Book Review: Driven to Murder by Debbie Young

I’m very excited to be welcoming Debbie Young to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, Driven To Murder. 

A perfect cosy crime for fans of M C Beaton’s Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series.

Change is coming to Wendlebury Barrow – and not everyone is happy about it…

When the local bus company announces it will be stopping its route through their quaint Cotswold village, the people of Wendlebury Barrow are up in arms. Not least Sophie Sayers, whose driving lessons with her boyfriend Hector get off to a bumpy start.

But the locals’ peaceful protests against the decision turn deadly when a body is discovered on the Number 27. No one can work out how Janice Boggins met her demise, let alone how the driver didn’t notice. While the police wait for the post mortem results, Sophie immediately suspects foul play, and launches her own investigation.

Can she solve the murder before another passenger is hurt?

*****

Sophie Sayers and her boyfriend, Hector are in a good place as they prepare to expand his bookshop in the Cotswolds village of Wendlebury Barrow.

The only sticking point is the fact that Sophie learning to drive would help the running of the business and she’s terrified of the prospect. As she considers her next move, a body is discovered on the number 27 bus. Can Sophie once again solve the mystery?

The premise of this book sounded great so I was pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for Driven to Murder, the ninth book in the Sophie Sayers cozy mystery series.

This is the first novel I’ve read in the series and although the previous titles would have introduced characters and the setting, I did not feel like I needed to catch up. This can read as a standalone.

Sophie is great. She’s loyal, savvy and loves a mystery. I can certainly relate to the last point. I enjoyed trying to unravel what was going on and so the plot was easy to fall into. Hector is lovely and I know I will want to add the series to my TBR pile so I can spend more time with these characters. There really is someone for everyone.

The setting sounds so pretty and I want to visit. Haha. The novel potentially teased a Christmas wedding and I am so there for that.

The suspense is grown well through the book and by the end, I was suspecting a lot of people and a lot of different scenarios. A sign of a great mystery novel.

It’s not a long story at just over 200 pages so if you love a puzzle and like to snuggle down against this cold weather with a cozy novel, this book is perfect. I loved it.

(Thank you to Boldwood Books, Netgalley and Rachel’l Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.)

About Debbie Young –

Debbie Young is the much-loved author of the Sophie Sayers and St Brides cosy crime mysteries.

She lives in a Cotswold village where she runs the local literary festival, and has worked at Westonbirt School, both of which provide inspiration for her writing.

She is bringing both her series to Boldwood in a 13-book contract. They will be publishing several new titles in each series and republishing the backlist, starting in September 2022.

Say hello via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to Debbie’s newsletter. 

Driven to Murder is book nine in the Sophie Sayers cozy mystery series. It was released by Boldwood Books on 26th January 2024. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.