Artful Antics at St Bride's

Gemma Lamb #4

by Debbie Young

The brand new instalment in Debbie Young's brilliant Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery series. When English teacher Gemma Lamb’s school flat is wrecked by storms, maverick headmistress Hairnet insists the girls must fund its repair by setting up their own businesses – the start of a series of hilarious unintended consequences. Meanwhile Gemma’s worries are compounded by the arrival of bossy new girl Frieda Ehrlich, sponsored by a mysterious local tycoon whose wealth is of dubious origins. Fearful for the school’s reputation, Gemma recruits an old friend to help investigate the tycoon’s credentials, jeopardising her romance with sports teacher Joe Spryke. What is Frieda hiding? Why is her sponsor living in a derelict manor house? Why is his chauffeur such a crazed driver? And what has become of McPhee, Hairnet’s precious black cat? With a little help from her friends, Gemma is determined to solve these mysteries, restore her flat and save the school. For anyone who loved St Trinian’s – old or new – or read Malory Towers as a kid. St Brides is the perfect read for you!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Romance, Humor, Cozy, Audiobook

216 pages, Paperback

Published July 29, 2023

About the author

Hello dear readers!

I hope you will enjoy my warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction, full of English humour and heart, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been my home for over 30 years. I have three series of cozy mystery novels plus various short fiction, and I've written a couple of non-fiction books too.

NOVELS

My latest book is "Death at the Village Christmas Fair", the third in my Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mystery series. The series begins with "Death at the Old Curiosity Shop", followed by "Death at the Village Chess Club". In this series, moving from the city to the lively Cotswold village of Little Pride, Alice Carroll (50) discovers that nothing is quite what it seems in her new business enterprise. Each novel in this series has at its heart an intriguing item to be found in her bric-a-brac shop, and features eccentric characters, plenty of red herrings and lots of English humour.

My Sophie Sayers Village Mystery series begins with "Best Murder in Show". Originally envisaged as a seven-book series to run the course of a calendar year in the life of the idyllic English Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, it continues to grow, with the most recent addition being Sophie Sayers' ninth outing, "Driven to Murder",

My Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery series is a mashup of romantic comedy, gentle mystery and nostalgia for classic children's school stories but aimed at adults. It focuses on the intrigues among the teachers and visitors to the school, rather than the children. "Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's" (previously published as "Secrets at St Bride's"), and is followed by "Sinister Secrets at St Bride's" (formerly "Secrets at St Bride's"), Wicked Whispers at St Bride's", and "Artful Antics at St Bride's". Two further books will follow to complete the series of six, running the course of the academic year at St Bride's Boarding School for Girls.

All of my novels are now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audio in English. There are also German language editions of Sophie Sayers' adventures and Italian translations of Gemma Lamb's.

SHORT FICTION

My series of comedy mystery novelettes, Tales from Wendlebury Barrow, is set in the same world as the Sophie Sayers Cozy Mysteries. The first, "The Pride of Peacocks", is available exclusively to members of my Readers' Club (visit my author website to claim your copy). "The Natter of Knitters" and "The Clutch of Eggs" are available in ebook and paperback. A Christmas special, "Christmas with Sophie Sayers", featuring festive short stories set in the same world, was published for Christmas 2023. Three more Sophie Sayers short stories appear in the charity anthologies, "Fate", "Everyday Kindness" and "The Little Shop of Murders". Look out for another one in the "Courage" anthology, coming in 2026!

My standalone novella, "Mrs Morris Changes Lanes", is a second-chance mid-life romantic comedy with a touch of magical realism, set in the Cotswolds in spring,

Earlier in my career, I published three themed collections of short stories, "Stocking Fillers", "Marry in Haste", and "Quick Change".

PLAYS

I've also now started writing scripts for murder mystery events, My debut play, "The Importance of Being Murdered", was premiered by Hawkesbury Drama Group in April 2025. The original playscript will be published later this year for use by amateur drama groups all over the world, and I'm also working on a novelisation.

AWARDS

The first St Bride's novel was shortlisted for the 2020 Selfies Award given for the best independently-published fiction in the UK. The sixth Sophie Sayers novel was shortlisted for the same award in 2021. My short story "The Alchemy of Chocolate", from "Quick Change", was a winning entrant to the April 2015 Stroud Short Stories competition, and as a result I was later invited to read it at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

FREE EBOOK

Rec

Reviews

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

Gemma Lamb is back at St Bride’s in her fourth adventure, along with Joe, Oriana, Hairnet, the Bursar – all the old favourites.

