Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Dreidels and Dead Ends (Bad Hair Day Mysteries) by Nancy J. Cohen. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Dreidels and Dead Ends (Bad Hair Day Mysteries) by Nancy J. Cohen
Dreidels and Dead Ends (Bad Hair Day Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
19th in Series
Setting – Florida
Publisher : Orange Grove Press
Publication date : June 23, 2026
Print length : 246 pages
Paperback
A daring holiday heist at the local history museum sends hairstylist Marla Vail on her most tangled case yet.
When salon owner Marla Vail agrees to speak at the local history museum’s gala opening for a new exhibit, she expects applause—not a catastrophe. But shortly after she takes the stage, a thief steals the featured diamond-studded hairbrush, leaving behind an empty display case and a badly injured security guard.
Marla’s friend, museum curator Becky Forest, begs for her help in recovering the prized heirloom before the mayor uses this scandal as an excuse to cut their funding. To make matters worse, the antique hairbrush comes with a curse, and suddenly bad luck is spreading through town faster than a botched dye job. As Hanukkah festivities begin, Marla would rather be lighting candles than chasing clues, but with Becky’s job at stake, she takes on the case.
Her trail leads to a knot of suspects including the hairbrush’s owner, his greedy cousin, shifty museum staff, and a reclusive collector of mystical antiquities. Instead of enjoying menorah lights and latkes, Marla discovers murder, lies, and larceny. She’ll need sharp wits and a holiday miracle to save the museum and to keep the truth from being brushed aside.
Magic Spells and Curses
By Nancy J. Cohen
Do you like to read about cursed artifacts or bad luck that comes with a family heirloom?
In Dreidels and Dead Ends, a cursed hairbrush is stolen from the local history museum right before the holidays. Becky Forest, the curator, begs her friend—hairstylist and amateur sleuth Marla Vail—to help recover the missing artifact.
Marla and her husband, a former homicide detective, have solved crimes before, and they agree to take on the case. If they fail, the mayor will use this scandal as an excuse to close the museum, and Becky will lose her job.
As Marla digs into the hairbrush’s history, she learns the curse began after a tragic incident in the 1800s involving a local sugar producer’s wife. Because of an accident that this woman had caused, the hairbrush was forever cursed to bring misfortune to the family and their descendants. Currently, the brush’s owner has loaned the artifact to the museum for its exhibit on Florida’s beauty tools throughout history.
Since Becky was responsible for the exhibit at the museum, she begins experiencing strange problems. Her car tire goes flat. A heavy tree branch falls from overhead, barely missing her standing beneath. And an air-conditioning leak at her house necessitates expensive repairs. Are these events due to coincidence or to the curse? Or could they be the result of someone targeting Becky for a specific purpose?
Assuming she can recover the hairbrush, Marla wonders if a way exists to reverse the curse, not that she’s superstitious. Still, it couldn’t hurt to find out. To this end, she visits a spiritualist to seek answers. Here’s a brief snippet from their conversation:
Excerpt from Dreidels and Dead Ends
“Tell me, what’s the difference between a curse and a spell? Like, is a curse put on an object and a spell is aimed at a person?”
“The meanings often overlap. A curse, spell, hex, jinx or charm can be synonymous,” Madame explained. “However, a curse is meant to bring evil upon another person and can be spoken aloud. A spell is usually read as an incantation with specific words that have magical powers.”
“Can a curse be reversed once it’s cast?”
“Yes, it can be unbound by a reversal spell. This involves certain rituals and prayers. For example, you can make a mirror box and send the negative energy back to the curse’s creator.”
“That’s good to know. Does this also work if an object has been cursed?”
“That can be managed as well.” Madame tilted her head. “What is it you wish to do? I am sensing mixed signals from you.”
“I’ll have to think more about it, but I appreciate the information.”
