The Angela Barnes Mysteries (Novel Series)

***The Angela Barnes Mysteries*** also known as ***Murder, She Styled*** is an American cozy mystery series, created by Maryam Wells. The series focuses on the life of Angela Barnes, a hair stylist/salon owner and amateur detective, who finds herself becoming involved in solving a series of murders that take place in the fictional town of Hampton, California, as well as across the United States and abroad. In the novels, they are hair and makeup tips from Angela and her family members.

The series proved a ratings hit during its broadcast, becoming a staple of CBS Sunday night TV schedule for around a decade, while achieving distinction as one of the most successful and longest-running television shows in history, averaging more than 30 million viewers per week in its prime. In syndication, the series is still highly successful and popular throughout the world. For her role on the program, Lansbury was nominated for ten Golden Globes, winning four, along with nominations for 12 Emmy Awards, earning her the record for the most Golden Globe nominations and wins for Best Actress in a television drama series and the most Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The series itself also received three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, as well as six Golden Globe nominations in the same category, with two major wins.

After the series finished in 1996, four television films were released between 1997 and 2003, with two point-and-click video games released for PC: one in 2009, and a sequel in 2012. A spin-off book series continues publication at present.

## Synopsis

Hairstylist and amateur sleuth Angela Barnes uses her intellect, charm, and persistence to get to the bottom of every crime she encounters.

## Characters

* Angela Barnes, a hairstylist who owns Salon Pixie.
* Detective Nathan Lucas, a recently widowed homicide detective who moves to Los Angeles from Hampton.
* Cora Bloom, Angela's cousin and hairstylist at Salon Pixie.
* Doctor Oliver Blake, a local doctor at Hampton General Hospital who had a crush on Angela in high school.
* Denise Barnes, Angela's mother and Cora's aunt. She is a stylist at the salon.
* Brenda Logan, an assistant stylist at Angela's salon
* Mayor Williams, the town's Mayor
* Michelle Barnes, Angela's younger half-sister.

## Episodes

* Cut, Color, Murder - Feisty Hairstylist Angela Barnes turns amateur sleuth after finding one of her clients dead in her car after leaving the salon. Angela clashes with a homicide detective, who is brought in to investigate the murder.
* Murder, Rinse, and Repeat - When the obnoxious music video director dies in the middle of a shoot, Angela is on the case. Angela grows closer to Nathan, especially since she found out that his wife was murdered.
* Killer Hair - Angela investigates the murder of a wealthy hotel heiress/socialite with a spoiled little princess persona after she got her hair done by one of Angela's stylists, Brenda Logan. Angela tries to find the killer to get Brenda cleared.
* Color Me Dead - Once again Angela is plummeted into a murder mystery by finding the dead body of her competitor. But this time she's the one accused of murder over her rivalry with the victim.
* Do or Dye - Angela and her salon are being interviewed by Maria Rodriguez, host of the TV series, *Hampton Hotspots*. Following the interview, Maria is killed in a hit-and-run. Realizing that it was murder, Angela sets out to find the killer. Angela and Nathan sleep together.
* Tressed to Kill - Hairdresser Angela Barnes must multi-task an upcoming hair care product line with Luxe Hair Care company, an appearance on morning talk show about hair styling tools, and shocking murder all at once.
* Fatal Highlights - Dr. Claire Loman, a respected heart surgeon who had her hair highlighted by Angela, is found murdered in her posh apartment. Angela discovers that her heart surgeon client was living a double life, as a doctor and as a flirty party girl. Angela tries to restore the confidence of Nathan's shy and insecure niece Gabi.
* Three Clients, Two Events, One Murder - Angela is swamped with three high-profiled clients; a talent agent, a talk show host, and a famous reality show starlet. However, she has another problem to contend with; the murder of --
* Project Murder - Angela suspects that the suicide of the lead hair stylist on a popular reality competition TV show was actually murdered.
* A Very Fatal Hair Day - Angela is thrilled when she is asked by Julie Patterson, who's owns Lulu's Beauty Supply to do video tutorials on the products sold at her store. However, when Julie's store employee is found dead in the store, it is up Angela to clear Julie of murder.
* Wave Rage - A trip to Las Vegas for an annual hair show ends up being a murder investigation, when a hair instructor collapses and dies during a demonstration.
* The Killer Wore Extensions - Angela and her staff of Salon Pixie are tasked to style hair for a clothing boutique fashion show. It was a way for both Angela and Rachel Harris, owner of Rachel's Palace to promote their businesses. However, things take a dark turn when Rachel is found dead in her store. What's worse, Angela's mother, Denise is a main suspect in the case, due to her feud with the victim.

## Trivia

* Angela Barnes lived at 754 Coco Avenue, Hampton, California.
* The population of Hampton, California, was 3,650.
* Author Maryam Wells based Angela Barnes on herself and her favorite hairstylist Kim Kimble.