As this is a series, I would recommend reading in order to find out how Gemma ended up at St Bride’s boarding school for girls and to see the development of her relationships with the staff there (along with a few surprising revelations about said staff!). That said though, none of the backstory is really necessary to enjoy this gentle school-based mystery in its own right.

The main plot features a sullen new girl with strange family circumstances and the usual desperate need for funding at the school – due to a collapsed roof this time – requiring the girls to get creative (and artistic, as you can tell from the title) to try to raise some funds. Add in a splash of romance with Joe, some humour – I do have a soft spot for Max Security – and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a lovely, quick and easy read that would be suitable for mystery lovers tween-aged upward (no sex, violence or bad language… just pure, clean family fun!).

The comparisons to both St Trinian’s and Mallory Towers are very appropriate, as staff and girls get into scrapes and hi-jinks, so for fans of those classics there is a pleasant sheen of nostalgia over these stories as well, even though they have a fresh style of their own.

I confess that I am now thoroughly obsessed with St Bride’s and fully intend to read every single book in this series! I need to know whether Gemma and Joe ever make things work with their work-life balance, whether Oriana ever lands a millionaire and whether the library, art block and sports department ever do manage to get fully-funded! I’ll keep you posted as I find out…

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gemma Lamb is back at St Bride’s in her fourth adventure, along with Joe, Oriana, Hairnet, the Bursar – all the old favourites.

As this is a series, I would recommend reading in order to find out how Gemma ended up at St Bride’s boarding school for girls and to see the development of her relationships with the staff there (along with a few surprising revelations about said staff!). That said though, none of the backstory is really necessary to enjoy this gentle school-based mystery in its own right.

The main plot features a sullen new girl with strange family circumstances and the usual desperate need for funding at the school – due to a collapsed roof this time – requiring the girls to get creative (and artistic, as you can tell from the title) to try to raise some funds. Add in a splash of romance with Joe, some humour – I do have a soft spot for Max Security – and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a lovely, quick and easy read that would be suitable for mystery lovers tween-aged upward (no sex, violence or bad language… just pure, clean family fun!).

The comparisons to both St Trinian’s and Mallory Towers are very appropriate, as staff and girls get into scrapes and hi-jinks, so for fans of those classics there is a pleasant sheen of nostalgia over these stories as well, even though they have a fresh style of their own.

I confess that I am now thoroughly obsessed with St Bride’s and fully intend to read every single book in this series! I need to know whether Gemma and Joe ever make things work with their work-life balance, whether Oriana ever lands a millionaire and whether the library, art block and sports department ever do manage to get fully-funded! I’ll keep you posted as I find out…

[Roz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in this cozy mystery series set in an English boarding school.

Lovely characters, exciting plot and another mystery to be solved.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book which follows on and helps build the characters that the reader has been introduced to in the previous books in the series. This could be read as a standalone but I feel is better enjoyed when reading the earlier novels.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as previous ones in the series. Still enjoyable though .

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artful Antics at St Bride's 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

When English teacher Gemma Lamb’s school flat is wrecked by storms, maverick headmistress Hairnet insists the girls must fund its repair by setting up their own businesses – the start of a series of hilarious unintended consequences. Meanwhile Gemma’s worries are compounded by the arrival of bossy new girl Frieda Ehrlich, sponsored by a mysterious local tycoon whose wealth is of dubious origins. Fearful for the school’s reputation, Gemma recruits an old friend to help investigate the tycoon’s credentials, jeopardising her romance with sports teacher Joe Spryke. What is Frieda hiding? Why is her sponsor living in a derelict manor house? Why is his chauffeur such a crazed driver? And what has become of McPhee, Hairnet’s precious black cat? With a little help from her friends, Gemma is determined to solve these mysteries, restore her flat and save the school. For anyone who loved St Trinian’s – old or new – or read Malory Towers as a kid. St Brides is the perfect read for you!

My Opinion

This is a nice, cosy mystery that I managed to read in one sitting. This is a wonderful series and so far I have really enjoyed every book I have read. When a new student arrives at St Bride's, Gemma's attention is grabbed by the address the new student's sponsor claims to be living at. Gemma feels the need to investigate and reaches out to an old friend for help.

This is a great addition to the series and whilst it could be read as a standalone, you would be missing out.

