Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery #1: Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's

By Debbie Young

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?

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

Perfect for anyone who grew up hooked on Chalet School, Malory Towers, St Clare's and other classic school stories.

Shortlisted for The Selfies Award 2020, given to the best independently published adult fiction in the UK.

***Set in the same world as Debbie Young's popular Sophie Sayers Village Mysteries series and includes a little crossover. In the first book, Gemma pays a visit to Hector's House in Wendlebury Barrow and meets Sophie and Hector. ***


"Perfect book - I loved it!" - Katie Fforde, Sunday Times #1 Bestselling Novelist

"I can't tell you how much I adored Secrets at St Bride's, so much so that I also downloaded all five Sophie Sayers novels and have devoured them all!" - Julie Welch, author of Too Marvellous for Words - The Real Malory Towers Life

"A fun and pacy novel by an author who clearly knows her market" - The Selfies Book Awards 2020 Judging Panel (Secrets at St Bride's was in the final shortlist of six titles in the adult fiction category, UK)

(Originally self-published as "Secrets at St Bride's", now published under new title by Boldwood Books)