Picture a British storyteller who turned seaside charm and cozy crimes into page-turning magic—meet Glenda Young! Born in the coal-mining village of Ryhope, Sunderland, Young’s journey from scribbling letters to local newspapers at thirteen to crafting the beloved Helen Dexter mystery series is a tale of grit and heart. Her vivid stories, steeped in the salty air of Scarborough, have won over readers with their warmth, humor, and whodunit thrills.
With a knack for blending cozy mysteries and heartfelt sagas, Young has carved a unique niche in contemporary British fiction. Her Scarborough-set novels, starring the plucky Helen Dexter, invite readers into a world where murder meets charm, and every clue feels like a chat over a cuppa. Let’s dive into the life and works of this Sunderland gem!
The Making of Glenda Young
Glenda Young grew up in Ryhope, a coastal mining village near Sunderland, where her love for books bloomed thanks to weekly library visits. As a child, she devoured Nancy Drew, Enid Blyton, and Agatha Christie, with Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale later shaping her storytelling dreams. At thirteen, Young penned letters published in local papers, sparking her confidence as a writer. After a career as a university administrator, she studied journalism at Sunderland University in her thirties, honing her craft through creative writing modules.
Her early writing included short stories for women’s magazines and TV tie-in books for ITV’s Coronation Street, a show she’s long championed through fan websites. In 2016, Young created Riverside, the first weekly soap opera for The People’s Friend, proving her knack for serialized drama. This paved the way for her fiction career, blending her love for strong female characters with her North-East roots.
Glenda Young’s Unforgettable Stories
Young’s cozy mystery series, the Helen Dexter Mysteries, is a love letter to Scarborough’s seaside charm. The first book, Murder at the Seaview Hotel (2021), introduces Helen Dexter, a widowed B&B owner who solves a murder when one of her guests—a member of an Elvis impersonator troupe called Twelvis—is found dead, minus his blue suede shoes. Each chapter, inspired by an Elvis song, brims with humor and heart, making it a hit with cozy crime fans.
The series continues with Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel (2022), where Helen untangles a murder among a theatrical troupe, and Foul Play at the Seaview Hotel (2023), featuring a deadly crazy golf tournament. A fourth book, Deadly Dancing at the Seaview Hotel, is slated for 2025. Young’s sagas, like The Toffee Factory Girls (2024), set in a WWI-era Durham factory, showcase her knack for gritty, uplifting tales of resilient women.
Her writing style is warm, witty, and immersive, weaving local landmarks—like Scarborough’s Grand Hotel and Central Tramway—into plots that feel like a stroll through the town. Young’s characters, from feisty Helen to her greyhound Suki, are relatable and endearing, balancing light-hearted mischief with poignant themes of grief and renewal.
Why Glenda Young Matters
Glenda Young’s work resonates because it celebrates everyday heroines in settings that feel like home. Her Helen Dexter series has put Scarborough on the cozy crime map, drawing readers to its nostalgic charm and inviting them to visit the town’s real-life landmarks. By championing libraries and sharing her journey from a council estate to bestseller lists, Young inspires aspiring writers, especially in the North-East, to chase their dreams.
Her blend of cozy mysteries and sagas offers escapism with heart, earning praise from readers and critics like Clare Chase and Helen Cox. Young’s ability to pivot from soap opera scripts to novels highlights her versatility, making her a standout voice in British fiction.
About Glenda Young
- Born: Ryhope, Sunderland, UK
- Key Works: Murder at the Seaview Hotel, The Toffee Factory Girls, Riverside (soap opera)
- Genres: Cozy Mystery, Historical Saga
- Fun Fact: She’s a lifelong Coronation Street fan and runs two fan websites.
Ready for a cozy crime adventure? Snag Murder at the Seaview Hotel and dive into Glenda Young’s Scarborough whodunits—Suki the greyhound is waiting!