Published by Simon & Schuster. 17 November 2008.
ISBN: 978-1-84737-526-1
To romote the wholesome lifestyle of a small town, and their good old-fashioned values the council of Brascombe in the state of New Hampshire decide to do something special to celebrate the coming Christmas holiday with a Festival of Joy. They turn to the family owned store of Conklin’s to cater the whole event.
But all is not as happy with Conklin’s employees as in previous years, for Mr Conklin’s new wife Rhoda has decided to cancel the staff annual looked-forward to bonus. Luckily, all is not lost as a group of the employees win $180 on the lottery. However, it is not a happy ending for one of the co-workers, as Duncan keen to save money to buy an engagement ring, and following the dubious advice of a pair of so-called financial advisers he did not put in his dollar. Without his Christmas bonus, and having been cheated of his savings Duncan is feeling pretty low.
When Duncan is missing the next day, and his friends find out a second lottery ticket was bought in close proximity to Brascombe they wonder if it had been purchased by Duncan. But nothing is simple, and there is much dirty work at the crossroads!.
Attending the Festival of Joy, are former lottery winner Alvirah and her husband Willy and friends Regan and Jack Reilly. Soon sleuth Alvirah has sniffed out that all is not as it appears on the surface in picturesque Brascombe.
This is a wonderful feel-good Christmas tale. If you are a ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ fan then this is most definitely for you. I loved it.
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Lizzie Hayes