Books published by Orange Grove Press

Getting married can be murder...especially when the matron of honor is found dead under the cake table in this humorous cozy mystery.Weddings always make hairstylist Marla Shore shed a tear of joy, especially when she attends her friend Jill's reception as a member of the bridal party. Marla's own nuptials are weeks away, and she's been busy juggling bickering relatives, building a new house with her fiancé, and expanding her hair salon.She's following her to-do list just fine until she discovers Jill's sister Torrie-the matron of honor-dead under the cake table at her friend's wedding reception. Lots of folks aren't sorry to see Torrie go, especially since the bride's sister knew their deepest secrets. But when suspicion falls upon Jill, Marla wonders if her dear friend is truly innocent. She'd better untangle the snarl of suspects and iron out the clues before the killer highlights her as the next victim.Bonus Content Includes: Reader Discussion QuestionsExplanation of Wedding CustomsAuthor InterviewExcerpt from Hanging by a HairMurder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore Bestseller List "Shear Murder is another stellar outing in Nancy J. Cohen's Bad Hair Day mystery series. Marla is a bridesmaid in her friend Jill's wedding, but when Jill's matron of honor--and sister--ends up dead with the cake knife embedded in her chest--hold the video! It's a wedding to forget--not remember."-Lorna Barrett, NY Times Bestselling AuthorShear Murder was originally published by Five Star Publishing (Gale/Cengage). This Author's Edition has been updated with added bonus materials.

Hairstylist Marla Shore untangles a snarl of secrets when she's suspected of poisoning her client's coffee creamer in this debut cozy mystery. Hairstylist Marla Shore is already having a bad hair day when one of her clients dies in the shampoo chair at her salon. Then Detective Dalton Vail accuses her of putting poison in the woman's coffee creamer. Grumpy Bertha Kravitz might not have been Marla's favorite customer, but she wouldn't have murdered the lady. With her reputation at stake, Marla decides it's up to her to unmask the killer. Combing the woman's privileged world for clues, Marla discovers the town is crawling with potential suspects. Bertha's son is resentful about being written out of her will. Her shady business partner has secrets to hide, and then there's the niece, who inherits Bertha's fortune. But Marla might have to look closer to home for the culprit. Her janitor has vanished without a trace, and one of her stylists leads an upscale lifestyle that doesn't match her income. As the case grows more snarled, Marla determines to unravel the clues. She'd better hurry before the smart detective discovers her scandalous secret, or he'll pin her with a motive and lock her away in a place where a bad hair day will become permanent. "Marla the beautician is a delight!"-Tamar Myers, author of the Pennsylvania Dutch Mysteries

Salon owner Marla Shore discovers a whirlpool of secrets when she joins a sports club and solves a nail-biting murder in this humorous cozy mystery. Hairstylist Marla Shore joins a fitness club to get in shape but discovers a dead body instead of an exercise routine. Jolene Myers-a client at Marla's salon-has drowned beneath the frothing waters of the whirlpool. When Homicide Detective Dalton Vail determines Jolene's death was no accident, Marla decides to give her deductive skills a workout and help solve the case. Jolene had few friends at the fancy athletic club. As Marla gets to know everyone, she wonders who might have targeted Jolene for a lethal soak in the hot tub. The shady pharmacist? The smarmy city councilman? Or maybe the vocal animal rights activist? The fitness club staff had no fondness for Jolene, either. How far would they go to keep their secrets? When another member turns up dead, Marla intensifies her efforts to nail the killer and wrap the case. If she fails, the next buff body on its way to the morgue might be hers. "Marla Shore is a beguiling, very clever sleuth who teases out every clue. Absolutely delightful!" Jill Churchill, author of the Jane Jeffry & Grace and Favor mystery series.

