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Dinner Lady Detectives #7
A Curiously Convenient Demise
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.
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.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 17, 2026
3.5 Clem irritated me a bit in this one
May 25, 2026
It's not promising. I very much enjoyed book 6. I thought the author had finally hit her stride, and it was satisfying to see her really grow into this story and these characters. But this one seems to have reverted to the bloated exposition and off-putting judgemental and crochety behavior of the main characters.
This series would have worked so much better as a collection of short stories. The stories are strong but seem to be bloated with exposition in an attempt to meet word count. The exposition bloat also gives off the impression of hasty editing, as though the books have been rushed off to market before they are quite ready.
I quite like Maria as a new character; I think she's a necessary foil. I'm cautiously optimistic because the "loose cannon" archetype can get very old very fast (hello, Gertie from Jana DeLeon's Fortune Redding series), but in moderation, and when given a character arc, it is very satisfying.
Despite me complaining about M&C's return to the crochety cranks of the previous editions, I like the portrayal of Margery's hypocrisy in disliking Maria for her "dismissal of society's rules and customs". YOU'RE A LESBIAN. She and her wife habitually break into houses to solve mysteries they've explicitly been told not to stick their noses in. Again, the "character irritated by new character doing exactly the things they used to get scolded for" trope can be annoying, but when done well, it gives me a lot of schadenfreude. Margery's always been a little light on the character development, and I hope this is a new push forward. I also think that the perceived crochety behavior is a result of the sloppy characterization that has been pervasive throughout this series (for example, the lack of depth in the Margery trauma plotline, and Clementine constantly bleating "Do not swear", seemingly without any context for why she feels so strongly about it).
Overall, I'd say I'm disappointed in this edition so far, but I think there may be some bright spots.
This series would have worked so much better as a collection of short stories. The stories are strong but seem to be bloated with exposition in an attempt to meet word count. The exposition bloat also gives off the impression of hasty editing, as though the books have been rushed off to market before they are quite ready.
I quite like Maria as a new character; I think she's a necessary foil. I'm cautiously optimistic because the "loose cannon" archetype can get very old very fast (hello, Gertie from Jana DeLeon's Fortune Redding series), but in moderation, and when given a character arc, it is very satisfying.
Despite me complaining about M&C's return to the crochety cranks of the previous editions, I like the portrayal of Margery's hypocrisy in disliking Maria for her "dismissal of society's rules and customs". YOU'RE A LESBIAN. She and her wife habitually break into houses to solve mysteries they've explicitly been told not to stick their noses in. Again, the "character irritated by new character doing exactly the things they used to get scolded for" trope can be annoying, but when done well, it gives me a lot of schadenfreude. Margery's always been a little light on the character development, and I hope this is a new push forward. I also think that the perceived crochety behavior is a result of the sloppy characterization that has been pervasive throughout this series (for example, the lack of depth in the Margery trauma plotline, and Clementine constantly bleating "Do not swear", seemingly without any context for why she feels so strongly about it).
Overall, I'd say I'm disappointed in this edition so far, but I think there may be some bright spots.
January 7, 2026
My friends are back! It's really rather inconvenient how there had been no murders and now that they're close to retiring, there's one murder after another! I was almost worried that under Rose's tight ruling, that school would be the safest place in town.
I've seen people complain that the dinner ladies miss clues or ignore them but these are amateurs doing police work and that's exactly how it feels. They're just a couple old dinner ladies trying to bring justice, they can barely operate a phone, don't be mean to them!
I really enjoy that the whole team is always involved, including Rose. I love how dramatic she is and how their relationship has evolved, especially when I remember the first book.
I was a bit annoyed with the conflict between Clementine and Margery, I didn't like them arguing or not talking, it seemed a bit silly. I have to admit that the whole ordeal with the fakes was a bit confusing, I got a bit lost in who swapped which vase for which one.
I do wish I could see the play the school put on tho, that would have been fun!
This was the first book in the series I actually read, I'd only listened to audiobooks so I was a bit worried that I wouldn't enjoy it as much but I did. I could hear the narrator in my head doing different voices for each character.
Did I read it right that we can look forward to 10 books? That's very exciting, I was a bit worried I would have to say goodbye to my ladies! Fingers crossed for another Christmas one!
I've seen people complain that the dinner ladies miss clues or ignore them but these are amateurs doing police work and that's exactly how it feels. They're just a couple old dinner ladies trying to bring justice, they can barely operate a phone, don't be mean to them!
I really enjoy that the whole team is always involved, including Rose. I love how dramatic she is and how their relationship has evolved, especially when I remember the first book.
I was a bit annoyed with the conflict between Clementine and Margery, I didn't like them arguing or not talking, it seemed a bit silly. I have to admit that the whole ordeal with the fakes was a bit confusing, I got a bit lost in who swapped which vase for which one.
I do wish I could see the play the school put on tho, that would have been fun!
This was the first book in the series I actually read, I'd only listened to audiobooks so I was a bit worried that I wouldn't enjoy it as much but I did. I could hear the narrator in my head doing different voices for each character.
