Third in the series of St. Bride’s, this book exceeds all expectations and is a shining star. Rarely have I come across book series that gets better with the number of books written in it. However, St. Bride’s for sure is an exception. Debbie’s writing style is reminiscent of Enid Blyton’s, and left me nostalgic for Malory Towers.

Highly intriguing, and captivating. Don’t miss on these series if you enjoy Enid Blyton’s writing. It’s like Enid Blyton’s, but for adults.

This third book in the Gemma Lamb cosy mystery series finally answers some of the bigger questions Gemma had about the staff at St Bride’s and uncovers some of their oldest secrets.

What I really like about these books is that while each has a mystery to solve, the author doesn’t fall into the ‘Midsomer Murders’ trap of introducing a small community and then murdering them one-by-one in story after story, which would get especially silly here with such a small pool of very distinct suspects/victims to draw from! Instead, the focus is on gentler mysteries – a missing student and some suspicious staff absences here – and we can really get to know the staff as the series progresses. And they really are brought to life, from Gemma and Joe, to Oriana, Hairnet and Max Security (my favourite, other than McPhee the cat, of course!).

I have to admit that Miss Harnett’s behaviour baffled me a bit in this story. I love her character, with her warmth for the girls and staff under her care, and her placid all-knowing demeanour, but felt a lot of worry and drama would have been avoided if she had simply told her staff a little of what was going on. It seemed a bit unusually irresponsible of her… until it becomes clear that she has a history of bafflingly bad decisions!

I really hope that this isn’t the last book in this series, as they are such lovely, cosy reads, with a little bit of gentle mystery, a little bit of clean romance, some memorable characters and an air of nostalgic Britishness. They are fantastic for a quick, easy read on a cold evening and made me remember my old Enid Blyton obsession fondly, and I could definitely read many more tales of St Bride’s.

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

This is the third book in the Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery Series but reads well as a standalone.

This is my first foray in to St. Bride’s School for Girls but it certainly won’t be my last. Some great characters which had me chuckling out loud & the antics the girls get up to, well…. And as for the staff…
I’m not going to regurgitate the plot, what’s the point? Enjoy this book for what it is - Malory Towers for grown ups with a bit of St. Trinian’s thrown in for good measure.

An easy to read, feel good story with humour aplenty. Recommended.

It’s the start of the new term after Christmas and everyone at St. Bride’s School for Girls is hoping for a quieter and less eventful time after the previous one which saw the violent return of Gemma Lamb’s ex-boyfriend and also a fraudster in their midst. First on the school’s agenda is the teaching of a new set of life skills (the girls already learn very useful lessons such as how to place a bet on the Grand National and how to mix cocktails). This term they will be becoming adept at board games, chess and poker, all essential for the perfect dinner guest. However it’s not long before Gemma has lots to worry about. Joe and Oriana are sneaking off together and Gemma fears she may be losing her shamed national cyclist/female PE instructor impersonator to another woman. Then another stranger turns up at the school, confiding his identity in Gemma and requesting help researching his father. Finally a ransom note delivered to Gemma’s pigeon hole has everyone fearing that a girl may have been kidnapped. Will anyone get a happy ending?
The eccentric and rather splendid cast of teachers are all present and correct, including Oriana Bliss, head of maths and little-known daughter of Headmistress the Hairnet, McPhee the school cat and Max Security, the omnipresent protection officer, as more secrets are revealed about the staff in a story with a real feel-good factor, lots of humour and a great ending. This series gets better and better with each new story and I do look forward to reading more about these incredibly likeable characters. 5*

I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Gemma, Joe, Oriana and Hairnet throughout these 3 books and hope there will be more. Each is a good story on its own that can be read as a standalone, but they’re such good easy reads you may as well read the series.

In this story, there seems to be more secrets than ever before, and twists and revelations galore! I did think that Gemma did get a bit too involved in this one, and definitely overthought everything which led to a few dubious decisions along the way. This didn’t detract from the story though and we did meet some new and old faces a bit more this time round.

A great series of cosy mysteries that I hope continues, well worth a snuggly Sunday read.

