If you didn't realise just how exciting chess could get then give this cosy mystery a read and you'll find out!!

Alice seems to have quite a few new ventures to contend with an I'm not so sure embracing her inner Miss Marple was what she had in mind although her mum seems to have the knack for it!

Her community is about to be rocked by a murder and she feels responsible so it's unsurprising that she wants to help to restore order. She's a very likeable character and you want to see her get back on her feet after the events that have occured leading to her current circumstances. Her curiosity shop sounds fab and full of all sorts of trinkets and treasure although the chess boards do seem to have taken over.

It's quite a fun, cosy mystery with a load of interesting characters. I feel Suki may have a few stories to tell if her and Alice can team up and become good friends

Alice Carroll, aged 50, split with her lawyer partner Steven who she had been with since her university days and relocated to the village of Little Pride whilst simultaneously being made redundant from her job as Victorian expert at the Broadwick City Museum. An overlooked clause in the sale contract of her new home meant she had to continue running the business now known as Alice’s Cotswold Curiosity Shop and, aided by her best friend Danny from the museum, also now lodging with her after splitting with his partner Martin who spiked Alice’s drink, she finds she has become surprisingly good at it. When her globetrotting ex-boyfriend Steven starts to run out of money, having only got as far as France, he asks Alice to liquidate some of his assets, starting with his chess set collection. Alice thinks it would be a great idea to use the school hall to display them for sale and start a chess club, and teacher Jack Dauntless agrees to help her and Danny, raising some money for her shop and the school into the bargain. Then events become rather strange. A sinister message daubed in ketchup, a night-time intruder, missing chess pieces and a dead body in the school car park all signal that someone is desperate to get their hands on the chess sets at any cost, and so Alice, together with Danny and the welcome addition of her mother Wendy, sets out to solve another murder.
There is lots of wit and charm in this lovely follow up to book one as Alice settles into life in Little Pride, even becoming the new editor of the parish magazine. Danny still provides support as Alice’s best friend and her relationship with her mother becomes stronger than it has been for years, whilst it seems her love life might finally be looking up. With a great village setting and some very likable quirky characters such as Nell and Maudie, this is a nice easily enjoyable cosy crime story and I look forward to book three.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is the second book in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries series. The protagonist, Alice, owns the Curiosity Shop. Her ex-boyfriend, Steven, takes her by surprise when he asks her to sell his collection of chess pieces, as he's in need of some extra cash. Alice decides to host a chess tournament at the Curiosity Shop.

I was excited to read this, as I enjoyed the previous book in the series. I enjoyed reading about Alice again, and returning to the cosy village of Little Pride, to visit her shop for the second time. I liked all of the characters, and found their interactions humorous. I also appreciated the chess theme in the story, which felt a little bit nostalgic for me in some ways. I enjoyed chess as a child, but haven't played it in a long time.

This cosy mystery was a fun and entertaining read, especially if you're a chess fan. I found it easy to read in one sitting too.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

A fab second book in series!

Alice Carroll is finally settled into her new home in the village of Little Pride and, even though it wasn't what she had planned, her new shop is open for business When her ex begins to run out of cash on his round the world trip, he asks that Alice sells off some of the 'treasures' to raise some money. When she retrieves his chess sets, she comes up with the idea of holding a tournament to attract buyers - but when chess pieces begin to disappear, it seems that there is something else going on . . .

The first book in this series saw Alice arriving in the village and dealing with a catalogue of problems she hadn't anticipated. With this second book, all that is behind her and she is settling into village life, doing her bit for the community. With a puzzle to crack, this is a very good read and one I enjoyed. I look forward to reading more about Alice and her Curiosity shop! A delight for cosy mystery fans and one I'm happy to recommend. 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

Debbie Young’s Death at the Village Chess Club is a delightful and cleverly plotted cozy mystery set in the charming Cotswold village of Little Pride. With an intriguing premise, an engaging amateur sleuth, and just the right amount of suspense, this book is a perfect treat for fans of classic village whodunits.

