Celebrating spookiness is a year-round affair in the Halloween-themed town of Elyan Hollow, Oregon, but Christmas is a close second, and for Bailey Briggs' Lazy Bones Bookshop, it's extra hectic-especially when holiday festivities turn fatal . . .
When it comes to adding a touch of Halloween to Christmas, Elyan Hollow is in peak form. Downtown sports Nightmare Before Christmas decorations, and activities include a "Santa Claws" sasquatch game. And this year, there's something else to celebrate: The Elyan Hollow Historical Society has just received a Historical Preservation grant to map out the town's tunnel systems. Jude, their director, is thrilled. But Graham, the leader of the competing historical society, not so much . . .
At the Society's winter holiday reception, Jude argues loudly with Graham and Graham's second in command, Walter, a local attorney. As the pair is "escorted" out, Walter threatens ruinous revenge. Their arguing continues a few days later at a party in an escape room. But this time, there's no escape for Walter, who collapses . . . dead.
Jude is the obvious suspect, but Bailey soon realizes that despite his lawyerly good deeds, there were others on the outs with Walter-and there are other targets as well. Fortunately, Bailey can use several upcoming Christmas parties as fact-finding missions. Because she'll have to map a trail to a killer-before she's history . . .
