A Cold Christmas — Charlene Weir

...roasting on an open fire

It's a frigid December in Hampstead, Kansas, and as if the bitter chill isn't bad enough--the flu has taken out half of police chief Susan Wren's force. As she wrestles with a new job offer from her old San Francisco precinct,' her silent prayers that the weather will put a freeze on crime are dashed when the body of a repairman is found stuffed in a basement furnace of struggling single mom Caley James.

Though his head is burned beyond recognition, the identification found in the victim's wallet leads to a few dark surprises--and a disturbing connection to Caley's ex-husband. As the holiday blues, job indecision ... and a deepening mystery with no shortage of suspects make the season more murderous than merry, Susan must harness all her street smarts to pull off her own Christmas miracle....