Death of a Scrooge
Maria Mankin & Maren C. Tirabassi
The Rev and Rye Series • Release Date: November 10, 2026
Print ISBN: 978-1-948559-98-0 • Ebook ISBN: 979-8-982492-80-7
Advent is a hectic season for any minister, and the last thing the Rev. Wanda Duff needs is the suspicious death of a Scrooge to investigate…
But maybe it’s appropriate that victim Stuart Baier’s funeral service is as colossal an inconvenience as the man himself was. The local benefactor certainly left the town’s charities in an uproar, with news of his embezzlement from multiple nonprofits breaking on the same morning as his “accidental” death.
Vice Principal Prudence Rye has her hands more than full with end-of-semester shenanigans at Stoneridge High, her dad’s approaching nuptials, and both of her best friends turning up the heat on their mutual attraction. She’d love to take a pass on additional drama. It’s too bad, then, that her boss’s mistakes threaten to take them both down in the embezzlement scandal Scrooge Baier kicked off, and Rye has little choice but to join Wanda in asking questions about the local tycoon’s mysterious demise.
The more folks Wanda and Rye talk to, the more they begin to wonder who didn’t have a motive to do away with Stone Ridge’s very own Scrooge—and that’s before the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future show up to offer tips on the investigation. With a production of A Christmas Carol to stage, a wedding and a funeral to pull off, and a crime to solve, the Rev and Rye are about to have an Advent season they’ll never forget.
Praise for the Rev & Rye Mysteries
Rev and Rye are strong, sympathetic ‘Marples-in-training’ who never disappoint.
—Amy Patricia Meade, author of the Tish Tarragon Mysteries
The newest Rev and Rye mystery delivers the goods and goes beyond the brief to shine a needed light on the power of friendship and the persistence of love, in all its forms.
—Darrow Woods, author of the Rev. Thomas Book Mysteries
Rich in detail and populated with a myriad of fascinating and flawed characters, this latest Rev and Rye mystery will keep you guessing as you read—and keep you thinking long after you've closed the book on the final page.
—Penelope J. Stokes, author of Circle of Grace and Heartbreak Cafe
Mankin and Tirabassi masterfully blend small-town charm with pulse-pounding suspense, creating a mystery that will keep you guessing until the final page.
—Jane Willan, author of the Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn mystery series
Here’s small town life portrayed with humor and affection, peopled with quirky characters you’ll care about.
—James Patrick Kelly, winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Maren C. Tirabassi’s forty-six years’ experience in mainline ministry shaped Wanda Duff ’s professional life (but not her personality). Maren has published twenty-one nonfiction titles, one book of short stories, a children’s book, and three volumes of poetry, as well as the four previous Rev and Rye mysteries, and her poetry and short stories appear in fifteen anthologies. She is a former Poet Laureate of the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and the recipient of the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Hampshire Humanities Council.
After teaching and working in early education for a decade, Maria Mankin has published six books with Pilgrim Press in addition to first four Rev and Rye mysteries with Brain Mill Press, and has also contributed essays to several anthologies. She is a co-author of Circ, a mystery set in Skegness, England, published by Pigeon Park Press, and Pitching Our Tents: Poetry of Hospitality. She is a co-editor to Living Psalms, a book in which the Psalms are reinterpreted in poetry and art as a reflection of God’s work of justice and compassion, soon to be released by Pilgrim Press. In 2024, Maria received an Impact on Education Award for her work with elementary grade students and staff.
AN EXCERPT from Death of a Scrooge by Maria Mankin & Maren C. Tirabassi
Chapter 1
“Scrooge is dead: to begin. There is no doubt whatsoever about it. The YMCA knows; the library knows; the charitable board of First Bank and Trust knows,” Tony declared as he came through Wanda’s office door.
Wanda glanced up. He looked serious enough. “Marley. It’s Marley who’s dead,” she replied.
Trinity Church was hosting a production of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol for two weekends in Advent this year. Students from Stoneridge High School had petitioned the church leadership for space, since their former drama teacher was awaiting trial for drug trafficking and second-degree murder, and her position had been replaced by a three-month substitute whose only focus was to produce and direct the fall musical.
Lance Bates, Wanda’s nephew, along with a group of his friends, had wanted to perform a holiday play, and he had managed to find a manuscript for twelve actors that ran an hour. The school had no budget for an extra show, but Principal Gerard Mendoza had permitted the drama club to sell concessions at the musical to pay for the show’s license. The costumes could be borrowed from school. Tony Tomeo, the accompanist for the high school and the choir director at Trinity, had volunteered to direct it with his husband, Greg, a local librarian.
Tony folded his lanky body into the chair across from Wanda and smiled. “I do know that, but I couldn’t resist. You haven’t heard yet?”
“It’s the day after Thanksgiving! It is not a day for pristine thought. Apparently not. What’s the news?”
“Our very own Scrooge has shuffled off this mortal coil. Apparently, no visits from the ghosts appeared at the very end to change Stuart Baier’s heart, either, since Lisa, admin beyond compare, has an email from him, dated yesterday—yesterday!!—complaining about having ‘children who are not members’ performing at the church.”
