Given to me by a friend from my Quilting group. Synopsis from Amazon:-
'The place is St Oswald's, an old and long-established boys' grammar school in the north of England. A new year has just begun, and for the staff and boys of the school, a wind of unwelcome change is blowing. Suits, paperwork and Information Technology rule the world and Roy Straitley, Latin master, eccentric, and veteran of St Oswald's, is finally - reluctantly - contemplating retirement. But beneath the little rivalries, petty disputes and everyday crises of the school, a darker undercurrent stirs. And a bitter grudge, hidden and carefully nurtured for thirteen years, is about to erupt. Who is Mole, the mysterious insider, whose cruel practical jokes are gradually escalating towards violence - and perhaps, murder? And how can an old and half-forgotten scandal become the stone that brings down a giant?'

This is very different to the other Harris novels I have read. No rural France, no mothers and daughters, no food and drink. Altogether a darker affair set in a boys' school. A page turner and a super structure which echoes a chess board/game. Harris does use the time shift device again here and it works well. I found the two main narrators rather confusing at first as Harris seems to have given them very similar voices for some reason; however, once I got to grips with the structure of the novel this ceased to be a problem. I loved the description of the school and I liked the character of Roy Straightley, too. A bit of clever play with names too. Not a difficult read and I would think it would be hard to abandon half way through - I for one, just had to know.....
Probably destined for Meetup as I think there may be some takers for it there.

RELEASE NOTES:

Leftover at the York meetup. Going to take it to the next Leeds one - perhaps to go in the book box to Canada...

Caught last night...

RELEASE NOTES:

Leeds Bookcrossers are going to regularly swap a box of books with Canadian bookcrossers, this book is going in the first box of books to be sent... :)

Received as part of the Toronto/Leeds book exchange. I will take this to the rest of the group.

RELEASE NOTES:

Bringing to the monthly gathering. Everyone welcome!

Hi from Canada! I picked this book out of the UK pile because the description on the back sounded really interesting. When I got home and read the inside info about the author, I was delightfully surprised to find that I had picked up a book by the author of "Chocolat"! I loved that movie and have always wanted to read the book, but it has never crossed my path. Now I am even more excited to read this book..! Looking at the previous journal entries, I expect to really enjoy this one, and will likely seek out some of the other books by the same author.

I have to get through two book ray books this month, so it will be some weeks before I get to this one, but it's going near the top of my to-be-read pile :)

This was such a great book! The characters were interesting and the story really kept me going - it was a hard book to put down! The plot line definitely kept me guessing and was full of surprises. I can't wait to see what others thought of this book, and I'm looking forward to finding more by the same author.

I'm bringing this book to today's monthly social, so it's up for grabs!

I just picked it up at the bookcrossing social today and I heard that it was part of a Toronto-Leeds package exchange through bookcrossing! very exciting.

How could I resist after ProfWendi's enthusiastic praise of this book? I love UK "Closed Society" mysteries: Oxford/ Cambridge/old ivy covered boarding school types. (Perhaps appealing because most Canadians don't live like that and there's a nostalgia for this old-world kind of place?) In April 2008 just after the UK Convention, I found myself walking the same streets, drinking in the same pubs as CS Lewis and MORSE!!! (Eagle and Child, The Trout) Got butterfies in my stomach.
Still remember my first "Closed Society" mystery: "A Murder of Quality" by John LeCarre. Great book. (Also the only book of his I've been able to read without being confused as heck by all the characters/locations flipping all over the place)
'Looking fwd to reading this when "Mount TBR" gets a little smaller.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

OBCZ meeting April 18th, here I go!

I picked this book up at a BookCrossing meet at the Harbord House Pub last week and am just a short way into the story, but I alrleady know that I am going to enjoy it. Will write a further and full report when I have finished the book.

Given this book at a Bookcrossing meet at the Harbord House pub and although well written, it is MACABRE to say the least. One twisted mind that apears to be normal, sets out to destroy an English Public School and along the way, the reader discovers some surprises, fun and wickedness. There is much more wickedness than fun, believe me.

I will leave this book at The Red Lobster Restaurant in Don Mills to-night.

i found it at the lost property box at red lobster (i work there) and im probably the only one who read "its not lost!" read first chapter and definatley going to read more! will be travelling bk to europe soon so who knows where it'l end up next. great idea.

CAUGHT IN TORONTO ONTARIO CANADA