Hairstylist Marla Shore gets drawn into a culinary caper that involves murder, sabotage, and fowl play in this delectable cozy mystery. When hairstylist Marla Shore volunteers for Taste of the World, a fundraiser for her cousin's favorite charity, she quickly discovers that mixing scissors and sauté pans can be a recipe for disaster. First Chef Pierre's rum-soaked Bananas Foster erupts in his face. Then more chefs drop from the roster like overcooked soufflés and the nonprofit's attorney becomes the victim of fowl play. It's clear as a consommé that someone is stirring up trouble. With a cunning killer on the loose, Marla has a lot more to worry about than which canapés her chefs should serve. She teams up with Detective Dalton Vail to untangle the clues. He believes someone from the nonprofit's board of directors might be involved, but Marla has her own suspicions. As she digs deeper, she realizes their upcoming gala could be more perilous than a hot stove. She'd better sift through the suspects to stop the saboteur before the entire event goes up in flames. Nominated for a Reviewer's Choice Award by RT Book Reviews "Curl up with Nancy Cohen's stylishly witty and chillingly suspenseful tale of murder on the Florida coast-Hair Raiser is a cut above." Joanne Pence, author of the Angie Amalfi Mysteries "Hair Raiser kept me guessing until the very end. Hats off to Nancy Cohen and her engaging sleuth, Marla the hairdresser!" Laurien Berenson, author of the Melanie Travis mystery series

During the frenzy of the December holidays, salon owner Marla Vail has a bad hair day when a ritzy socialite dies during a fatal facial at her day spa. 'Tis the season for holiday cheer, but salon owner Marla Vail finds herself in deep trouble when a client dies at her day spa after a facial treatment gone wrong. The unfortunate victim, Valerie Weston, was a major benefactor for a historic preservation society. Marla's stylists are scheduled to work backstage at their upcoming fashion show, but Val's demise might put a crimp in their plans.Amidst the twinkling lights and festive cheer, Marla dives headfirst into the glittering world of high society. The stakes are higher than a well-stacked tower of towels as she vows to salvage her spa's reputation. With the body count rising and murder overshadowing hot stone massages, she gives her investigation the full spa treatment. She must comb through the tangled strands of Val's life to peel back the layers of lies and uncover secrets from the past. Soon Marla realizes someone would kill to keep those truths buried. Can she expose the culprit before her holiday season hits another deadly snag?Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner Royal Palm Literary Awards Finalist "Take a twisty mystery, add a cast of amiable characters, a dash of family drama, and a pinch of South Florida during the holiday season-they all add up to the recipe for a delightful cozy!" -Lucy Burdette, bestselling author of the Key West Food Critic Mysteries

Set sail for murder and mayhem when hairstylist Marla Shore and her fiancé cruise to the Caribbean with a killer on board in this cruise ship cozy mystery.Hairstylist Marla Shore is looking forward to a romantic interlude with her fiancé, Detective Dalton Vail, on their first Caribbean cruise. Her excitement hits a snag when she discovers his parents have come along for the ride. It isn't how she might have chosen to meet her future in-laws, but she hopes they'll have smooth sailing ahead.The first sign of trouble is a mysterious note addressed to Martha Shore on her cabin door. Marla assumes the sender spelled her name wrong but is disturbed by the message. When she meets her dinner companions and learns they've received similar notes, she suspects something isn't kosher, and it's not the lobster on the menu. Moreover, Dalton's parents have been seated at another table by mistake. Is it merely a mishap, or something more?Their tablemates all seem to know each other as colleagues from an art museum, where an artist died recently under dubious circumstances. When her dinner companions start disappearing one-by-one, Marla realizes they're headed for stormy waters. If she doesn't find the culprit fast, she might end up with a one-way ticket to Davy Jones's locker."Delightful...The Love Boat meets Sex and the City. A charming heroine and a hero to die for, pick this one up posthaste!" MaryJanice Davidson, NY Times Bestselling Author

¿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 man in the bunny suit is definitely not having a good hare day. And Blinky seems to have disappeared down a rabbit hole.While 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 egg-cellent team. Dalton isn't the kind to leap to conclusions, but with his wife expecting their child 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!Readers' Favorite Gold Medal WinnerRoyal Palm Literary Awards FinalistAmerican Fiction Awards Finalist "This story will fill your reading basket with entertainment, charming characters, plot twists, tasty recipes, and a cozy murder mystery to solve." Thoughts in Progress

