In picturesque Lavender Valley, the sweet scent of rivalry hangs heavy in the autumn air. But this year, the Annual Harvest Festival Bake-Off is cooking up more than just friendly competition...
Elodie Bloom, proprietor of Sublime Scents, has a unique gift: she can read stories in every aroma, from the comforting plume of woodsmoke to the yeasty promise of baking bread. When the formidable Bake-Off queen, Mildred Hort, is found dead on the eve of the contest, the village whispers of tragic accident.
But Elodie's extraordinary nose detects discordant notes amidst the familiar fragrances-the bitter tang of foul play beneath the starched-linen scent of order. As she delves deeper, Elodie uncovers a world of hidden secrets: Mildred's surprising sentimental side, a mysterious and valuable collection of exotic Osmanthus-scented treasures, and a cast of rivals simmering with ambition and old grudges.
From perpetually frustrated Barty Higgins to the chic and ambitious Genevieve Dubois, and even a shadowy, wealthy collector with an intoxicating perfume of their own, everyone in Lavender Valley seems to have a secret. Can Elodie follow the fragrant trail of clues, deciphering scents of greed, betrayal, and deadly ambition, before the killer disappears like a wisp of smoke?
If you love charming cozy mysteries with a unique sensory twist, a delightful cast of characters, and a puzzle that will keep you guessing, you'll adore "Proof in the Pudding."