Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's: The first in an addictive cozy mystery series from Debbie Young (Staffroom at St Bride's, #1)

by Debbie Young

'A delight from start to finish' Juliette Lawson

When Gemma Lamb takes a job at a quirky English girls’ boarding school, she believes she’s found the perfect escape route from her controlling boyfriend – until she discovers the rest of the staff are hiding sinister secrets.

• Hairnet, the eccentric headmistress who doesn't hold with academic qualifications

• Oriana Bliss, Head of Maths and master of disguise

• Joscelyn Spryke, the suspiciously rugged Head of PE

• Geography teacher Mavis Brook, surreptitiously selling off the library books

• Creepy night watchman Max Security, with his network of hidden tunnels

• Even McPhee, the school cat, is leading a double life.

Tucked away in the school’s beautiful private estate in the Cotswolds, can Gemma stay safe and build a new independent future, or will past secrets catch up with her and the rest of the staff?

With a little help from her new friends, including some wise pupils, she's going to give it her best shot...

For anyone who loved St Trinian’s – old or new – or read Malory Towers as a kid. St Bride's is the perfect read for you.

Readers love Debbie Young:

'A cracking example of cozy crime!' Katie Fforde

'This is a wonderfully written, warm and witty story' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

'All the books from this Queen of Cosy Mystery bring smiles to my face and put me in a good mood' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

'It is a jolly hockey sticks pleasure of a read, full of little quirks and humour. If you want gentle escapism with a healthy splash of nostalgia this is for you' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

'Engaging and cosy with that essential feel-good factor, Debbie Young has created a charming protagonist in Gemma Lamb' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

Previously published by Debbie Young as Secrets at St Bride's.

• ISBN13: 9781804830253
• Publish Date: 15 September 2022 (first published 15 August 2019)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Boldwood Books Ltd
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's is the first Gemma Lamb cozy mystery by Debbie Young. This reformat and re-release 15th Sept 2022 from Boldwood Books is 246 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU. 

This is a fun, slyly humorous, character driven "school-time" cozy set in a girls' school at an undisclosed fictive locale somewhere in the Cotswolds. All the staff (even the school cat) are harboring secrets, and new teacher Gemma, who is on the run from a not-funny-at-all controlling ex-boyfriend finds herself trying to navigate a new job, new position, and new living arrangements. 

Four stars. The language is clean and there's no questionable content. There's a sweetly nostalgic Enid Blyton vibe. With three books extant in the series (all available on kindle unlimited), it would be a good candidate for a long weekend binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.