Alice Carter always wanted to be a journalist. Still new to her first job as a junior reporter on a local newspaper she reckons her editor seems to be stuck viewing her as the office dogsbody. Nevertheless she tackles everything conscientiously while also looking for a new home in the town in which she now lives.She is learning a lot, however, no one knows more about the ideal costume to wear for a fun run or how many pies it is impressive to eat in a pie eating contest, and she hopes planned visits to the local library and a top executive will prove of more interest than competitive pie eating.While the routine is getting to Alice, elsewhere someone is laying plans for a criminal act in the town which will mix danger and hope in a curious way - and which is not in any way routine.