Nutty as a Fruitcake

Sly humor and domestic details drive this chatty 10th installment in Daheim's Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery series. An ill-tempered matriarch's refusal to join her neighbors in putting up outdoor Christmas decorations sets the stage for the woman's bloody demise. Judith Flynn, who runs a B&B in this tiny Pacific Northwest community, isn't so sure that the deceased's husband is really the killer. She begins snooping despite warnings from her cop husband, and her discoveries prompt the police to widen their pool of suspects (even to Judith's mom, who retaliates against the indignity by removing her dentures and smiling: ""a fearsome sight""). This is light and cozy fare from the prolific Daheim, also known for her Alpine series. (Nov.)