Death has a way of disturbing even the tidiest of towns, and in Wallingford Heights, 1896, nothing could be more shocking than the murder of the genial barber Elias Whitaker. His shop was a place of lively talk, quick trims, and trusted secrets—until one swift stroke cut his life short.

For Clara, Estelle, Chasity, and Marilou—better known around town as the Hair Raisers—this crime strikes too close to home. Armed with keen instincts, sharp tongues, and access to the kind of gossip no constable could collect, they set out to find the killer.

Their investigation takes them from the genteel parlors of the town’s elite to its shadowy alleys, uncovering a tangle of motives involving jealous rivals, mysterious newcomers, and even an alarming incident with prize-winning vegetables. Along the way, they’ll face arson, petty theft, and dangerous whispers that threaten to turn neighbor against neighbor.

In Murder’s Close Shave, the Hair Raisers must cut through layers of deception to expose the truth—before the next victim’s name is whispered over the clatter of tea cups and curling tongs.

A cozy historical mystery with wit, warmth, and no shortage of close calls, this second adventure proves crime never goes out of style.