The Chilterns are at their best in May and The Old Forge Cafe is flourishing, which makes Charlie think about furniture that lives up to the standards her menu sets. Which is what persuades her to take on a job for a wealthy local businessman who suspects his daughter has fallen for a man who is not only a gold-digger but also a murderer.
To Charlie's surprise, she knows him – he's the Maitre d' at the Michelin-starred restaurant at the other end of the village. Does his charm conceal a killer?

Alex Coombs was born in Lambeth in South London, studied Arabic at Oxford and Edinburgh Universities, and is a qualified chef. Alex lives in the Chilterns.