Shear Disaster Mystery Books
A cosmetologist - L.J. Carter (Louella Jo for the folks who knew her when she was growing up) returns to her hometown of Julep, Mississippi for her mother’s funeral. After flying out of JFK and arriving at the Biloxi Airport, she is greeted by a woman who not only knew her mother but has some disturbing information to share with L.J. about her mother’s death. A card file – Like any good stylist, Jeannette Carter kept all of the important information about her customers on index cards, filed in an old, metal card file. But Jeannette didn’t just keep the latest hairstyles and coloring information, she also kept bits of gossip and information her customers told her. It was innocent enough – she just wanted to be sure she remembered what they told her when they were together. But after a customer is murdered, the innocent card file could be the motive for another death. Bless Your Heart – welcome to Julep, Mississippi, right on the Gulf Coast. Where neighbors have known each other for generations. Where the local hair salon has more information about what’s going on in town than either the local paper or the local sheriff’s department. The owner of the bakery knows you by name. The minister of the biggest church in town has more clout than the mayor. And people say “Bless Your Heart” for all kinds of reasons, the least of which is when they’re ready to insult you.
L.J. Carter’s move back to Julep, Mississippi has been much more complicated than she ever imagined. She discovers that her momma’s death was actually a murder, and Momma’s ghost is still hanging around to talk about it. The Deputy Sheriff tried to kill her, various dead people keep showing up unannounced at her house, and the hunky shrimper, Vandergast, turns out he’s not exactly who she thought he was. But the good news is that the salon is busier than ever, now that Kyle is there to keep everyone on their toes. And there is a bakery right down the street from the salon – so things could be worse. But not much worse.
L.J. Carter’s move back to Julep, Mississippi has been much more complicated than she ever imagined. She discovers that her momma’s death was actually a murder, and Momma’s ghost is still hanging around to talk about it. But now, L.J. is embroiled in several more homicide investigations, and she may have stumbled upon some of the dark secrets of the Sons Of Mississippi. Her relationship with Van, the hunky shrimper, is in a constant state of flex – and his kisses turn her brain to mush. Bless her heart and Oh, my, Lanta – things are happening in Julep!
All L.J. wanted to do was deposit the day's receipts in the bank, go home, and have a movie night with Kyle. Was that too much to ask for? But moments after entering the bank, they are caught up in a bank heist with a couple of novice robbers. To add insult to injury, the dead grandmother of the robbers, Grammy Anderson, appears to L.J. and instructs her to stop her no-account grandsons from ruining their lives. L.J. complies and gets caught up in another twist in the ever-growing tangle of corruption and death called the Sons of Mississippi.
What happens when Van's ex shows up on the scene to help "solve" the mystery? Is she really there to help, or is she just trying to help herself? Both Bea and Ida feel that Agent Brooke Fielding - bless her heart - is a cold-hearted, back-stabbing, barracuda. And that's the nicest thing they've said about her. Meanwhile, L.J. is not only trying to figure out how she's supposed to be the key to solving the mystery but also who can she really trust. Especially as new secrets are revealed and old secrets are exposed.
In this final book of the Shear Disaster Mystery Series, L.J. is confronted with both the threat of Congressman Patterson’s vow to get his revenge as well as the demon’s desire to destroy her at all costs. With the discovery of new documents relating to the Sons of Mississippi, including the original deed to the Crenshaw Mansion, L.J., Van, Kyle, and Bud try to figure out who is really behind the secret society and how to release all those souls still trapped by their evil rituals. And, in the midst of all this trouble, Bea is tricked into holding the infamous Harvest Ball at the plantation on Samhein, the very night that borders the light and the dark, and when the veil between this life and the next is thinned.