Robin M. (robinmy) - , reviewed on 7/7/2024 + 2106 more book reviews

English teacher Clare Cassidy works at Talgarth High School. In her spare time, she is writing a book about her favorite Gothic writer, R.M. Holland, who happened to own the home which is now part of the school. Every year Clare teaches a course based on this writer, featuring his most famous story "The Stranger". One day Clare learns that her friend and colleague, Ella, has been murdered. Beside her body is a quote from Holland's story. This leads D.S. Harbinder Kaur to question Clare about Ella and the quote from the book.

This is my first book by Elly Griffiths. I know I'm in the minority concerning this story, but I was totally bored with it. The story was told from three points-of-view: Clare, her teenage daughter Georgia, and Harbinder Kaur. Many scenes were repeated, but from a different perspective. The first section was narrated by Clare. She did not seem upset by the death of Ella at all. I kept waiting for a reason, but I didn't learn of one. The pace was very slow, and my mind kept wandering. It did get more interesting when it was Harbinder's POV. It felt more like a police procedural.

There was a lot of filler in this story. We heard about Holland's wife who died in the house and haunts the school. We read about a teacher and some students who were practicing witchcraft. These vignettes led nowhere. I think these additions were just to give the story a gothic feel. My rating: 2 Stars.

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