A Merry Little Murder

Jan Fields

Reed Museum of Art and Archaeology head curator Scarlett McCormick is as excited as a kid on Christmas morning. The first showing of her latest exhibit, a collection of art depicting women throughout history, has been reserved for the museum’s biggest donors. However, when the lights go out during Scarlett’s opening speech, not all the guests make it out of the exhibit alive.

Recently divorced socialite Tasha Portland wasn’t as merry and bright as Scarlett had always assumed. There are plenty of motives for her murder in a room filled with suspects. Luckily, Scarlett’s boyfriend and FBI agent, Luke Anderson, is by her side to help sort through the evidence, but when Scarlett finds a letter in Luke’s car offering him a promotion on the other side of the country, she begins to wonder how long he’ll be there for her to rely on.

The longer the list of suspects grows, the heavier Scarlett’s heart becomes. The thought of losing Luke to his new position dims her holiday spirit and sidetracks her from solving Tasha’s murder. But when someone is arrested for the crime, Scarlett can’t shake the feeling the Crescent Harbor Police Department have the wrong person.

Though she is determined to prove her theory, Scarlett has to wonder if she’s simply grasping at tinsel to distract herself from what she fears is going to be her last Christmas with Luke.