Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. Toxic schoolgate cliques are always prime fodder for domestic thrillers / mysteries, and this was a particularly good example. While I worked out who the culprit was within a few pages, this did not dampen my enjoyment of the book - indeed, the revelations which showed I was right were well-done, and, unlike many books of this genre, not rushed at all. Chaudhuri used multiple narratives and switches between past and present to great effect, and the revelations and secrets spilled throughout were revealed carefully, adding depth to the story and making all the characters more interesting. I am keen to read more by this author.

A perfect mystery. This has all the elements you need in a good thriller / mystery. The characters were really well written and though I didn’t particularly enjoy them they fit the plot really well.

Lola is a single mother to her son Luca, she is new to the area and becomes friends with the school moms. Feeling inferior at every turn things go sour and the reader will discover everyone including Lola has secrets they want to stay hidden

Publication Date: 5th June, 2025

3,5 stars.

Get ready for some twisted turns as you go through 'The School Gates.'

Told in alternating storylines in the past and present and narrated by two main characters, the story takes readers on a wild ride through suburban England. Lola Martinez has had a rocky last few years, but has started over in hopes of providing a better life for her son, Luca. As such, she has moved to a quiet neighbourhood with a good school, determined to make the best of it. The first step in completing this - getting in good with the other mothers who drop off their children at the school gates. However, she doesn't have much in common with all the other 'yummy mummies' as she is younger and a single parent. Coupled with this are her insecurities and idiosyncrasies, which all eventually create a lot of tension and issues amongst them. When she is brutally murdered, it falls upon Detective Inspector John Banner to uproot the reasons why.

It's rare to find a mystery novel where one of the main characters, especially one who narrates a large part of it, is murdered at the beginning. It allowed for a different feeling, as I don't read many books from that perspective, which immediately made it stand out to me.

I also really liked how the flashback technique was used. This is oftentimes over utilised by authors, but A. A. Chaudhuri knows her stuff! Interspersed between the two narrators, we got the same information, but with layers and nuances that neither knew.

My biggest issue here was the length of the book. I found it to be overly wordy and descriptive at times - for instance, as seen here:
"Quietly, I unwrap myself from the duvet and tread softly to the door. I haul on my dressing gown, which is hanging on a hook, before securing the belt firmly around my waist and creeping out of the room."
In my humble opinion, this felt like so much filler information, and there were a lot of rambling sentences like this. The plot could have been wrapped up in less time, and I think that would have allowed for me enjoying it more.

This was my first time reading anything from this author, however, it won't be the last. While it wasn't perfect, I did like this novel and would recommend it to anyone looking for an easy mystery with a twist!

*A great many thanks to Hera Books, A. A. Chaudhuri, and NetGalley for this ARC. It is important to note that I was not committed to providing a positive review; all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*

2.5 stars. This was an ARC from NetGalley. I picked it up because of the author and the plot summary sounded fast paced and entertaining. This one didn't execute quite like I thought it would. The author definitely made it so you weren't rooting for any of the characters, and rightfully so. The problem is they did it a bit too well. I was not invested in the characters or the outcome of the story. Overall, it felt a bit too long, and I just wanted it to wrap up. The ending wasn't a surprise and made me angry, just ignore these horrible crimes and how you are treated to keep your "happy family" together. This book took feminism back 20 years. #netgalley #theschoolgates #highsociety #mystery

the layout of this book was so original and it made the story all the better. i was hooked in learning both the story of the present and just how we got to where we are today...which is with murder. at first i thought this would be about Lola and how she wants to fit in, perhaps what she has to go through to do so and or what might come out about her as clearly there were issues there. but then Wam the very Lola is murdered and we are taking a whole new exciting level of reading. it was a whole new take on mums at the school gate.
how we learn of each character and what might have been their reason for not wanting Lola about what just brilliant. i liked how even though she wasnt even alive we were still focusing on just what was Lola's passed.
the twists were in your face but more breadcrumbs for you to follow and trick you into one corner whilst you needing to actually be looking in the other!
this was a gripping success. im so glad i got to read this book as its truly hit the spot for an original one for me. i couldnt put it down but was also loving how out manoeuvred i felt throughout. its always nice to be humbled and outwitted when it comes to thrillers. im in awe of what authors like A.A. Chaudhuri brings to their work. i am in awe of the skill and talent that pours from minds like theirs.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I wasn't a big fan of this one - I expected a police procedural, instead it was more of police calling people in for a gossip fest, backed with few facts.

This book was a rare DNF (Did Not Finish) for me, although the first chapter began as standard police procedural fare, the remaining chapters devolved into a grating mishmash of weird finger pointing, with no likeable characters.

