A series in the Jemima Hartford project
Jemima Hartford has always had a particular talent for unravelling the secrets hidden in old newspapers, forgotten family histories and the curious circumstances of the past. From her home in Canterbury, she has pursued one intriguing mystery after another, patiently piecing together the fragments of evidence that others have overlooked.
Now, however, a new companion is about to join her investigations.
Bella Mead is Jemima’s younger sister, a lively and spirited young woman who has made her name on the stage as an actress. Accustomed to the excitement of the theatre and the unpredictable nature of theatrical life, Bella possesses a natural curiosity, a sharp eye for human behaviour and a healthy disregard for leaving well enough alone.
Having come to Canterbury for a little rest and recuperation, Bella is staying with Jemima. She expects a peaceful interlude away from the demands of the stage. What she does not expect is to find herself fascinated by her sister’s latest investigations.
At first, Bella is merely an interested observer, listening as Jemima describes the strange cases that have captured her attention. But before long, curiosity gets the better of her. Why should she be content to listen to tales of missing persons, family secrets and unexplained deaths when there might be an opportunity to discover something for herself?
Jemima, who is accustomed to working quietly at her desk and following a trail of documentary evidence, soon discovers that her sister’s talents are rather different from her own. Bella’s theatrical experience has taught her to read people, recognise a convincing performance and appreciate that appearances can be deceptive. She is also more than willing to venture out, ask awkward questions and explore the places where a mystery first unfolded.
And so a new partnership begins.
These cases will take Bella and, occasionally, Jemima into the streets, villages and country lanes of Kent, where local gossip, family recollections and long-forgotten events may hold the key to an unsettling puzzle. Bella may be new to detective work, but she is quick to learn—and she has no intention of remaining on the sidelines for long.
Jemima may have the experience, the patience and the papers, but Bella brings something altogether different to the investigation: a willingness to step into the world beyond the written record.
Together, the sisters are about to discover that the past has a habit of keeping its secrets close—and that solving a mystery sometimes requires more than a good pair of eyes and a well-ordered collection of notes.
Welcome to the Curious Cases of Jemima Hartford and Bella Mead, where two sisters, two very different talents and a succession of curious cases promise to uncover secrets that might otherwise have remained buried.