Rating: 4/5

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of Artful Antics at St Bride’s, the fourth novel to feature Gemma Lamb, a teacher at St Bride’s, a private boarding school in the Cotswolds.

Gemma returns to St Bride’s after the half term holiday to find it flooded after a leak in the roof. The headmistress organises the pupils into setting up their own businesses to pay for the repairs with unintended consequences. Meanwhile, a mysterious sponsor has sent Frieda Ehrlich to the school as a pupil and Gemma suspects there is more to the sponsor than he’s admitting so she starts investigating.

I enjoyed Artful Antics at St Bride’s which is another fun addition to the series. It is a light, frothy novel designed for humour and entertainment so the plot is slight and, perhaps, predictable. Not that it matters because it’s the humour and incidents that make the novel work, like for example the smuggled rats or the chauffeur’s driving. There is a warmth to the novel in the way that the staff get on well together and with the pupils, who can be ridiculous and amusing.

The novel is told from Gemma’s point of view and she has a welcoming tone. She’s relatively new to St Bride’s but is already an integral part of the school and will do her best to protect it from danger, in this case the unknown quantity of the fishy sponsor. Unsurprisingly she comes up trumps in her investigation and all is revealed in the most satisfactory way.

Artful Antics at St Bride’s is a fun read that I can recommend.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am just love, Love, LOVING this series, and this is another wonderful installment. I devoured it and couldn't get enough of it. And that a clever title it has too.

Although classified as a cozy mystery and there is a mysterious element to it, to me it's far more of just a nostalgic feeling school story, giving off Malory Towers or Twins at St Clare's vibes, and I love catching up with the staff and girls at this school.

And this time there is a new girl in the school Freida, and it's her sponsor that is attracting various curious looks from the staff. And the latest essential skills projects were like young enterprise at my school, basically making your own business, in this instance in a way to raise funds for the new roof for the staff apartments.

I love how Gemma's curiosity knows no bounds, and she is determined to learn as much about these new people as she can. I also enjoyed seeing how her bonds with the rest of the staff are deepening at all times.

i once again read this book in record time, it is just so easy to read and be involved in the story. It felt like coming home and I just love this setting and these characters so much. Please let there be another book.

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

[Emma's Things to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an English teacher who grew up wishing she could go to Mallory Towers, this is the perfect mystery series for me!

I love the idea of an expensive and elusive but sometimes slightly bonkers boarding school.

This term starts with a disaster as the roof of the stately home is leaking, and Gemma and Orianna are forced to leave their staff apartments and move into the former scullery maid rooms. With funds ending low, they need to come up with a plan to rebuild the roof.

There’s also a mystery new pupil, Frieda, whose father appears to be a chauffeur/gardener and whose fees are being sponsored by a mysterious millionaire who has bought Torrid Manor, a nearby crumbling mansion.

As the girls create their own businesses, Gemma sets out to unravel the mystery of a millionaire who appears to know little about the world of business and a chauffeur who drives like a learner.

There is so much warmth and good humour in this book. The dialogue is fizzy and genuinely funny – the scenes with the girls will make you smile!

I confess that I did work out some of the ‘what’ of the mystery, but the ‘why’ kept me guessing, and it was fun to see how everything would finally be revealed.

This is a quick cosy read that is perfect for a rainy summer afternoon. St Brides would make a great TV series. This series is on my auto buy list, and I look forward to Gemma and the team’s next adventure.

[Helen Hollick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always look forward to a Debbie Young tale - whether it's a St Bride's or a Sophie Sayers because I know I'm about to enjoy a treat. Ms Young's tales are the true definition of a 'cosy mystery': entertaining, well written, interesting plot, familiar characters set in a familiar location, doing familiar things... but with the bonus of an intriguing mystery to be solved. This is not always a murder - just a puzzle to be unravelled for characters and readers alike. Enid Blyton's 'Malory Towers' for Grown Ups. (But as equally suitable for young adults!)

'Artful Antics' is enjoyable as a stand-alone story, but with an ongoing background theme - you don't have to start at the beginning of the series, but to fully appreciate these delightful characters I'd recommend starting at Number 1... 'Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's: The first in an addictive cozy mystery series from Debbie Young (A Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery Book 1)'

Addictive is a very good description - although I think I'd word it as 'charmingly addictive'!

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

When storms damage the school, the head mistress decides the girls will raise the money for the repairs. Which means there is going to be some fun times with this part of the plan.

