Author Description

... Roasting on an open fire It's a frigid December in Hampstead, Kansas, and as if the bitter chill isn't bad enough -- the flu has taken out half of police chief Susan Wren's force. As she wrestles with a new job offer from her old San Francisco precinct, her silent prayers that the weather will put a freeze on crime are dashed when the body of a repairman found stuffed in a basement furnace of struggling single mom Caley James. Though his head is burned beyond recognition, the identification found in the victim's wallet leads to a few dark surprises -- and a disturbing connection to Caley's ex-husband. As the holiday blues, job indecision... and a deepeneing mystery with no shortage of suspects make the season more murderous than merry, Susan must harness all her street smarts to pull off her own Christmas miracle.