First novel by bestselling author of the Dales series, Gervase Phinn. A warm, funny, moving and romantic tale of life in a village primary school when a new headmistress arrives...

'[Gervase Phinn is] a worthy successor to James Herriott, and every bit as endearing.' - Bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh

She was wearing red shoes! With silver heels!

Elisabeth Devine causes quite a stir on her arrival in the village. No one can understand why the head of a big inner city school would want to come to sleepy little Barton-in-the-Dale, to a primary with more problems than school dinners. And that's not even counting the challenges the mysterious Elisabeth herself will face: a bitter former head teacher, a grumpy caretaker and a duplicitous chair of governors, to name but a few.

Then there's the gossip. After all, a woman who would wear red shoes to an interview is obviously capable of anything . . .

Warm, funny and poignant, Gervase Phinn's first novel creates a fictional world that's as real as can be. It will delight all his fans, and win him many more.

Readers are loving THE LITTLE VILLAGE SCHOOL!

'A jolly good read.' - 5 STARS

'Superb, easy reading.' - 5 STARS

'I completely fell in love with all the characters in this book.' - 5 STARS

'Will definitely go on to read more of Gervase Phinn's works.' - 5 STARS

'Wonderful storytelling, believable characters.' - 5 STARS

"A worthy successor to James Herriott, and every bit as endearing." - bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh

"When Gervase Phinn receives his peerage for services to good-heartedness, this will be the motto on his coat of arms: "Ex silvis sed non supra montem." . . . This entertaining and moving homework earns a good few merit marks. Gervase Phinn is not going downhill yet, by a long chalk on a blackboard." - Independent

"Good old-fashioned yarn-spinning" - The Bookbag

"This heartwarming tale makes ideal holiday reading" - News of the World

"As Yorkshire's favourite school inspector turns to fiction you can enjoy memorable characters and turns of phrase." - Choice

"Written with all the humour and warmth one has come to expect from this master storyteller." - Countryman

"Packed with delightful and authentic characters, juicy gossip, precarious romance and good old-fashioned village drama, this is a warm-hearted and hilarious account of a struggling school in a small community" - The Good Book Guide

"Written with all the humour and warmth one has come to expect from this master storyteller." - Countryman

"This heartwarming tale makes ideal holiday reading" - News of the World

"As Yorkshire's favourite school inspector turns to fiction you can enjoy memorable characters and turns of phrase." - Choice