However what interests Gemma the m oct is a new student who has a mysterious benefactor. Gemma, being inquisitive as she is, MUST know the entire backstory and is determined to flush out the full story. Is there something fishy between the benefactor and student? That’s what Gemma hopes to figure out.

This is one of my favorite cozy series. There is just something about British books that are sometimes far more enjoyable than some US based series. They embrace the quirkiness of the characters and I love that…maybe that’s what it is for me that makes them so much more enjoyable. Either way, this is one of the best series and I encourage your to give one of Debbie Young’s books…otherwise, how will you know what you’re missing out on?!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest book about St Brides boarding school for girls is just as good as the previous ones. Frieda Echlich is the new girl who turns up this term and appears very bossy and looks down her nose at everyone and everything. Her sponsor is a tycoon who is living in the nearby derelict manor house but when googled no one can find out anything about him. All is not what it seems and they are obviously hiding something. Added to this the school roof needs replacing somewhat urgently so the girls are tasked with coming up with business ideas to raise funds. I find Debbie Young’s books easy to read and follow. There is enough backstory of each character in each book if you haven’t read any before, but I’d highly recommend you do as they are so good. Great characters and locations. Perfect for those who loved St Clare’s and Mallory Tower books, or any other similar ones. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in the St Brides school series.

When Gemma returns to her apartment to find the carpet squelching under her feet, it becomes clear that parts of the school have been damaged in a recent storm, and the school are going to have to find the money for urgent repairs somehow. The headmistress comes up with the idea that the girls can raise money by running their own businesses.

Also when a new student joins the school under mysterious circumstances, Gemma becomes more curious about who the young lady and her strange benefactor is.

No secret to the fact that I love this series. This is just as enjoyable as the previous books. They are fun, easy reads with quirky characters .

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

[theweebookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've not really read many cozy mysteries but this one sounded interesting. I believe it is part of a series but I read it stand alone.

I loved that it was set in an English all girls boarding school and was full of so many quirky characters. I enjoyed some of the girls' fundraising suggestions when they were raising money to fix the roof.

I was intrigued by the mysterious girl who joined part way through term and kept trying to guess who her sponsor was. I was surprised when the truth came out.

This is a lovely easy book to read which I would recommend if you like a fun, cozy mystery.

Thank you Rachels Random Resources for my gifted copy.

[AmandaJR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun cozy mystery. It’s part of a series, but I haven’t read any of the previous books and now I want to because I enjoyed this one so much. Very enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

[Leslie McKee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was fourth in a series, but it could be read as a standalone novel. Characters are well-drawn, quirky, and fun to follow. There's a nice dose of humor, as well, which makes for a fun, cozy mystery.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.

[Elva Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artful Antics at St Bride’s: (A Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery Book4) Debbie Young

A really entertaining story about a King and his Princess Daughter hiding out at St Brides whilst the King acts as Chauffeur to his bodyguard. The school profits by this and also sells artwork for big money. Bring on the next Adventure. 💕

[Georgina Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 4 in the St Brides cosy mystery series and just as good as the rest, a fabulous standalone too. Frieda starts at the school midterm and Gemma finds herself worrying about her and the possible disruption she’ll cause, she’s a bit blunt and doesn’t seem to like anything or anyone.

Meanwhile, part of the roof above Gemma and Olivier’s rooms has collapsed during the half term leaving the rooms soaked and uninhabitable. So the girls are encouraged to start businesses to raise funds to help repair the roof and redecorate the rooms.

Frieda seems to be hiding something and Gemma gets invited for dinner to the house her father and sponsor are staying in, a derelict Manor House near the school. Another weird evening ensues from this and causes Gemma to wonder who these people really are and what they’re hiding.

I nearly guessed what was going on but not quite, hints but not quite enough throughout the story tell the tale and leave you wondering too. Looking forward to the next instalment of this great cosy series.

[Lorraine Joad · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s always good to be back with Gemma Lamb on another adventure at St Bride’s.
This one is all about a new pupil who comes with mystery! As usual Gemma is on the case and solves it along with all the loose ends being tied up. A good read with surprising results.

[Kati · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the going-ons at St. Bride's here, the girls and their projects. The girls's antics were fun and funny, especially Olga and her rats. Though I do think that Gemma was a wee bit too nosy this time around, digging into the background of a student like that...

