'Fresh from the Sea' introduces David Jordan and his temperamental partner Linval Larkin, a culinary writer and ex-celebrity chef.

David and Lin own a bed and breakfast establishment called Sandstones, formerly a seventeenth century smugglers inn, from which they also run The Transit of Venus, the smallest seafood restaurant in England.

In this first story Lin is having a stressful day. He encounters prophetic bees, a mysterious sea mist, an irksome guest, and an irate partner.

Worse - when the main ingredient for several of his planned and advertised dishes turns against him, he becomes distraught because it looks like the restaurant will have to remain closed. He fears being dishonoured as a chef.