A Clever Mystery with a Chess-Themed Twist
Alice Carroll, owner of the Curiosity Shop, is settling into her new life when her ex-boyfriend, Steven, turns up, broke and looking to sell his chess set collection. Hoping to help, Alice organizes a chess tournament to showcase the sets, but things take a sinister turn when pieces go missing—and then a body is discovered. Suddenly, Alice finds herself at the center of a far more dangerous game than she ever anticipated.

A Smart and Determined Sleuth
Alice is a fantastic protagonist—curious, resourceful, and determined to uncover the truth. As an amateur detective, she balances a keen sense of observation with an endearing mix of wit and warmth. Her role as the tournament host naturally places her at the heart of the mystery, and her interactions with the local police and village residents add to the novel’s charm.

A Picturesque Yet Mysterious Setting
The Cotswold village of Little Pride is beautifully depicted, with its quaint charm providing the perfect backdrop for a cozy mystery. Young skillfully captures the dynamics of a small community, where gossip spreads fast, and everyone seems to have secrets. The chess tournament setting adds a unique and intellectual twist to the traditional village mystery formula.

A Well-Paced Plot with Plenty of Twists
The story unfolds with a steady pace, balancing lighthearted moments with genuine suspense. The mystery itself is cleverly woven, with plenty of red herrings and twists to keep readers guessing. The stolen chess pieces seem like a harmless prank at first, but as Alice digs deeper, she realizes the stakes are far higher than she imagined.

Final Verdict
Death at the Village Chess Club is a delightful, intelligent, and thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery. With its charming setting, intriguing plot, and a strong, likable heroine, Debbie Young delivers a book that will keep readers hooked until the final move. Fans of Agatha Christie-style mysteries and village whodunits will love this one.

I loved this book! The mystery was well done and kept you guessing, and the banter and characters were enjoyable.

Death at the Village Chess Club by Debbie Young

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Alice Carroll is finally settling into life in the picturesque Cotswold village of Little Pride. But then her old life comes knocking… Alice’s ex boyfriend, Steven, who dumped her to travel the world, has run out of money and asks Alice to sell off his collection of chess sets.

Alice decides to host a tournament to showcase the boards, and her plan seems to be working. That is, until chess pieces begin to mysteriously disappear. And when a body is discovered outside the tournament, Alice realises that the victim was a pawn in another, far more dangerous game.

As the host of the event, Alice is eager to help the police investigate. She doesn’t know why anyone would be interested in stealing random chess pieces, let alone willing to kill for them, but she’s determined to find out. Can she solve the case before someone else gets hurt?

Or will this be one gambit too far for Alice?

My Opinion

Another great book by Debbie Young. Death at the Village Chess Club is the second book in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries and whilst it could be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the books in order. Debbie Young has written a cosy mystery that was easy to enjoy. The residents of Little Pride are all welcoming so I am already looking forward to my next visit.

Rating 4/5

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book by Debbie Young.

Alice is asked by her ex to sell his chess collection and she agrees to do so.

She asks her lodger and neighbour to help, and together they plan to hold a tournament at the school, hoping this will help to encourage potential buyers to attend and show an interest in purchasing the.

Everything goes as planned, but then, a body is found in the parking area of the school.

I like the characters and the story kept me engrossed.

I highly recommend this book.

This is the second book in the series, as usual I have managed to miss the first one, something that I will have to correct, however this did not affect my enjoyment of the book. Alice owns a small curiosity shop in a Cotswold village, she is asked by her ex-partner to sell some chess sets that he collected to help fund his travelling. She arranges to have a chess tournament at a local school to showcase the best sets for sale and, maybe, foster interest in a chess club when tragedy strikes.
This is an great example of a cozy mystery set in an idyllic English village. Alice is aided and abetted by her friend and lodger Danny plus the support from the local villagers. The search for some missing chess pieces is integral to the murder mystery, with many twists and turns along the way. Overall a very enjoyable cozy mystery that I can definitely recommend for those who read this genre.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Whomever said chess wasn't deadly, they obviously haven't read Death At The Village Chess Club.

