Six Doors, Six Escapes and Several Reasons Not to Mind One’s Own Business 

I have always found unique doors hard to resist. 

A brightly painted door on a quiet street immediately raises questions. Who lives behind it? Where does it lead? Why is it the only pink door on the lane? And perhaps most importantly, why does it look as if someone has just disappeared through it, carrying a secret? 

That curiosity inspired the Doorway Series, my six-book collection of lighthearted historical mysteries set in some of Europe’s most beautiful destinations. 

The series begins in 1953 and follows Louisa “Lulu” Penrose, an observant young Englishwoman with an unfortunate habit of noticing things that would be far more convenient to ignore. Lulu is joined by her elegant widowed aunt, Mrs. Dalrymple, whose social calendar, impeccable manners, and talent for a perfectly timed remark make her useful in almost any situation. 

Also appearing with increasing regularity is Stuart, whose relationship with Lulu develops at the pace one might expect from two intelligent people determined not to admit the obvious. 

There are mysteries, naturally. There are also seaside cafés, glamorous villas, leisurely lunches, unexpected journeys, suspicious conversations, and enough romantic tension to make a perfectly sensible woman reconsider several of her opinions. 

A Historical Mystery Series Made for Escaping 

The Doorway Series was created for readers who enjoy mysteries and also want the pleasure of being transported to somewhere beautiful. 

Each book opens another door to a new setting, beginning with the sunlit cliffs of Positano and continuing across the Mediterranean and beyond. The stories combine intriguing yet not overly grim mysteries with travel, friendship, humor, and a gradual romantic thread that runs throughout the series. 

Think elegant 1950s clothing, handwritten letters, ocean voyages, long lunches, and investigations conducted without the assistance of mobile phones, internet searches, or location tracking. 

Lulu must instead rely on observation, conversation, and the occasional questionable decision. 

Mrs. Dalrymple, meanwhile, relies largely on good posture and the fact that people tend to reveal far too much over luncheon. 

Why I Am Rapid Releasing the Doorway Series 

I love a continuing series, but I do not love making readers wait an eternity between installments. 

For that reason, I am rapidly releasing the Doorway Series, with new books arriving throughout the coming months and the complete six-book journey scheduled to wrap up by the holiday season. 

Rapid release means the mysteries, relationships, and small details from one book can carry naturally into the next. Readers will not have to spend two years trying to remember why Stuart looked annoyed on a terrace or what Mrs. Dalrymple said over coffee. 

It also means I am spending a great deal of time surrounded by maps, timelines, historical details, and notes that remind me which character knows which secret. 

This is all perfectly organized, of course. 

Mostly. 

Where the Journey Begins 

The first book, The Pink Door of Positano, introduces Lulu, Mrs. Dalrymple, and the sun-drenched world of the series. What begins as an Italian escape soon becomes a journey through the Greek islands, where a troubling incident and several suspicious circumstances make relaxation increasingly unlikely. 

The second book, The Blue Door of Santorini, brings Lulu back to Santorini's dramatic cliffs, where a mysterious blue door, an influential family, and rumors of smuggling create a new puzzle. 

From there, another door will open—and then a second. 

Each story has its own central mystery, but the characters, relationships, and the larger emotional journey continue throughout the series. The books are designed to be read in order so readers can experience Lulu’s adventures and the slowly unfolding romance from the beginning. 

Consider This Your Invitation 

The Doorway Series is for anyone who has ever wanted to step through a beautiful door and find themselves somewhere entirely different. 

Somewhere with sparkling seas, elegant villas, suspicious strangers, and a café table waiting in the shade. 

Naturally, there may also be a mystery. 

But no holiday is perfect.