Recognizing the shortage of positive young female role models in children's literature, Dave Jeffery decided to create a character in the spirit of Nancy Drew -- a girl whose values were dictated by a sense of morality, not peer influence or socially desirable aesthetic qualities. Jeffery's skillfully penned creation is Beatrice Beecham, the redheaded freckle-faced star of Beatrice Beecham's Fearsome Feast. Twelve-year-old Beatrice loves to cook and is a bit of an outcast among her peers. When she is faced with difficult decisions in life, Beatrice turns to her imaginary culinary council of TV chefs, led by Jamie Oliver, for assistance. In Beatrice Beecham's Fearsome Feast, Beatrice's father loses his job and her family moves to the coastal town of Dorsal Finn, where they stay with the colorful and wise 77-year-old Aunt Maud, a friend of the family. Young at heart, Aunt Maud adds depth and humor to the novel with her simple, yet insightful sayings and constant challenges to authority.

Beatrice Beecham's Fearsome Feast

Welcome to Dorsal Finn! This is a wonderful town where everyone knows everyone else’s name. Beatrice Beechham is a 12 year old girl who moves to Dorsal Finn with her parents and younger brother Tom. They have been invited to live with one of Mrs. Beecham's closest friends Maud. Beatrice and Tom refer to her as Aunt Maud. Beatrice gets to meet some of the most interesting residents including the Newshounds. She makes a very good friend in Patience, which is a very good name in this town since Beatrice will need a lot of it living here. Lucas was able to figure out any clues as they came along.

They have moved to Dorsal Finn just in time for the annual fearsome feast contest. The contest involves cooking the most disgusting dish. In the last few years no one has been able to defeat Vladimir Karloff. Beatrice decides to enter the contest. The day of the contest is a part of the Masque, a very dressy occasion. Can Beatrice come up with a dish that will turn everyone's stomach?

Aunt Maud gives her a cookbook. Anyway, it looks like a cookbook but it is actually a bunch of clues so there is a mystery to solve too. Sometimes secrets are fun to figure out and sometimes secrets are better kept hidden.

I really liked "Beatrice Beecham's Fearsome Feast." It let me visit England, learn some of their Old English language, and their customs. I had a hard time laying this book down until I was finished with it. I was sad to see the book come to a close but I was happy with its ending. I hope Dave Jeffery writes more books like this.