Dead Roots (Bad Hair Day Mystery)

by Nancy J. Cohen

Book Overview

While attending her family reunion at Florida's historic Sugar Crest Plantation Resort, Marla Shore, introducing her fiance to her family for the first time, is faced with murder, mayhem, ghosts, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0758206593
• ISBN13: 9780758206596
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Kensington
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.8" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Dead Roots

Fast, fun read. Lots of interesting characters and plot twists and turns. Keeps your interest 'til the last page. Can't wait to read more Nancy J. Cohen.

The plus side of Bad Hair Days!

Nancy's Bad Hair Days get better and better. Poor Dalton, stuck into Marla's family reunion. Not only is there a mystery to solve, which Marla does once again, but Nancy's books have that added flavor of family fun and tension, plus a bonus of hair grooming tips and recipes.

Death At A Family Reunion

Marla Shore and her fiancé Detective Dalton Vale head off on a much-needed vacation. Marla is excited as she will be introducing Dalton to many of her extended family. They are going to a family reunion at the Sugar Crest Resort. Her Aunt Polly arranged the reunion. Turns out Marla's relatives once owned the place and it is now supposedly haunted by some of her past relatives. Apparently Polly wanted to right some wrongs and uncover family secrets by having the reunion there. Unfortunately, Aunt Polly is found dead before she can do much more than ask Marla to look for some old letters and gems. Marla is not sure they really exist, but her curiosity gets the best of her. When a workman falls to his death, Dalton believes the death to be murder. The house doctor lists it as an accident. Unfortunately, the local police believe the house doctor and not Dalton. This just spurs Marla on further in her investigation. Dalton is doing some investigating as well. When they discover that Aunt Polly's death wasn't a natural death, things really heat up. Can Marla help Dalton uncover the truth without anyone else being hurt, including herself? I really enjoy this series. Marla is such a likeable character. Most of the books are set in and around her Florida salon. While I enjoy that, this was a nice change. The relationship between Marla and Dalton has really matured and it is fun watching it grow and change through the various books. Marla is a believable sleuth. She does get herself into some scary situations, but she has a level head most of the time. I highly recommend this book and the whole series.

A mystery with humor!

This Bad Hair Day mystery novel has everything! Murder, mystery, family history, ghost busters, greed, evil motives, Russian royalty, psychic predictions, Nazi's, hidden treasure--you name it. Marla Shore, owner of the Cut 'N Dye hair salon, and part-time sleuth is heading to the Florida coast with her unflappable police detective fiance, Dalton Vail for the first Marks family reunion. Three generations of Marks from all over the U.S. and Canada are gathering at the haunted luxury resort created by the family patriarch, Andrew Marks, whose ghost is said to inhabit the halls guarding his secrets. This could be the family's last opportunity to connect with their heritage through this resort as it is in jeopardy of being redeveloped into an amusement park. Marla's Aunt Polly, keeper of the family secrets, alludes to the mystery surrounding Andrew Marks' death, the visitation of mysterious strangers right before his death, the rumors of treasure, and secretive documents. Aunt Polly publicly opposes Marla's engagement to someone outside the faith, further dividing family loyalties and skewing motives. Aunt Polly ends up murdered, despite having secretly fought the good fight with cancer. Family secrets are peeled away one member at a time while forecasting the future for Sugar Crest resort. Armchair Interviews says: If you love a good mystery with humor running throughout, this is for you.

delightfully entertaining amateur sleuth

Floridian hairstylist Marla Shore is for once taking time off from overseeing her salon to go to the family reunion with her fiancée Detective Dalton Vail at the Sugar Crest Resort. The event was the inspiration of Marla's Aunt Polly who wants to right past wrongs and let hidden secrets see the light of day and bring the family together. When they arrive at the resort they learn that members of the family once owned the place and it is supposed to be haunted by various spirits dead throughout the decades. Murder isn't confined to the past as a workman is killed while up on a ladder. Vail is suspicious but the house doctor lists it as an accident and the police listen to him rather than the outsider. Polly wants Marla's help in finding letters she wrote to someone named Vincent but she forgot where she put them. She also wants Marla to look for gemstones that were supposedly hidden by the owner (who was one of the family) family in the main building. Polly is murdered before Marla can find what she is looking for and when another death on the property happens, Marla decides to investigate on her own and hope she doesn't become murder victim number four. The main building of the resort is riddled with secret passages, a hidden floor and cleverly disguised entrances and exits to the passageways adding a gothic ambience to DEAD ROOTS. One of Nancy J. Cohen most incredible skills is letting her characters grow and change as they experience new things. The deepening romantic relationship of Vail and Marla adds a nice twist of spice to a cleverly crafted and well designed who-done-it. This delightfully entertaining amateur sleuth tale is one Ms. Cohen's best in this long running series. Harriet Klausner