Mistletoe Not Included

Holly, ivy, wassail and carols included. Mistletoe not included (toxic to the parrot).

It's the last weekend before the lake freezes, and Bets Fairweather has planned a Victorian Christmas to remember at Larkmoor Inn: carols in the lobby, a charity auction for the village church roof, and a flaming-raisin parlor game that was probably a mistake.

The dead auctioneer definitely wasn't on the programme.

When Barnaby Quill is found bolted into the inn's old ice house and his mystery lot has vanished, Bets must discover who locked the door. Sunday's last ferry leaves at noon. After that, the lake will cut them off for three weeks.

Fortunately, she has help: a ghost stage manager with strong objections to tinsel, a parrot who borrows everyone's voice, a police chief in a musical reindeer jumper, and a very helpful archivist.

Unfortunately, Christmas cheer makes an excellent cover for secrets.

With the final crossing approaching, Bets must untangle the guests' stories before a killer leaves the island.

Mistletoe Not Included is Book 3 of the Ghost Light Inn Mysteries-a clean, funny, one-sitting cozy mystery featuring a resourceful midlife heroine, theatrical humour, and ghostly assistance, with no on-page gore or strong language.