The strangulation of Pastor Whale sends shocks waves through the ski town of Sugar Hill. It's an election year and Sheriff McGurin knows he must solve the murder quickly to get reelected. Matilda and Lobo pitch in to help; however, they become disenchanted with Sheriff McGurin's focus on the upcoming election. The sheriff delegates duties he should shoulder himself to his two new female deputies fresh on the job. However, one of them harbors a secret of her own that complicates the investigation. As the list of suspects grows, Sheriff McGurin becomes more frantic for an arrest.Matilda has her own distractions in the shape of three unusual guests who check in the same day as Pastor Whale is found murdered. Did one of them murder the pastor? Or did his estranged wife or her lover do the deed? Matilda's kitchen staff pitches in to help with the case. Lobo, after binging on Dragnet, channels Joe Friday as he takes notes during their suspect interviews waiting for the right opportunity to say, "Just the facts, ma'am."Red shows his mettle when one of the suspects threatens Miss Matilda on a walk in the woods. John Paul keeps everyone in stitches with his imitations of John Wayne while Tara only wants to be tickled.Now it's time for Matilda and her peculiar employees at the Sugar Cookie Inn to connect the dots and find the killer before it's too late.Please Note: Seventh Volume of the the Sugar Hill Mystery Series. Approximately 51,000 words in length. It is a standalone (reading prior or future volumes not required to enjoy the book, no cliffhanger).
