Book 4 in The Kate Lawrence Mysteries: Christmas has never been Kate's favorite time of year, but this holiday season is really going to be murder. MACK Realty is on hiatus due to the down economy. Armando might not make it home by December 24th. Kate is mourning the loss of her adored cat Simon. Daughter Emma has persuaded Kate to stage a Norman Rockwell-type Christmas Eve for her loathsome new beau. And to top off the merriment, her ex-husband has coaxed her to host an at-home wedding for their nephew. Ho ho ho. To get her mind off her troubles, Kate helps out with a charity fundraiser to be held during the Wadsworth Atheneum's famous Festival of Trees & Traditions. It's an evening that's full of surprises, none of them good. Kate's positively drowning in Christmas. Can pals Margo and Strutter come to her rescue before she goes down for the third time?