It may be Christmas in Tupelo, but Callie Valentine Jones' not-quite-ex Jack is trussed up like a holiday turkey recovering from a shattered leg, cousin Lovie's looking for love in all the wrong stockings, and Elvis the basset hound is out for revenge on a sneaky Lhasa Apso. Everyone finally gets into the spirit when Uncle Charlie is pressed into service as Santa at a weekend charity event in the mall. But Yuletide cheer turns to Yuletide fear after a killer tries to zap Charlie back to the North Pole marked "Return to Sender."
Determined to find out who's decking the mall with Christmas corpses, Elvis and the Valentines fill up their sleigh with suspects as they attempt to unmask a devil in disguise in time to turn their "Blue Christmas" all Christmas-y and white.
"Settle in for a ridiculously funny holiday mystery." --Library Journal
"Ditzy. . .Elvis fans in need of a deep-fried farce may find this finger-lickin' good." --Publishers Weekly
"Callie Valentine-Jones is the spunkiest dog-loving hairdresser to sleuth in a long time." --RT Book Reviews
**
From Booklist
As in previous series entries, the basset hound named Elvis, who channels Elvis Presley and serves as one of the tales narrators, provides the humor in another madcap mystery from the talented Webb. Elvis is trying to get his owners, Callie and Jack, back together while keeping everyone safe from a murderer who electrocutes mall Santas sitting on a lit-up throne. First, Callie’s uncle Charlie is zapped, but a person holding his hand dies. When another Santa is zapped and killed, Callie and her cousin Lovie don disguises to discover who is doing the killing and why. Readers new to the series may have trouble keeping track of suspects, but not to worry: a holiday séance party sorts out several questions. Recipes are included in this enjoyable adventure, which emphasizes humor and zany characters more than mystery. Mary Daheim’s fans will enjoy the repartee among the relatives. --Amy Alessio
Description:
It may be Christmas in Tupelo, but Callie Valentine Jones' not-quite-ex Jack is trussed up like a holiday turkey recovering from a shattered leg, cousin Lovie's looking for love in all the wrong stockings, and Elvis the basset hound is out for revenge on a sneaky Lhasa Apso. Everyone finally gets into the spirit when Uncle Charlie is pressed into service as Santa at a weekend charity event in the mall. But Yuletide cheer turns to Yuletide fear after a killer tries to zap Charlie back to the North Pole marked "Return to Sender."
Determined to find out who's decking the mall with Christmas corpses, Elvis and the Valentines fill up their sleigh with suspects as they attempt to unmask a devil in disguise in time to turn their "Blue Christmas" all Christmas-y and white.
"Settle in for a ridiculously funny holiday mystery." --Library Journal
"Ditzy. . .Elvis fans in need of a deep-fried farce may find this finger-lickin' good." --Publishers Weekly
"Callie Valentine-Jones is the spunkiest dog-loving hairdresser to sleuth in a long time." --RT Book Reviews
**
From Booklist
As in previous series entries, the basset hound named Elvis, who channels Elvis Presley and serves as one of the tales narrators, provides the humor in another madcap mystery from the talented Webb. Elvis is trying to get his owners, Callie and Jack, back together while keeping everyone safe from a murderer who electrocutes mall Santas sitting on a lit-up throne. First, Callie’s uncle Charlie is zapped, but a person holding his hand dies. When another Santa is zapped and killed, Callie and her cousin Lovie don disguises to discover who is doing the killing and why. Readers new to the series may have trouble keeping track of suspects, but not to worry: a holiday séance party sorts out several questions. Recipes are included in this enjoyable adventure, which emphasizes humor and zany characters more than mystery. Mary Daheim’s fans will enjoy the repartee among the relatives. --Amy Alessio