A Little Yuletide Murder — Jessica Fletcher; Donald Bain

A SLAY RIDE FOR SANTA

Jessica Fletcher unwraps a deadly puzzle when she sets out to discover who killed "Santa Claus"--a.k.a. her neighbor Rory Brent, who played St. Nick at the town's yearly Christmas Eve celebration.

Cabot Cove, Maine's most famous mystery writer had been planning on spending a cozy Christmas at home, but murder never takes a holiday. Brent was found shot to death on his farm, and there will be no peace on earth until his killer is found. Everyone assumes the culprit is Brent's longtime enemy, Jake Walther, the meanest man in town. Jake is crazy as a coot, sour as green apples, and as bad tempered as a cat with its tail caught in a screen door. But Jessica soon uncovers evidence that makes her believe the sheriff has arrested the wrong person. Snooping into the small town's past for a motive, Jessica is determined to deliver the real killer before Christmas. The trouble is, the next sound she hears this silent night may be a scream--her own... .