Wicked Whispers At St Brides by Debbie Young is the third marvellous instalment of the Gemma Lamb Cosy Mystery series. It is equally engaging and amusing as the previous two books.
There is the theme of family. St Brides functions as a family but we also need our own blood family. There is a very inventive way for some to spend time with theirs.
Secrets kept for years, eventually have a way of being unearthed. There are some surprising but very welcome revelations.
We witness old loves and new loves as spring is in the air.
St Brides is due an overhaul to bring it into the twenty first century – what could it be?
The three stories, so far, in the Gemma Lamb series have all been totally delightful, engaging, light-hearted entertainment and I have loved them all.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Full of mild cosy-styled mysteries, Gemma, teacher of English at St Brides, finds her sleuthing skills put to the test as she tries to find out what's between Joe and Oriana, what the mysterious stranger wants with information about the school founder and the whereabouts of one of her charges. It's best to read the previous books to get to know the characters, as this story reveals more about the lives of the headmistress and her staff. It's a simple plot, but the characters are vividly depicted and bring the story to life.

I like the characters and setting.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Gemma has settled into life at the school but finds herself alone when the girls and staff all take advantage of the next exeat. Even Joe (with whom she hoped to spend more time) has plans that do not include her. And he seems rather over-friendly with Oriana too, which leaves Gemma wondering about their relationship.
So, when a stranger arrives at the empty school asking what could be very awkward questions for the headmistress (Hairnet), Gemma seizes the opportunity to steer the stranger away from the school and ends up enjoying a delicious afternoon tea at the infamous Doilies in town. She agrees to help him find out about his father rather than let him meet Hairnet and ask her about it (Gemma knows Hairnet’s secret and doesn’t want to put her in a difficult and embarrassing position of being exposed.)
Back in the staffroom, Gemma grows increasing concerned about Joe and Oriana, and also questions why sections of the local newspaper have been cut out. What is it that is being kept from them all? Does the stranger – Oliver – have anything to do with it? Do Joe and Oriana?
Gemma’s curiosity is distracted when one of the girls disappears and can’t be found on school grounds. Life at St Brides is getting more and more mysterious by the day.

This book is certainly packed with intrigue, but it’s also more focused on Gemma’s relationship with Joe. She spends a lot of time second-guessing events, all of which lead her to incessant introspection as she reflects on their relationship. This aspect of the story stunts the flow for me, and while there are mysteries to solve, Gemma is more of an accidental bit-player in their resolution. The story around Hairnet and her daughter seemed a little far-fetched and I couldn’t imagine a parent keeping that secret from their child, especially given the circumstances of living at St Brides. Not as fast-paced as book two, but still completely engaging and addictive.

I hope there is more to come from St Brides.

Thank you to the author, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for my ecopy which I have reviewed of my own volition.

I absolutely love these books about St Brides, a school for girls whose parents are wealthy. In this book English teacher Gemma Lamb becomes very suspicious of her fellow teachers Oriana and Joe. They keep going off together, whispering in corners and there are articles being cut out of the local paper. Then a journalist named Oliver turns up. I think that the characters are brilliant and the school, plus other locations are described really well. I love Debbie Young’s style of writing. Really hoping there is more in this series to come! Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Have I mentioned recently how much I am loving these St Brides books. I am completely and utterly hooked and they are barely having a chance to land on my kindle before I am reading the next one. I really hope there will be more to this series than just these first three books.

There is certainly a few gently mysteries for Gemema Lamb to look into this time, why is someone cutting things from the local newspaper, just what stories is being hidden, and just what exactly is the stranger she ends up having tea with on the first weekend of term really up to?

Not to mention one of the pupils being front and centre of a really touching in the end storyline, although it had me worried at one point.

And I loved catching up with Hairnett, Joe and Oriana especially, as we learn more about all of their pasts and presents.

This book and the whole series, just feels as though it is like a Malory towers for grown ups with just a tad more intrigue, and i just love everything about them.

More please.... after all I couldn't put this one down, and couldn't get enough of it, so definitely want more!

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

The St Bride's books are rapidly becoming one of my favourite series.

Wicked Whispers at St Bride's takes place during the half term after the Christmas holidays. While the girls are all learning how to play games with the teachers, Cluedo, Chess, and a touch of poker, Gemma finds herself wondering what's going on between Joe and Oriana, which leads her to make a rather impromptu decision when a stranger appears at the doors of St Bride's.

What follows is a series of misunderstandings, a somewhat unexpected fire alarm, and not one, not two, not three, but four trips out for afternoon tea, during which two more mysteries are solved.

I really do enjoy this series featuring the staff and students of St Bride's. They're just the right sort of cosy to fill a couple of hours with feel-good reading. I'm hoping there'll be a book 4 soon.