Pumpkins and Peril

When the leader of the Peridale Preservation Society is found murdered at a Halloween party, cafe owner Julia South-Brown suspects the killing is tied to secrets surrounding a controversial local development project. A cryptic letter left by the victim hints at long-buried truths tied to a lost portrait, and as Julia and her family race to locate the painting before a pivotal council vote, they find themselves on a dangerous collision course with powerful forces who will stop at nothing to keep hidden agendas buried. From the rolling hills of the Cotswolds to the shadowy corridors of power, Julia must navigate a tangled web of lies, bribery, and corruption to uncover the shocking centuries-old secrets that could forever change the fate of her village. But sinister threats loom as she gets closer to the truth. With an ominous deadline fast approaching, Julia faces an impossible choice: back down from the fight and let her beloved community be destroyed, or risk everything to stand against the forces that have Peridale trapped in their lethal grip. The key to victory might lie in the secrets of the past, but will Julia solve the mystery in time to save the village she loves?