Depending on what you are expecting and your personal preferences, you might enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The School Gates is a mystery that doesn’t follow the usual mold of a mother trying to fit in with the crowd only to be murdered. No, rather than a flat reveal of who the culprit behind her murder is this story is structured between past and present, exploring a few perspectives in the present who come in at just the right moment to build the mystery and intrigue up perfectly.

Lola, our murdered mother, clearly has a lot going on in her past (both recent and further back) but the reveal of what those things are and how they may have contributed to her murder is hard to take a break from as they’re introduced so well and all leave hanging threads. By the time we think we are near to discovering the culprit it’s actually thrilling to find out we aren’t and learn more. I loved how The School Gates was structured and written, it was absolutely engrossing but I didn’t see the hard work it clearly took to make it so. Definitely a more sophisticated and well done take on your usual thriller.

Really enjoyed this fast paced thrilling book! Knowing what the school playgrounds are like I knew it would be good and it didn’t disappoint!

I was hooked from the start with The School Gates. So believable about the clique at the school gates. Love to hate characters really add an extra dimension to a book and this was done superbly. . I finished this book in the early hours as I just had to know how this story ended. A great tension filled read

Lola, a single Mom and Lica are introduced at the start of the novel as Luca as starting at a new school. Alola slowly finds herself ingrained with some of the parents at the school. However, she is brutally murdered and from there the mystery begins. Expertly plotted with deep characterization, the mystery draws you in until the end.

Wow! I loved this! I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

As someone who hated school politics I knew I’d enjoy this one, and it didn’t disappoint! A real thriller full of nasty girl tactics and lots of twists. An easy read but still packs a punch, I really enjoyed it!

A quick and easy read that I read in one short sitting. A good amount of suspense, mystery and tension backed up a fast pace and all joined together made for a heart pounding read that had me on the edge of my seat

Thank you Netgalley and Hera Books for the ARC!

I was not really sure what I would get myself into when reading this book. But I like things that are labelled as being fitting for fans of Freida Mcfadden.

What can I say? It was a good, solid read with a lot of twists and turns along the way while we are trying to figure out why single mother Lola had to die.

Basically, trust no one and get your copy of it when you can.

The school gates by AA Chaudhuri

I was so excited to get accepted to read AA Chaudhuri’s new book before release day! I have been so excited to read this one.

Lola, single mum of 1 find herself making new friends with a group of parents at the school gates. Everything’s going well until the other mums start giving Lola the cold shoulder. Lola has been keeping secrets and hiding her true self to her new friends and it’s not until Lola’s body is found on her way home from the Christmas party that secrets unfold.

You never fail to disappoint AA Chaudhuri . One minute I’m sure I’ve cracked it and know exactly who the murderer is, but no, wrong again! I really enjoyed how this book was written from DCI banners investigations into the murder and Lola’s last events and interactions with the friends before she died finding out juicy gossip along the way. I absolutely loved reading this murder mystery and cannot wait to read more of your books. The twist was fantastic!! And then… another twist 😂 brilliant!

Would definitely recommend this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 stars from me, rounded up to 5.

Available to buy 5th June 2025
Or preorder now.

All Lori wants is to fit in with the crowd at Luca's school and get a decent life for them both. But when things start to turn sour with some of the mothers there Lori is left wondering why. The only person she can turn to is Tracy, who she met in an online forum, to tell her about what's happening in her life. The other mothers have no idea that Lori just wants to protect Luca after being conceived by a brutal attack. Suddenly everyone's secrets start to come to the surface. Following Lori's death the detective tries his hardest to get to the bottom of it all and uncovers some secrets that lead to finding out who the killer could be.
A tense, hard hitting crime thriller that delves into secrets, lies and cover ups. I really enjoyed the twists and turns throughout this story.

Love this author her writing style is right up my street.
A fabulous who done it full of twists and red herrings.
I loved that i didn't guess the outcome.
A must read which i am sorry i read to quickly.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Loved this book! Lola and her son, Luca, move to a new town to start over. She is hiding secrets from everyone. While she is there, she makes enemies with some of the other moms, and dads, if you think about it. Why is she killed? Who else has secrets that involve Lola?

Review of ‘The School Gates’ by A.A. Chaudhuri, due to be published on 5 June 2025 by Hera Books.

Told from multiple angles, stories intertwine with a group of mums who meet a new parent (Lola) at the school gates on their children’s first day at Reception class. The details of the playground ‘clique’ are well described!

Things take a dark turn when Lola is murdered, and the fingers of suspicion are pointed at everyone she knows, all of which we learn through the storytelling, have motives to get Lola out of their lives.

It’s a fast paced, twisty murder mystery, where you think you’ve cracked it in one chapter, only for a curveball to be thrown in the next. When all is revealed at the end, I didn’t see it coming!

Recommended read.

I loved this, as someone who does the school run I completely got this book and felt the author must have done her research. A great read, it gets good quickly and I would read more by this author!