Addy Winters

Murder, media, mayhem-and maybe love-await in this witty small-town mystery, perfect for fans of Stephanie Plum and Finlay Donovan. Despite a few harrowing incidents with nervy Bridezillas, Addy Winters' small town party planning business has been 100% murder free-until now. Everything changes when her former classmate, now a legendary rockstar, comes home to Fox Valley to die. Leno Masterson's dying wish is a star-studded 'after-I'm-dead' extravaganza in place of a funeral, and who better to plan it than his old friend Addy? But when he turns up dead four days earlier than the date-with-death he's circled on his calendar, Addy suspects that somebody helped him along. Sure, he left a melodramatic goodbye letter and his right-to-die paperwork is all in order, but something feels wrong. With a flair for events and a knack for nosing into trouble, Addy's on the case, dragging her family, friends, and Leno's older brother along with her. She's woefully unprepared for the inevitable media onslaught and the secrets her nearest and dearest are hiding, but nothing is going to stop her from getting justice for Leno- and throwing a killer party while she's at it.

Nothing says small-town charm like a neighborhood Christmas party-unless the guest of honor has been murdered and the primary suspect is the party planner's father. "Please help me, I'm dying." As new-client voicemails go, this one's a doozy and Addy Winters is quick to respond. The request, an after-death Christmas party for the neighbors on Johanna Meyers' block, is totally in Addy's party planner wheelhouse. Two small problems: Johanna's imminent demise has been predicted by a psychic, not a doctor, and she wants to give away her house as a door prize. Addy feels sorry for the reclusive, lonely, and apparently delusional woman and plays along, fully planning to refund the deposit when Christmas rolls around and Johanna is still alive. What could possibly go wrong? But then Johanna is murdered right on the psychic's schedule and Rich, Addy's grifter father, vanishes without a trace. Turns out he's managed to find his way not only into the dead woman's bed but also into her freshly written will. He's got motive, means, and opportunity and now there's a warrant out for his arrest. Addy dives headlong into a tangle of psychic predictions, romantic complications, and one very messy family reunion. With Christmas only days away it will take all of her ingenuity and party planning mojo to find her father, fulfil Johanna's dying wish, and unmask the killer.