Murder at the Midsummer Feast
Cressida Vale came to Blackvale for peace and a fresh start—not murder.
When celebrity chef Henrietta Dodd collapses face-first into her prize-winning trifle at the town's beloved Midsummer Feast, all eyes turn to Cressida's great-aunt Sylvia—whose "experimental" jam tart may have been the murder weapon. With her aunt accused and the evidence stacking up, Cressida has no choice but to investigate.
Teaming up with Miles Stone, her childhood friend and reluctant hometown returnee, Cressida uncovers a tangled web of culinary theft, blackmail, embezzlement, and long-simmering grudges. From manipulative judges to exploited protégés, everyone in Blackvale seems to have a secret—and a motive.
As the summer sun beats down and the festival continues around them, Cressida and Miles must race against time to find the real killer before her aunt takes the fall. But in a town where appearances deceive and gossip spreads faster than wildfire, the truth may be the most dangerous ingredient of all.
Murder at the Midsummer Feast is a cozy gothic mystery perfect for fans of small-town intrigue, amateur sleuths, and deadly desserts.
The Worlds of J.P. White
FROM THE DESK OF J.P.
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About J.P.
J.P. White is a librarian and writer based in the United States, born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. By day, she helps readers discover the stories meant just for them; by night, she writes the ones she once searched for herself.
A lifelong creative, J.P. enjoys digital art, watercolor painting, and visiting museums and libraries wherever their travels take them. Her work is deeply inspired by everyday life and the countless people she encounters through her work in libraries-each conversation, question, and recommendation offering a glimpse into the quiet mysteries of human connection.
Though surrounded by books professionally, J.P.'s path to writing didn't begin with a love of reading so much as a love of helping. She entered librarianship to guide others toward stories that resonated with them-stories that felt like home. When those same stories proved elusive for her own younger self, J.P. began writing instead. What started in high school as a search for belonging has grown into a lifelong vocation.
J.P. White writes cozy and Gothic-tinged mysteries that center atmosphere, character, and emotional truth-stories where found family matters, curiosity is rewarded, and justice often arrives with a teacup nearby.
