Brighton, 1883. Two bodies. One spaniel. And a formidable lady who is determined to uncover the truth . . .

When the beloved Reverend Playfair is found stabbed in his study, along with his housekeeper, the polite residents of Brighton do what they do best: pretend that nothing is wrong and return to their tea.

But not Miss Lavinia Rathbone.

She may be a lady of leisure, but the razor-sharp spinster has no patience for sloppy conclusions, or for Inspector Chubb, who seems more interested in pork pies than motive.

With her loyal companion Miss Rose Vale, Lavinia sets out to discover what really took place.

Before long, she's uncovering secrets the good people of Brighton would rather stay buried. As the unlikely sleuths are drawn into the town’s murky underbelly, they find themselves on the trail of a killer who may be much closer than they realize . . .

For fans of Richard Osman, Agatha Christie, and classic mysteries with wit, warmth, and a twist of Victorian scandal.