Part of Blue Ridge Library Mysteries, book 8
First published 2023
Amy Muir has her hands full directing the local library, managing her five-year-old twins obsessed with the holidays, and supporting her choreographer husband Richard as he prepares The Nutcracker for Taylorsford's inaugural Winterfest. Her frosty mother-in-law Fiona's holiday visit adds another layer of stress. The last thing Amy wants is to play amateur detective again. Then the festival committee chair turns up dead at the town ice rink. Sheriff Brad Tucker immediately suspects Amy's brother-in-law Ethan Payne, who was spotted at the scene. Amy refuses to let Ethan take the fall for someone else's crime. She launches her own investigation to find the real killer. Time runs short as the murderer strikes again, threatening both the town's holiday celebration and Amy's own safety. Amy must balance her family responsibilities with uncovering the truth before the killer claims another victim.
Genres: mystery, contemporary, cozy-mystery, holiday, amateur-sleuth
Vibes: community-focused, cozy, fast-paced, festive, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-detective, found-family, protecting-loved-ones, small-town-secrets
Setting: Taylorsford, library, ice rink
Period: holiday-season, winterfest
259 pages · Hardcover · Crooked Lane Books
Content warnings: murder