Fenella Woods is excited to be celebrating her first Christmas on the Isle of Man. She's less enthusiastic that her former boyfriend, Jack, is coming for a long visit. While they split up months ago, before Fenella relocated to the island, Jack seems to be having trouble accepting that the relationship is over.

Jack managed to get himself an invitation to stay with Dr. Peter Grady, a university professor who has a second home on the island. Dr. Grady isn't home when he and Fenella arrive, but a string of beautiful women looking for the man turn up almost immediately. When one of the women discovers Dr. Grady's body in the master bedroom, Fenella finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation.

Letting Jack stay in her house on Poppy Drive is necessary, but that puts him right across the road from CID Inspector Daniel Robinson's house. Daniel and Fenella are still trying to work out where their personal relationship is going. Now he's investigating a murder where Jack could be considered a suspect and might be the killer's next target.

Can Fenella help Daniel solve the case and keep Jack safe? Can she incorporate American traditions into her first Manx Christmas? And what do you get a ghost for Christmas?