"Missing Persons and a Fashion Museum"

Lacey Smithsonian is a fashion columnist. Her column "Crimes of fashion" gives fashion advice to unfashionable D.C. She didn't choose to be a fashion columnist, it was chosen for her by her boss.

She learns that a new fashion museum will soon open in D.C. Designer Hugh Bentley spots her at one of the events. He tries to get her vintage Hugh Bentley suit, but Lacey won't swap. The suit was her aunt Mimi's, along with many other vintage clothes and patterns she left behind.

Lacey is a reporter at heart. An intern that she knows goes missing and she is hot on the story. She is also working to get the scoop on Bentley and his past. In doing so she uncovers a mystery that's never been solved about a missing Bentley employee, Gloria Adams. Lacey finds letters from Gloria to Mimi as well as some from Mimi to Gloria. These letters help give her a sense of what might have happened and some more background on Bentley.

Lacey begins to try to put the pieces together about both disappearances and see if there is any connection, as well as any connection to Bentley. In doing so, she finds herself in many sticky situations and puts herself and others in danger more than once.

I love this series. Lacey is such a fun character. I had trouble putting this book down. Make sure you read where you can laugh out loud.

Lacey's best friend and hairdresser Stella and Miguel who worked for the Bentley's are terrific characters as well. They add a lot of fun to this story.

Ms. Byerrum has a real handle on fashion in D.C. Lacey's columns are right on the mark!

If you like cozies, you will love this book. I highly recommend it Killer Hair, the first in this series.

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle
Posted August 10, 2004

Summary

When fashion columnist Lacey Smithsonian learns that a new fashion museum will soon grace decidedly unfashionable D.C., it's more than a good story—it's a chance to show off her vintage Hugh Bentley suit. And it's not long before the dapper designer himself spots Lacey in the crowd. A reporter at heart, she manages to get all the juicy details about his past—including a long- unsolved mystery about a missing employee. Could it be linked to the disappearance of a Washington intern or the recent Bentley boutique robbery? Lacey sets out to unravel the murderous details in a fabric of lies, greed—and (gasp!) very bad taste...