Nutcracker Noir (Elsie Hargrove Mysteries Book 9)
About
‘Tis the season... for murder.
Someone is trying to kill Santa Claus.
Not the real one, of course — but Chris Keller, Cascade Bay’s beloved department store Santa, might be the next best thing. When threatening letters lead to poisoned cookies, Private Detective Elsie Hargrove takes the case and goes undercover as an elf at Fleming’s — bells, curled-toe shoes, and all — to protect a man whose past holds secrets worth killing for.
Meanwhile, Chief of Police Jack Goodman is acting strange — dodging Elsie’s questions and hiding a mysterious houseguest — until he shows up at Fleming’s in a Santa suit of his own, and Elsie discovers that everyone has secrets this Christmas.
Between a killer who’s determined to cross Santa off their list, a town full of holiday cheer, and a mystery guest who changes everything, Elsie will need every trick in her repertoire to make sure this season is merry — not deadly.
Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a holiday twist, “Nutcracker Noir” delivers Claire Blackwood’s signature blend of small-town charm, daring escapades, and the complex chemistry between Elsie and Jack that readers have come to love.