In Harmon's first novel, an off-beat blend of whimsy and noir, 1,300-year-old elf Gumdrop Cole loses his job as one of Santa's helpers after word gets out that Cole roughed up a human, Raymond Hall. Coal and Claus already had major philosophical differences over whether naughty children should get presents on Christmas, with Coal believing that rewarding bad behavior was unfair to the good kids. When Hall's little son finds his father's bloody corpse, Coal becomes the chief murder suspect. Aided by Rosebud Jubilee, "pipsqueak reporter from The Marshmallow World Gazette," Coal tries to clear his name and identify the real culprit, whom he believes committed the crime as part of a coup against Santa himself. Harmon's mix of characters with names like Dingleberry Fizz with violence straight from a Mike Hammer story won't be to every taste.
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"I must have made the nice list this year, because Santa brought me Ken Harmon's The Fat Man. I double-dog dare you not to laugh." ---Steve Hockensmith, author of the Holmes on the Range series

This noir murder mystery stars Gumdrop Coal, who investigates a murder plot against Santa Claus. In a droll tone, Johnny Heller narrates as though Coal were a hard-boiled gumshoe of the 1930s. Pretty near every Christmas jingle, cartoon, song, and “Night Before Christmas” character makes a guest appearance in the story. Harmon’s over-the-top use of Christmas symbolism and imagery contrasts effectively with Heller's intentionally flat portrayal of the jaded Coal. All that’s missing from this production is holiday Muzak. Dry humor, dry wit, and a silly plot prevail, and entertain. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Santa and Christmas sabotaged by elves.

Gumdrop Coal, a 1,300-year-old elf, is the wise guy who convinced Santa to substitute coal for toys as Christmas gifts for naughty kids. As supervisor of the Kringle Town's Coal Patrol, he kept the naughty list, delivered the coal and hoped it would prompt better behavior. When it didn't, Gumdrop took more aggressive action, beating up on the parents like Raymond Hall Senior in hopes they would set a better example. Mightily displeased, Santa, at the nudging of Charles "Candy" Cane, fired Gumdrop and returned to making toys for everyone, a wearying task causing him to lose weight. Then Raymond Hall is found dead, shot with an air rifle; Candy gains power; and Gumdrop becomes an outlaw. Fleeing to Misfit Isle, where broken toys are banished, he finds rogue elves on the naughty list, uncovers a plot to unseat Santa and dashes off to encounter all the feisty members of the 12 Days of Christmas, determined to capture him. With the help of his friend Dingleberry and his galpal Rosebud, Gumdrop unearths even more skulduggery, including two more deaths, warring reindeer with sharpened antlers and rioting elves. With a bit of elf magic and chutzpah, he manages to restore order to Kringle Town, rescue Santa and settle down in the firm belief that everyone will eventually opt for good. Ho ho ho.

Ad man Harmon delivers a witty satire on the meaning of Christmas. If you don't long to attend the Loading of the Sleigh Parade, you deserve coal in your stocking.