Helen’s current job is as an assistant to Miguel Angel, manager of one of Florida’s chicest salons.  Their current project is the hair and make-up for Honey, the fiancée of Kingman “King” Oden, the rich and sleazy gossip monger who got his start in the sex business.  Helen can’t figure out what former nurse Honey sees in the disgusting, often drunk, older man, other than his millions of dollars. 

Honey is carrying Oden’s son and has managed to win King’s confidence and is determined to marry him and live the life she thinks she was meant to live.  Just after the couple says “I Do,” King is found dead in the bottom of the swimming pool.  While it is easy to imagine the lush falling in the pool and drowning, the police rule King’s death a homicide and train their eyes on Miguel Angel, who had angry words with King just before the ceremony.

Helen is very loyal to her friend and employer and is determined to prove Miguel Angel’s innocence, but then she begins receiving threatening letters, mailed from the Eastern shore of Maryland.  She must work quickly, though, as her wedding looms and Helen is determined that nothing will stop it.  

Killer Cuts is another fun mystery featuring a delightful character that fans of this series have grown to love.  Even though Helen is running from a court order, readers will find her sympathetic and very likable and will root for her to continue as she is, or have an easy resolution to her situation.  Helen is lucky to have surrounded her with good friends who, for the most part, mind their own business about Helen’s past.  Helen is, in turn, very loyal to the people she likes and trusts, which is how she keeps ending up in the middle of murder investigations. Even with her own wedding growing closer, Helen refuses to let Miguel Angel take the rap for something he did not do. 

There are plenty of people who would like to see Oden dead, not just the last person who threatened him. Helen, with the help of some video tape from the reception, logically works her way through the guests at his wedding, looking into their pasts trying to find who has the most at stake or the one most likely to kill.  What she finds, is that the number of people who hate Oden is numerous and growing each day, making her search more difficult. 

A fun, fast-paced read, Killer Cuts has a terrific cliffhanging ending that will make readers eager to see which occupation Helen will tackle next.                                          

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry