Reviews of new mystery novels

"Killer Cuts: A Dead-End Mystery" by Elaine Viets; NAL/Obsidian (272 pages, $2.95)

While humor is a vital part of Elaine Viets' lively "Dead-End" series, the Fort Lauderdale author also works in contemporary issues. In her eighth novel in this series, Viets depicts a wry look at the cult of the celebrity.

Viets' heroine, Helen Hawthorne, works at low-paying, off-the-grid jobs that preferably pay in cash. Her latest "dead-end job" is working for celebrity hair stylist Miguel Angel, whose salon is packed with models, actresses and Fort Lauderdale society matrons. Miguel's hair styles cost more than some automobiles. But Miguel is a nice guy who's not impressed by his own celebrity status or the famous people he works on. Miguel also enjoys making ordinary women look fantastic, and charges them a lot less. He's never too busy to say hello to a couple of tourists, even though the women could never afford even his most reduced rates.

Miguel's client Honey is the pregnant fiancee of Kingman "King" Oden, a cable TV star who gleefully destroys reputations through his disgusting gossip blog. When King is murdered a few minutes after he and Honey are married, Miguel becomes a suspect because he was caught on camera arguing with the victim seconds before the murder. As Helen looks into the murder, she finds no lack of suspects, including Honey, two disgruntled ex-wives and a slew of people whose lives were ruined by King.

"Killer Cuts" show the superficiality of celebrity worship. People flock around King only because he is famous. Miguel's once-loyal clientele stay away when he is suspected of murder.

Viets uses myriad real Fort Lauderdale spots to enhance the action-packed "Killer Cuts." As usual, Viets leaves the door open for a sequel and, judging by "Killer Cuts'" finale, it should be a doozy.

"A False Dawn" by Tom Lowe; Minotaur Books (336 pages, $24.95)

The St. Johns River near the Ocala National Forest provides excellent background to Tom Lowe's promising debut, "A False Dawn." The Windermere, Fla., author makes effective use of a serene rural setting where violence can erupt at any moment.

Former Miami cop Sean O'Brien needs the peace. Instead, he's thrown into the violent world of human trafficking and sexual slavery

Following his wife's death and the murder of his best friend during a robbery, Sean has retreated to the St. Johns' quiet, along with Maxine, his adorable 8-pound miniature dachshund.

But violence comes to him when a young woman near death is found in the woods near his home. Sean starts his own inquiry when he becomes the target of one cop's investigation. Soon Sean's burgeoning friendship with two sheriff's deputies puts him on the trail of human smuggling and the brutal treatment of migrant workers.