THE GINGERBREAD BUMP-OFF
by Livia J. Washburn
An amateur sleuth’s Christmas plans are upset by murder.
Something’s cooking among the boarders in Phyllis Newsome’s home in Weatherford, Texas. Eve Turner is soon to marry Roy Porter. Her wedding plans are keeping Phyllis and Carolyn Wilbarger, another boarder, especially busy baking for Christmas and the upcoming nuptials. When local accountant Georgia Hallerbee asks Phyllis to decorate her house and become a stop on the Jingle Bell home tour, she reluctantly agrees. But Georgia pays the price for her initiative by getting attacked on her front porch with Phyllis’ ceramic gingerbread man. Phyllis ignores a police warning and starts sleuthing with the help of Sam Fletcher, yet another boarder. A little investigation shows that several people were angry with Georgia over tax matters, but they all seem to have alibis. Once Georgia dies without regaining consciousness, Phyllis redoubles her efforts to solve the crime before Christmas.
Washburn’s Fresh Baked series (The Christmas Cookie Killer, 2008, etc.) continues to feature competent mysteries, likable characters and the obligatory recipes.