Cotswold village if Little Pride always prided itself on being calm and quiet. Until new comer Alice Carroll of Alice's Cotswold Curiosity Shop came to shake the chess pieces. Her ex-boyfriend Steven, who is traveling and needs cash fast asks her to sell his large collection of chess games. Alice knowing nothing about the game or it's value seeks the advice of her lodger Danny, her billionaire neighbor Robert,  the local school principal and teacher to use the school to get kids interested in chess while she sells some chess boards and donates money to the school. It all seems to be running perfectly smooth, until some chess pieces go missing at the sale and a player ends up dead at the schools parking lot. Who would steal and kill for pieces of the Isle of Lewis chess set that are made of cheap plastic and cost less than 100 pounds? Apparently several people are interested in this set and are willing to kills, break in, steal nd kidnap for them.

Find out what value these plastic pieces hold that will make bad people so interested in Little Pride village and Alice's shop.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this sweet, quaint and cozy murder mystery.

Debbie Young’s second book in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mystery series did not disappoint! Having never read the first book in this cozy mystery series, I had no idea what I was missing!

The book is centered on Alice, an antique shop owner, who is tasked with selling her former partner’s chess sets. When tragedy strikes at a local school where she is auctioning off her vintage chess sets, she is flung into this mystery alongside her friend Danny and her mother who happened to arrive on the same day. To make matters worse, the granddaughter of Alice’s neighbor Robert (a dashing millionaire who happens to be single) is kidnapped and is ransomed off in exchange for an inexpensive chess set. Is there more to this chess set than meets the eye?

This book was such an interesting read and worked well as a standalone book. The characters were equally interesting and there is even a glimmer of romance in Alice’s future. Alice’s mom reminded me of Miss Marple as she was often in the background knitting and observing others. If you are an avid chess player or a cozy mystery lover, than you will enjoy this book.

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. This review was voluntary and all thoughts are my own.

Alice's quiet life in the Cotswolds is disrupted when her ex asks her to sell his collectible chess sets. A tournament to showcase the boards turns deadly when pieces go missing and a body is found, prompting Alice to investigate a dangerous game of murder and intrigue.

This is very cute. The setting is charming, the characters are engaging, and the plot kept me guessing. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The second novel in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop mystery series sees former museum curator settling into the village and organising the sale of chess sets for her ex partner. A murder disrupts her plans however. I love the characters, setting and ambient storytelling.

Debbie Young's Death at the Village Chess Club is the second installment in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries series, inviting readers back to the charming village of Little Pride. Protagonist Alice Carroll, now comfortably managing her Curiosity Shop, faces an unexpected challenge when her ex-boyfriend, Steven, re-enters her life. Having exhausted his funds during his travels, Steven implores Alice to sell his extensive collection of chess sets.

In an effort to assist, Alice collaborates with her friend Danny to organize a chess event at the local school, aiming to raise funds and attract potential buyers for the chess sets. The event takes a dark turn when, by night's end, pieces from one set go missing, and the suspected thief is discovered murdered, without the stolen items in their possession. Determined to clear her name and uncover the truth, Alice embarks on a quest to solve the mystery before more harm befalls the village.

Young's narrative excels in blending cozy village charm with suspenseful intrigue. The ensemble of endearing characters, combined with the picturesque Cotswold setting, creates an immersive reading experience. The plot is well-constructed, offering readers a satisfying balance of humor, mystery, and character development.

Death at the Village Chess Club stands as a delightful continuation of the series, appealing to fans of cozy mysteries and those seeking a light yet engaging read. Alice Carroll's adventures in Little Pride promise to entertain and captivate, leaving readers eager for the next installment.

