As Halloween approaches in the Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, Sophie Sayers, new to the village, is suspicious of the fierce new vicar and his ban on the villagers' seasonal celebrations.
Especially when he plans to replace them with a traditional Guy Fawkes' Night party, and invites everyone to bring a guy (scarecrow) to burn on his giant bonfire.
Sophie thinks the vicar's not the only one with dark secrets to hide. What about her boss, the beguiling bookseller, Hector Munro? Whose body will be found outside his village bookshop? Not to mention the one secretly buried beneath the vicar's bonfire...
Just as Sophie had been starting to feel at home in Wendlebury, she must call on all her inner resources and trust her instincts to save the day before anyone else can come to harm - and to get Hector back on her side.
For fans of cosy mysteries everywhere, Sophie's second adventure will have you laughing out loud as you try to solve the mystery before she does, in the company of engaging new characters, as well as familiar favourites from 'Best Murder in Show'.
Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Verity Bright and Ann Sutton.
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Debbie Young is a British writer of cosy mystery novels. She is the UK ambassador for ALLi and the founder of the annual Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival. Her warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction is full of English humour, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been her home for over 30 years. Her bestselling 'Sophie Sayers Village Mystery' series includes the trailblazing 'Murder Your Darlings', which was shortlisted for the Selfies Award for best independently published fiction in 2021.
When a dead body appears on a carnival float at the village show, Sophie Sayers knows that a case of murder in plain sight ought to be easy to solve. But why do none of the villagers agree? And what dark secrets are they hiding? As she tries to investigate the crime, it's clear that someone is desperately trying to stop her from unmasking the killer. Can Sophie unearth the clues before anyone else comes to harm?
In Debbie Young's 'Best Murder in Show', the 'Sophie Sayers' Village Mysteries' is back with a new adventure, promising the comforting feelings of community, warmth and humour.
Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Verity Bright and Ann Sutton.
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Debbie Young is a British writer of cosy mystery novels. She is the UK ambassador for ALLi and the founder of the annual Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival. Her warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction is full of English humour, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been her home for over 30 years. Her bestselling 'Sophie Sayers Village Mystery' series includes the trailblazing 'Murder Your Darlings', which was shortlisted for the Selfies Award for best independently published fiction in 2021.
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.
A dead body on a carnival float at the village show.
A clear case of murder in plain sight, thinks new arrival Sophie Sayers - but why do none of the villagers agree?
What dark secrets are they hiding to prevent her unmasking the murderer, and who holds the key to the mystery?
- Hector, the gorgeous but enigmatic owner of the village bookshop
- Joshua, the intrusive yet insightful old man from next door
- Carol, village shopkeeper, the fount of village gossip, not all of it reliable
And what is that mysterious ingredient that almost knocks Sophie out when she takes tea at the village bookshop? (Not the best way to start a job interview.)
Can Sophie unearth the clues tucked away in this outwardly idyllic Cotswold village before anyone else comes to harm, not least herself?
For fans of classic cozy mysteries everywhere, Best Murder in Show will make you laugh out loud at the idiosyncrasies of English country life, and rack your brains to discover the murderer before Sophie can.
When Emma, a young English journalist, is required to babysit in a dark country house on the longest night of the year - the winter solstice, 21st December - she must confront both her fear of the dark and her unresolved grief for her much-loved late Great Aunt Sophie. Where will she find the courage she needs to avoid risking an even greater loss?This single short story, about 3000 words long, will brighten the darkest night and offer comfort and hope as the days grow longer.EARLY REVIEWS FOR LIGHTING UP TIME"A delightful story." - Petrea Burchard"Lovely story that perfectly captures that big sister/little sister thing, and Aunt Sophie is a lovely gentle presence throughout - I especially like the way you use scent (perfume, flowers) to evoke her.". Lucienne Boyce"You had me scared of the dark with you!" Melanie Spiller"Lovely story and a great, feel-good ending ." - Christina Courtenay, romantic novelistOTHER SHORT STORIES BY DEBBIE YOUNGDebbie Young has published three short story collections, Quick Change - Tiny Tales of Transformation, Stocking Fillers - Twelve Short Stories for Christmas, and Marry in Haste - 15 short stories of dating love and marriage as well as the stand-alone Christmas tale The Owl and the Turkey. Her flash fiction and short stories have also been included in many anthologies.PRAISE FOR DEBBIE YOUNG'S SHORT FICTION"Very subtle, very English, very clever" (Marius Gabriel, novelist)"Debbie Young's attention to detail brings the extraordinary out of the everyday" (Calum Kerr, founder of National Flash Fiction Day)"Brimful of the Debbie Young brand of sly and wry humour" (Mari Howad, author of the Mullins Family Saga)NOVELS BY DEBBIE YOUNGDebbie Young also writes novels, including the Sophie Sayers Village Mystery series that begins with Best Murder in Show.
