Having discovered Gentlemen and Players in 2015 and then read Different Class when it came out in 2016 I was very excited to read the conclusion, A Narrow Door. I have enjoyed many of Joanne Harris's books but this trilogy is outstanding.
The setting, now, is of a private Academy, as St Oswald's has opened its doors to girls finally. The setting is 2006.
It took a while to remember the characters so well drawn in the first two books but soon felt like welcoming back old friends. Rebecca Buckfast is dragging the school and the traditional masters into the 21st century, kicking and screaming. Mostly told from the point of view of the 'Headmaster', as Roy Straitley, continues to refer to her the mystery of the disappearance of her brother,Conrad, in 1971 unfolds from 1989.
The effect it has had on Rebecca and her parents is explored fully with great characterisation and drip-fed to Roy in such a way that the reader is engrossed completely.
The writing is excellent and so descriptive, the plot twists compulsives and the outcome very satisfying, if somewhat disappointing that this trilogy has reached its conclusion.
It makes me want to start reading the first two books all over again!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Joanne Harris/Orion Publishing for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the third of Joanne Harris's psychological thrillers featuring Roy Straitley, veteran teacher of Classics at St Oswald's in Malbry, following on from 'Gentlemen and Players' and 'A Different Class'. Having enjoyed Roy's two previous outings (particularly the first), I was looking forward to this third instalment, which did not disappoint.

Once again, Harris alternates Roy's narrative voice with another narrator; this time, the second narrator is Rebecca Buckfast (née Price) whom we met in 'A Different Class' as one of Johnny Harrington's two Crisis Deputies. She has now taken the reins as the first female Head of St Oswald's and has already embarked on a number of reforms aimed at rescuing the school from terminal decline, most notably admitting girls for the first time. Roy feels somewhat apprehensive about these changes, and is further alarmed when his "Brodie boys" come to find him on the first day of term with the news that they have discovered a body on the site where a new building is planned, threatening another scandal which could destroy St Oswald's.

This sets up the central mystery of the novel: whose is this body, how did it get there, and why doesn't Rebecca want to report it to the police? Rebecca does the lion's share of the narrating, and we soon discover that the body is somehow linked to rival school King Henry's and the disappearance of Rebecca's older brother in 1971 (the same year that Roy started teaching at St Oswald's). Much of Rebecca's narrative also concerns her time teaching at King Henry's in the late 1980s, alongside Roy's former colleague and friend Eric Scoones, some of whose secrets were uncovered in 'A Different Class.'

This is once again a gripping and engrossing read - more so, I thought, than 'A Different Class', which relied on many of the same tricks as 'Gentlemen and Players'. The interplay between Rebecca and Roy creates plenty of suspense, and Harris once again includes plenty of very clever twists and some excellent clues which are cunningly hidden in plain sight. Some of the twists do begin to strain credibility but are never completely outrageous.

Rebecca's story is very dark indeed, and tackles some hard-hitting issues, but this is leavened by the humour obvious affection with which Harris, a former teacher, writes of school life, particularly through Roy's eyes . As a fellow teacher, this is the aspect of the novels I have enjoyed the most - Harris gets both the details and the feel of school right in a way that is quite unusual in books and television. Sadly, Roy doesn't spend quite as much time in the classroom this time round, but the scenes involving him and his favourite pupils are a delight. Harris also handles the conflict between progress and tradition - a central theme of all three novels - very deftly: lovable as he is, Roy's views are rather dated in many respects, but even he shows the capacity to change in a way that is quite touching; meanwhile, Rebecca is a more complex character but there is a compelling feminist message behind her narrative, and Harris suggests that most of her reforms (unlike those of some of her predecessors) will ultimately be for the good of St Oswald's.

Overall, then, this is a well-plotted and thoroughly enjoyable thriller, although I would recommend reading 'Gentlemen and Players' and 'A Different Class' first. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.

What can I say? Joanne Harris does it again, keeping us guessing right to the end. St. Oswald's is a school with many secrets and surprises, a headmistress with an interesting past, the old guard holding back the tide of modern (languages!) ways of doing things. If you have liked anything else she has written, you will love this.

What a book! At first I wasn’t sure what to expect, this dark tale weaving through different timelines and through the perspectives of Rebecca Buckfast, the ruthlessly ambitious head teacher at St Oswalds school, and the ageing Latin master at the school.

The events focus on the mysterious and tragic disappearance of Conrad Price, a 14 year old student at a neighbouring school, many years before, and in the current day the possible discovery of human remains at St Oswalds school.

The central characters are not especially likeable, but the story is compelling and gripping, with many layers. I finished the book in two days.

I would definitely recommend this, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This was my first book by this author but I really liked the style and will seek out more. Good characters and the plot held my attention to the end. Recommend as a good read!

