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Zusatztext Praise for the Undercover Dish Mysteries “Julia Buckley launches her new series with a delectable concoction of appealing characters and smart sleuthing—and tasty food!”—Sheila Connolly! New York Times bestselling author of the County Cork Mysteries “Sweet and highly entertaining! with a cast of fun! quirky characters…Readers are sure to devour this yummy mystery.”—Sue Ann Jaffarian! national bestselling author of the Ghost of Granny Apples Mysteries and the Odelia Grey Mysteries “Julia Buckley has not just written a fun! entertaining and fabulous cozy! but she has introduced a truly stellar main character in Lilah.”—Open Book Society Informationen zum Autor Julia Buckley is the author of the Undercover Dish Mysteries, including The Big Chili , and the Writer’s Apprentice Mysteries, including A Dark and Stormy Murder . She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Romance Writers of America, along with the Chicago Writer’s Association. Julia has taught high school English for twenty-eight years. She lives in in the Chicago area with her husband, two sons, three cats, and a rambunctious Lab puppy named Digby, who is a lot like Mick. Klappentext From the author of The Big Chili comes her latest mystery about caterer and cook Lilah Drake who is up to her elbows in deadly trouble during the Christmas holidays... The Christmas holidays are one of Lilah's favorite times of the year, filled with friends, family, and, of course, tons of food orders for her covered dish clients. But Lilah's Yuletide cheer ends when she sees a most Grinch-like crime: the murder of a Santa in a school parking lot. It turns out the deceased Kris Kringle was a complicated tangle of naughty and nice, with a long list of people who might have wanted him dead. And whoever did the deed wants to make sure that Lilah keeps quiet. Now, Lilah will have to team up with her former fling, Detective Jay Parker, to unwrap the mysteries of a deadly Christmas killer and stay alive long enough to ring in the New Year... Chapter One Bing Crosby was crooning “White Christmas” as I tried to fasten a Santa hat on the large skull of my chocolate Labrador, Mick. He wasn’t cooperating. “Come on, Mick. I’m trying to get a Christmas card shot here,” I wheedled, petting his nose. “Can you hold it on for just one minute?” Mick nodded. This was Mick’s special talent, but only one of the many things that made him lovable. He was able to convey, with one little humanlike gesture, the idea that he agreed with me, even approved of me. I had never encountered another dog who could nod like Mick. I fastened the hat under his chin and took three quick snaps of him sitting in front of my shiny silver stove. I quickly reviewed the shots on my viewfinder. “Perfect! Very cozy and domestic. Thanks, Mick.” I took off the hat and scratched his ears; then I gave him a rawhide chew, which he took into the corner of the kitchen for further investigation. I washed my hands and went to my extra-large refrigerator (a new purchase for which I’d saved up funds for a year) and pulled out two huge trays of macaroni and cheese bake with crumbled potato chip topping. The casseroles smelled wonderful, and I realized I was hungry. Perhaps after I delivered them I could get myself some lunch. But before then I needed to get the food to John F. Kennedy Grade School, where Miss Jenny Braidwell taught third grade, and where her classroom full of students was convinced that their teacher was a terrific cook and baker. Miss Braidwell (who had once been my college roommate) made delicious, kid-friendly meals for all of her school events, and for many of them she was reimbursed by the school, since everyone at JFK liked Jenny Braidwell’s cooking. No one knew, however, of Jenny’s secret weapon: an old college pal wh...
