A murder a week before Christmas shatters Pine Grove’s twinkle-lights—and puts a chef back in detective mode.
The holiday rush is on at The Good Chef Restaurant when former detective–turned–restaurateur Lily Good gets the call: local businessman John James is dead, and nothing about the scene—or the timing''feels merry. With Detective Lance Phillips leading the case and the press swarming Main Street, Lily steps in as Pine Grove PD’s civilian consultant, trading her chef’s knife for a notebook between courses of carrot-ginger soup and scallops with angel-hair.
Rumors swirl like snow: a life-insurance policy renewed at the eleventh hour, a widow with too many secrets, and a mysterious man registered at a roadside motel under the name Dawson Hughes. From a rain-slick highway diner to candlelit windows downtown, Lily follows a trail of half-truths and holiday alibis toward a killer who’s counting on Christmas chaos to get away with murder.
Can Lily unwrap the motive, catch the liar under the mistletoe, and serve justice before the clock strikes Christmas Eve?
A cozy, food-forward mystery brimming with small-town charm, crackling chemistry, and festive plates—perfect for fans who like their whodunits clean, clever, and wrapped in holiday warmth.
You’ll love this book if you enjoy:
The holiday rush is on at The Good Chef Restaurant when former detective–turned–restaurateur Lily Good gets the call: local businessman John James is dead, and nothing about the scene—or the timing''feels merry. With Detective Lance Phillips leading the case and the press swarming Main Street, Lily steps in as Pine Grove PD’s civilian consultant, trading her chef’s knife for a notebook between courses of carrot-ginger soup and scallops with angel-hair.
Rumors swirl like snow: a life-insurance policy renewed at the eleventh hour, a widow with too many secrets, and a mysterious man registered at a roadside motel under the name Dawson Hughes. From a rain-slick highway diner to candlelit windows downtown, Lily follows a trail of half-truths and holiday alibis toward a killer who’s counting on Christmas chaos to get away with murder.
Can Lily unwrap the motive, catch the liar under the mistletoe, and serve justice before the clock strikes Christmas Eve?
A cozy, food-forward mystery brimming with small-town charm, crackling chemistry, and festive plates—perfect for fans who like their whodunits clean, clever, and wrapped in holiday warmth.
You’ll love this book if you enjoy:
- Culinary cozies with mouth-watering restaurant scenes
A smart, big-hearted sleuth balancing family, love, and justice
Small-town holiday vibes with just-right suspense
A satisfying, twisty reveal tied up before Christmas
Read as a stand-alone or in series order. Curl up with a mug of cocoa and let Lily Good guide you through a Christmas only Pine Grove could serve—equal parts comfort, courage, and a dash of danger.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Elsie Grey's A Christmas Murder