A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU

America’s Christmas Town also celebrates Easter, but murder spoils the fun.

Although Rudolph, New York, is a town that lives for Christmas, it’s nice to take a break. Merry Wilkinson has reopened her gift shop, and her best friend, Vicky Casey, is busy baking Easter treats before her approaching wedding. Despite her excitement, Vicky is upset about her fiance Mark Grosse’s desire to buy Cole House, a big old Victorian in a state of disrepair and rumored to be haunted. Fortunately, there are enough rooms in decent shape to accommodate them while they slowly work to restore the rest of the house. After they move in, Vicky’s sleep is disturbed by odd noises. Far worse is the arrival of Jim Cole, a relative of the former owner who thinks the place should belong to him. During a visit from Merry, both women hear loud noises, but a search of the house reveals nothing. When Mark arrives, he goes out to look around and finds Cole’s body in the garden. Once the police learn about Cole’s attempts to claim the house, Mark naturally becomes their prime suspect. Since Merry’s helped Det. Diane Simmonds solve other murders, Diane is annoyed but not surprised when Merry begins her own investigation into this one. Merry, her boyfriend, and even her mother, a famous opera singer, all pitch in to identify other suspects before the town gossips can convict Mark of murder.

A look into the past helps the intrepid sleuths solve the mystery in a very satisfying way.