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The Death Lesson

"A new maths teacher is found dead in the woods at a prestigious boarding school in Wales in this twisty, page-turning crime thriller."

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LoveReading Says

LoveReading Says

More questions than answers arise when death comes to a prestigious boarding school in Wales.

In The Death Lesson by Sarah Ward, private investigator Mallory Dawson is brought in to probe the death of new maths teacher Pippa Evans at Penbryn Hall in Wales, an exclusive secondary school for girls.

Much to her chagrin, Dawson will be conducting her investigation undercover, as she poses as a maths teacher while she looks into the death. Even though she studied maths at university, she finds the prospect of teaching teenagers slightly more daunting than the crimes she usually investigates. Dawson quickly decides that all is not as it appears at the posh school, and readers are kept guessing about the identity of the perpetrator until the very end.

Coded messages and middle-of-the-night assignations at the school lead Dawson to presence of the Solstice Sisterhood, a secret religious cult grounded in Welsh mythology that believes corporal punishment (especially whipping) is cleansing. The clock is ticking: the Winter Solstice is fast approaching and Dawson knows she must solve the mystery before then. 

This is Ward’s fourth novel featuring investigator Dawson, following on from The Birthday Girl, The Sixth Lie and The Vanishing Act. Reading the previous books is not necessary for enjoying this version, although fans of Dawson’s previous exploits undoubtedly will appreciate the references and Easter eggs to previous cases.

This Welsh crime thriller is highly recommended, both for its twisty plot and its atmospheric writing. A posh secondary school with a secret cult? Yes, please. 

Maureen Stapleton
Reviewed by Maureen Stapleton
Maureen Stapleton, a writer and journalist, has written for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Radio Times, Heat, and many others.
More reviews by Maureen Stapleton

About The Death Lesson

Pippa Evans had been a teacher at Penbryn Hall for just one week when her body was found alongside evidence of a pill overdose. Going undercover at the private school, investigator Mallory Dawson senses something rotten behind the wealth and privilege. Someone is leaving her coded messages: but do they want to help or harm the case?

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