Wanda closed her eyes. Stuart Baier, head of the church’s trustees and a thorn in everyone’s side, would not be much missed. It was difficult to come up with the appropriate level of grief for the curmudgeon who had opposed every single new idea she’d had for the last eight years. The nickname “Scrooge” preceded her arrival, indicating her predecessor hadn’t been spared either.
If she was lucky, Tony would think Wanda was praying silently instead of indulging in guilty relief that this death would make her life markedly easier. Immediately ashamed of that reaction, Wanda said a fervent prayer asking forgiveness for her callousness.
“Tony, no more ‘Scrooge’! We can never call Stuart by that nickname again!”
“I couldn’t resist.” Tony shrugged. “He was who he was, yet maybe in death he will be remembered better than he deserves.”
“I know, but we have to set a good example, and if you keep calling him Scrooge, I will definitely slip up,” Wanda retorted.
The phone rang. “That will be Luke Fairchild,” she said.
Tony stood. “I’ll be back in a half hour to talk about the show.”
She nodded and picked up for Fairfield Funeral Home as he left quietly. “Hi, Luke. Tony just told me that Scroo— Stuart Baier died.”
Luke cleared his throat. “Mr. Baier was run over in his own driveway. It appears he was on his hands and knees, maybe looking for something under the car, and the parking brake gave way.”
Wanda felt the blood leave her face. “Oh, Luke! How awful.” She said another prayer that she wasn’t about to lose her lunch thinking about it. “And it was his own car? He has a little Toyota, I think?”
“This was a Chevy Suburban. Brand-new. His daughter-in-law found him.”
“Strange. He’s always talked about the importance of economizing. As chair of the Board of Trustees at the Trinity, he certainly vetoed anything new that could be acquired secondhand. He also always voted down contributions to the occasional youth group trip. He didn’t care what percentage of the money the kids raised themselves. He thought the kids who couldn’t afford to cover their share shouldn’t be able to go.” Wanda had gotten into a bitter fight with him on this issue several times and was glad that he had been outvoted.
“Have you been to his house?” Luke asked. “Not exactly what I would call a thrifty purchase.”
“He inherited it, though,” she replied. “We’ve had a few council meetings there, and he was openly hostile if anyone thought to compliment it. I’m not sure why he didn’t sell it, to be honest.”
“Well, it’s about to be passed to the next generation,” Luke said pragmatically. “Maybe they’ll enjoy the luxury more.”
“Does his son want to have the service at Trinity?” Wanda thought of the production currently set up in the sanctuary. It would be difficult to squeeze in a memorial service with everything going on during Advent, but, of course, she would if necessary.
“No, they’ll hold it here, but he asked if you would perform the service.”
“His son is Andrew, right? He and his family are on the church rolls, but I don’t think I’ve ever met them.” Wanda scribbled some notes for herself.
“In eight years?”
“Apparently Andrew and his wife got married at the church, and I believe both of their children were baptized as well, but it was before my time. He had a falling out with Stuart, and he’s never been back to my knowledge.”
“Well, luckily Andrew’s siblings have agreed to all of this as well.”
“What siblings? I thought he was an only child.”
“Molly and Joan—younger sisters. I buried Stuart’s wife, Nancy, about fifteen years ago and vaguely remember them. Then there’s Damien, from an extramarital relationship. Stuart did legally claim him, though. Damien mentioned that several times.”
“Not often that the church gossip mill fails me, but I had no idea!”
“They’re looking for a funeral a week from this Saturday.”
Wanda hesitated. “Luke—”
“That’s your wedding.”
Wanda sighed. She shouldn’t have to rearrange her life around her job—at least not when it came to something as big as her own wedding day—but it was the reality of being a small-town pastor. Parishioners expected her to show up, and this wasn’t a minor event. Stuart, as unpopular as he had been, was still a pillar of the church. His funeral was her responsibility, morally if not officially. “Let me talk to Hardy. We’ve already rain-dated more than once, and over less … urgent causes.”
“If murder isn’t an emergency, what is?” Luke asked.
“Murder?”
“Stuart was outed in the paper this morning for embezzling thousands from local charities. I would think that would create enough animosity to make murder a strong possibility.”
“What?!” If anything, this news was more shocking to Wanda than Stuart’s death.
“You hadn’t heard?”
“No.” Wanda pulled her laptop closer and opened a link to the local paper. Sure enough, the online headlines were about her church treasurer. Stuart was front-page news. “The sheriff’s investigating, I assume?”
“Yes,” Luke replied, “but the body was released to me, which seems odd.”
“Well, yes,” Wanda agreed. “Once you’ve embalmed him, there won’t be any evidence!”
“I have about fifty-six hours before I have to do it by state law. I’m going to hold off as long as I can. Something feels off to me.”
“This is the last thing I need right now.” Wanda sighed.
“No one said you have to investigate.”
“Isn’t that why you just told me all of this?”
Luke chuckled. “I know you don’t appreciate secrets. Something told me you wouldn’t like this being sprung on you.”
“You know me well,” Wanda replied reluctantly.
“By the way, Irie has your wedding veil ready. Stop by soon, okay?”
Wanda found herself smiling despite the circumstances. Luke’s wife, Irie, had become a dear friend, and Wanda always enjoyed a visit with her. “I’ll give her a call tonight and find a time that works.”