Alice Carroll lives in the picturesque village of Little Pride in the Cotswolds, where she runs a curiosity shop. This is the second book in the serious but can be read as a standalone.
Alice's ex boyfriend asks her to sell his collection of chess sets, so she organises an event at the local school to showcase them. One of the attendees is found dead in the carpark with a number of stolen chess pieces on his person.
The book provides much of what the reader expects from a cozy murder. The setting is idyllic and the chess theme is quirky. The villagers are engaging and their interactions are entertaining. Alice's character is less well drawn and annoyingly she seems to be a people pleaser. However, this is a series so maybe we will see her grow in confidence as she becomes more independent. The murder happens almost halfway through the book which means until this point the book lacks the drama that propels cosy mysteries forward.
Possibly the audio format is the best one for this story as there is lots of scope to bring the likable cast of villagers to life.
This book would suit the cozy mystery fan who is looking for a quintessential English setting and a quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing the ARC. My review is given voluntarily.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Debbie Young for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death at the Village Chess Club coming out March 3, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’m really enjoying this author’s writing. This is a fun series. I’m not super into chess, but I thought it was an interesting idea for a plot. I love cozy mysteries and this book is ideal for me. Alice is a really fun character. I love her quaint town and the characters in her life. I loved the mystery! I would definitely read more books in this series!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

The second of the Alice Carroll series, the first saw Alice set up home in the Cotswolds and open a Curiosity Shop in a small village, following the breakdown of a long term relationship and the loss of her museum job.

This second sees Alice begrudgingly come to the aid of her ex, who is travelling around Europe and needs a cash injection. Asking Alice to to sell off some of his collection, Alice agrees, because selling a few chess sets can't go too wrong, can it?

Except after a showcase chess event at the local school, a body is found in the car park, and chess pieces are missing. Alice has to uncover the wrongdoer before more people get hurt.

A wonderful cosy mystery, I love the development of Alice's character, and the renewal of the relationship with her mother. It's fun to see her settle into her new life in the village and juggle local politics. The characters are fun and quirky, and Debbie Young has created a fabulous community that we're getting to know along with Alice.

The writing keeps things moving at pace, and before you know it, you've finished the book in one sitting and have to wait for more!

Alice has recently moved to the small village of Little Pride, and with her ex-partner, Steven, now off traveling the world, she is happily getting on with her life, running her curiosity shop.

Then Steven calls from France, seemingly already out of money, and asks Alice if she would sell some of his collections to generate more cash for him.

Alice duly obliges, unearths all of his chess sets (about 20 in total), and decides to hold a village chess event to generate buzz and showcase the more expensive sets.

Everything is going great until one of the visitors steals a number of chess pieces before winding up dead in the school car park.

Nobody knows who he is, why he stole the chess pieces, or, more importantly, why anybody would want to kill him.

After all, this is just a cheap replica chess set...or is it? It's time for Alice to do a little sleuthing and get to the bottom of the mystery.

---------------------------------------

Death at the Village Chess Club is a really fun and lighthearted, cozy mystery that moves along at a great pace with very likable characters.

The central plot was easy to follow, had plenty of twists, and although I had an idea about where it was going, I couldn't guess the ultimate outcome, which kept it engaging.

It is one of those lovely Sunday morning reads, and get a big thumbs up. I'm already looking forward to the next novel in Debbie Young's Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries.

First, a huge thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. This is a cute mystery, but nothing compelling or excellent in my opinion. I am not sure I really love Alice or the other characters the way I have in other books of the genre. I severely disliked Stephen’s character, which makes sense, but also the odd hobby centered at this mystery felt low stakes and canned. I think a good narrator can really bring this story to life as an audiobook, and I am going to try the first in the series and will update if I feel differently after that! I definitely think this is a good mystery to read on a cold day, so I am hoping that a great narrator will take this to the next level.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.