Published by Hawkesbury
Press,
24 June 2020.
ISBN: 978-1-911223-59-7 (PB)
24 June 2020.
ISBN: 978-1-911223-59-7 (PB)
Since taking a post as a teacher at St
Bride’s school, Gemma Lamb is happier than she has been for years. Until
recently, Gemma was in a relationship with a cruel and controlling man, who had
limited her career, destroyed her self-esteem and caused her estrangement from
her parents and friends. Now, thanks to the supportive and nurturing ambience
of a very unusual school, Gemma is regaining her confidence and learning to
trust people again, which means that she is capable of renewing old
relationships and developing new ones, especially with the attractive sports
teacher, Joe Spryke. St Brides is remarkable in many ways. It is a private
school for girls, some of whom are extremely wealthy and well-born, while
others are less affluent and whose parents are paying reduced fees: the common
factor is that the majority of them have been bereaved of at least one parent.
The headmistress, Miss Harnett, has gathered a staff of warm-hearted, eccentric
and talented teachers, most of whom have secrets of their own. The beautiful
house in which the school is situated was the bequest of Victorian
philanthropist, Lord Bunting, who had written a will that stipulated that, if
he died without issue, the house should be used for a school for girls.
The peace of St Brides is shattered
when a man turns up who bears a remarkable resemblance to the portrait of Lord
Bunting that hangs in the entrance hall. The man is wearing clothes very
similar to that of the portrait and claims that he is the illegitimate
descendant of Lord Bunting. Lord Bunting was a life peer and his title was not hereditary,
but the new man announces that his name is Earl Bunting. He has a pronounced
American accent and claims to have spent his life in America, explaining that
he only just discovered about his illustrious ancestor. Earl Bunting claims
that the house and estate belong to him, he has paperwork to back this up and
the headmistress and school governors have to accept this.
Earl Bunting proves to be arrogant, rude
and avaricious. He moves into the house and evicts the Headmistress from her suite
of rooms and the Bursar from his study, he insults and shouts at children and
staff, and demands that the school authorities give him money that they need
for school equipment; despite the money they provide, he runs up large debts in
the local village pub. The staff know that it is only a matter of time before
the school is evicted from its home. The younger girls play pranks upon him,
and so does McPhee, the school cat, but it is clear that it will take more than
childish mischief to drive Earl Bunting away. It is up to Gemma and the rest of
the St Brides’ staff to discover a way to defeat Earl Bunting and save their
school.
Stranger at St Brides is the second in the author’s series of ‘school stories for
grown-ups’ and it embodies many of the easy-to-read, amusing and gentle
adventures that are typical of the traditional school stories for girls. It
also possesses that magical ingredient that urges the reader to read on in
hopeful anticipation that the villain will get his just deserts. The story is
set in the Cotswolds, near to the fictional village of Wendlebury Barrow that is
the setting for the author’s other series, featuring Sophie Sayers. For those
who know both series, this crossover adds to the fun by showing familiar
characters from a different perspective.
Stranger at St Brides is an enjoyable read with eccentric but engaging
characters, an amusing, quirky plot and an attractive setting. It is great fun
and recommended for those who enjoy a lively cosy crime with a strong sense of
community.
------
Reviewer: Carol Westron
Debbie Young was born and raised in Sidcup, Kent. When she was 14,
her family relocated to Germany for her father’s job. Debbie spent four years
at Frankfurt International School, broadening her outlook as well as gaining
the then brand new IB (International Baccalaureate). She returned to the UK to
earn her BA (Hons) in English and Related Literature at the University of York,
then lived and worked for a while in London and the West of England as a
journalist and PR consultant. In 1991
she moved to the Cotswolds. In 2002, she married a Scot named Gordon whom she
met in Swindon – and not, as village rumour once had it, a Swede named
Scottie. In 2003, her daughter Laura was
born. Best Murder in Show was the first
in her series featuring Sophie Sayers. There are now a further three books in
this series.
Carol Westron is a successful short story writer and a Creative
Writing teacher. She is the moderator
for the cosy/historical crime panel, The Deadly Dames. Her crime novels are set both in contemporary
and Victorian times. The Terminal
Velocity of Cats the first in her Scene of Crimes novels, was published
July 2013. Carol recently gave an interview to Mystery People. To read the
interview click on the link below.
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