Started this book on audio, then had to return it. Reading and listening were slightly different experiences because the audio couldn't do justice to the charts and texts. Lutz is really good at creating distinctive characters and this wasn't a pat revenge story. There was just the right amount of humor.

Lisa Lutz is an author who never fails to drew me into her novels.Her latest taking place on a campus characters so well drawn. So involving.Up to date issues funny smart vicious all words to describe this clever novel.#net galley#randomhouse

Let me begin by saying I am a huge Lisa Lutz fan, so I was extremely eager to get the chance to read an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. So, here it goes...I did not read any reviews of this book in fear of spoilers, therefore, I had no idea what it was about and I was pleasantly surprised! The book is set at a private boarding school where it seems that everyone has a secret they are trying to keep (student and teacher alike). The book takes place over the course of an academic school year. This book is a nice reprieve from the usual “boys will be boys” mindset - at this school that concept doesn’t fly for long with the girls. There is much teen angst, mismatched romances, secret societies, etc. The author kept me engaged from the beginning to the end. I really like Lisa Lutz’s writing style, it’s clean and easy to follow.

When Alexandra Witt joins the faculty at Stonebridge Academy, she’s hoping to put a painful past behind her. Then one of her creative writing assignments generates some disturbing responses from students. Before long, Alex is immersed in an investigation of the students atop the school’s social hierarchy—and their connection to something called the Darkroom. She soon inspires the girls who’ve started to question the school’s “boys will be boys” attitude and incites a resistance. But just as the movement is gaining momentum, Alex attracts the attention of an unknown enemy who knows a little too much about her—and what brought her to Stonebridge in the first place.

Meanwhile, Gemma, a defiant senior, has been plotting her attack for years, waiting for the right moment. Shy loner Norman hates his role in the Darkroom, but can’t find the courage to fight back until he makes an unlikely alliance. And then there’s Finn Ford, an English teacher with a shady reputation, who keeps one eye on his literary ambitions and one on Ms. Witt. As the school’s secrets begin to trickle out, a boys-versus-girls skirmish turns into an all-out war, with deeply personal—and potentially fatal—consequences for everyone involved.

“The Swallows is fast-moving, darkly humorous and at times shockingly vicious. The battle of the sexes within its pages couldn’t be more compelling, but sometimes our choices and eagerness to take revenge may due to deadly consequences. A novel that may you think that sometimes things can be out of control.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. A full review will be posted on Amazon and Goodreads

It was bad enough having to go to high school without having to read about high school. I didn’t stick around the book long enough to find out who winds up dead. The book jumped around among an unreasonable number of characters. I wanted all of them to be dead. Obviously, this book was not for me and I abandoned it at 25%. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

This is my first Lisa Lutz book and I really enjoyed it. The academic setting worked really well, however I wish the characters were more developed. I wanted to like the main character, but she just seemed like a brat. An unreliable narrator works well here, but I would have liked more detail on each character.

I am something of a sucker for mysteries with an academic setting, and this one was particularly enjoyable. It captured the claustrophobic world of high school, with its cut-throat competitiveness and its bizarre hierarchies. The individual voices of those telling the story were well done, and distinctive, and Lutz kept the suspense simmering at just the right degree until the finale.

Get new story by Lisa Lutz. Boarding school, writing, a mystery, what's not to like?!?!?! Can't wait for the next one!

‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Lisa Lutz's latest, The Swallows, introduces Alex Witt, a teacher with a past. She is hired at Stonebridge Academy and asks her creative writing students to answer innocent questions so she can get to know them. "What do you love? What do you hate? What do you want?" The answers surprise Alex. They are not innocent and reveal much more about the students and the school's activities than she expects. The students reveal online bullying and a private message board. She encourages the female students to fight back and fight they do.

While I have not worked at a boarding school, I have worked at urban schools. The online bullying and message board are all too real. So is the school's attitude that "boys will be boys". Lutz uses her characters to show the dark side of technology and teenagers. This is not a young adult book. It is a book for adults which is set in a school.

The writing in The Swallows is witty while covering dark topics. Lutz's word choices and writing style keep the book from being too dark.

I added several of Lutz's books, including the Spellman Files series to my "want to read" list.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/30/20.

