The Claus Conspiracy

Don’t let the cover fool you: this is NOT a Christmas-themed cozy! Yes, there are bell ringers and trips to the mall, but the dead Santa Claus found in the trunk of a car is definitely not jolly. Badly beaten 19 year old Mal (short for Maleficent) cannot remember how she found her way to Seven Ponds Retirement Community, nor where she’s been, and before she can identify the man in the red suit, the body disappears. When a woman claiming to be Mal’s mom (“her name is Kiki!”) appears, everyone is suspicious. Podcaster Amber, her grandmother Jade, and the Death Comes Calling podcast crew dig into solving the mystery, much to the chagrin of local sheriff Eliana Vega, who might have to admit that Amber, just a credential short of being an official private investigator, is ahead of the law in putting the pieces together. An ex-Navy Seal band of brothers, tainted candy canes, and some of the worst Santas you’ve ever seen pile on the fun and intrigue as Amber races to solve the crime before anyone else gets hurt. Nothing can hold these octogenarian sleuths back when they put their minds to it, and their quick wits and quirky skills make this a delightful read from start to finish.—Dodie Ownes