St. Nick: A Christmas Cop Novel

When Santa Claus is a cop, you better watch out.

It s not looking like a very merry Christmas for San Diego cop Nick Pappas. Suspended from his job, alienated from his family, and persecuted by the press, he s sorely tempted to turn his gun on himself. Except for his first name, he couldn t possibly have less in common with jolly old St. Nicholas. But when a local mall decides it needs a secret Santa to help collar some vicious muggers preying on its holiday shoppers, Nick s persuaded to red-suit up so as to take the naughty punks down and avert a ho-ho homicide. For a chance to bust bad guys, Nick s willing to deal with crying kids, pushy parents, and a chronically cheerful elf sidekick. But the biggest challenge for this cop-turned-Claus is one that would confound even the real Kris Kringle: making a pair of next-to-impossible Christmas wishes come true for two children in need before it s too late.

"