The Dinner Lady Detectives
3 primary works • 6 total works
Book 1
Book 2
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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book 3
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
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
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
