Down-on-his-luck journalist Jack Sutherland has one last shot to resurrect his career: an exclusive profile on the magnetic, larger-than-life culinary queen, Serendipity Brown. Arriving at Bishops Ridge, Jack is drawn into a sensory world of vibrant flavours and deep secrets. Officially, he’s there to capture the real woman behind the famous cookbooks. Unofficially, he’s hunting for the truth behind her husband. Richard Brown had been a prominent attorney who vanished without a trace seven years ago after being disbarred for misappropriating clients' funds. As Serendipity prepares her upcoming series of food demonstrations, an eccentric and volatile circle of guests descends upon the house. Among them are Eduardo Rossi, a smug food blogger; Radha Singh, a glamorous society host with past ties to the missing Richard; and the arrogant Simpson twins. Also watching from the wings are Toby, a brilliant, non-binary tech genius, and Saffron, Serendipity’s fiercely independent, marketer and sous chef who is quietly planning her own exit from the estate. Everyone at Bishops Ridge is playing a game of observation. While Jack sifts through his initial notes in the dark study, tracking his subjects like a hawk, Serendipity is expertly pulling the strings to gather fodder for her upcoming memoir. Beneath the flowing wine, the fragrance of roasting lamb, and the rhythmic thump of the chef’s knife, a quiet game of deception is simmering. Who is hiding the truth, and what really happened to Richard Brown?

Down-on-his-luck journalist Jack Sutherland has one last shot to resurrect his career: an exclusive profile on the magnetic, larger-than-life culinary empire builder, Serendipity Brown. Arriving at her magnificent estate beyond Johannesburg’s city borders, Jack is drawn into a sensory world of vibrant flavours, sharp wit, and deep secrets. Officially, he’s there to capture the real woman behind the famous recipes. Unofficially, he’s hunting for the truth behind her husband Richard — a dodgy attorney who vanished without a trace three years ago, leaving her legally bound but penniless. As Serendipity prepares her upcoming cooking demonstrations, a riotous circle of eccentric guests descends upon the house: from a preening food blogger and a diamond-touting society host to a brilliant, non-binary tech genius. Everyone is playing a game of observation. Jack is tracking Serendipity like a hawk, but Serendipity is an expert at pulling the strings. Beneath the flow of chilled Sauvignon Blanc, the fragrance of garlic and blistering cherry tomatoes, a quiet game of deception is simmering. Who is hiding the truth, and what really happened to Richard Brown?

My first chapter is live: Down on his luck, journalist Jack Sutherland pitches a profile on famous foodie Serendipity Brown, tasked by his editor to uncover her husband Richard's disappearance. Jack arrives at her art nouveau-style estate, Bishops Ridge farm, and is boisterously welcomed by the flame-haired chef. Serendipity settles Jack into her missing husband’s former study, fueling his investigative instincts. Over strong drinks, she invites him to her upcoming cooking demonstrations at her home. My novel: A week-long demo by a famous cook has four guests hide links to her missing husband. A romance with a visiting journnalist uncovers the truth. I'll be posting a chapter at a time on my site. (I hope I'm allowed to post this, @Issy McCann?)

I've no doubt that each of us here has varied reading tastes and habits so feel free to answer in broad or general terms. Do you happen to read/write the same genre or do you create and consume stories in different spaces? If the latter is true, what elements of your recreational reading influence you in your writing?

And passed on to three agents and Patrick Gleeson!