December twenty-fifth is right around the corner, and Charlie is making his list and checking it twice. He is doing his best to show some peace and goodwill toward his nosy neighbor Gerry Arbitron, a real estate agent who seems to have designs on his house (and maybe on him, as well), while preparing for a very important role, indeed—his first Christmas as a grandfather.
The last thing Charlie expects is to gain several new additions to his family. Charlie finds a box on his doorstep with five kittens inside and a note begging him to keep them safe. With Diesel's help, Charlie welcomes the tiny felines into the Harris household just as Gerry decides it is time to throw a lavish holiday party.
Determined to make her mark on Athena, Gerry instead winds up dead at her very own party. Though attempts to dig into her past come up empty, Charlie and his girlfriend, Helen Louise, witness two heated exchanges involving Gerry before her death: one with a leading citizen and another with the wife of a good friend. Will one of these ladies wind up on the sheriff's naughty list? Charlie and Diesel have to wrap up the case before the special season is ruined by a sinister scrooge.
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“Erin Bennett’s stellar narration enhances this standout mystery…Charlie uses his Southern manners and charm to investigate…With the help of his friend Melba—whom Bennett bestows with a lovely drawl—Charlie unearths some old Athena secrets. Bennett’s best creations are Tommy, the owner of the cats, whose intelligence and kindness are impressive, and Azalea Berry, Charlie’s witty and all-knowing housekeeper. This audiobook is ideal for the holidays. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
“James has crafted a warmhearted Christmas story that combines seamlessly with a satisfying mystery.”
— Publishers WeeklyErin Bennett's stellar narration enhances this standout mystery.
— AudioFileMiranda James is the pen name of New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Dean James. He was a medical librarian for nearly twenty years and published articles on topics in library science, the history of science/medicine, and mystery fiction. His books include the Simon Kirby-Jones series, the Wanda Nell Culpepper series, the Silver Dagger series, and the Agatha Award winner By a Woman’s Hand, which he cowrote with fellow librarian Jean Swanson. James lives in Texas.
Erin Bennett is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and a stage actress who played Carlie Roberts in the BBC radio drama Torchwood: Submission. She can be heard on several video games. Regional theater appearances include the Intiman, Pasadena Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Company, A Noise Within, Laguna Playhouse, and the Getty Villa. She trained at Boston University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.