THE CHANNEL ISLANDS BAKE-OFF MURDER

Welcome to Gull Bay - a picture-postcard harbour village in the Channel Islands where the sea sparkles, the cakes are legendary, and secrets lie buried beneath the golden sand.Meet April Hart. New Gull Bay resident, café owner . . . and reluctant amateur sleuth.Lights, camera - cake!April is thrilled when she’s invited to judge a high-profile TV bake-off over the May Day holiday weekend. It’s the perfect chance to put the Sea Breeze Café on the map.Seven amateur chefs. Three rounds. One killer.The contestants are anything but ordinary. Librarian Sophie claims she’s psychic. Wealthy Hilary has devoted herself to charity since her husband’s untimely death. Popular food blogger Isa is charming, handsome - and not to be trusted.And then there’s notorious food critic Maurice. April absolutely doesn’t hold a grudge over his savage review of her pineapple upside-down cake. Of course she doesn’t.As the cameras start to roll, Gull Bay buzzes with excitement. But behind the bunting and buttercream, rivalries flare, sabotage follows, and whispers of corruption circulate. Then a body is discovered.April must uncover the truth - and fast. Because the police are on the hunt for the bake-off killer, and all roads seem to lead straight to her.It’s The Great British Bake Off meets Agatha Christie! Perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Fiona Leitch, the Rev Richard Coles, M.C. Beaton, Lucy Connelly and Ellery Adams.Please note this is a completely revised version of Beating the Competition.Each book in the series includes a delicious recipe or two, for hungry readers who’d like to try some of the café’s mouthwatering menu!Meet the sleuthTwentysomething April Hart never planned to become a café owner - let alone a sleuth. But when her grandma left her a rundown seaside café in her will, she packed up her bags and left her home in Manchester for a new adventure. She soon discovers that running a café in a harbourside village comes with more mysteries than menu specials . . . but she’s always determined to solve the case and make sure justice is served in time for tea.The settingApril lives in Gull Bay in Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands - even though it’s only five miles wide! A steep, winding lane lined with granite cottages leads down to the golden shore. There you’ll find the beachside Sea Breeze Café, where April’s undoubtedly busy serving tea and cake. Walk further along the harbour, to visit quirky independent shops. Remember to buy some locally-caught fish - and pause to breathe in the fresh sea air! But don’t be fooled by the calm. In Gull Bay, even the quietest streets can be hiding secrets, just waiting to rise with the tide . . .