It’s 1946 and Mabel has never been happier. She’s a wife, a new mother, and the owner of the town’s most popular bakery. The black clouds that had followed her in the past have parted and her future has never looked brighter. Or so it seemed.

A devastating loss and murder abruptly turn Mabel’s tranquil life upside down. As rumours run rampant, conclusions are drawn, and doubt takes hold, Mabel is left questioning her marriage, her faith and her very existence.

Or so it seemed is a stand-alone, page-turning mystery that reintroduces many of the unforgettable characters fans of The Bread Maker have come to either love or loathe, cry for or curse. Readers of this evocative and stirring novel will also be treated to a rich cast of new characters, including Mabel’s strange neighbour, a handsome young priest, and a hilarious gaggle of mischievous boys; all of whom come together to remind us that things aren’t always as they seem.