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Rating: 
Summary: How did this book make it to hard cover?
Review: Although I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series (Permed to Death), this one was very disappointing. It was not well written, the villain was too easy to spot, and some of the things that come out of Marla's mouth are totally ridiculous. She acts like everone's psychotherapist, and people just accept it. She throws in yiddish words in ridiculous places, just for effect, and her obsession with pleasing her family after the Tammy episode in the past is sickening. I'm through with this series.
Rating: 
Summary: Series is getting better
Review: I'll admit that while I did not completely like Permed to Death, Hair Raiser's predecessor, I did not hate it, either. While I found the characterization a bit awkward and certain sub-plots of the story predictable, I thought Cohen had a nice concept with Marla Shore and hope she could pull off an improved sequel. I'm happy to say Hair Raiser is evidence that Cohen is getting better at the mystery game.The mystery -- where Marla is determined to hunt the killer of a lawyer on the board of an environmental committee which includes her cousin -- is thought out and written well. Plus the relationship between Marla and Detective Vail makes for great page-turning sexual tension -- their relationship does not come off as awkward as it did in the first book. I can genuinely say I'm looking forward to reading more.
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Summary: A mystery both exciting and fun to ead
Review: In Southern Florida, Marla Shore owns the Cut 'N Dye Beauty Salon where she also works as a stylist. Currently, Marla is preoccupied with the Taste of the World fundraiser sponsored by Ocean Guard, a preservation group concerned with the coastal environment. She serves as the liaison between the participating chefs in the event and the leaders of the sponsoring group. If this occasion succeeds, Ocean Guard will obtain ownership of the property next door to her friend's property. If the property is to remain a nature preserve, Ocean Guard must also donate $20,000 to a designated political lobby, hence the fundraiser. Obtaining the property appears to be a snap until many of the chefs withdraw from the event. Marla thinks someone is trying to prevent the transfer of the property. Two organization members are murdered and biological waste washes ashore onto the property whose ownership appears in doubt. Marla begins making inquiries that will make her a key target of a determined killer. HAIR RAISER is a delightfully funny yet stylized murder mystery that shows the talent of author Nancy J. Cohen to entertain her audience. The characters are easy to identify with, likable and realistic next-door neighbors. The brilliantly crafted mystery makes it extremely difficult to identify the villain until Ms. Cohen reveals whom the individual is. The second installment in the "Bad Hair Day" series is a near perfect perm. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: eco murder
Review: Marla Shore has been helping her cousin Cynthia organize Taste of the World, a benefit for Ocean Guard. The experience becomes a hair raiser for Marla, when the chefs she's recruited are frightened out of participating. Marla needs to know who is sabotaging the gala event. After the lawyer handling the trust is murdered, Marla and her cousin want to know who is polluting the wetlands that are protected, and soon to be inherited, by Ocean Guard. Could it be the person who benefits if Ocean Guard doesn't inherit? Marla is threatened, and someone leaves a bloody package on her front doorstep, then later breaks into her house and frightens her little dog away. Detective Dalton Vail wants her to stop snooping. Needless to say, Marla doesn't. Later Marla is nearly killed by an unseen assailant. She must get to the bottom of this now! This is a fast-paced, fun story, with an ending that borders on shivery-creepy. Hair Raiser left me wanting to know Marla Shore better. Marla's little dog Spooks-a sassy poodle-seems the perfect pet for a plucky hair stylist. If I ever get to Palm Haven, Florida, I think I'll have my hair done at Cut 'N Dye, and try out some of those restaurants....
Rating:
Summary: Exciting and fun
Review: Readers of cozy mysteries will enjoy this book. The heroine is cute, sassy, and clever. The plot is intruging with just enough romance from sexy Dalton Vail to keep me turning pages. I didn't know the guilty person until the very end and I was surprised. I can't wait until the next Marla Shore mystery comes out.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting and fun
Review: Readers of cozy mysteries will enjoy this book. The heroine is cute, sassy, and clever. The plot is intruging with just enough romance from sexy Dalton Vail to keep me turning pages. I didn't know the guilty person until the very end and I was surprised. I can't wait until the next Marla Shore mystery comes out.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than the First
Review: This second book in Nancy J. Cohen's 'Bad Hair Day' mystery series is better than the first ('Permed to Death'). Ms. Cohen writes well, as she did in the first. But this one has a more interesting plot. Marla Shore, hair salon owner/main character, is working on a committee to put together a fund raiser, featuring the best chefs around, to save some oceanfront land. I still don't feel there is enough substance to Marla's character. And most attempts at humor fell flat, but the author scored in two or three places, which is better than her batting zero in humor with her first. It doesn't help when someone is dumping medical waste in the preservation area, committing a murder or two, and going after Marla with everything from bullets to coconuts. Good romance reading between Marla and the detective who doesn't want her involved in solving crimes. Its well-done and surprising climactic scenes make this a worthwhile read.
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