[Grace Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosy mystery which reminded me of Malory Towers and St Clare’s books. A nostalgic cute read.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook. Ok. Some funny parts

[L.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never miss a chance to return to St. Brides if I can help it; the stories are always entertaining and original, and reminiscent of books I loved to read as a child (Malory Towers, St Clares etc) - and who can resist a stroll down memory lane?
With two storylines running alongside each other that provide both fun and mystery, my fourth visit to St Brides is as engaging as ever. The fun element comes as a result of some rather serious storms that have flooded parts of the school - primarily the teachers' accommodation. With funding always an issue, the students are encouraged to create small businesses to generate income while learning business skills. Some of their ideas are off the wall, yet others have a real chance of succeeding. That said, at times, these ideas result in some wonderfully, wacky scenarios that bring a lovely touch of humour to the story.
Mystery arrives at St Brides in the form of new student with a wealthy sponsor, whose background raises Gemma's suspicions - who is Frieda Ehrlich and why St Brides? Gemma's investigations expose a well-kept secret, one that is kept under wraps until the end and, as such, held my attention to the extent that i read this well-paced story in one afternoon.
With familiar and relateable characters, St Brides offers a cosy vibe with plenty of humour and a gentle and intriguing mystery.

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artful Antics at St Bride's opens as English teacher Gemma Lamb returns from a half-term break to find that her flat has been damaged after a roof leak. Gemma is not alone, the flooding has affected other parts of the school, a Grade I listed building which, whilst impressive, has required substantial repairs for some time. The bursar is worried that not even the enrolment of a new student, Frieda Ehrlich, will alleviate this additional pressure on St Bride’s finances. After some consideration, the bursar and Miss Harnett propose that the new term’s Essential Skills Challenge will focus on developing realistic business ideas that will raise sufficient money to replenish school funds.

As the boarders embrace this task, mystery surrounds their new schoolmate and Gemma suspects that there is more to the pupil than meets the eye. Why, for example, does Frieda tell Gemma that her mother is dead but avoid identifying her homeland? Similarly, prior to her enrolment as a boarder at St Bride’s, Frieda lived with her father, Herr Ehrlich, and his employer, Sebastian Goldman-Coutts, in a dilapidated old house, aptly named Torrid Manor. Why would a millionaire choose to live in such dire conditions? And what of Herr Ehrlich, whose behaviour often contradicts his job description as Sebastian’s handyman and driver? Gemma asks handsome Oliver Goldsmith to investigate on her behalf, but she is aware that this decision might jeopardise her nascent relationship with P.E. teacher Joe.

Whilst Gemma ponders these enigmas, the girls concentrate on their business ventures. They come up with a variety of start-ups, some possible, some impossible, and many hilarious. It is a suggestion by Frieda that the Sixth Form hold an art exhibition to sell their work that ultimately proves a hit with her schoolmates and teachers. At last, it seems that the school may have a solution to earn enough money to restore the roof. Meanwhile, more unsettling problems have come to light and Gemma steps up her attempts to discover the truth about the occupants of Torrid Manor.

This is the fourth book in the Gemma Lamb series, the first I have read, and it works perfectly as a stand-alone novel. The story is witty throughout, and the main characters soon become familiar companions who lead the way through Debbie Young’s carefully crafted plot. Romance and comedy sit comfortably alongside the mystifying trio of Frieda, Herr Ehrlich and Goldman-Coutts. The result is a tale that is as gentle as it is intriguing with plenty of twists and turns.

