Birth of the Black Orchids

A Light-Hearted Christmas Tale of  Going Home, Starting Over, and Murder— With Cats

What if the American dream was living and working with your best friends? Millennials Johnny Ly, Dianne Cortez, and JD Thompson decide to find out when they quit their high-powered jobs to operate out of Johnny's ancestral home in a small Central Texas town.

It's such a nice old house. Too bad about the murder, which they'd better solve before it ruins their Christmas grand opening. Can they rise to the occasion with their skills as a veterinarian, accountant, lawyer, and an ABBA tribute band?

Bonus story: "The Way Old Friends Do"

A few months into the new year, income is low for the Black Orchids, with the town of Beauchamp happily using the free coupons from the grand opening. So Dianne expands their services to what JD calls "baby-sitting old ladies"—an easy job, until the clients run away.