Are you looking for some easy new recipes? Whip out your whisk, snatch up your spoon, and prepare your palate. Inside the pages of this cookbook are recipes that will bring you good cheer.Enjoy 160+ tasty recipes from Nancy J. Cohen's popular Bad Hair Day cozy mystery series. Included in this cookbook are excerpts, cooking tips, and anecdotes written by hairstylist and savvy sleuth Marla Vail. From appetizers to desserts, Marla offers cooking tips and tricks along with commentary about the dishes she prepares for her family. Whether you're a skilled cook or an eager novice, this cookbook will unravel the mystery of cooking. Put on your apron and plan to make some killer recipes!Gold Medal Winner in the FAPA President's Book Awards First Place Winner in the IAN Book of the Year Awards First Place Winner in the TopShelf Magazine Book Awards Finalist in the Chanticleer International Book Awards "Reading through this cookbook has revived my interest in getting back in the kitchen." Rhonda Gilliland, Author and Editor of the Cooked to Death Series"Designed for busy cooks who may not be out solving crimes, but whose time is equally challenged." Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review"Mysteries and cookbooks belong side by side on readers' shelves. A Bad Hair Day Cookbook serves up both food and justice." Christine A. Jackson, Ph.D., Author of Myth and Ritual in Women's Detective Fiction

How to Write a Winning WhodunitDo you want to write a cozy mystery but don't have a clue where to start? Or are you in the middle of a story and stuck on the plot? Perhaps you're already writing a series, and you need tips on keeping your material fresh. Writing the Cozy Mystery: Expanded Second Edition is a concise reference guide that will help you develop your characters, establish the setting, plot the story, add suspense, plant clues and solve the crime.This award-winning Second Edition contains more examples; additional writing exercises; expanded sections; and seven new chapters including The Muddle in the Middle, Romance and Murder, Special Considerations for Cozy Writers, Keeping a Series Fresh, Writing the Smart Synopsis, Mystery Movies, and Marketing Tips. You'll find everything you need to know in an easy-to-read, clear manner to write your own mystery and maintain a long-running series. Recommended for cozy writers, mystery fans, and fiction writing classes.Gold Award Winner in the Royal Palm Literary AwardsGold Medal Winner in the President's Book AwardsFirst Place Winner in TopShelf Magazine Book AwardsAgatha Awards FinalistFinalist in the IAN Book of the Year AwardsMurder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore Bestseller List

Hairstylist Marla Vail determines to learn the truth when her best friend is hurt in a suspicious car accident in this suspenseful cozy mystery.Hairstylist Marla Vail's friends are hurt in a car accident on New Year's Eve. As per their instructions, Marla assumes guardianship of their infant son. But when her detective husband determines the crash may not have been an accident after all, she gets on the case. Who would want Tally and Ken out of the way? As Marla delves deeper into their lives, she realizes she didn't know them as well as she'd thought. Nonetheless, it's her duty to protect their child even if it means learning the ugly truth.Her sleuthing reveals that Ken's insurance agency was involved in a fraud investigation. Did someone mean to silence him to avoid exposure? Or could something in Tally's life have put her in jeopardy? She'd recently joined a tea ladies circle. Had she discovered secrets about the women that someone would kill to keep? Then again, maybe she'd been the target of a disgruntled employee from her dress shop. As the mystery unravels and Marla narrows the suspect list, she puts her own life at risk. Can she find the culprit before she ends up as roadkill?Chanticleer International Book Awards First Place Winner Royal Palm Literary Awards Finalist "I found myself swiping pages as fast as I could to find out what was going to happen next. And not only for the mystery but to see how Marla was going to handle being an instant mother... I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a well-crafted cozy mystery." Open Book Society"The action builds with a slew of twists, turns, and near nail-biting climactic tension." Chanticleer Book Reviews