An accident involving her mother brings star chef Katharina Schweizer back to her Baden homeland. Hardly back, she discovers the body of Konrad Hils in a quarry. The man was the spokesperson for the opponents of a planned all-weather ski hall, a project that divides the local population like no other. Naturally, the local press immediately draws a connection between Hils' murder and the ski hall, but Katharina is not so sure about that. Once again, she uses her keen culinary instincts as a detective and uncovers megalomaniacal local politicians, criminal entrepreneurs, and struggling small farmers in her search for the murderer. Ultimately, she is led to the right clue by the region's most famous drink: Black Forest cherry brandy.