Murder at the Mill

Sophie Sayers #6

by Debbie Young

When Sophie Sayers joins a writers' retreat on a secluded Greek island, she's hoping to find inspiration and perhaps a little adventure. Away from her rural English comfort zone, she also takes stock of her relationship with her boyfriend Hector.

But scarcely has the writing course begun when bestselling romantic novelist Marina Milanese disappears on a solo excursion to an old windmill. First on the scene, Sophie is prime suspect for Marina's murder. When a storm prevents the Greek police from landing on the island to investigate, Sophie must try to solve the crime herself - not easy, when everyone at the retreat has a motive.

As she strives to uncover the truth about Marina's fate, Sophie arrives at a life-changing decision about her own future.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Romance, Cozy

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 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

[Fanny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

[Helen Hollick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thoroughly enjoyable read! (I did miss Hector though - I rather like him!) Ms Young writes very descriptively - the atmosphere and scenic details of a Greek Island were very well captivated - and as an added bonus, if any new writer would like a few tips on how to get going with that long-planned 'one day I'll write my novel' this little 'murder mystery' adventure set on a Writer's Retreat will be a good place to start getting some inspiration!

The end was a little predictable - but so what? I read this novel while a bit poorly in bed (not Covid-19!) so Sophie quite cheered me up! (And I learnt a couple of Greek phrases - although I'm not sure how 'I have a boyfriend' is going to be useful - given that I've been married 39 years!)

Well done Ms Young. Any chance of some more? (We need the wedding!)

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cosy mystery/rom-com series, with this instalment set in a writers' retreat on a remote Greek island.

After winning her place in a competition she didn't know her boyfriend had entered her for, Sophie reluctantly attends, meeting a flamboyant range of characters.

Unbeknownst to the other guests, some of them already know each other, which gradually becomes clear as they find themselves investigating the guest author's mysterious disappearance.

A light read with a far-fetched but entertaining plot.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a simple delight. This novel moves us on a retreat to an island in Greece.

There appears to be either a murder or a missing person alert. However is all as it seems in this island of delights.

As Sophie tries to figure out this crime, other persons go missing...could it be the Monks? Or is their a diabolical murderer loose among the retreat goers?

You will enjoy this mystery and even laugh as you try to figure it out.

[Anne Stripeycat Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favourite so far!

What an absolute JOY this was! Reading in lockdown and felt like I could almost feel the sun on my face - the storyline was perfectly twisty without being gruesome and I loved the character depictions. Thank you soo much Debbie Young you're a GEM.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vacation

Fun light reading. Perfect amount of mystery and Greek isle scenery. This is the 6th in the Sophie Sayers mysteries, but I think it can stand alone.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Title: Murder at the Mill (former Title “Murder your Darlings”)
Series: Sophie Sayer #6
Author: Debbie Young
Narrator: Mary Woodvine
Publisher: Saga Egmont Audio
Genre: Mystery/Romance
Pub Date: April 6, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars

Story starts with Sophie Sayers participating in a writers' retreat on a beautiful secluded Greek island, she is hoping for a little adventure for inspiration.

When I started this I had concerns that it was going to be similar to The Writing Retreat as the description was similar.
I am a mystery fan and one on a beautiful Greek Island sounded enjoyable! This turned out to be more interesting that I expected. I am an avid reader and although I have no desires of ever being a writer; I am always intrigued in knowing the author’s motivation or just how they come up with ideas on what to write. So in this story the homework assignments aka- Writing Tips were interesting: Who is your Target Audience? Be sure to have an opening that it interesting or you will lose your reader immediately, and I was really looking forward to ‘Mastering the art of self-editing’!!!
Story soon becomes the situation of either a missing person hmmm or is it murder?

In addition to the story being more enjoying that I expected, I totally enjoyed the narrator Mary Woodvine. She did a fab job performing all the characters.

BTW: I have a weak spot for stories about lighthouses -no lighthouses in this one but there is a windmill which is just as interesting!

