Curl Up and Die: A Glam Van Mystery

Set in San Cosmas, Calif., this perky series launch from the pseudonymous Sharp introduces Molly Casey-Locks, the owner and operator of a mobile beauty salon. The parking lot where she and seven other “trucky” entrepreneurs lease space to park their vans was owned by community matriarch Opal May Harrison, who recently died. Now, Mayor Tully, “whose mantra was ‘The Sober Mayor Who Gets Real People,’ ” has decided to support plans by Opal May’s son to sell the parking lot to developer Veronica Corsello, who intends to boot the businesses from the site. Before Molly can caucus with her colleagues to prepare for an upcoming town hall about the sale, Mia Casey, Molly’s 21-year-old niece who works for her, stumbles across Veronica’s bludgeoned corpse. A necklace made by Mia in the dead woman’s hand casts suspicion on Mia. To prove her niece’s innocence, Molly starts her own inquiry to supplement the official one conducted by Det. Liam Moat, who has focused his “superhero blue eyes” on Mia. Fans of dogged amateur sleuths drawn into investigating crime by circumstances will be satisfied. (Self-published.)