the writing where there should be explanation for characters mentioned and events that should be explained sooner than they are since they contribute nothing to building suspense; however, as a first effort, this novel works. One thing that really annoyed me was Marla's propensity to call everyone "pal,"--it just did not ring true to her character.

All in all, Marla is a strong and independent woman who gives as good as she gets and I look forward to reading the second in the series: Hair Raiser: A Bad Hair Day Mystery.

Leane M. Ellis, January 27, 2001.