When Birdy Benton turns up dead under the Camden-sur-Mer Christmas tree, members of the posh California retirement community are shocked by this unexpected holiday event. Despite their sadness, resident sleuths Angela and Caledonia see it as a golden opportunity to help their old friend Lieutenant Martinez investigate.How could poor Birdy have been murdered in plain view of the lobby receptionist? Did someone really steal her jewellery? Is the dead woman's pompous nephew as well-off as he appears? Fortified with Camden's superb cuisine and many sips of sherry, the doughty ladies forge fearlessly ahead, throwing themselves into dire peril to learn the strange truth of Birdy's sad demise. And an even stranger final twist makes it quite a Christmas...