Contemporary · London and English country towns

The Mary Blake Mysteries

Cosy crime with showbiz sparkle

Cover of An Invitation to Murder Start here →

The Premise

Mary Blake spent twenty years playing TV detective Susan Law on the hit show 'Her Law.' When the show replaces her with a younger actress, Mary stumbles into a real murder investigation and discovers she is rather good at the real thing. Together with her puppy-like brother Pea and her practical best friend Dot, she founds Blake, Blake & Tanner, a detective agency run from the old snooker room at Blancham Hall.

Meet the Detectives

Mary Blake

Former TV detective, now the real thing

Fifty, action-oriented, impulsive, lives 'in the moment.' Excellent at reading people — years of acting taught her to spot performance versus genuine emotion. Replaced by a younger actress, she channels that wound into purpose. In a settled relationship with Inspector Joe Corrigan.

Dot Tanner & Pea Blake

Co-founders of Blake, Blake & Tanner

Dot is Mary's best friend and former PA — practical, organised, plain-spoken, increasingly sharp as an investigator. Pea is Mary's red-haired, permanently hungry brother whose accidental insights crack cases. Together they form the unlikely backbone of a successful detective agency.

The Books (3 of 4 published)

Perfect For

Fans of cosy crime with heart, Richard Osman's ensemble casts, and stories about reinvention in midlife.

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