From the author of The Passenger-hailed by The New York Times Book Review as "a dead-serious thriller (with a funny bone)"-and the bestselling Spellman Files series comes a suspenseful novel about a new teacher at a not-so-elite boarding school who accidentally incites a gender war among the students and staff.
When Alexandra Witt arrives at Stonebridge Academy and insists on moving into a ramshackle cottage in the woods, curiosity among the student body and the staff skyrockets. Who is this young teacher who came here alone, dresses like the kids, and left her last school under a cloud of speculation?
With its picturesque campus and classic uniforms, Stonebridge might look the part, but as Alex soon learns, it's anything but old school. When she advises one of her new students to stand up for herself, the girl takes her advice a little too much to heart. Long-simmering tensions between the boys and girls boil over into a fight. And then total war.
By the time Gemma, Alex's favourite student, starts uncovering Stonebridge's darkest secrets with the help of some unlikely allies, Alex's bumpy start has become a nightmare. Cast into a role she never wanted, she watches the spark she ignited consume everything around her. And the only way out might carry an even higher cost.
Told by four narrators, none of whom inspires total confidence, The Swallows unfolds with brilliant timing, puzzle-like plotting, and riveting storytelling that will shock and delight readers everywhere.
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[Some teachers have a calling. I'm not one of them]***
(Titan Books, 10 September 2019, 528 pages, ebook, ARC from @TitanBooks and voluntarily reviewed)
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I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book. I'd never read the author before so I had zero expectations. However, I love books about revenge and bullying and women seizing their own power so thought I'd enjoy this. I was right. I also have a soft spot for boarding school stories. The book is quite campy and funny at times with some tongue-in-cheek humour. This shouldn't work because it deals with pretty serious subject matter but the author manages to pull it off. This book tackles predatory teenage boys, sexually exploited teenage girls and the complete indifference of adults in a unique and interesting way. I haven't read a book before that takes on rape culture and the objectification of women. I read enough about that in the news. There's a lot about the book that shouldn't work but it does on every level. The timing of the book is spot on with #metoo. There are other, more series books that tackle similar subjects but this worked really well for me. I also loved the fact the story is told from different perspectives and the acts of revenge are a bit crazy and full on.
