In my book, this story deserves an 11 out of 10. If Jessica Fletcher truly aspired to be an American cousin of Miss Marple, she couldn't possibly do more than what this charming Christmas tale serves up. We get a festive Cabot Cove setting; some new but thoroughly believable characters; dark family secrets; and twists so unpredictable, only Jessica's powers of observation, taken straight out of Agatha Christie, could disentangle them. Jessica's acting in this season is perfection: In Bette Davis fashion, she "does nothing" amid the most dramatic of situations; yet her power of projection, as if focused someplace behind her eyes, speaks volumes. Her paramour Dr. Seth Hezlitt thankfully steps out of his earlier, pugnacious one-trick pony routine, and is just pugnacious enough to stop us from wondering why he and the lady never lock lips. All in all, a little gem of a tale which will draw you right in.