The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell - 400 pages

2017: 19 year old Tallulah is going out on a date, leaving her baby with her mother, Kim.

Kim watches her daughter leave and, as late evening turns into night, which turns into early morning, she waits for her return. And waits.

The next morning, Kim phones Tallulah's friends who tell her that Tallulah was last seen heading to a party at a house in the nearby woods called Dark Place.

She never returns.

2019: Sophie is walking in the woods near the boarding school where her boyfriend has just started work as a head-teacher when she sees a note fixed to a tree.

'DIG HERE' . . .

A cold case, an abandoned mansion, family trauma and dark secrets lie at the heart of Lisa Jewell's remarkable new novel.

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

 

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James - 370 pages

Vermont, 1950. There's a place for the girls whom no one wants -- the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It's called Idlewild Hall, and local legend says the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming -- until one of them mysteriously disappears...

Vermont, 2014. Twenty years ago, journalist Fiona Sheridan's elder sister's body was found in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And although her sister's boyfriend was tried and convicted of the murder, Fiona can't stop revisiting the events, unable to shake the feeling that something was never right about the case.

When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during renovations links the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past -- and a voice that won't be silenced...

I have only read a few of Simone St. James' books but this is one of my favorites. This is a book you won't want to put down once you pick it up so block off some reading time!

In the Study with the Wrench (Clue Mystery #2) by Diana Peterfreund

 In the Study with the Wrench (Clue Mystery #2) by Diana Peterfreund-327 pages

This is the second book of an expected trilogy based on the "Clue" board game. In the aftermath of the events of the first book ("In the Hall with the Knife"), the newly named "Murder Crew" (Orchid, Green, Scarlett, Plum, et al.) returns to Blackbrook for the second semester. A new murder has happened unbeknownst to the student body and teachers. The janitor, Rusty, has been murdered in secret. Who is the new murderer? Why was Rusty murdered? The students and faculty of Blackbrook finally figure out that Rusty died when his body falls on Finn Plum while he's in one of the secret passages in the Tudor House. More secrets are revealed and more deaths occur in this follow-up to "In the Hall With the Knife." A third book is coming soon and I look forward to finishing this trilogy when it arrives. 

In the Hall with the Knife (Clue Mystery #1) by Diana Peterfreund

In the Hall with the Knife (Clue Mystery #1) by Diana Peterfreund-298 pages

 I saw this in a read alike list for Agatha Christie (I think it was her, anyway) and I was instantly intrigued. I enjoy Clue the board game and Clue: The Movie and this is based on the board game. It's a modern take on the story. It is set in Rocky Point, Maine, which is a coastal town. The setting is Blackbrook Academy and the characters all have a name from the board game in the form of either nicknames or as part of their given names. There's Green, Mustard, Mrs. White, Peacock, Mr. Boddy, Plum, and Scarlett. Also, there's other characters named Orchid and Rusty. Most are students, except for Mr. Boddy, the headmaster of the school, Mrs. White, who is the proctor of the historic Tudor House, and Rusty, who is the janitor. A big winter storm hits the school and surrounding area and makes it impossible to leave Blackbrook. Everyone left is instructed to hole up at the Tudor House. All of the above mentioned characters end up at the Tudor House together to wait out the storm and floods. The first night while they are in the house Orchid accidentally discovers Mr. Boddy's corpse in the conservatory. Who killed Mr. Boddy and why? Where was he killed (in the conservatory where he was found or elsewhere)? Secrets are revealed and some could be motive for murder. I found this to be a fun new twist on Clue. I am reading the second book in the expected trilogy next. It is called "In the Study with the Wrench."

The Secret of White Stone Gate by Julia Nobel

The Secret of White Stone Gate by Julia Nobel - 304 pages
Black Hollow Lane Book 2

After a summer at home in Connecticut, Emmy returns to England to go back to the boarding school where she almost died last year accompanied by her best friends Jack and Lola.  Intrigue with communications from her long lost father continue to embroil Emmy further in the machinations of the evil Order.  When Lola is framed for a crime she didn't commit, Emmy knows she must do whatever it takes to find the truth.

Think modern day Nancy Drew meets Harry Potter (just the boarding school, not magic) and you have a feel for the tone of this juvenile series.  Its lots of fun with strong characters and a vivid sense of place.  I look forward to the next one.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska by John Green, 223 pages

I really enjoyed this book by John Green.  I had been wanting to read this for a while and had always thought it was about the state of Alaska.  Sometimes it is fun not to know anything about a book.  In this story 16 year Miles, "Pudge," is sent to a boarding school named Culver Creek Prep School in Alabama.  Miles meets up with a group of kids all with nicknames and Alaska is a girl with one of them.  Alaska has a very depressing past that leads to a very sad ending.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart-345 pages

I enjoyed reading this novel. I read We Were Liars by Lockhart and heard this one was good. I actually liked this better. The Disreputable history is about a teenage girl who goes to a prep boarding school. Her freshman year, she is a geek. Her sophomore year she is no longer a geek and a senior boy named Matthew Livingston, who happens to be co-leader of the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds (which is a secret all-boys society), becomes her boyfriend. She infiltrates the Basset Hounds and causes them to do her bidding (various pranks and such). She ends up ruining her relationship with Matthew and the rest of the Basset Hounds and is on probation for the spring semester because she is turned in by Matthew, but is okay with it.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska by John Green-221 pages; Michael L. Printz Award Winner, 2006

I liked reading both The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns, so when I saw this won the Printz Award I decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed. I liked this novel a lot. One review compared Miles Halter (aka "Pudge") to Holden Caulfield, but I liked Miles way better (I did not enjoy reading Catcher in the Rye at all). Alaska is a fairly realistic story that teens can relate to and I liked how John Green dealt with death and how teens (and adults) cope with losing someone close. Additionally, the characters had depth and were relatable, if not likeable. I would recommend this book to anyone into Teen/Young Adult fiction.

