Incomer Gloria French is initially welcomed in the Cotswold village of Piddlebury. She appears to be a do-gooder, raising funds for the church and caring for the elderly. However, she has a bad habit of borrowing things and not returning them, so when she is discovered dead, poisoned by a bottle of elderberry wine, the villagers do not mourn her passing deeply. Parish councillor Jerry Tarrant hires Agatha Raisin to track down the murderer. The village is eerie and secretive, and the residents seem reluctant for Agatha to uncover the truth. Additionally, Agatha's investigations are complicated by the emotional turmoil of discovering that her ex, James Lacey, has fallen in love with young detective Toni Gilmour. Now, the murderer is also targeting Agatha! Praise for the Agatha Raisin series: "M.C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem." Publishers Weekly. "Clever red herrings and...".