Hairstylist Marla Shore is eager to introduce her fiancé, Detective Dalton Vail, to her extended family over Thanksgiving weekend at historic Sugar Crest Plantation Resort—until she finds her Aunt Polly suffocated in bed. Is it mere coincidence that her aunt’s father once owned the estate? According to rumor, he entertained two mysterious visitors who disappeared the same night as his untimely death. Some say their spirits haunt the grounds, which Marla tends to believe after experiencing an icy presence in the rickety hotel elevator.
But are ghosts to blame, or is something more sinister at play? With a heated city council meeting looming over the resort’s future, tensions are thicker than gravy. Added to the volatile mix are Marla’s relatives who have their own secrets to hide. Then another body is found on the nature trail, forcing Marla to intensify her efforts to expose the culprit. She’ll have to unravel her family’s twisted history even if it means digging up their roots and serving them on a platter to the police. Otherwise, if she allows her family’s unsavory past to remain buried, the killer will get away with murder.
“Dead Roots has all the right ingredients for a great hair day, absolutely fun, winsome characters, a fast‑paced, wonderful mystery read!” Heather Graham, NY Times Bestselling Author
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, placed first in the Chanticleer International Book Awards and third in the Arizona Literary Awards. Her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook, have also garnered numerous awards, including the FAPA President’s Book Award and the Royal Palm Literary Award. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Florida Romance Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Florida Chapter. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World. Visit her at NancyJCohen.com