The Society of Historical Gastronomes is gathering for a weekend symposium on food from the past. Darina Lisle has been asked to cater for the occasion and has prepared a multitude of exquisite dishes – from salmagundis to a deepe coffyn - culled from ancient recipe books. But when the chairman is found stabbed to death with a boning knife, the professional pique of the attendant foodies takes on a more sinister meaning. Discarded lovers, jealous colleagues and a plagiarised author have good reason to resent the victim's success. Darina, too, is under suspicion and determines to clear her name by revealing the murderer's true identity.