For Maude Appleby, award-winning cupcake maker and bakery owner, the tragic deaths of a sugar-crazed juvenile delinquent and his victim spells the end of her livelihood. The British government steps in to restrict the sale of sugar, closing the oven door on her baking business. In retaliation, Maude forms the Granny Cartel, an underground criminal enterprise that smuggles illegal confectionery to the masses. With the notorious Baker’s Dozen as her muscle, led by militant predator Pippa Blackwood, and ex-MI5 spy Deirdre Wotheringspot, Maude’s power and popularity quickly become a thorn in the government’s side. The British government send supercilious imbecile, Tancred Punchard, and his reluctant but competent deputy, Richard Fleming to bring the Granny Cartel down for good. More dangerous than boiling caramel, and stickier than spinning sugar, can the Granny Cartel bring the government to its knees?