When the dragon lady down the street invites Sydney Bonner's husband to join the block's holiday lighting extravaganza, Syd figures the venture will distract him while she manages Sheriff Rick Formero's election campaign. But Trip's merry mission ends abruptly when the diva suffers a dramatic demise.

Syd and her mah jongg friends Marianne, Micki and Kat see a chance to make their amateur sleuthing official with their contributions to Sheriff Rick's campaign platform. But they're just as interested in why the skipper of the spectacular light show met her shocking end. Putting their political proposal into action, Syd rides shotgun with Rick as they interview a stocking full of suspects.

Serendipity Springs' secrets come to light as they unravel the mystery against the backdrop of a contentious campaign. From the standoffish widower to the resentful volunteers, it seems everyone on the committee had a problem with the queen of Christmas. As the naughty list grows and the neighbors string the investigators along, can Syd and her friends nail the evil elf before a deadly decorator turns out their lights for good?