Artful Antics at St Bride's is entertaining, engaging and highly recommended.
-------
Reviewer: Dot Marshall-Gent
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s February, the start of another half term at St. Bride’s Boarding School for Girls, and not a great one when Gemma and Oriana find their apartments uninhabitable due to a water leak from the crumbling roof of the old Grade I building. Repair costs that the poor old bursar, now revealed as Gemma’s biological father, will be unable to cover but he and headmistress The Hairnet have a cunning idea – this term’s Essential Skills Challenge will now be known as “Raise the Roof with Your New Business” and all profits will contribute. A new Germanic pupil, Frieda Ehrlich, joins the school, sponsored by a local business tycoon, but everyone thinks Sebastian Goldman-Coutts, Frieda’s sponsor who has recently moved into nearby decrepit Torrid Manor, is decidedly iffy. Hugely rich but no one knows how he makes his money. Even millionaire-mad Oriana has given him a wide berth. So when Gemma receives an invite to chaperone Frieda to the manor for dinner, she can’t wait to do some sleuthing and find out more about this mysterious man, aided and abetted by Oriana’s half-brother, journalist Oliver Galsworthy. Will the wonderfully entrepreneurial schoolgirls make enough money to fix the roof? Will Oliver get his “scoop”? And what’s the deal with Frieda’s father, Goldman-Coutts’ incredibly inept gardener and chauffeur? You’ll have to read the book to find out!!
The eccentric and rather splendid cast of staff, bringing back happy memories of the St. Trinian films, are all present and correct, including Hazel, Mavis, Gemma’s boyfriend PE teacher Joe Spryke (now officially male!), McPhee the wonderfully intuitive and empathetic school cat and Max Security, the omnipresent protection officer, in a new adventure in this cosy and very witty series oozing with humour and charm. It gets better and better with each new story and I do look forward to reading more about these incredibly likeable characters.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Artful Antics at St Bride's is the fourth Gemma Lamb cozy mystery by Debbie Young. Released 29th July 2023 by Boldwood Books it's 226 pages (electronic) and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.

This is a fun, sweetly humorous, character driven "school-time" cozy set in a girls' school at an undisclosed fictive locale somewhere in the Cotswolds. All the staff (even the school cat) are harboring secrets. English teacher (and amateur sleuth) Gemma is up to hear ears with stress when her school flat is wrecked in a natural disaster, mysterious benefactors aren't on the up and up, and McPhee (the school cat) has gone missing.

Four stars. The language is clean and there's no questionable content. There's a sweetly nostalgic Enid Blyton vibe. With four books extant in the series (all available on kindle unlimited), it would be a good candidate for a long weekend binge or buddy read. It's nice to find a nice "safe" well written cozy series to enjoy, and this is a humorous, gently written one.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Sritama Bhattacharjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

💥It is the fourth book in the Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery series by the author. Though I did not read any other books in the series, I did not have any is
sue in understanding the plot. Thus, it can also be read as a stand alone. I really loved the setting of the story, which gives an idea about the life at a boarding school both for the teachers and the students. The picturesque description of the landscape and the old school building was mesmerizing. The mystery element and the way everything turned out at the end deserves praise.

💥Gemma Lamb is the narrator and the protagonist of the story. She teaches English in the school and is in a relationship with Joe, the sports teacher. Though it's not been a year that she has joined the school, she has helped in solving other mysteries related to this school with her wit. This time too, she tries to unearth the mystery revolving around Freida with a bit of help from a friend and her colleagues.

💥I love cozy mysteries and this was not an exception. There is suspense, romance , humour and many other things that one can ask for. So, mystery lovers can definitely check this out.
        I would like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for the DRC.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story set in St Bride's, a girls' boarding school,
Where Gemma Lamb is a teacher trying to be cool.
With friendships, romance and mystery
As well as a cat star, that's McPhee!

Returning from her half term holiday
Her water logged flat causes dismay.
St Bride's roof has sprung more than a leak
Now repair fundings they desperately seek!

A bossy, belligerent new pupil doesn't help at all,
Sponsored by a new local no one can recall.
Does the new girl also have secrets too?
Gemma determinedly seeks out every clue!

With fund raising antics and so much to do
Supporting students and seeking the next clue.
What is the mystery and is St Bride's in danger?
Who is this man - and his chauffeur who is stranger?

With mysteries growing, Gemma seeks to discover
Just what the business man is trying to keep undercover.
Is he really a wealthy tycoon or something dire?
Her sleuthing needs he sets on fire.

A cosy mystery with great characters, too,
A fun read I recommend to you.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a new author to me I found Artful Antic at St Bride’s a really engaging story that was an excellent gentle read that held my interest as any good cosy mystery should. I have not read the other 3 books in this series however I think it does work well as a standalone. I might actually go and read the others now though.

Sometimes I just like a great easy read that I can just sit back and enjoy and this book certainly fits that bill. If you’ve never tried a cosy mystery then this series would be a great place to start. Full of fun, highly likeable characters and an engaging story, full of intrigue that keeps you guessing. A perfect cosy mystery.

[Kati · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun. Though I still like the comings and goings and general happenings at the school more than the sleuthing. There's just something very... cozy about the setting. And the whole business event they had going in this volume? Was really funny, especially the various mad hat enterprises the girls came up with!

[Rowena Onions · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe the end of a series, not the best.