Reviews of “Secrets at St Bride’s”

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“The perfect read – I loved it! Thank you for writing such an entertaining and intelligent book.“ – Katie Fforde

“Wonderfully witty – huge fun to read.” – Caroline Sanderson

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As a child, my favourite stories were the Chalet School series by Elinor Brent Dyer, so I knew I’d like this adult version set in a girls’ boarding school (an advance reader copy). Secrets abound, waiting to be discovered by Gemma Lamb, who takes up a teaching post to realise her dream after a relationship goes wrong. With plenty of humour and fabulous characters, the story flows really nicely, with a few puzzles along the way, and a denouement at the end that ties it all up in a satisfying way.

Who want to murder the maths teacher? How are the contents of the school library finding their way to an antiquarian bookseller? Why does the PE mistress have to shave so often?

Penniless Gemma Lamb is grateful for the chance to put her English degree to good use, especially as her new job at St Bride’s comes with a staff flat. It isn’t long before she begins to uncover strange secrets, however.

This is the cosiest of cosy mysteries, sweet, wholesome and quintessentially English like the cream teas in Gemma’s local bookshop. There’s barely a dark moment, but many deliciously comical ones. Well done, Debbie Young, for this quick, uplifting read.

Finally, a super school story for grown-ups! – Susan Grossey

If you’re a fan of the Sophie Sayers series (which I am), you’ll love this new character and setting. Gemma Lamb goes to work at St Bride’s, a boarding school that is both familiar (I went to one for four terms) and unusual. The staff members and their stories give plenty of scope for future plots (I love series, so this is a big plus for me), and Gemma is an engaging central character. Debbie Young exhibits her usual deft touch with light comic moments, and I really enjoyed the cross-over incidents when the school series collided with the Sophie Sayers one. The perfect book for a cosy, gentle, feel-good read, with just enough bite from reality to keep us grounded.

Buy now on Amazon (ebook for Kindle or paperback)

Buy now for any other ereader or ereading app

Order at your local bookshop quoting ISBN 978-1-911223-13-436