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Amelia Hartford’s quiet life running the Maple Leaf Inn in Maplewood is shattered when local farmer Harold Jarvis is found murdered in the mud. As the town erupts in conflict over a controversial solar project spearheaded by the smooth-talking Jonathan Matthews, Amelia and her friend Lila turn amateur sleuths to clear a friend’s name. With the help of her perceptive dog, Bailey, and the discovery of her grandmother’s secret journals, Amelia uncovers a web of shell corporations, political corruption, and decades-old grudges. When a terrifying orchard fire threatens the community, the investigation reaches a boiling point, revealing that the killer’s motives are far more personal than anyone suspected. The story blends a cozy town atmosphere with a high-stakes conspiracy, ending with the resolution of one murder and the beginning of a new sense of community and cooperation. Comparable works include Murder, She Wrote