Every school has its scandals. This one could be fatal. With thanks to Ruth for her review!
Set in St Cordula’s, a girls’ Catholic boarding school, this psychological thriller had me enthralled with its timeline shifting between 2002 and the present day.
In the weeks leading up to a merger with a nearby boys’ school, events begin to unravel under the leadership of Miss Howard and Miss Fox. As dark secrets from the past come to light, the plot thickens, leaving you questioning what really happened.
With themes familiar to any school environment — bullying, social hierarchy, family wealth, social isolation, and the boredom and mischief that can come with being intellectually ahead of your years — there’s plenty to get your teeth into. One character even reminds us that “this isn’t Malory Towers”!
My thoughts: A real rollercoaster of a read, full of twists, turns and unexpected revelations. The suspense kept me wanting more right up until the final few chapters.
If you’re a fan of Netflix’s Wednesday or St Trinian’s, this could be right up your street!
A quote from Juno Dawson that perfectly encapsulates the book:
“Hysteria, secrets, faith. . . and murder? This gothic boarding school mystery had all of my favourite things, and gripped me until the very last twist. Erin Kelly is a cut above.”— Juno Dawson, author of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven
About the Book
St Cordula’s has survived for centuries on tradition, discipline and silence. Now Deputy Head Fiona Fox is preparing to make a controversial change that could save the school from ruin.
But some traditions are dangerous to break.
Legend says St Cordula’s will remain safe as long as the words ‘GOD FORGIVE ME’, scrawled on a chapel wall by a fifteenth-century nun before her death, are preserved.
The last time they faded, in 2002, a mysterious outbreak of vertigo swept through the school.
One girl died.
Fiona knows her death wasn’t an accident.
Now the vertigo is back.
Could unmasking the truth about what happened that night be more dangerous than if it had stayed buried?
About The Author
Erin Kelly is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Poison Tree, The Sick Rose, The Burning Air, The Ties That Bind, He Said/She Said, Stone Mothers/We Know You Know, Watch Her Fall, The Skeleton Key and The House of Mirrors, as well as Broadchurch: The Novel, inspired by the award-winning TV series. The Poison Tree became a major ITV drama and was a Richard & Judy Summer Read. He Said/She Said spent six weeks in the top ten in both hardback and paperback, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier crime novel of the year award and selected for both the Simon Mayo Radio 2 and Richard & Judy Book Clubs. The Skeleton Key was a Sunday Times top ten bestseller and was selected as a Waterstones Thriller of the Month. Born in London in 1976, Erin lives in north London with her husband and daughters.
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