Book Review - Sinister Stranger at St. Brides by Debbie Young

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Sinister Stranger at St. Brides

Author: Debbie Young

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 11th October 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

For anyone who loved St Trinian’s – old or new – or loves a cozy mystery on a grand estate filled with rather ‘interesting’ characters.

When an American stranger turns up claiming to be the rightful owner of the school’s magnificent country estate it could spell trouble for everyone at St Bride’s . . .

No one can believe it when the headmistress, Hairnet, instantly accepts the stranger’s claim, not:

the put-upon Bursar, ousted from his cosy estate cottage by the stranger

the enigmatic Max Security, raring to engage in a spot of espionage

the sensible Judith Gosling, who knows more about Lord Bunting than she’s letting on

the irrepressible Gemma Lamb, determined to keep the school open

Only fickle maths teacher Oriana Bliss isn’t suspicious of the stranger, after all she can just marry him and secure St Bride’s future forever. That's if inventive pranks by the girls - and the school cat - don't drive him away first.

Who will nab the stranger first? Oriana with the parson’s noose? Gemma with sinister secrets? Or could this be the end of St Bride’s?

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

Was completely and utterly hooked from the first page to the last. 

I may have said book one in this series didn't really feel like a mystery, but that has certainly been rectified in this second book, as it is all one big mystery all regarding a potential claim to the St Bride's estate and school. 

But is Mr Earl Bunting all he seems, well the the staff and the pupils don't really take to him hanging about, and neither do I. 

I'm definitely with Gemma Lamb and the rest of the teachers in thinking something is off with him, and I was fully on her side, with all the attempts she makes try to find out the truth. 

I loved catching up with all of the teachers and girls, set just after the first book ends, in the half of term that is between Halloween and Christmas, including a memorable Fireworks night too, there is a lot of touches to really get you into the autumn term feel.  

And I enjoyed seeing how St. Brides celebrates Christmas and all their traditions. I also really enjoyed just seeing how more secrets of this vast school get uncovered, and also seeing a few pranks from the girls.

I am just loving this series so much and already can't wait to read the next book. I am finding these really quick to read and I do love a book I can just ignore the outside world and want to continue reading on and on - which is what this story was for me. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily