Madam
A Novel
by Phoebe Wynne
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date May 18 2021 | Archive Date Jun 01 2021
Description
"The simmering menace and mystery kept me absolutely gripped...a smoldering novel that I could not put down." ––Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne
"Rebecca meets The Secret History: gloriously dark, gloriously Gothic." ––Sara Collins, bestselling author of The Confessions of Fannie Langton
Named a Best Book of 2021 by Goodreads • Entertainment Weekly • Parade • PopSugar • Brit+Co • Romper • Frolic • Crime Reads • SheKnows.com • Women.com
Discover the secrets of Caldonbrae Hall in this riveting, modern gothic debut set at an all girls' boarding school perched on a craggy Scottish peninsula.
For 150 years, high above rocky Scottish cliffs, Caldonbrae Hall has sat untouched, a beacon of excellence in an old ancestral castle. A boarding school for girls, it promises that the young women lucky enough to be admitted will emerge "resilient and ready to serve society."
Into its illustrious midst steps Rose Christie: a 26-year-old Classics teacher, Caldonbrae’s new head of the department, and the first hire for the school in over a decade. At first, Rose is overwhelmed to be invited into this institution, whose prestige is unrivaled. But she quickly discovers that behind the school’s elitist veneer lies an impenetrable, starkly traditional culture that she struggles to reconcile with her modernist beliefs--not to mention her commitment to educating "girls for the future."
It also doesn’t take long for Rose to suspect that there’s more to the secret circumstances surrounding the abrupt departure of her predecessor--a woman whose ghost lingers everywhere--than anyone is willing to let on. In her search for this mysterious former teacher, Rose instead uncovers the darkness that beats at the heart of Caldonbrae, forcing her to confront the true extent of the school’s nefarious purpose, and her own role in perpetuating it.
A darkly feminist tale pitched against a haunting backdrop, and populated by an electrifying cast of heroines, Madam will keep readers engrossed until the breathtaking conclusion.
They want our silence…
They want our obedience…
Let them see our fire burn
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781250272041 |
| PRICE | $27.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 352 |
Featured Reviews
Mary Ellen A, Reviewer
When this book was described as Stepford Wives meets Secret History, i thought maybe this was a bit of an exaggeration. BOY, was I wrong. This book is gothic fiction at its finest. Creepy students and teachers. They're ways were putting women's liberation, back years. Rose Christie, a 26 year old Classics teacher, was so happy to get the job at this prestigious all girl school,
Caldonbrae, in Scotland. It only took her a few weeks to figure out things, just weren't quite right here. She just couldn't quite put her finger on it. Things weren't quite as they seemed at Caldonbrae. And Rose was determined to find out what was going on.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read Madam.
Caroline H, Librarian
This was unsettling, atmospheric, claustrophobic and creepily old fashioned and I loved it! I stayed up until the wee hours to find out whether Rose would endure her new life or break free.
Hope school is supposedly the beacon for what is great and good in private boarding schools for girls. But the reality is far removed and Rose, the new Classics teacher, finds herself stuck in an ever decreasing circle. The stars of the book are definitely the girls whose self assured nature and blunt opinions make you fear and pity them in equal measure. Rose is probably the least likable character to me, she seems so weak and incapable of taking control of anything. Her outbursts throughout the book, while necessary to move the story on, got more and more irritating to me.
Overall, I really enjoyed the idea of old fashioned 'ideals' still existing in modern society and how insidious the whole concept of the perfect wife and societal lady actually is.
Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for my ARC. This is my honest review..
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