Salon sleuth Marla Vail determines to peel back the truth when a wealthy socialite has a fatal facial at her day spa in this stylish cozy mystery.

During the frenzy of the December holidays, 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 her 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.

"The death of a philanthropist has Florida salon owner Marla Vail tearing her hair out." Kirkus Reviews

"Marla and Dalton solve a mystery that includes pirates and shipwrecks off the Florida coast. This is a fantastic standalone for anyone who might not have met this couple before." Suspense Magazine