M. K. Scott Bücher

A drive-by murder signals the end of a relaxed Christmas. Donna refuses to accept that organized crime is moving into town, but to do so, she must find the murderer. In the meantime, she needs to host a Victorian tea, pin down a certain detective's romantic intentions, keep a boozy Santa sober, deal with a cursed clown doll, and hide a hunky underwear model. It's just another holiday at The Painted Lady Inn.

Their hearts intent on a private ceremony, Mark and Donna are days away from saying I do. But the discreet location they've chosen for the wedding of the decade might not be as private as they initially believed. The picturesque inn offers more than a quaint backdrop. The accommodations include a covey of eager wedding planners clamoring for the opportunity to assist. Complicating matters even further, meddling family members, nosy guests, and a swarm of Civil War re-enactors are also vying for their attention. When one of the overzealous wedding planners winds up dead, the soon-to-be-wed duo end up with far more on their plate than a walk down the aisle. They must catch a killer before they can tie the knot.

A drive-by murder signals the end of a relaxed Christmas. Donna refuses to accept that organized crime is moving into town, but to do so, she must find the murderer. In the meantime, she needs to host a Victorian tea, pin down a certain detective’s romantic intentions, keep a boozy Santa sober, deal with a cursed clown doll, and hide a hunky underwear model. It’s just another holiday at The Painted Lady Inn.

The senior sleuths love a good laugh, but this conundrum is no laughing matter. A missing journalist, an African Grey parrot, and a possible mob connection sound like the beginning of a bad joke. Unfortunately, there is no punchline and no one, aside from the seniors, who would dare to take the case on.Will their first chance to handle a case on their own prove to be way too much for them to handle, and more importantly, could this first be their last?