Deep, Dark, Complex Psychological Suspense….
Deep, dark, complex psychological suspense- beautifully done. Wholly atmospheric, compellingly readable with a deliberate slow burn storyline and an anti-heroine that is unforgettable. The author, at the top of her game.

Brilliantly atmospheric, this book comes to life from the very first page and drags you down into its murky depths. It’s dark and unsettling, but also captivating. With themes of gender, childhood, identity and memory, it’s a complex read that could have felt unwieldy if not for the author’s skilful writing. A real triumph for Joanne Harris.

A brilliant, twisty, psychological thriller that I found compulsive reading. I haven't read a Harris book since Chocolat (which I loved) and this was another great read from this author!

Without giving anything away, the story is written from two perspectives and different timelines/flashbacks. Rebecca is the new headteacher and determined to change and bring down the stuffy, patriarchy and Roy is the Classics teacher who has been at the school long before Rebecca and prefers tradition. Their stories are intertwined around the mystery of Rebecca's missing brother Conrad (who was a student) and disappeared when Rebecca was just a child!

This is a very clever, page turner of a thriller and I'd highly recommend it.

Spookily I had NO idea this was part of a trilogy until I read more about the book on Goodreads, so I'm excited to delve into the other books, but in saying that, this is an absolute standalone read!

Rebecca Buckfast is the first female headteacher of respected private school St. Oswalds, and determined to make changes, not the least of which is admitting female students for the first time in the school's long history.

The story vacillates between Rebecca herself and Classics teacher, Roy Straitley, and is told in a succession of flashbacks that occur a result of their regular conversations in which Rebecca acts as a Scheherezade of sorts, keeping Roy in line while finding out from him what she needs to know.

Both are haunted in different ways: Rebecca by her missing brother, Conrad, who disappeared when she was just five; Roy by his former friend and colleague, Eric Scoones, recently discovered to be a paedophile. Both want the truth. But who is leading who?

This is a clever, twisty, beautifully managed thriller. I loved how the author used the rivers from Greek mythology to split the book into sections, and I loved the way she captured so much of the school's history with its rivalries, traditions and prejudices. Like Roy, I found myself drawn in by Rebecca's storytelling; even though I had the uneasy feeling there was something under the surface between these two, I was rooting for both of them to get what they wanted by the novel's end.

I am a longtime fan of Joanne Harris, and really enjoyed this book - I will definitely be recommending to my book group!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, who granted me a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This took me a while to get in to but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great storyline with good characters.

Having read the previous 2 books in the St Oswald's series, I was really looking forward to this latest one. It definitely didn't disappoint!
Becky Buckfast is the new head teacher at the school. The Latin master Roy Straightly is the other main character, and the story is told from their viewpoints.
Remains of a body have been found on the school site, but Becky seems to want to keep it quiet. Could it be something to do with the disappearance of her brother many years earlier? She decides to share what happened with Roy.....
This is a great story which will keep you guessing to the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

I've enjoyed many of Joanne Harris' previous books, particularly "gentlemen and players" and must admit I hadn't realised there were sequels to it. However, I found this one really difficult to get into and, certainly at the beginning, the plot was really slow and tedious with too many timelines, and I felt the reader was assumed to be aware of the previous history of the school. Not for me I'm afraid.
Thank you to netgalley and Orion publishing for an advance copy of this book.

I love this series of novels ,I have read them all . I loved this take and can’t wait to see where it goes in the future if she sticks with another novel this series .

I can really picture the school ,the characters and love the investment straightley has in this school and how he sorta does care really a lot and is saddened by finding out about a male friends past and no one is let off ,past misdeeds,facing up to present ones and death …some deserved one was v sad but liked the courage it took to go there 😞

The new headmistress is a force to be reckoned with and she has of course her own strand of the web that is st Oswalds. It’s a new dawn ,but first there’s some housekeeping to be done .

I did guess but hey it didn’t matter as the leads were engaging ,and u empathise a lot however know that the reactions form an event in the past are just as powerful and damaging as the event itself .

Let’s have more please of this wonderfully fun intriguingly drawn series ,cloaked in exactly what u want from a boarding school history ,past and preset ,mystery ,opinions and old ways v new all leads to a good read .
Ty netgalley so much and publishers ,have shared on goodreads but not able to copy the link as says not correct though wd be good for us to be able to easily post links or link them to the site . A lot of time they don’t and the links pre done don’t appear to be right

My enjoyment of ‘A Narrow Door’ is marred, in some respects, by not having read the previous novels in the trilogy. Whilst some reviewers state that this is not a problem, I kept on feeling that I was missing out on back stories. So, whilst I acknowledge that ‘A Narrow Door’ is expertly plotted, focusing on two timelines and very well written, I could not become fully immersed in the narrative.
With plenty of red herrings and messy pasts alluded to, Joanne Harris is clearly in her element writing psychological thrillers. The portrayal of Rebecca Buckfast, a larger-than-life headmistress determined to push open the doors of even the most misogynistic school brings a welcome feminist thread to the story. Latin teacher Roy Straitley is a recognisable (very) old-school type, terrified of change, terrified of his sexuality and terrified of what the future may bring. However, anyone hoping for subtle nuance in the way in which independent school life is portrayed is going to be disappointed. The stereotype is alive and well and peoples both St Oswald’s and King Henry’s Grammar School.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

