Lethal Lace

Snow-covered mountains, luminous glass ornaments, and ethereal wedding gowns . . .

When Winifred Page attends the Christmas-themed bridal show for a preeminent designer—solely to fulfill her role as best friend and maid of honor, mind you—she is stunned to find herself relishing the details of soft lace and the spectacular blown-glass display dangling overhead. Her delight doesn't last long, though, as Fred's aversion to everything fashion makes her jealous of her corgi, Watson, no doubt napping at home under the cozy Christmas tree.

The romance and elegance of haute couture doesn't fade to a sublime end, however, as the show comes to a dead stop—literally, for one Estes Park merchant—with a cry of murder as a body is discovered in a lace-strewn dressing room.

Untangling relationships wrapped in secrets and lies is anything but a simple sashay down a runway. But Fred and Watson are determined to fashion the truth from the scraps they uncover to ensure justice and to return their cozy town to silent nights and white Christmas dreams for the holidays.

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for heavenly espresso chocolate babka.)