Part of Meg Langslow, book 22
First published 2017
Meg finds herself stage managing her husband's ambitious production of A Christmas Carol, complete with their sons Jamie and Josh cast as Tiny Tim and young Scrooge. The lead actor playing Scrooge arrives in Caerphilly with considerable talent but also a collection of personal baggage and old enemies trailing behind him. As rehearsals progress, Meg notices something odd happening around town. Beautiful caged finches appear everywhere, far more than anyone can explain. The aging but still famous actor's past catches up with him just as the production faces its opening night deadline. Meg must juggle the demands of keeping the show running while figuring out who brought all these finches to Caerphilly and why. The mystery deepens as the actor's enemies circle closer and the finch population continues growing. Meg discovers that managing a theatrical production during the holidays involves more than memorizing cues and coordinating costumes. She must solve the puzzle before the final curtain falls and Christmas arrives in Caerphilly.
Genres: christmas, mystery, comedy, cozy-mystery
Vibes: cozy, emotional, suspenseful, whimsical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Caerphilly
Period: Christmas
278 pages · Hardcover · Minotaur Books