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A review by thebooklender
S.T.A.G.S by M.A. Bennett
4.0
Greer MacDonald has won a scholarship to the sixth form of St Aidan The Great School (S.T.A.G.S. to its students), a prestigious and ancient boarding school for the offspring of the British upper classes. It is, quite literally, old school - the oldest school in England!
Greer finds herself ostracised and alone, very much a 'Savage' (the outsiders at S.T.A.G.S. - the scholarship students, the foreigners, the new money) in a world of 'Medievals' (the posher than posh old-money landed gentry). Just when she thinks she'll be spending the whole two years alone and friendless, she receives an anonymous but prestigious invitation to spend a weekend at a grand stately home, revelling in the traditional country pursuits of Huntin', Shootin', Fishin'.
When she discovers that the invitation is from Henry de Warlencourt - the most popular (and attractive) boy in school, she thinks things are starting to look up. But what - or rather who - are the intended prey?
That someone dies is revealed on page one, even though the death doesn't occur until near the end of the book. We also find out who dies - and who is responsible - very early on, so I wouldn't call this book a murder mystery (the only mystery is how and when the death happens). Rather, it is a tense, atmospheric British horror-thriller, with plot twists that keep coming right until the end. It reads like The Wicker Man meets Midsomer Murders with teens!
Greer was a likeable and (mostly) relatable protagonist. I did find myself getting a little annoyed at her blindsided determination to fall for The Bad Guy, although Bennett does manage to make this feel quite realistic. The book also had a fantastic atmosphere - the tension, menace and faded glory have stayed with me long after reading.
I would recommend this book to older or more mature students, although this is more to do with interest and subject matter than anything explicit or gory.
Greer finds herself ostracised and alone, very much a 'Savage' (the outsiders at S.T.A.G.S. - the scholarship students, the foreigners, the new money) in a world of 'Medievals' (the posher than posh old-money landed gentry). Just when she thinks she'll be spending the whole two years alone and friendless, she receives an anonymous but prestigious invitation to spend a weekend at a grand stately home, revelling in the traditional country pursuits of Huntin', Shootin', Fishin'.
When she discovers that the invitation is from Henry de Warlencourt - the most popular (and attractive) boy in school, she thinks things are starting to look up. But what - or rather who - are the intended prey?
That someone dies is revealed on page one, even though the death doesn't occur until near the end of the book. We also find out who dies - and who is responsible - very early on, so I wouldn't call this book a murder mystery (the only mystery is how and when the death happens). Rather, it is a tense, atmospheric British horror-thriller, with plot twists that keep coming right until the end. It reads like The Wicker Man meets Midsomer Murders with teens!
Greer was a likeable and (mostly) relatable protagonist. I did find myself getting a little annoyed at her blindsided determination to fall for The Bad Guy, although Bennett does manage to make this feel quite realistic. The book also had a fantastic atmosphere - the tension, menace and faded glory have stayed with me long after reading.
I would recommend this book to older or more mature students, although this is more to do with interest and subject matter than anything explicit or gory.