MACARONS AND MALICE

A sweltering summer fete. A stolen recipe. A murder that takes the cake.

Former corporate litigator Ellie Hastings traded the cutthroat courtrooms of London for the quiet charm of Willow-on-the-Water and a cozy tea shop. But when a historic heatwave hits the annual Midsummer Village Fete, tempers flare faster than a burnt batch of caramel.

The village's ruthless head judge, Penelope Sterling, has made enemies out of every gardener and baker on the green. So when Penelope is found dead in the giant marrow tent-clutching a poisoned Rosewater macaron-the suspect list is as long as the Fete's tombola queue.

Unfortunately, the local police have zeroed in on Ellie's best friend and business partner, Oliver Vance. Not only did Oliver just have a very public shouting match with the victim, but the poisoned pastry features a flavor profile stolen directly from his own recipe book.

With the Gloucestershire CID ready to slap handcuffs on her favorite baker, Ellie must dust off her cross-examination skills and dive into a world of competitive horticulture, corporate bakery espionage, and deep-seated village grudges. Aided by a highly judgmental orange tabby cat named Crumpet, Ellie races to clear Oliver's name before the real killer slips away.

Macarons and Malice is the seventh book in The Earl Grey Enigmas. If you love clever female sleuths, mouth-watering pastries, and charming English villages, you'll love this delightful cozy mystery!