A compelling tale of obsession and mystery, introducing a brilliant new voice in historical fiction.

That's how it is for us servants. No one pays you much heed; mostly you're invisible as furniture. Yet you overhear a conversation here, and add a little gossip there. A writing desk lies open and you cannot help but read a paper. Then you find something, something you should not have found.

Irrepressible Biddy Leigh, under-cook at the foreboding Mawton Hall, only wants to marry her childhood sweetheart and set up her own tavern. But when her elderly master marries the young Lady Carinna, Biddy is unwittingly swept up in a world of scheming, secrets and lies.

Forced to accompany her new mistress to Italy, Biddy takes with her an old household book of recipes, The Cook's Jewel, in which she records her observations. When she finds herself embroiled in a murderous conspiracy, Biddy realises that the secrets she holds could be the key to her survival - or her downfall . . .

"Part social history, part exploration of 18th century cuisine and part action-packed, dark-edged mystery, this is probably the most delicious - and inventive - story you will read this year." - Lancashire Evening Post

"If you enjoyed Jo Baker's Longbourn you'll enjoy this. It's another beautifully written 18th century servant story, sad in the same sort of way and similarly rich . . . An impressive debut." - Daily Mail

"Martine Bailey writes with such easy, compelling grace, and in a fascinating new genre - best described as culinary gothic. I was hooked and enraptured." - Fay Weldon

"Biddy's irrepressible nature is apparent from the very start . . . she is one of the most likeable protagonists I have encountered in a long time . . . It's rare to encounter descriptive skills as good as this. At every point I felt I could see, hear, smell and taste what was going on . . . This novel takes in historical, Gothic and crime ficiton in a clean, easy sweep and manages to pack in cultural and culinary observations without once disrupting flow or timing . . . There's a great sense of the book being a complicated and daring recipe; both the timing and the proportions of each ingredient needed to be exactly right to produce the best result. Bailey's recipe has worked perfectly. I was cheering for the heroes, booing for the villains and feeling disappointed as the end of the book crept up on me. AN APPETITE FOR VIOLETS is a terrific novel . . . a must-read for anyone who enjoys a full, flavoursome and hearty story." - The Bookbag

"The recipes [Bailey] includes throughout the book give her novel a wonderful flavour . . . Bailey has chosen her language cleverly, choosing foodie adjectives when possible to create a full sensory experience . . . AN APPETITE FOR VIOLETS is part Gothic mystery melodrama, part romance, part social commentary, part history of cuisine." - For Books' Sake

"Irresistible. Full of mystery and intrigue, above and below stairs shenanigans and cookery. Gastro-porn at its best." - The Arts Show on BBC Radio 2

"There are mysteries to solve, secrets to uncover, plots to unravel . . . The story is both light and intriguing with twists and turns aplenty . . . It is a cleverly woven tale, yet for all the depth and detail the book remains an easy and enjoyable read. Just as the lightest of dishes can contain a host of complimentary tastes and textures, so this book offers up a complex, thought provoking story that is easily digested." - Jackie Law's Book Blog

"A deliciously inventive story . . . Biddy Leigh, our heroine, is one of the most engaging characters I've come across in a long time . . . AN APPETITE FOR VIOLETS was inspired by recipe books from the 18th century which are matched with a love of food, history and travel. A perfect combination and, like Biddy's cooking, mixed in just such a way to meld together all the flavors creating a most delicious story." - Shiny New Books

"A charming debut and a genuinely original and insightful novel." - Good Housekeeping

"The first half of the novel whets the reader's appetite for more. There are charming recipes that kick off each of Biddy's chapters. And then there is the central mystery of what happened in Tuscany . . . The pace bustles with subplots . . . If you are looking for a food-related light read, this fits the bill quite nicely." - Straits Times, Singapore

"A delectable dish that will appeal to readers with a taste for historical mysteries as well as fiction about food." - Booklist Starred Review

"Debut novelist (and award winning amateur cook) Bailey whips up a tasty confection of history, mystery, and intrigue. Fans of 18th-century writers as James Boswell, Tobias Smollett, Henry Fielding, and Samuel Richardson will savor this delicious read." - Library Journal Starred Review