There is a rumble of disquiet among the villagers of the pretty Scottish border town of Prior's Ford when a firm expresses interest in reopening an old sandstone quarry. It will be disruptive, noisy, and dusty, despite bringing in some new jobs. Publican Glen organizes a protest group, but when the local newspaper takes an interest in him and the story, he starts to feel nervous. When Jenny Forsyth attends a protest meeting and sees the quarry surveyor she discovers a ghost from her past that she would rather keep to herself. Clarissa Ramsay, newly widowed, is too preoccupied to care much about the new threat facing the village—she has just discovered her husband's secret life, and has resolved to make some radical changes to her own.

There are new arrivals at Priors Ford—Meredith and Genevieve Whitelaw—who are determined to shake things up. Meanwhile, Alastair Marshall finds he is missing Clarissa Ramsay, now traveling the world to recover from the shock of her husband's affair, more than he would like to admit. At Tarbethill Farm, the McNair family is struggling to make ends meet, and face the prospect of losing the livelihood that has been in their family for generations. And Jenny Forsyth is to be reunited with her stepdaughter Maggie—but Maggie is now a precocious teenager very unhappy at the idea of country life, and determined to cause trouble.

Taking advantage of recent tourist interest, the residents of Prior's Ford plan a summer festival. But someone is determined to sabotage the event, and it takes all the villagers' detective skills to stop the vandals in their tracks. Meanwhile, at Tarbethill Farm, things are going from bad to worse. In dire financial straits, Victor, the eldest son, is tempted by a developer's offer on their land. But if his father finds out it promises to tear their family apart. And at the big house, Lewis remains absolutely besotted by his baby daughter, while his family still secretly wonder if she's really his. And as Molly starts to take advantage of Lewis' good nature, can Ginny bear to keep silent about her feelings for him?

Prior's Ford's Women's Rural Institute finds itself on the verge of a civil war when Moira Melrose is defeated in her bid to become president for the third time by newcomer Alma Parr. Moira seeks revenge by trying to outdo the Parrs' extravagant Christmas outdoor decorations, and the feud escalates from there, setting neighbor against neighbor. A former villager returns to set up the village's first holiday home, causing deep resentment, and things are going from bad to worse at Tarbethill Farm when building starts on the field that Victor McNair persuaded his father Bert to hand over to him.

The fifth warmhearted novel of village life in Evelyn Hood's much-loved Prior's Ford series - Cookery writer Laura Tyler arrives in Prior's Ford determined to become immersed in village life - and the village drama group's forthcoming production of The Importance of Being Earnest offers her the perfect opportunity. But Laura has cause to regret her involvement when murder calls a halt to rehearsals. Constable Neil White investigates, with help from an unexpected source - American visitor Amy Rose, with her passion for crosswords and mystery-solving, can't resist a spot of amateur sleuthing . . .

“Fans of M C Beaton and Rhys Bowen will adore Hood’s Prior’s Ford series” Booklist on Mystery in Prior’s Ford The course of true love never did run smooth, as the Prior’s Ford villagers are beginning to discover. The once-failing Tarbethill Farm is facing a happier future thanks to Alison Greenlees but Ewan McNair doesn’t see himself as the sort of husband Alison deserves, while at Linn Hall the return of famous actress Meredith Whitelaw is bad news for her daughter Ginny, anxious to catch the eye of the son of the house. And Thatcher’s Cottage is now home to Dr Malcolm Finlay, a retired university academic with a secret ability to turn the hearts and heads of almost all the women in the village . . .

When Tricia and Derek Borland bring home their baby daughter, their elderly neighbours are more than willing to help the new mother. But their enthusiasm begins to wane when it becomes apparent that Tricia is more interested in going out with her friends than looking after her new baby - and is only too ready to take advantage of their kindness. Meanwhile, Lewis Ralston-Kerr and his fiancé Ginny are horrified by Ginny's flamboyant mother's determination to sweep aside their desire for a small village wedding and organise a large society affair. What's more, the Prior's Ford Progress Committee have decided that the traditional village summer festival needs pepping up this year ...