Obviously, Marla has to find the missing heirloom piece before any of this matters. She mixes her sleuthing with holiday preparations for her interfaith family, gift shopping, and seeing clients at her salon. As the countdown for Hanukkah begins, she fears failing her friend and steps up her efforts to locate a clever thief and a killer who will stop at nothing to hide their secrets.
No worries if you haven’t read this series before. All titles are written as standalones so you can jump in at any time.
What can you do to get rid of a curse?
If you need a temporary fix, put a copper penny on the item. Copper can deflect negative energy, returning the item to its neutral state. You can increase this method’s effectiveness by sprinkling salt on the cursed object and the coin, although you might still need a more permanent method of reversal.
You could also make a box with a mirror inside and place the name or photo of the person who initiated the curse inside of it. Seal the box and bury it in a place where it won’t be disturbed.
Or, set three white candles around a mirror and light them. Sit across from the mirror and clear your mind. Visualize being free from the curse and recite the following words: “I break this curse and send it back. Let it be the sender who feels its lack.”
One source I read suggested that an item which appears cursed may actually be haunted. If an evil spirit is clinging to an object, there are a number of ways to remove it. For example, you might banish the evil spirit or try exorcising it. In either case, you might want to cast a circle of protection first. Best to consult an expert in this arena, in my opinion.
As you can see, there are solutions to dispelling an evil curse, if such a thing truly exists. Whether it’s all imaginative or not, these rituals may help to bring peace of mind.
Do you believe that an object can be cursed or haunted?
My review
Though Dreidels and Dead Ends by Nancy J. Cohen is the 19th book in the Bad Hair Day series, it’s the first one I’ve read! In spite of the fact that I went into this book knowing none of the characters, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Marla Vail finds herself entangled in a hairbrush mystery when she comes to her friend Becky’s aid by filling in as a last minute speaker at the local history museum’s gala. Thankfully the subject is beauty implements used throughout the ages. Marla speaks about the evolution of the hairbrush and just as the attendees are about to view the diamond-studded hairbrush (that has JUST been donated on loan that day), the chandelier comes crashing down, injuring the guard. That’s when they notice the empty display case…the one that was just holding the hairbrush. Becky fears her job at the museum will be in jeopardy if the hairbrush isn’t recovered. Since Marla has helped solve multiple crimes, Becky asks her to help locate the hairbrush. Oh yeah, the hairbrush is ALSO purported to be cursed!
I thought that this mystery was paced and plotted well. There is a lot going on in Marla’s life. It’s the Hanukkah season, and since her retired detective husband isn’t Jewish, Marla also has the Christmas season to prepare for. She and husband Dalton have an adorable 18 month old named Ryker, and Marla is due with their second baby in a couple of months. I love holiday cozy mysteries, and it was a delight to read about how they honor each other’s holiday celebrations. Marla is a pretty smart sleuth when it comes to not confronting suspects on her own, though she does slip up occasionally. It was really fun solving this mystery along with Marla and Dalton. I’d love to read more Bad Hair Day mystery books! If I can make a dent in my towering TBR, I will go back to read some earlier ones. I’m looking forward to reading the next book and seeing how Marla and Dalton handle two babies!
I highly recommend this book for its well-written characters and well-plotted mystery!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About Nancy J. Cohen
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 the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and the 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 won the FAPA President’s Book Award, the Royal Palm Literary Award, and IAN Book of the Year. When not busy writing, Nancy enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.
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Grand Prize: An eBook copy of Dreidels and Dead Ends (Bad Hair Day Mysteries) by Nancy J. Cohen, and a Book Lovers Gift Set. Note: Actual prize may vary from the photo. Physical prize for U.S. residents only.
Dreidels and Dead Ends TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 2 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
October 2 – Book HookUp – REVIEW
October 3 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 4 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 5 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – Storybook Lady – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 6 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
October 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
October 7 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 8 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 9 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT
October 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 11 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR GUEST POST
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Thanks so much for hosting me here and for the great review!
You’re welcome! Thank you for being here and for the guest post!