Book1: The Dinner Lady Detectives
'Twisty, delightful, and laugh-out-loud funny. I fell in love with Margery and Clementine from the first page'
ANTONY JOHNSTON
Margery and Clementine are enjoying a peaceful middle-age together in the small, idyllic town of Dewstow, and eagerly awaiting retirement from their work on the front line serving meals to the students at Summerview secondary school.
Their calm life is shattered when their kitchen manager is found dead in the school’s walk-in freezer. The police are adamant that it’s an open-and-shut case of accidental death. Margery and Clementine are convinced there’s something far more nefarious going on, and they take it upon themselves to investigate.
As they inch closer to the truth, it becomes clear that someone will stop at nothing to keep the pair quiet. Will the perpetrator get their just-desserts before their time runs out?
The Dinner Lady Detectives Series
Book 2: An Unfortunate Christmas Murder
'Who knew being a dinner lady could be so dangerous - but so much fun?! With a plot that's twistier than school dinner spag bol, Clem and Margery are the only school dinner ladies guaranteed to give you belly laughs rather than indigestion.'
FIONA LEITCH
'Tis the season for gold, frankincense and murder
It's winter in the small town of Dewstow, and Margery is preparing for her first Christmas as Summerview school's kitchen manager. She's supported by her wife, Clementine, and is trying to stay focused on the task at hand.
The pair are determined to stay out of the way of the Christmas concert planning that has gripped the rest of the staff. However, they are caught in the crossfire when the stage lights collapse at the first practice, killing Mrs Large, the music teacher.
Mrs Smith, the Head of Drama, is the prime suspect and is desperate for the Dinner Lady Detectives to clear her name. Mrs Smith is convinced that it's sabotage by her rival, Mrs Blossom, the drama teacher at Ittonvale Secondary, but there's evidence that points to her own misdeeds. Can Margery and Clementine trust their friend? And when things start to heat up in the kitchen, will they make it out in time?
Book 3: A Terrible Village Poisoning
'Hendy has written a great mystery with marvellous character work and a perfect blend of clues and red herrings that will have you scratching your head till the end.'
BILLIE INGRAM SOFOKLEOUS
The local mayor has a dinner date with death
With school out for the summer, Margery and Clementine Butcher-Baker are taking advantage of the break to go on holiday. They plan to explore the village of St-Martins-on-the-Water and rest before the chaos of Mrs Smith's impending hen do. By the end of their first night, the local mayor lies dead on the floor of the hotel restaurant, having been poisoned by his meal. The villagers are convinced: The Poisoner is back.
As the residents turn to the duo with suspicion and begin to freeze them out, Margery and Clementine are left with more questions than answers. Everyone is convinced that the pair and Clementine in particular are bad news, but why? And as more people in the village start to become unwell, the question remains, is The Poisoner back, or is this the work of a new killer? And will they strike again?
Book 4: A Frightfully Fatal Affair
'Hendy is, by far, one of the very best cosy writers we have - and A Frightfully Fatal Affair sees her on sparkling form'
JONATHAN WHITELAW
Cloaked strangers and danger abound...
Margery and Clementine Butcher-Baker are coming to the end of another busy half term as dinner ladies at Summerview Secondary school. The school is abuzz with chatter about the upcoming break, the local harvest festival, and the fact that maths teacher, Mr Weaver, hasn't turned up to work in days.
When the pair embark on an evening walk, they discover Mr Weaver's body in the woods, with a mysterious symbol painted on the tree beside him. Something suspicious is clearly afoot.
As the nights grow darker and the mysterious symbols continue to appear around Dewstow, the Dinner Lady Detectives are pulled deeper into the case. Can they solve the mystery as deceit and chaos reigns, or will their killer pull off another deadly trick?
Book 5: A Gravely Troubling Discovery
'Hannah is at the top of the tree of modern whodunnits. The characters, bar none, are real; the settings are glorious and the plots are devilishly clever'
IAN MOORE
The truth isn't the only thing that's dead and buried...
Margery and Clementine Butcher-Baker have been warned not to interfere in any more police investigations. When a body is found under Summerview School's playground during renovations, they have absolutely no intention of getting involved.
Instead, the pair agree to help Mrs Redburn, who suspects her husband of having an affair. But when their sleuthing sends them stumbling into the middle of the playground mystery, staying out of the police's way is impossible.
Can the Dinner Lady Detectives uncover the truth about the body, and solve Mrs Redburn's case, or will they end up digging their own graves?
Book 6: An Extremely Unlikely Death
'The world’s one and only (probably!) Welsh dinner lady detectives go undercover in a murder mystery that’ll warm the cockles of cosy-crime fans like a cwtch on a cold day.'
JOANNE OWEN
Murder is the only paw-sible explanation
During a routine welfare check, the police find local shop owner Mr Fitzgerald at the foot of his stairs, dead. There is broken glass over the floor of his shop, his dog has been locked in the kitchenette cupboard, and on the counter is an envelope addressed to Mrs and Mrs Margery and Clementine Butcher-Baker The Dinner Lady Detectives.
As the town mourns Mr Fitzgerald's death as an unfortunate accident, Margery and Clementine cannot shake the sense that there is something suspicious about the scene. They are convinced this was no accident. But why would anybody want to harm an elderly shopkeeper? And with the culprit still at large, and determined to cover their tracks, can they get to the bottom of the case before there is another victim?
Book 7: A Curiously Convenient Demise
'I really enjoyed this - a terrific zesty look at the dark underside of a modern-day secondary school'
J.M HALL
The higher the bid, the heavier the price.
Summerview Secondary School is holding its annual charity auction. Margery and Clementine Butcher-Baker are on hand to prepare delicious baked goods for the big day with the assistance of Clementine's mysterious sister, Maria.
As the auction begins, chaos erupts when Eleanor Black, the owner of Dewstow Museum, is found murdered in the stage storeroom. Maria has vanished. Her fingerprints cover the crime scene.
Clementine refuses to believe her sister is capable of murder and is sure they need to widen the search Eleanor has a long list of enemies. Old grudges resurface and hidden motives come to light. Only one thing is certain; Dewstow is a town full of secrets, and someone will kill to keep them.
Book 8: An Uncommonly Festive Fiasco
Available to Preorder now!
Festive joy and goodwill to all abounds, unless you’re arch enemies…
As Christmas approaches, Margery and her team of dinner ladies are asked to cater for the popular Ittonvale Winter Festival. However, the event is thrown into jeopardy by a wild storm – and a sinister turn of events.
Food vendor Elliot is found dead with a severe head injury, lying among toppled Christmas decorations. There are rumours of an argument with a rival stall owner the previous night. Could foul play be involved?
The police can’t reach the site until the weather changes, so Margery and Clementine are vigilant on the look out for suspicious behaviour. If their instincts are right, it means all attendees are trapped – including the attacker.
As the duo get closer to the truth, they uncover a web of jealousy, competition and long held grudges. They must solve the case quickly, and before mayhem turns to murder…