Black Butler by Yana Toboso

Black Butler by Yana Toboso, 176 pages

Most definitely worth the wait. Ceil and Sebastian finally get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the disappearance of several students and who the headmaster is. The only disappointment is the cliff hanger ending and long wait before the next volume is out.

Bobby Blanchard, Lesbian Gym Teacher by Monica Nolan

Bobby Blanchard, Lesbian Gym Teacher by Monica Nolan, 291 pp.

Written like a classic pulp romance novel of the 50's, the story follows former field hockey star turned gym teacher Bobby Blanchard as she settles into her new job at the mysterious Metamora Girls Academy. As Bobby tries to navigate a tangled web of romantic encounters, she also tries to solve the suspicious death of Metamora's former Math Mistress. It's the best impulse book buy I've ever made.

A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey

A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey, 482 pages
The Lovegrove Legacy Series book 1

Lady Emma Day's life has been one boring ball after another until one debutante ends up dead with only Emma as witness. When Lord Cormac Fairfax enlightens Emma about her lineage being filled with powerful witches, Emma's life is turned upside down -- especially with the deaths of more debutantes and Emma being the one to find the bodies. With the help of her two cousins, Emma must discover who is behind the murders of girls before a witch hunt ensues with her at the center. In the meantime, she must learn how to master her powers before they master her. It's all in a day's life for a debutante - witch -  heiress.

Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas

Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas, 449 pages (plus notes)

Boring would be the best word to describe this book. It has a promising storyline but maybe it's just that it has been done too many times. Prince Titus is told by his seer mother that he will die for an elemental mage that will take down the Bane and Atlantis (ruling tyranny). He is to guard said mage and protect them at all times so they can become what they were destined to be. The mage comes in the form of a young teen girl, Iolanthe, who has been raised by her guardian flitting from place to place as he loses job after job. He cautions her to not use her magic so freely but she doesn't heed his words. She draws lightning from the sky which in turn calls the attention of the prince and the inquisitor of Atlantis. Prince Titus rescues Iolanthe and, as he has already created a fictitious persona, "Fairfax" for her at his school, forces her to dress and behave as a boy and attend school with him. From that point on it is a slow dance as everyone at the school believes they know "Fairfax", who has been gone from school for 3 months to recover from an injury. Toss in games of cricket, reliving fairytales inside a book to develop Iolanthe/Fairfax's magic, and the constant threat of Atlantis discovering who Fairfax really is... and you pretty much have the whole book. Very slow moving and no satisfying end. I did enjoy the notes at the end of the book, however. I guess that's something.

Blythewood by Carol Goodman

Blythewood by Carol Goodman, 489 pages

The world is full of shadows, darklings and faeries, but 16 year old Avaline Hall is just learning about that world. After her mother's death and the loss of her friends in a horrible factory fire, Avaline is whisked to a mental hospital because of her rantings about a man in an inverness cape and a boy who could fly. Discovered and rescued by her very wealthy grandmother, Avaline is taken to Blythewood - an unusual boarding school for girls - that her mother and grandmother attended. The secrets wrapped up in Blythewood are so dark, it's a wonder that Avaline discovers half of them by the end of the book. There is danger lurking around every corner and madness eating away at some. An ancient story of the seven daughters of a bellmaker are wrapped into the mystery that is Blythewood. Avaline must discover her hidden talents and quickly. She must also be able to decipher what is evil and what is not because at Blythewood, rarely is anything what it seems.

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins, 327 pages
(#3 Hex Hall Series)

In possibly the final installment of the Sophie Mercer story, Sophie alone has escaped the clutches of the evil Casnoff sisters with her demon powers bound inside of her. As she tries to discover what has happened to her vampire bestfriend, demon father, warlock fiance and her "works for the enemy" love interest, Sophie will uncover far more than she imagined. After having her world rocked by several revelations, Sophie must pull her self together to: 1. Find her friends and her father. 2. Unlock her magic that has been tucked away inside her. and 3. Stop the Casnoff sisters thereby ceasing their plot to amass a demon army by changing all of her classmates into demons. Being powerless is a problem until Elodie steps in to save Sophie's skin more than  few times. By far my favorite of the series save for a few story-lines that went sour in my opinion. Most notably was Cal's story. I really thought the author could have done more for Cal than she did. Other than the few flaws, I was overall happy with the "ending."

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, 323 pages
First in the Hex Hall series

A plot that is filled with more twists and turns than a maze, Hex Hall will keep you guessing until the very end. After a love spell gone bad, Sophie is sent to reform school for magical creatures/people. Sophie learns a lot about who she is while at school and discovers something sinister is lurking on school grounds when her classmates start being attacked. Will she be able to discover the cause of all the attacks? You'll have to read the book to find out.