Opening night. A feared critic. Three bites, then collapse. Chef-owner Fiona Firth aims to survive The Perennial's first dinner service, not find a body at the pass. Early tests point to monkshood in her seven-herb blend, and the whispers harden police name Fiona their prime suspect. She spots what others a swapped spice jar, sticky residue on a tasting mug, a camera blind spot no one should reach. Miso, her orange tabby, won't stop growling at the evidence everyone else ignores. A developer whose permits hinge on Fiona's failure. A rival chef with a public feud and a key to the kitchen. A critic's long list of enemies who all wanted him silenced. The suspects stack up, and the lead detective wants Fiona to stand down. As rumors spread and reservations vanish, Fiona races to unmask the killer before The Perennial loses its license and the real culprit silences her for good.