Christmas on South Carolina's Folly Beach is a time for festivities, families, friendship, fellowship, and reflection. When a fire ruled intentionally set leaves residents of five apartments homeless days before the holiday, retired bureaucrat Chris Landrum and his friend Charles Fowler take it upon themselves to not only make sure the displaced residents have somewhere to live but are determined to learn who was responsible for the massive conflagration.

The burned-out residents include an aspiring novelist, two people who'd recently been accused of killing a bookie, and Police Chief Cindy LaMond's sister and nephew, family members Cindy's closest friends didn't know existed. Finding who set the fire is compounded when Chris discovers each resident knows one or more people who may have had reason to torch the building. And, who's to say one of the residents didn't set it.

With more suspects than days until Christmas, can Chris and his cadre of quirky friends restore the Christmas spirit to the small barrier island?