An amateur sleuth is tasked with clearing the name of an accused man . . .

Julia Ford's dream of running a bookshop in the small Somerset town of Biddle Rhyne is fast becoming a nightmare, with the lack of traffic and high running costs.

So when the door opens, she hopes it will be a wealthy customer. Rather it is a desperate man—a local accountant whom the police have fingered for murder.

Having gained a reputation for solving crimes, Julia takes pity on the disheveled Mr. Cutty—even though he doesn't buy a book—and vows to help him.

Yet the victim was seen arguing with Cutty, and named him in her dying breath. No wonder the police are intent on charging him.

With a village fête on the horizon and local tempers running high over the planned bake-off, will Julia manage to unravel the mystery?