Another atmospheric, sophisticated psychological thriller from Erin Kelly! This one is set in an old Catholic boarding school for girls. The timeline switches between the early 2000s and the present. It’s about secrets which were covered up, to protect careers and the school, and are being brought to light. The book includes themes of teenage girls’ relationships, privilege, faith, bullying, the legacy of abuse in religious institutions, and something quite unusual; contagious symptoms with a psychological origin, allegedly with a supernatural cause.

I felt that the story was a little too stretched out and would have liked a faster pace. However, this was a compelling read with some really good twists, including a character whose identity is not who the author suggested they are. It was very well done! The kind of book which will make you think. There is certainly a deeper tone than you usually get in a psychological thriller. I’d recommend it if you want something different and unique.

Thank you to the publisher Vintage for the review copy via NetGalley. The publication date is 9th July.

Check out my other reviews of Erin Kelly’s books: He Said/She Said, The Burning Air, The House of Mirrors, The Sick Rose, Watch Her Fall, We Know You Know.