Beauty To Die For
A Spa Mystery #1
Kim Alexis and Mindy Starns Clark

B&H Publishing Group
August 1, 2012 / ISBN 978-1433672934
Mystery
Amazon

Reviewed by Cheryl Green

Juliette Taylor, former supermodel turned business woman, is hosting a weekend spiritual retreat at the Palm Grotto Spa. She has her own line of skincare products featured at the spa as well as at many other salons and spas. At the airport she runs into another former supermodel, Raven. I think Raven must be related to Ivan the Terrible as she is as nasty as they come. Her one redeeming quality---she is a big tipper. After a few pleasantries Raven actually threatens Juliette's life. Things only get worse once Juliette finds out Raven is also going to the Palm Grotto Spa.

Is Raven starting her own line of beauty products? Why else threaten Juliette? Rather than confront Raven again, Juliette goes to her manicure appointment. In the waiting room she hears Raven's voice so she leaves and ends up hiding in a supply closet. When things quiet down she heads to her appointment.

Crystal is a massage therapist just getting her room ready for her next appointment. Mr. Dowd arrives and Crystal is hoping the loud raucous laughter coming from the next room will not disturb her client. Palm Grotto Spa prides itself on a quiet and peaceful experience and raucity is definitely not mentioned in the brochure. After a while the noise is unbearable and Crystal decides to see what is going on. She finds Brooke, an employee, on the floor in the corner blathering away and the client all wrapped up "in treatment".

When one ambulance takes Brooke to the hospital and the other ambulance leaves, Juliette figures the client is ok since the ambulance left empty. That is until a car pulls up with the word Coroner written on the side of the car. It turns out the guest is dead and it is none other than Raven.

Juliette will have to investigate the death herself in order to keep from being the next victim. Why was Raven at the spa? Who was she trying to meet? Why did she threaten Juliette? More importantly why was the handsome man bringing Juliette a Peppermint Pattie?

This is a complex story with many intriguing characters. It had me reading well into the night to see what would happen next. Part mystery and part thriller it had many plot twists. I hope that the authors won't keep us waiting long for a sequel.