Did I read it right that we can look forward to 10 books? That's very exciting, I was a bit worried I would have to say goodbye to my ladies! Fingers crossed for another Christmas one!
March 18, 2026
'A Curiously Convenient Demise, by Hannah Hendy.
Well I might be biased because I absolutely love this series of books, but I did indeed live this book. I would want the Dinnerlady Detectives to help with any problem I had, not just Margery and Clementine but the whole team. I loved that some of the other characters got some bigger roles in this book and that they got to join Margery and Clementine for some missions. I can't wait for the next book. If you're a fan of murder mysteries and cozy crime then give this series a read.
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.
Well I might be biased because I absolutely love this series of books, but I did indeed live this book. I would want the Dinnerlady Detectives to help with any problem I had, not just Margery and Clementine but the whole team. I loved that some of the other characters got some bigger roles in this book and that they got to join Margery and Clementine for some missions. I can't wait for the next book. If you're a fan of murder mysteries and cozy crime then give this series a read.
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.
November 22, 2025
The dinner ladies are back in the seventh book in the series.
Summerview Secondary School is holding its annual charity auction.
Things take a dramatic turn when Eleanor Black owner of the Dewstow Museum is found dead and the main suspect is Maria .
Maria is Clementine’s sister , she disappears making herself look guilty , but is she?
Can the dinner ladies prove her innocence?
This case hits hard due to the personal connection to Clementine .
The writing is excellent as always and makes for an easy and enjoyable read .
Another great case .
Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo .
Summerview Secondary School is holding its annual charity auction.
Things take a dramatic turn when Eleanor Black owner of the Dewstow Museum is found dead and the main suspect is Maria .
Maria is Clementine’s sister , she disappears making herself look guilty , but is she?
Can the dinner ladies prove her innocence?
This case hits hard due to the personal connection to Clementine .
The writing is excellent as always and makes for an easy and enjoyable read .
Another great case .
Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo .
November 26, 2025
A small-town who dunnit. This wasn't my cup of tea though. I must admit this is my introduction to this series and this doesn't do well as a standalone, nevertheless I didn't find the story or writing compelling. I'm sure this would appeal to anyone who enjoyed the previous books, as the other reviews and ratings suggest; it just didn't do it for me.
I thank the publishers and Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I noticed a few minor language errors, but these might have been caught and rectified before publication.
I thank the publishers and Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I noticed a few minor language errors, but these might have been caught and rectified before publication.
September 21, 2025
Another fun adventure with the Dinner Lady detectives! I think the thing I enjoyed most about this book was it really made Clementine and Margery feel more real as they navigate a tough time in their relationship.
The supporting characters are as hilarious as always (Ceri-Ann being my fave) and the reveal at the end took me by surprise.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The supporting characters are as hilarious as always (Ceri-Ann being my fave) and the reveal at the end took me by surprise.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2026
It was a real pleasure to return to the Dinner Lady Detectives series with A Curiously Convenient Demise by Hannah Hendy. While I didn’t find it quite as exciting as the first book, I still truly enjoyed it.
It’s a very light and easy read, perfect for relaxing with and getting lost in a cosy mystery. The familiar characters and gentle humour make it an enjoyable and comforting story, and I look forward to reading more in the series.
It’s a very light and easy read, perfect for relaxing with and getting lost in a cosy mystery. The familiar characters and gentle humour make it an enjoyable and comforting story, and I look forward to reading more in the series.
June 17, 2026
I was sad to finish this book as it's the last out in the series but I have found there is another xoning in a couple of months so I have that to look forward to. Another great storyline. I'm not sure if I've missed it somehow but what happened to the teacher from the other school who went missing a few books back when the body was found under the concrete? If anyone knows please let me know.
November 17, 2025
A good story line. Love these dinner lady books.
November 18, 2025
Such a cosy series and this book did not disappoint, the 7th in the series and at this point it feels like home! I hope there are more to come
December 29, 2025
love it...want more!!!
March 18, 2026
3.75 🌟
March 23, 2026
3.5⭐️
April 17, 2026
3.5. Another great installment but clem tested my patience a few times
January 22, 2026
The dinner ladies are back again - this time with a sibling in tow.
When Eleanor Black is found murdered back stage at the auction held in the school hall, suspension falls on Maria, Clementine’s sister.
Not trusting Officer Wilkinson and with Maria in hiding, Margery and Clementine begin investigating.
With multiple versions of the same vase, a missing sibling and Ceri-Ann trying to be a history buff, the dinner lady detectives have another tough case.
Really good book I can’t recommend this series enough.
When Eleanor Black is found murdered back stage at the auction held in the school hall, suspension falls on Maria, Clementine’s sister.
Not trusting Officer Wilkinson and with Maria in hiding, Margery and Clementine begin investigating.
With multiple versions of the same vase, a missing sibling and Ceri-Ann trying to be a history buff, the dinner lady detectives have another tough case.
Really good book I can’t recommend this series enough.
December 15, 2025
a very enjoyable read cannot wait for the next book to come out
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews