Dinner Lady Detectives Series

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.

A cosy crime novel full of charm and wit, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, J.M Hall and Fiona Leitch.

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?

A charming cosy crime novel which will make you laugh-out-loud. Perfect for fans of J.M Hall and Fiona Leitch.

Praise for An Extremely Unlikely Death

‘One of my favourite cosy crime series’

‘The Dinner Lady Detectives are wonderful characters and I loved all the banter in this book’

‘Hannah Hendy is a fantastic writer. I cannot recommend this series enough. I love the stories and it’s such an easy read. Absolutely brilliant!’

‘Plenty of twists and turns, heartfelt and humorous, Hendy’s writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable’

‘I love this author. A remarkable series for fans of cozy crime read it you won’t be disappointed’

‘I love Marjorie and Clementine I was hooked the whole way through’

‘Hannah Hendy has created such a wonderful community in this series the characters are real and lovable, and it’s so much fun following their adventures’

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?

A charming British cosy village mystery. Perfect for fans of J.M. Hall and Fiona Leitch.

Praise for Hannah Hendy and The Dinner Lady Detectives

‘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, author of Death and Croissants

‘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, author of The Cornish Village Murder

‘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, author of The Bingo Hall Detectives

‘Twisty, delightful, and laugh-out-loud funny. I fell in love with Margery and Clementine from the first page’ Antony Johnston, author of The Dog Sitter Detective on The Dinner Lady Detectives

‘I really enjoyed this – a terrific zesty look at the dark underside of a modern-day secondary school’ J.M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of Murder

‘Hendy’s a favorite author of mine. The characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable’ Reader review

‘The story and its characters are just so much fun that it makes you laugh. Love it!’ Reader review

‘I love Margery and Clementine. For anyone who is a fan of murder mysteries and cosy crime please give this series a read. You won’t be disappointed’ Reader review

‘Well-written and so descriptive. All the little details came together with a surprising conclusion and a side of humour!’ Reader review

‘Margery and Clementine are excellent characters this book was difficult to put down. A fun and well-paced mystery with characters that have become well-loved favourites’ Reader review

‘The plot kept me entertained, and I love all of the side drama with the other kitchen staff, which is always funny. A brilliant cosy mystery with a twist that left me guessing right to the end’ Reader review

‘This is a comfort series for me I have so much love for Margery and Clementine. As expected, this was humorous and charming There were some laugh out loud moments. If you are a cosy mystery reader, I would highly recommend the Dinner Ladies series’ Reader review

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?

A fun and charming cosy mystery, perfect for fans of J.M Hall and Fiona Leitch.

Praise for Hannah Hendy

‘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, author of Death and Croissants

‘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, author of The Cornish Village Murder

‘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, author of The Bingo Hall Detectives

‘Twisty, delightful, and laugh-out-loud funny. I fell in love with Margery and Clementine from the first page’ Antony Johnston, author of The Dog Sitter Detective on The Dinner Lady Detectives

‘I really enjoyed this – a terrific zesty look at the dark underside of a modern-day secondary school’ J.M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of Murder

‘A captivating murder mystery’ Women’s Own

‘Great to catch up with the dinner ladies and their detective skills. A fantastic read, roll on the next instalment!’ Reader review

‘This sucked me in from the beginning with its relatable characters and really original plot! I will be reading more by Hannah Hendy for sure, I love her writing style.’ Reader review

‘The characters and descriptions are well written. It’s a fast paced and easy to read book. I was surprised by the ending. I will be recommending this book.’ Reader review

‘I love this series and I have a rather big soft spot for Clementine and Margery. This book has the right mix of mystery, laughs and murder. If you are a fan of murder mysteries and cosy crime then please give this series a go.’ Reader review

‘It was hard to put this one down before I turned that last page. A really good cozy. I’ll be back for more in this series!’ Reader review

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?

A charming cosy mystery that will make you laugh out loud, perfect for fans of Julia Chapman and Fiona Leitch.

Praise for A Terrible Village Poisoning

‘A Terrible Village Poisoning is a really great cosy whodunnit. The plot had me guessing right to the end and the cast of characters, so warm and vivid, were an absolute joy. I’m really looking forward to the next one.’ Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants

‘A favourite series of mine. Hendy has written a great mystery with the perfect blend of suspects, clues and red herrings that you’ll be scratching your head till the end. Highly recommend!’ Reader review

‘An enjoyable, light hearted read. I love Clementine and her dry wit and humour, and Margery is the perfect partner for her… The characters are so well written that they are really easy to picture in the mind’s eye.’ Reader review

‘I am absolutely in love with the series it made me laugh out loud! Margery and Clem are a delight. Can’t wait for book four!’ Reader review

‘This cozy crime was a perfect read on a cold day snuggled under a blanket and drinking hot tea. I really enjoy this. I loved Margery and Clementine.’ Reader review

‘Another excellent adventure.’ Reader review

‘I’m a massive fan of Clementine and Margery, if ever I needed a crime solved I would definitely call on these two. This book had so many twists and turns and it definitely did keep me guessing till the end. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is a fan of cosy crime and classic murder mysteries.’ Reader review

‘It was lovely to be with Margery, Clementine and the gang a quick read with an easy going storyline that comes to a satisfying conclusion.’ Reader review

‘Loving the dinner lady detectives, they are fantastic! This instalment won’t leave fans disappointed because the ladies are back to mischief a great fun-filled read, highly recommended.’ Reader review

‘Margery and Clementine are so loveable, and they always make me smile and warm my heart. This was another fun, entertaining, cosy mystery.’ Reader review

‘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?

A charming and festive British village mystery, perfect for fans of Robert Thorogood and Fiona Leitch.

Praise for The Dinner Lady Detectives

‘This cosy crime novel has some hilarious moments and is perfect to curl up with’ Heat

‘A brilliant read! Bella

‘A brilliant whodunnit!’ Closer

‘The plot is great, the character cast is spot on, and the dialogue and humor is so quick, smart, and addictive. Margery and Clem play off one another brilliantly. I cannot wait to read the next book (please say there will be one!!!!!!) and highly recommend this gem.’ NetGalley review

If you are after a gentle and amusing read, this will not disappoint!’ Reader review

‘Heaps of fun. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the absurdities and the chaos that surrounded Clementine and Margery.’ Reader review

Murder is a dish best served ice cold…

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?

A delightful, quintessentially British cosy mystery perfect for fans of SJ Bennett and Robert Thorogood.

Praise for The Dinner Lady Detectives

‘This cosy crime novel has some hilarious moments and is perfect to curl up with.’ Heat

‘A brilliant read! Bella

‘A brilliant whodunnit!’ Closer

‘The plot is great, the character cast is spot on, and the dialogue and humor is so quick, smart, and addictive. Margery and Clem play off one another brilliantly. I cannot wait to read the next book (please say there will be one!!!!!!) and highly recommend this gem.’ NetGalley review

‘What a fun mystery. I would definitely call this a cozy mystery on the line of Murder, She Wrote! I love the dinner ladies and their interactions. I love the relationship between Clem and Margery.’ NetGalley review

‘The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.’ NetGalley review

‘Had me hooked from the start right until the end. It was just a lovely cosy read that felt like coming home on a cold and dark night. I loved it.’