A contemporary gothic debut with a feminist edge, for fans of Naomi Alderman and Madeline Miller
''The simmering menace and mystery kept me absolutely gripped'' Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne
''Rebecca meets The Secret History. Gloriously dark, gloriously gothic'' Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton
For 150 years, Caldonbrae Hall has loomed high above the Scottish cliffs as a beacon of excellence. A boarding school for girls, it promises that its pupils will emerge ''resilient and ready to serve society''.
New to the school, Classics teacher Rose Christie is soon overwhelmed by the institution''s arcane traditions and terrifyingly cool, vindictive students. Her classroom becomes her haven, until her lessons about fearless women starts to draw the suspicions of the powers that be.
As Rose uncovers the darkness that beats at the very heart of