Thea and her faithful spaniel Hepzibah are housesitting for the wealthy Montgomerys in the pretty Cotswold village of Blockley. Little does Thea know, she’ll also be caring for Mrs Montgomery’s elderly mother, who lives in the adjoining flat.

When Thea knocks to introduce herself, she finds the old lady in a bit of a state.

Granny Gardner is worried about her neighbour, Julian. He usually visits every day for a spot of lunch and a chinwag. But she hasn’t seen him in days.

Thea and her daughter Jessica head next door to investigate — and find the body of an elderly man spreadeagled on the kitchen floor . . . stabbed through the heart.

As Thea investigates this puzzling mystery, it’s clear Granny Gardner knows rather more than she’s letting on . . .