I loved the premise and setup of Lisa Lutz's, The Swallows, but I had trouble getting into the story, the descriptions of the characters, especially Ms. Witt's "crooked tooth," and the pacing of this novel. I wanted to root for the main character, but I found her exhausting, spoiled, and hard to like. It's okay to have a narrator that is not likeable, but she just wasn't developed enough for me to see what made her the person that she is. I wanted a more engaging battle of the sexes. I may be in the minority on this not being my favorite read, but I would give Lutz another chance. I believe she has another series, which is more well-written.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This had the perfect balance of campy silliness and serious concepts. A LOT of suspension of disbelief is required but hey... it's boarding school! Thoroughly enjoyable (especially for those that are sick to death of "boys will be boys" mindset)

Boarding school setting dealing with sexual harassment and what happens when the harassees fight back when the school doesn't want them too.

I usually love boarding school stories - but this one while good, was not what I expected. I think there were too many characters to keep track of and a few too many plotlines going on for me which made it hard to follow at times. Love the author though and her previous works (Spellman series) so look forward to more from her.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get into this book. The writing felt weak and the storyline was difficult to follow. I think it's a good idea, just maybe needs a bit more work.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Ballantine Books for providing me with a copy of Lisa Lutz’s novel, The Swallows, in exchange for an honest review.

Shortly after joining the faculty of Stonebridge Academy, an elite boarding school, creative writing professor Alexandra Witt, begins to notice that dark secrets are being kept amongst the students. The faculty turns a blind-eye out of fear and the professor whom Alexandra had been hired to replaced left under mysterious circumstances. Despite several warnings, Alexandra is determined to reveal the truth.

I’m drawn to stories that take place at boarding schools. I’ve always loved going to school and ever since I was a young child, I had romantic ideas of what it would be like to attend a boarding school. The setting for The Swallows does not disappoint. The campus is lush and the students are privileged. Lutz explores the “Upstairs/Downstairs” aspect of showing perspectives from both the wealthy students and the mostly average-means faculty. These are kids accustomed to power via the privilege that comes with wealth.

The Swallows is both a mystery and suspense novel, but it is also a commentary on our times with the “Me Too” movement. At Stonebridge Academy, there is a strong hierarchy of popular students, which includes a fluid ranking of the top male and female students, but within this group, the boys have their own club. Within this “boys club",” they use their influence against the girls by creating a secret, sex driven ranking system. Alexandra is the type of teacher who easily bonds with teenagers and as she learns what the boys are doing, she uses her influence to help the girls stand-up for themselves. However, it is not as simple as pointing out the wrongs, the girls want revenge for their humiliation.

One of the more interesting twists comes from a student who begins a nightly ritual across campus. Her silent walks with a loud scream at the end, pick-up steam and soon she has begun an entire movement. She never speaks to the meaning of her ritual and others assume that it is in response to her having been raped or assaulted. She never confirms or denies the reason and her actions explode in popularity, attracting the attention of the national news. This situation blurs the lines between reality and the way society likes to attach meaning to situations, regardless of the truth. She becomes a symbol of a movement, simply because her actions seem like they reflect the pain of a woman who has been harmed by men.

Although there are intriguing aspects to The Swallows, I didn’t find myself completely gelling with the story. It was uneven in pacing and I found a lot of it to reek of “shock value,” in a way that made it hard for me to believe or connect. I didn’t entirely dislike The Swallows, but it was a solid 3 out of 5 for me. The most interesting aspect is the ways that the various characters use power to their advantage and this alone made it a worthwhile read.

Alex Witt, the newest creative writing teacher at a small boarding school, soon discovers there are more secrets hidden in the walls or students and faculty of the school. A simple prompt leads her to ask important questions to find out who is running this show called The Ten and who is getting hurt in the process. Not wanting to turn a blind eye she gathers help from other students to expose this mess from the inside out.

I thought this book was a quick read, although probably better suited for a younger audience - minus some disturbing things.

Thank you!

Did not hold my attention early on, was unable to finish the book. Thank you for providing an advanced copy.

The Swallows was not what I expected all. This books make me shudder the thought of ever having children. It was basically a bunch of rich spoiled teens that treat each other horribly and take advantage of super messed up teachers at their school. I was not excited by the topic when I got more in to the book but I wanted to find out what happened because I have been a fan of Liza Lutz for a long time. However, I enjoyed her funny books, the Spellman Files. This one is not funny and really it was just a sad story about rich privileged kids that has been written so many times.

I have loved Lisa Lutz since the very first Spellman Files book and this newest novel is one of the best mystery/suspense/thriller books I have read this year. Well plotted and well written, this is definitely a recommended read.

I am sorry to say that I Judy could not get interested in this book. I gave it til 25% and just put it down.
I received ARC from Netgalley in return for a fair review.