The Butler
Baxter and Red Book 1
Claire Mackintosh
Podium Publishing
June 2026
The Butler by Claire Mackintosh is a locked room mystery set in Cannes in the French Riviera, a whodunit story.
The South of France is stunning, though not without its imperfections, from pickpockets to burglars to the occasional cold-blooded killer. But in his twenty-five years of service, Baxter―with a spotless reputation as a polished, well-mannered butler―has never run into any issues catering to the ultrawealthy. Until now.
Baxter’s latest assignment is at Villa Sérénité, where Alec Prescott is hosting a colorful cast of characters, including his ex-wife, his much younger lady friend, and some Hollywood hotshots, after the Cannes Film Festival. But it doesn’t take long for a week of sun, wine, and a family birthday celebration to devolve into bickering and backstabbing. And soon, secrets aren’t the only thing floating to the surface . . .
When one of the guests is found dead in the villa’s glittering pool, the gendarmes turn to the unflappable Baxter to help determine who’s responsible. A good butler is expected to see everything and say nothing―but what if he too becomes a target?
The story has murder, scandal, drama, and intrigue.
Elise Cooper: The idea for the story?
Claire Mackintosh: I was scrolling on TikTok when I came across Dan The Butler, a modern-day butler who travels the world looking after private clients. I had a sudden image of a butler investigating a crime, and thought someone must have written a novel with a similar central character. But they hadn’t! The more I thought about it, the more I could see how it could play out: rich people in glamorous settings, a dead body, a cast of suspects
EC: How would you describe Baxter?
CM: Baxter is my fictional version of real-life Dan the Butler. Baxter comes from a traditional butler background, having worked in a household for many years, but is now working for a butler agency. He’s a consummate professional – always the last to retire at night, always awake before his guests – and can handle everything from stubborn stains to… well, murder, as it turns out!
EC: How would you describe Red?
CM: I hadn’t planned to give Baxter a sidekick – he is a very self-contained individual – but I couldn’t resist throwing Red into the mix! Half French, half English, Red is a skilled teenage pickpocket who works the busy streets of Cannes. We meet her as she attempts (and fails) to lift Baxter’s wallet. Red’s world is a long way from the rarified lifestyle of Baxter’s guests at Villa Sérénité, and she’s a likely friend for someone like Baxter, but – as you’ll see – their skills are well suited when it comes to solving crime.
EC: What other character plays a pivotal role in the story and how would you describe them?
CM: Baxter has been engaged to look after Alex Prescott, whose son, Carter, is celebrating his 21st birthday at Villa Sérénité. Carter’s mother has joined them (much to the annoyance of Alex’s young girlfriend), along with Carter’s girlfriend and godparents. We also meet Miriam and Thierry, the housekeeper and chef. Tensions simmer from the start, and by the time a body is found floating in the pool, the question isn’t ‘who had a motive for murder?’ but ‘who got there first?’
EC: How would you describe Cannes?
CM: Cannes, in the south of France, is a beautiful and glamorous location but, like anywhere, scratch the surface and you’ll find rot. The Film Festival makes for rich pickings for petty thieves like Red, but also for professional criminals carrying out targeted burglaries across the area. I loved recreating the atmosphere of Cannes in this book, and hope readers will be able to imagine walking through the cobbled streets (just keep a hand on your wallet, in case Red’s around.)
EC: Can you explain this quote, “Jobs pay money, anything else is a hobby.”
CM: Alex Prescott is so dismissive of his son’s start-up, which isn’t making Carter any money, that he announces at dinner he will cut off Carter’s income. Wealth is a strong theme in The Butler. It’s the cause of a lot of family disputes, inviting the reader to consider whether money really can buy happiness. Spoiler alert: it can’t.
EC: Next book?
CM: I have lots of adventures planned for my butler detective, who I can see hosting guests everywhere from Swiss ski lodges to Arabian tents. I’m having fun creating fictional mysteries for Baxter and Red. We leave Baxter and Red as all their guests (bar one…) have left Villa Sérénité, and Baxter is ready to head off to his next assignment, looking after guests on a yacht in Santorini, Greece. The owner of the agency needs Baxter to take a housekeeper with him, so Red will be accompanying him. Blue skies, a shimmering ocean, a multi-million-dollar yacht… sounds idyllic, right? But, as we’ve already seen, a dream vacation can very swiftly become a nightmare…
I’m gearing up for the US publication of my standalone thriller, It’s Not What You Think, which comes out in September. I can’t wait to hear what American readers think of my biggest twist yet!
THANK YOU!!
