Welcome to the world of lilbury.

Dorset’s last affordable village…

the CHARACTERS

A little confused about who everyone is?

Find a guide below …

All ages given are for when the character is introduced. After that, they, um, you know, age normally. Weird that.

the lilbury murders

Arden Forrest aka Arkadiusz “Arek” Puszcza – 32, a successful sci-fi author and former finance journalist who moves to Lilbury following a bad breakup.

Oliver “Ollie” Ross – 34, Arden’s ex-boyfriend.

Nigella Pettoni nee Chatsworth – mid-50s, posh housewife who befriends Arden. Focal point of Lilbury’s social calendar — Arabella’s aunt.

Simon Anson – 37, local handyman.

Guy Frobisher – 35, semi-retired stockbroker who takes a shine to Arden. Arabella’s cousin.

Tarquin Scott – 35, Guy’s best friend. London-based entrepreneur.

Odette Douglas – 30s, housewife. Frenemy of Nigella. Wife of Tommy. Mother of Tatiana.

Tommy Douglas – Odette’s husband and a doctor.

Rita Parkinson – Arden’s farmer neighbour and a fan of his books.

John Parkinson – Rita’s monosyllabic husband.

Sonia Bliss – 25, an estate agent and a friend of Arden’s.

Arabella Sweet – 22, a barmaid at Fox and Lamprey. Friend of Simon’s, cousin to Guy, surrogate daughter of Nigella and Cytrine.

Daniel and Blake Parkinson – Jack and Rita’s adult sons. Childhood friends of Arabella’s.

Cytrine Hughes – Landlady of the Fox and Lamprey. Married to Alan.

Alan Hughes – Landlord of the Fox and Lamprey.

Jethro “JedRev” Fulford – the Vicar at St Candida’s

Verity Jones – 39, Arden’s best friend and literary agent.

Jocasta Sweet – Arabella’s mother.

Miles Sweet – Arabella’s business magnate father.

Noor Sweet – Miles’ second wife.

Adebayo Adebaya – Local copper. Fancies Sonia.

DI Neuberger – the senior investigating officer in the murder.

DS Wales – police officer who doesn’t trust Arden.

Lauren Trescothick – Ade’s partner in the police force.

Pawel – Arabella’s ex-boyfriend and the chef at the Fox and Lamprey.

Gracie – operations manager at Verity’s agency

Donal Callous – fellow literary agent at Verity’s agency. Part-owner.

Ffion Dorries – the new partner at Verity’s agency.

Appolina – finance manager at Verity’s agency

Hitesh – errand boy at Verity’s agency.

Trevor Bliss – an estate agent, Sonia’s older brother. A friend of Simon’s.

Dhapinder Bliss – an estate agent. Married to Trevor.

Roz – the owner of Lilbury’s village shop.

Lady Georgiana Frobisher aka Lady F – owner of Honningtons. Lilbury’s grand doyenne. Godmother of Arabella. Aunt to Guy and Rosie.

Rosie Frobisher – Guy’s younger sister. Lives in Florida.

Jose – Rosie’s fiancé.

Ewa – Lady F’s housekeeper.

Matteo Pettoni – Nigella’s husband and Archie and Luca’s father. Italian pharmaceutical heir.

Tatiana Douglas – Odette and Tommy’s eight-year-old daughter.

Archie and Luca Pettoni – Nigella and Matteo’s seven-year-old twin sons.

Eleanor Hetherington – Arabella’s friend. Goddaughter of Lady F.

Victoria Hetherington – Eleanor’s older sister. Lives in London. Friends with Tarquin. Married to Toby.

Freddie, Chiara, Toby, and Millie – Tarquin’s other London friends.

Margo Cadbury-Smythe – Arden’s sworn enemy.

Darren Pascoe – Sonia’s boyfriend.

To Sleep, Perchance to Kill

New characters introduced in the second book:

DS Jack Maslin – 40 – a London police officer who transfers to Dorset.

Katrina Pettigrew – a widow who moves to Lilbury.

Suzy Rabbit – the liberal Democrat Party candidate in the Central Dorset election.

Errol Mottley – a Liberal Democrat Party political campaign manager.

Bryce – Arden’s US agent.

Julia – nee Zurko, previously Puszcza, Devizes. Arden’s mother.

Tomek Puszcza – Arden’s father.

Jakub “Kuba” Puszcza – 37, Arden’s long-lost brother.

Gosia Puszcza – 34, Arden’s long-lost sister

Marina Holt – Riz’s campaign manager.

Riz Patel – Labour Candidate for Central Dorset. A doctor.

Bob Thrall – the UKIP party candidate.

Marjorie Potsdam – the Green Party candidate.

Macauley Sheridan – the late MP for Central Dorset.

Dominic Grundy – a tabloid journalist

Janet – Ollie’s secretary

Stuart “Rabbie” Murray, previously Pettigrew – Katrina’s son, former lover of Guy and Simon.

Marion Anson – Simon’s mother.

George Anson – Simon’s father.

Jamie – a junior barrister.

A frame by any other name

A list of new characters in the third book:

Essie Clutterbuck – they/them. Mid-20s. A personal assistant Arden hires.

Hailey “Hailz” O’Hanlon – 30s, Arden’s Kiwi publicist.

Basil Throgton – an old flame of Arden’s. Lives in Chicago.

Trevor “Gravz” Graves – 40, Verity’s investment banker South African husband

Cesar – Arden’s personal trainer in LA.

Luke Freeman – a school friend of Sonia’s. A personal trainer.

Loïc – Guy’s boyfriend.

Malcolm Salbrook – the former parliamentary aide to Macauley Sheridan.

William Clinton – Simon’s boss.

Xanthe Luxton – Simon’s coworker.

Osman – Simon’s ex-boyfriend.

Jan – a barman.

Tariq – an estate agent.

Cecil – a regular at Heavy Petting.

John Smith – a mysterious man.

Vincent – another mysterious man.

Clive and James – Ollie’s friends.