Mystery lovers have descended on Pine Hills for this year's book club competition, to be held at Krissy Hancock's bookstore café, but the killer in their midst seems determined to outwit all the armchair sleuths--and send Krissy to the remainder bin forever.

"Krissy Hancock is staying in her adopted hometown of Pine Hills, Ohio, for Christmas this year--and she even has a whole week off from her combination bookstore-café. But a killer is about to dampen her spirits... Unfortunately, Krissy's been roped into filling in for a sick elf in the local holiday musical extravaganza. With a demanding director, backstage gossip, and two men in fierce competition for the starring role, it isn't all sweetness and...

Coffee lovers are gathering from far and wide at the hotel, and Krissy, Rita, and Vicki are excited. But some of the attendees may need to switch to decaf, as a public argument breaks out soon after they check in and then a flavor competition leads to bitter feelings. When the winner of the contest is beaned with a carafe full of cafe mocha, suspicions swirl-along with accusations of bribery. Was the dead man offering perks to the judges-or was something...