Whitstable Pearl Mysteries

''While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl'' Daily Mail Murder on the Pilgrims Way is the fourth book in Julie Wassmer''s popular crime series - now a major Acorn TV drama, Whitstable Pearl, starring Kerry Godliman as private detective and restaurateur, Pearl Nolan. Pearl receives a surprise present from her mother, Dolly - an early summer break at a riverside manor house that has been recently transformed into an exclusive hotel - the newly named Villa Pellegrini. Pellegrini - the Italian word for pilgrims - reflects the fact that the building lies on the old Pilgrims Way into Canterbury, and Pearl is looking forward to the break, not least because DCI Mike McGuire has been neglecting her due to his work. But when she discovers that she''s actually booked in for a cookery course from the Italian celebrity chef, Nico Caruso, she begins to think again . . .