What Four: Family Fruitcake Frenzy

Most Definitely Contains Nuts.

All Val Fremden wanted was a quiet holiday away from her oddball family. But that just ain’t gonna happen.

When Val and her boyfriend arrive at her mother’s “country estate” in Hicksville, Florida, the annual family fruitcake competition is well underway. And there’s more than a few fruits and nuts in the running.

But the biggest contest is between Val and her mom. As their battle of wills heats up, unexpected ingredients get thrown into both women’s batter. It may be time to call the law—or at least a referee.

Who will come out on top? Who will get their just desserts? And will Val’s half-baked family turn out to be too much for Tom to handle, or will he rise to the occasion?

Going home for the holidays is a mixed bag for many. What Four celebrates the universal love-hate relationships we all have with our relatives. Even at the best of times, our families leave us teetering on the edge of pride and embarrassment. This double-edged sword cuts clean to the bone, exposing how far we’ve come—and how far we have yet to go—on our struggles to be our authentic selves.

If you like deeply flawed characters and laugh-out-loud situations, you’ll love What Four. It’s book four in Lashley’s hilarious, irreverent Val Fremden Midlife Mystery series.