Copyright © 2019 by Kathleen Suzette. All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination, or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.
Books by Kathleen Suzette:
A Home Economics Mystery Series
Appliqued to Death
A Home Economics Mystery, book 1
A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery Series
Clam Chowder and a Murder
A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 1
A Short Stack and a Murder
A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 2
Cherry Pie and a Murder
A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 3
Barbecue and a Murder
A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 4
Birthday Cake and a Murder
A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 5
Hot Cider and a Murder
A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 6
Roast Turkey and a Murder
A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 7
Gingerbread and a Murder
A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 8
Fish Fry and a Murder
A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 9
Cupcakes and a Murder
A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 10
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery Series
Candy Coated Murder
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 1
Murderously Sweet
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 2
Chocolate Covered Murder
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 3
Death and Sweets
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 4
Sugared Demise
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 5
Confectionately Dead
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 6
Hard Candy and a Killer
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 7
Candy Kisses and a Killer
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 8
Terminal Taffy
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 9
Fudgy Fatality
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 10
Truffled Murder
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 11
Caramel Murder
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 12
Peppermint Fudge Killer
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 13
A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery Series
Apple Pie A La Murder,
A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 1
Trick or Treat and Murder,
A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 2
Thankfully Dead
A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 3
Candy Cane Killer
A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 4
Ice Cold Murder
A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 5
Love is Murder
A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 6
Strawberry Surprise Killer
A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 7
A Gracie Williams Mystery Series
Pushing Up Daisies in Arizona,
A Gracie Williams Mystery, Book 1
Kicked the Bucket in Arizona,
A Gracie Williams Mystery, Book 2
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Author’s Note
Peppermint Fudge Killer
A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 13
By
Kathleen Suzette
Chapter One
“And now, ladies and gentlemen,” Gary Davis announced. “This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. This event has been in the making for almost a year now, and I know you’re all as excited as I am for this moment.” He looked over his shoulder at what was the newly refurbished carousel, now covered by several huge tarps.
The carousel had been broken down for several years and had almost been abandoned. But Sam Connor had bought it last year, and he had replaced missing parts and refurbished it from top to bottom. It was your classic carousel with antique horses along with a couple of benches to sit on. I could hardly wait to see it.
Christmas in Pumpkin Hollow was not to be missed. This year with the unveiling of the refurbished carousel, we were also having an outdoor bazaar in the evenings that would run from Friday night through Monday night during the first week in December. Local merchants and vendors had tables set up to sell their wares. The high school choir was going to sing carols on opening night, and local churches would sing the other nights. The bazaar and carousel unveiling would kick off our annual Christmas activities.
Across the way from the carousel was Santa, Mrs. Claus, and a couple of elves, seated in Santa's workshop crafted from painted plywood. Suzanne Wilson was playing the head elf and Lawrence Deal was Santa Claus. At the announcement, the line that had formed to see Santa rushed over for the unveiling of the carousel.
We stood back as Sam Connor turned to the two workers that each held a rope attached to the tarps that covered the carousel. At the count of three, they pulled on the ropes, releasing the tarps and revealing the newly refurbished carousel.
There was a collective “oh” that went up from the crowd as the tarps fell away.
“That thing is killer,” the teenage girl standing in front of me said.
And it was. The horses were made of wood and Sam had meticulously sanded and hand-painted each one, restoring them to their former glory. The carousel had been hidden behind a portable chain-link fence with green plastic slats woven through it so no one could see it until the unveiling. I glanced at my boyfriend, Ethan Banks, who was standing next to me. He looked at me and grinned, squeezing my gloved hand. “Pretty cool, huh?”
I nodded, and we pushed forward along with the rest of the crowd to get a closer look. “It’s beautiful.”
“You can say that again,” he said. The carousel had been decorated with Christmas greenery and tiny white lights. The carousel itself had its own round white light bulbs, but the smaller lights added a little something extra when wrapped around the greenery.
“I want to ride it,” my sister Christy said from behind me. “I bought