Want to thank NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio for granting me this eGalley.
Publishing Date April 6, 2023

[Hanna Gil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Sayers, the budding writer working in the quaint Cotswold village's bookstore, run by her boyfriend Hector, feels slightly out of place when she arrives at a writer retreat on a small Greek island. She didn't plan on attending such a workshop, but Hector secretly entered her into a writing competition – which she won – and the prize was attending the retreat. Suddenly Sophie is in the company of other writers! And there is a famous although not very likable Marina Milanese, an author of romantic novels which can be found on an airport bookstand, as Sophie discovers about the same time she realizes she'll be sitting next to Marina on the plane. Soon, on the island, Sophie is the first person on the scene of Marina's fall from the cliff.

As the storm envelops the island, and the police can't reach the retreat, the writers decide to launch their investigation. The search party is formed, and the possible motives for getting rid of Marina are discussed, some rather far-fetched, thanks to the group's lively imagination.

The author of this lively, cozy mystery novel, Debbie Young's style, is warm and witty, full of light humor, and the book is a refreshing read. Sophie is energetic and funny. Away from her boyfriend (who supplied her before the departure with the useful Greek phrase "I have a boyfriend"), she has time to think about the nature of their relationship and her choice of future writing. There is some practical advice on how one can approach their writing goals.

Ultimately, the mystery is solved, and Sophie is set up to start her writing career. The novel is the sixth in the series, but it can also be seen as the first, establishing Sophie as a witty writer and an intelligent, warm woman.

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

Murder at the Mill by Debbie Young
Narrated by Mary Woodvine

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

When Sophie Sayers joins a writers' retreat on a secluded Greek island, she's hoping to find inspiration and perhaps a little adventure. Away from her rural English comfort zone, she also takes stock of her relationship with her boyfriend Hector.

But scarcely has the writing course begun when bestselling romantic novelist Marina Milanese disappears on a solo excursion to an old windmill. First on the scene, Sophie is prime suspect for Marina's murder. When a storm prevents the Greek police from landing on the island to investigate, Sophie must try to solve the crime herself - not easy, when everyone at the retreat has a motive.

My Opinion

Debbie Young has written another delightful book, with a very entertaining plot. This time we are whisked away to a Greek island. This series is so easy to read, the books are relatively short and just a joy to read. I will be back for more Sophie Sayers soon.

Rating 4/5

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find these books so effortless to read. They’re just super easy and entertaining. It was great to rejoin Sophie back on her escapades, and this time, in Greece.

On a writers retreat, Sophie leaves from the comforts of her quaint little village and embarks on a journey of writing discovery. However, as murder often tends to follow her around, it seems it boarded the plane with her…

It was a great story and wonderfully narrated as these always have been. I also love that these books don’t necessarily need to be read in the entirety of the series and can almost work as a standalone if you haven’t read any of the others (with a few previous references to past books just to keep you up to speed).

Another great addition to the series and hopefully many more to come! It’s the sort of series I could read easily forever.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Bjørn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was slightly disappointed by how the author decided to sneak a rather different book from the previous five, masquerading as a part of the series, past us ravenous readers (me). At the same time, I enjoyed myself as usual… and the meta ending with Sophie's new job description was another "squeee" moment. I'm just not entirely sure whether to see this book as a part of this particular series, an offshoot, or a whole different book (Sophie even behaves somewhat differently) released under the series name?

Anyway, in the important news, I think I just convinced Ms Young to write not just the 7th, but also 8th and 9th instalment, which I obviously expect to be ready by tomorrow. But no pressure.

