The Christmas Tree Murder

High up on the eastern slope of New Mexico's Sandia Mountains, Maddy and Jane have everything prepared for a family Christmas gathering. Everett Wainwright, Jane's former brother-in-law, turns up unexpectedly the day before Christmas. A medical problem coupled with a severe snowstorm forces him to stay.

When Jane's nephews and niece arrive she is disturbed by their obvious displeasure at his presence. Their problems with Everett, real or imagined, create a tense atmosphere which worsens when nephew Simon's college buddy arrives without warning. The holiday comes to an abrupt end when, the morning after Christmas, Jane discovers Everett's body under the brightly lit Christmas tree.