A review by marthaguymaid
Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Hard to believe that this story and Chocolat are the work of the same author - they’re worlds apart.
I couldn’t put this down!
Forget the French gypsies and remember the best teachers of your life - those crusty veterans who gave their lives to generations of teens and never forgot a face. Then remember what it felt like to be the kid on the outside, summon some adolescent angst and let it simmer for at least a decade. Shake and stir for a compulsive read.
If there’s such a thing as a nostalgic psychological thriller, this is it for me. I've spent a lot of time working in education, including private secondary schools like St Oswald's. I wonder if Harris has, too? She's nailed the hothouse world of schools, the staffroom gossip, breeds of teachers and the smelly motley menagerie of teenage boys.
If you like: school settings; vendettas; Tartt’s The Secret History, Delderfield's To Serve Them All My Days