A Corpse Under the Christmas Tree — Fran Rizer

Callie Parrish and her BFF, Jane, love presents at Christmas, but what they find under the tree isn't a gift from Santa Claus. It is Santa in person--murdered and dumped under the tree the friends decorated with much joy for the holiday season. They see this as a personal insult.

The investigation takes Callie away from her job as a cosmetician at Middleton's Mortuary and to fascinating places--especially after Sheriff Harmon makes Callie an undercover deputy. She finds clues at Safe Sister and the Turkey Trot but can't solve this case until the killer identifies both Jane and Callie as the next victims.

When her brother, Frankie, urges Callie to add recipes, she says, "No!" Everyone knows that Callie can't cook, but her brother wins, so Pa's and Rizzie's recipes appear in the back of the book.