In this Rashomon-style Christmas mystery, while Cherry Tucker suffers from flu-induced visions of murder, Maizie Albright's on the hunt for a missing granddaughter whose criminal stockings have long been filled with coal.
When Halo's most notorious artist, Cherry Tucker, thinks she sees a crime through her bedroom window, her feverish claims are ignored by her family. Trapped in bed, influenza is the least of her problems. Deputy Luke Harper can't be found. She can't tell fevered dream from reality. And a very bad Santa knows Cherry's spotted his Christmas killing. It's going to take a Christmas miracle for Cherry to recover.
Meanwhile, ex-celebrity and #WannabeDetective Maizie Albright's determined to help an elderly woman find her missing granddaughter despite her private investigator boss (and not-so-secret crush) Wyatt Nash's claims that the grandmother's annual plea is nothing but a dangerously wild goose chase. This holiday, Maizie's search takes her away from her family and Nash to Halo, Georgia, where a storm threatens her nerves and her quest. When a deviant Santa learns Maizie's looking for the granddaughter, he put Maizie on his naughty list. This Santa may get his holly jollies from murder.
Review
I'm finally catching up on the rest of the holiday mysteries and romances I purchased, and glad I didn't miss this one. Cherry Tucker is an artist and not always taken seriously anyway. When in the middle of a blizzard, feverish and delirious, it is no surprise that the locals don't take her report of a murder seriously. Her sister decides to stay with her and tries to keep her from getting any more upset. In the meantime, the ex-actress who played a detective is training to be the real thing and ends up involved as well.
A quick read, but it has laughs and reflections on life and the holidays. Cherry hates the holidays and her sister tries to decorate with not much help or enthusiasm. Well-written. Although pulling the main characters from two series, this is easily read as a stand alone mystery. Enjoyed it.
Books in the Cherry Tucker Mystery series:
QUICK SKETCH (novella in HEARTACHE MOTEL)
PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (#1)
STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (#2)
HIJACK IN ABSTRACT (#3)
DEATH IN PERSPECTIVE (#4)
THE BODY IN THE LANDSCAPE (#5)
THE VIGILANTE VIGNETTE (novella)
A COMPOSITION IN MURDER (#6)
A VIEW TO A CHILL (novella)
Books in the Maizie Albright Star Detective series:
15 MINUTES
16 MILLIMETERS
A VIEW TO A CHILL (novella)
Great news! A View to Chill is on sale for $0.99 through the end of February! Some other cozy mysteries are on sale this week, so happy reading:
Books in the Cherry Tucker Mystery series:
QUICK SKETCH (novella in HEARTACHE MOTEL)
PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (#1)
STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (#2)
HIJACK IN ABSTRACT (#3)
DEATH IN PERSPECTIVE (#4)
THE BODY IN THE LANDSCAPE (#5)
THE VIGILANTE VIGNETTE (novella)
A COMPOSITION IN MURDER (#6)
A VIEW TO A CHILL (novella)
Books in the Maizie Albright Star Detective series:
15 MINUTES
16 MILLIMETERS
A VIEW TO A CHILL (novella)
Great news! A View to Chill is on sale for $0.99 through the end of February! Some other cozy mysteries are on sale this week, so happy reading:
Thank you so much! I'm so thrilled you enjoyed View. What an awesome review!!!! You made my weekend!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure!
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