[Autumn Brimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely cozy mystery by Debbie Young. The first chapter had me hooked! The beginning of the book had a relaxed pace that fit the mood of the story so well. I already loved Sophie after reading Murder at the Well so I was really happy to see her off on another adventure. The writing retreat was a lot of fun, honestly. I loved all of the writers sharing their tips and suggestions with one another. When one of the writers at the retreat disappeared the plot quickly picked up pace as Sophie and the other writers tried to investigate what happened. I was pleasantly surprised by the twist ending and can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially on starting this novel (note it’s number 6 in a series, I missed this part on request) within the first few chapters I felt like I was a bit lost and had really missed out on not having read the first 5, however after that the novel became its own story in its own right and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a quirky, witty somewhat cozy murder mystery set on a Greek writing retreat. The characters were brilliant. Some loveable some very much not. The story had great momentum. If you’re looking for a hardcore thriller this is definitely not it, but it made for a refreshing change and I found nothing not to love.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Sophie Sayers cozy mystery and I very much enjoyed it. The characters are interesting and I enjoyed their quirks. The story was captivating and keep me wondering until the very end. Sophie is interesting and developed a lot in terms of her writing in this story – which is fun to see. As this was my first read in this series, I didn’t feel lost or like I had to read the previous books to enjoy this one.

I listened to this book on audio and enjoyed it. The narrator did a good job and was easy to follow and understand.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Debra Jo Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun cozy mystery set on a Greek island. When strangers embark on a writers’ retreat, they didn’t know they were going to become players in a real life murder mystery event. Things are not always what they seem.

This was my first book of the Sophie Sayer’s Village Mysteries. I do look forward to reading more.

I was provided an advanced audio copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. They narrator did a fantastic job.

[LittleDeadRedGoddessPersephone · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Saga Egmont Audio & Netgalley for allowing me to listen to this novel in exchange for an honest review

Though I have never read a Sophie Sayers mystery before this was super easy to pick up at book 6. If you want a quick, lightweight mystery to entertain you then this is for you. The narrator Mary Woodvine has a lovely voice and really kept me interested.

[zoe Hitchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie is back and on a writers’ retreat on a Greek island , where everything doesn’t go to plan and Sophie has to do some sleuthing to uncover the truth.
The book was easy to listen to the narrator did a great job .
The style is easy to follow and entertaining too .
Sophie is an amiable character and look forward to her next adventure .
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
Sophie Sayers is on a writer's retreat. Her relaxing trip turns into an adventure when one of the participants goes missing due to foul play. Sophie and her fellow writers investigate what happened in-between writing exercises.
This was a light mystery.

[Kaija · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lukijana Mary Woodvine.
ikäväkseni tämä ei sytyttänyt ollenkaan. Tarinaidea on hyvä, mutta yksioikoiset muut henkilöt ja heidän loputtomilta tuntuvat keskinäiset puhelunsa tylsistyttivät minut. Ehkäpä Sophie tarvitsisi aisaparikseen maanläheisen Hectorin. Lopussa pohjustetaan tulevaa, toivottavasti seuraava on enemmän makuuni.

[Elva Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at the Mill: (A Sophie Sayers Cozy Mystery Book 6) Debbie Young

I really enjoyed this mystery written by Debbie Young, it was quirky and interesting, the characters were all different. Some made waves that had repercussions of a murderous way! It was funny and sad but kept my interest all through. Well worth a read. I recommend the series.

[Sandra Leivesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cosy crime novel is set at a writers retreat on a beautiful Greek island. I didn't realise when I started listening that it is book 6 in a series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone. It is a quick, enjoyable listen but unfortunately I found it a little predictable.

[Jill Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I had known this was book 6 in the series. This can be read as a standalone but the first few chapters I felt I was missing something. The book settles into itself when the characters arrive to the writing retreat in Greece. This book was a quick read.

[Julynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Untangling a Murder Mystery

The characters are Debbie Young’s strong point. Her murder mystery takes a bit of untangling the plot, but it’s pretty fun to do. I enjoyed Young’s descriptive language and found myself enjoying Greece vicariously with the characters.

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the setting

The island location in Greece pulled me into and kept me interested through most of the story. Good premise, good pacing, but the plot became rather convoluted for me.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light-hearted entertaining read. Set in the Greek Islands at a Writer's Retreat where everything is not as it seems. Sophie gets involved and gets more than she bargained for

[Brian Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lost interest in the story.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it but not as much as previous ones .

[Tracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not great tbh..I loved the characters in the other books, but these ones were so dull.. debating whether to carry on reading the rest of the series after this one.

[Mrs Linda A Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

These are great books to read which you can pick up and put down with ease. A little humour too.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute cozy mystery.