Mysteries wrapped in holiday fashion

By OLINE COGDILL

”Murder With All the Trimmings” by Elaine Viets (Obsidian $6.99)

The commercial aspects of Christmas — store decorations that seem to go up in August, the endless loops of syrupy songs, the garish holiday decorations — are ripe for mystery novels heavily laced with humor.

The worst in Christmas frippery is gleefully illustrated in Elaine Viets’ “Murder With All the Trimmings,” the latest in her comic series about Josie Marcus, a St. Louis single mother who ekes out a living as a mystery shopper.

Josie wouldn’t mind a little tinsel, maybe a bit of mistletoe, even a lighted Santa or two. Instead she’s assigned to review three Christmas stores that have popped up within two blocks of each other.

One is a mega-warehouse. But, the two locally owned shops are trouble. One is nicely decorated, with a friendly owner perpetually dressed as an elf. The other is owned by the nasty ex-girlfriend of Josie’s current boyfriend and her store Naughty & Nice doesn’t sell the usual holiday fare. It’s where you go if you want pornographic holiday ornaments.

In addition to the protesters who object on religious grounds and who don’t particularly want to see that much of Santa Claus, the two have a fierce rivalry that heats up when holiday cakes turn deadly.

Viets milks much holiday humor, pulling out all the wonderfully garish stops. But, she also offers sobering subplots on how to deal with a parent’s alcoholism and death. This serious aspect works as it adds texture to the plot and puts a realistic spin on the story.

”Six Geese A-Slaying: A Meg Langslow Christmas Mystery” by Donna Andrews (St. Martin’s Minotaur/Dunne, $22.95)

When a holiday parade’s theme is “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” it’s expected that organizing such a task is not for the faint of heart.

Ornamental blacksmith Meg Langslow, the heroine of Donna Andrews’ delightful series, knows that. Meg figures she can get the 12 drummers from the high school marching band. The college theater department can help with the 10 leaping lords. The zoo can supply the camels needed for the live Nativity scene. But the murder of the cantankerous, nasty Ralph Doleson who plays Santa puts a real humbug on the holiday spirit. For one thing, how did a man who hates kids and animals — and is openly hostile to both — ever get tapped to play Santa?

There’s no lack of suspects, including a blackmail victim and members of the activist group SPOOR (Stop Poisoning Our Owls and Raptors), six of whom are playing geese in the parade.

Andrews, who has won the Agatha, Anthony, and Barry awards, a Romantic Times award for best first novel, and a Lefty for funniest mystery, keeps her trademark sly humor in rare form. And, the Virginia author is also a pro at finding the absurd in ordinary situations.

Yet, Andrews also slips in a serious note about dealing with a dysfunctional but well-meaning family and loving people for who they are.

If Andrews’ 10th Meg novel doesn’t put readers in the holiday mood, nothing will.