This novel follows on directly from, "Different Class," the sequel to "Gentlemen and Players." We are again at St Oswald's, which is now no longer, 'St Oswald's Grammar School for Boys,' but has been re-branded as, 'St Oswald's Academy.' After the various scandals that have befallen the school, St Oswald's has merged with its sister school, Mulberry House, bringing girls into the hallowed halls and Ms Buckfast (formally Becky Price, who we have also met before) as Headmistress - although it will take more than a female Head to make Roy Straitley drop the title, 'Headmaster.'

It is the beginning of a new term and Roy Straitley is struggling with the changes forced upon him, including a new class and the loss of his Brodie boys. However, when they appear at his door, it is to tell him bad news - a body found in building works on the school grounds... Faced with a new scandal, Straitley rushes to the Head, who is unsurprisingly calm. What unfolds is a story which Ms Buckfast tells throughout the novel, of her brother, Conrad Price, and his disappearance, back in 1989, when he was a student at - not St Oswald's - but rival school, King Henry's.

This is a story about memory and the past, as we learn about Ms Buckfast's childhood and also of Mr Straitley trying to come to terms with his feelings for his old friend, Eric Scoones. If you enjoyed the previous novels, set at St Oswald's, then you should also find this an interesting addition to the story. It does work as a stand-alone story, but, ideally, read the previous books first, before embarking on this one. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Rebecca/Becks Buckfast née Price is the first female head teacher of the prestigious St Oswald’s school. Rebecca is the younger sister of Conrad, who went missing from King Henry’s school back when he was 14. The only witness to this was 5 year old Becks. Now a body has been discovered by St Oswald’s.

I was hooked from the start, but I may be biased being a teacher myself. I enjoyed the tale, although it was at times a little slow. It built up, giving you just enough new information or answering one of the many questions to keep reading. It’s the first book by this author that I’ve read but I’d definitely read more from her.

This is not the genre of book I normally read, nor have I ever read a Joanne Harris book. It took me a while to get into but once I did, I was pretty hooked and keen to find out the mystery. Although it seemed complicated, it did make perfect sense when I reached the end. I can admire the skill with which this book was written, but I didn't find it particularly enjoyable. At times, it felt a little heavy going. I found the characters rather exaggerated. I think I prefer to read novels that are more realistic (and I did go to a school not dissimilar to the one in the book, albeit without the dark secrets!) I felt at times that not enough was happening and skim-read the odd page,wanting to reach the end. So mixed feelings from me really about this one. In short, I'm in awe of the craft of this author but not rushing out to buy her other books!

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion publishing group for the opportunity to preview this thoroughly enjoyable psychological thriller from Joanne Harris.

The story told from the viewpoint of two narrators leads us into the deep, dark and hidden memories of Becky to keep the reader turning pages to get closer to the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of schoolboy Conrad Price.

The complex character building and skilful story weaving does not disappoint.

Oh my, what a read. I hadn't realised this is part of a trilogy and would say you can certainly read this as a stand alone but I shall be reading the other two. Roy Straitley is approached by a group of his students, they think they have found a body in the school's grounds. Roy investigates and goes to the schools Headmaster Rebecca Buckfast, however the Headmaster has other plans, she decides to share her life story with Roy, spinning a tale which ensnares Roy in her spider's web. With each chapter Rebecca Buckfast sheds layer upon layer of her dark tale taking Roy and the reader into her dark tale.
Joanne Harris has produced a masterly work of fiction, a novel which demands your attention and has you clinging to it wishing it would never end.

Sadly, not for me. From the description, I expected a somewhat different book, one that focused more on how Rebecca Buckfast became the first Headmistress of St Oswald’s school for boys. There are elements of this and the title, A Narrow Door relates to the struggles women like Rebecca have had to go through to get the jobs traditionally only available to men. I liked the feminism of A Narrow Door although at times, I found it somewhat overdone. I also thought A Narrow Door was well written, I liked the structure with parts of the book named after the rivers of the Underworld in classical Greek mythology and how this relates to Rebecca Buckfast’s memories.

A Narrow Door is part of a trilogy that starts with Gentlemen and Players and Different Class. I hadn’t read the previous two books and this one can be read as a standalone. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s reading experience by going into the plot, I personally found it a bit underwhelming but am sure lots of readers will love it.

My thanks to Orion and Netgalley for the opportunity to read A Narrow Door.