In the wake of a series of unfortunate experiences house-sitting in the Cotswolds, Thea Osborne, accompanied by her spaniel Hepzibah, is perhaps over-optimistic about the English summertime and the possibilities of her latest assignment house-sitting for transatlantic reptile breeder Harriet Young. However the region s bucolic charms prove to be more than deceptive, as Thea is thrust once more into the heart of a Cotswold mystery. Despite the ease with which Thea s new assignment in the secluded village of Cranham begins, she soon finds a dark side to the characters she encounters. From the elderly Donny Davis to the enigmatic figure of Edwina, Thea begins to realize that Harriet Young s beloved geckoes are not the only cold-blooded creatures at large in Cranham. Family intrigue, murder and suicide combine to give Thea a decidedly challenging summer in the Heart of England."