When the discovery of a body on a vacant lot puts an end to Police Chief Callie Morgan's surprise birthday party, Christmas week loses some of its charm. Not only does she know the dead man, he's a relation . . . of sorts.

Soon she's juggling a murder investigation and a rash of burglaries that may have been committed by the mythical Edisto Santa-a holiday secret Santa, who may have taken a page from Robin Hood's book and begun robbing from the tourist rich and giving to the local poor.

Since the suspects for both crimes are Edisto residents, no matter how delicately Callie treads, this holiday season will pit Callie against her beloved Edisto and leave her feeling like the Grinch, Scrooge, and Old Man Potter rolled into one. But she has no choice. Murder trumps Santa.

This year Callie is making a list and checking it twice.