| Dandy Gilver | |
|---|---|
First appearance | After the Armistice Ball |
| Created by | Catriona McPherson |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Private investigator |
| Nationality | Scottish |
Dandy Gilver is the protagonist of a historical mystery series by Scottish author Catriona McPherson. The stories are set in Scotland in the interwar period, beginning shortly after World War I and extending into the mid-1930s.
The novels feature dry humor and colorful characters in the cozy mystery tradition. The novels are well-researched and full of period details, and the books address the rapidly changing social order, economic challenges before and during the Great Depression in the United Kingdom, and ongoing class tensions. As of 2021[update], 15 books have been published in this series. Several books in the series have won awards, including the Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel.
Dandy (short for Dandelion) is an upper-class Englishwoman whose career as a private detective fills the void in her comfortable but unfulfilled life within a world of landownership and child-rearing for which she is temperamentally unsuited. Dandy is a first-person narrator. She is joined in her detecting activities by her friend Alec Osborne.
The recurring characters age at a realistic rate as the series advances through time.
The book series has been compared to the television shows Downton Abbey and Upstairs.