"Murder and Family Rivalry at Christmas"

It's almost Christmas, and Aggie Sloan-Wilcox's mom, June, and sisters, Sid and Vel, arrive for a holiday family reunion. Only Aggie arrives with their former foster sister Ginger. Ginger and Sid get along like vinegar and water. Ginger is very manipulative and controlling while coming off as sweet to those who don't know her so well. Unfortunately June has always seen the sweet side of her. Sid has been Ginger's victim too many times to see the sweet side.

Sid and Ginger's rivalry surfaces immediately, and when Ginger turns up dead, Sid is the logical suspect. Aggie knows Sid couldn't have killed her, so she sets out to find the real murderer before the police arrest Sid. Can she do so without putting herself or her family in danger? And without putting her husband's position in jeopardy?

Aggie is a fun character. The fact that she is a pastor's wife really adds to her sleuthing. Her family and all their quirks really adds to the story. Often families get lost in the story as the mother sleuths. Not so in this series. And the sub-plots don't detract from the story at all. In fact they enhance it and make it a well crafted mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing to the end. I highly recommend this book and the whole series.

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle
Courtesy Mystery Lovers Corner
Posted February 21, 2007

Summary

With the chalk outline gone from their front porch, Aggie Sloan-Wilcox and her minister husband think they can resume their lives. But when Ginger, Aggie's despised former foster sister, comes for Christmas, and turns up dead as a drumstick, Aggie's sister is suspected. Now it's up to Aggie to find the real murderer—who's decided there's a loophole in thou shalt not kill.