Diese Autorin verfasst fesselnde Kriminalromane, insbesondere mit der Köchin und Catererin Darina Lisle in der Hauptrolle, deren Berufsleben oft in spannende Handlungsstränge verwickelt ist. Ihre Erzählungen sind durch lebendige Schauplätze bereichert, die ein tiefes Verständnis ihrer gewählten Umgebungen widerspiegeln. Über diese beliebte Reihe hinaus hat sie auch eine fesselnde Reihe von Mysterien geschaffen, die im London des 18. Jahrhunderts angesiedelt sind und historische Atmosphäre mit spannungsreicher Erzählweise verbinden. Ihr unverwechselbarer Stil zeichnet sich durch atmosphärische Details und nuancierte Charakterzeichnungen aus.
Bei einem erlesenen Kochwettbewerb sitzt Darina Lisle, Köchin und Hobbydetektivin aus Leidenschaft, unter den Juroren.§Die Einladung der Siegerin, ein Wochenende auf deren Landsitz zu verbringen, kommt ihr gelegen, und sie nimmt ohne Bedenken an. Dort erwartet sie aber nicht das versprochene warme Büffet, sondern ein eiskalter Mord. Schnell vergeht ihr der Appetit an den kulinarischen Leckereien, die dem Opfer zum Verhängnis wurden.
Darina Lisle wird zur Detektivin, als ihre Freundin an einer Pilzvergiftung stirbt und ihr Catering-Service in Verdacht gerät. Um ihre Firma zu retten, muss sie herausfinden, wer hinter dem Verbrechen steckt.
Estranged from her obstinate lover, Detective Sergeant William Pigram, culinary expert Darina Lisle seeks distraction in her burgeoning career. Judging the cookery competition at a posh London hotel, she is flattered by the attentions of handsome restaurateur Simon Chapman, and intrigued by Verity Fry, the competition's vivacious winner. During the awards ceremony, Darina learns that Verity's family runs an organic farm in the West Country. When she accepts an invitation to visit Fry's Farm, Darina hopes for an idyllic rural interlude and, perhaps, a flirtation with Simon, whose Somerset restaurant is in the same vicinity. What Darina finds on the farm, however, is a puzzling hostility focused on Simon. Verity's stolid mother, sullen sister, and savvy fiance, all display seething resentments where the appealing young man is concerned. But before the confused visitor can sort out their thorny history, sudden death strikes Fry's Farm. While the family is reeling from its loss, Darina starts asking questions. She does not have time to make sense of one death before another occurs. The second tragedy has her involved with pieces of poisoned pate and a lethal tree. Confused by the clues, Darina can't get a handle on the killer's motive until she receives help from an irresistible source.
Professional caterer, cook, and sometime amateur detective, Darina Lisle finds herself in a pickle when she sets out to try her hand at being a hotelier. Detective William Pigram soon realizes that by introducing Darina to the seedy Hotel Morgan, he may have cooked his own goose. The statuesque and self-reliant Ms. Lisle has once again found a passionate interest other than his handsome self. Determined to save this West Country inn, Darina finds herself embroiled in the turbulent relations of the establishment's troubled owners, a bewildered blond widow and her grown stepson, whose icy blue eyes hold a compelling appeal. And while Darina grows increasingly more intrigued with this enigmatic pair, William is busy investigating the murder of a beautiful employee of another, far more elegant local hotel, piecing together the dead woman's scandalous affairs with the help of his able assistant, Pat James, a pert young female detective constable. Darina and William are being pulled apart by their divergent interests until a shocking second murder brings the culinary artiste and the courtly cop into dramatic proximity. As death stalks the "Hotel Morgue," Darina's sleuthing skills bubble to the surface, and she puts aside her hotel duties just long enough to help Pigram apprehend a double killer.
It's London in 1746 and the Italian painter Canaletto arrives to paint the new Westminster Bridge, eager to rediscover the fame and fortune he once enjoyed in Venice. No sooner does he land, however, than danger dogs his footsteps. Rescued from certain death by Fanny Rooker, an apprentice engraver with plans for an artistic career, Canaletto discovers he is a target for robbery and worse.
Accompanying American heiress Belle Seldon on a visit to her ancestral family home in Somerset, Ursula Grandison soon discovers that the decaying stately Mountstanton House and its inhabitants has many secrets, including a crumbling marriage and a missing dowry.
