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.