Thea Osborne is determined to avoid trouble during her latest commission house-sitting in the pretty Cotswold village of Daglingworth. Anticipating a relaxing two weeks spent looking after an old corgi and a hibernating tortoise, spiced with phone calls to boyfriend Drew Slocombe, Thea settles down quite contentedly - for about half a day. Until, that is, a dead body is discovered in a nearby quarry. Having encountered a group of environmental activists, Thea suspects the death might be a backlash from angry residents against their radical ways. And while she can empathise with the activists' views against wind farms, badger culls and building developments, Thea's not so sure about their violent methods. As real tensions begin to unravel, even Thea, a seasoned crime-solver, is surprised by the truth...

Author Biography

REBECCA TOPE is the author of fourteen previous crime novels. She lives on a smallholding in Herefordshire, with a full complement of livestock, but manages to travel the world and enjoy civilisation from time to time as well. Most of her varied experiences and activities find their way into her books, sooner or later. For example, bee-keeping, milk recording, spinning, arguing, undertaking and gardening. Follow her on Twitter: @RebeccaTope