Madam 

by Phoebe Wynne 

4 out of 5 

Synopsis 

A darkly feminist, modern gothic tale pitched against a haunting backdrop, and populated by an electrifying cast of heroines

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.

Review 

Rose isn't sure she's made the right choice in her new job; but once she's in the elite boarding school, there's no turning back.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the early 90's, Rose is a Latin teacher who gets the chance to work at an elite girls boarding school set in Scotland. She has her doubts about working for the Upper Class, and why they hired a 25 year old woman with only 4 years teaching experience to be the new Head of Classics; but this is outweighed by her need to cover her mother's increasing medical bills.

When she gets there, she's at a loss to all the traditions that Caldonbrae clings to so fiercely.

As the first new member of staff in a decade, and easily the youngest; Rose finds it hard to get respect from students and teachers alike.

Adding to her misery, is the mystery of why her predecessor left, and the previous Madam's favourite pupil, who is intent of being Rose's personal, spiteful ghost.

For the first half of this book, I was convinced that I wasn't going to like it, and was hovering around 2 stars.

I almost DNFed several times, but I'm glad I persevered.

The first half is slow and repetitive, showing how restricted Rose's life is. She's in a remote part of Scotland, with the school located on it's own craggy island. It's cold and it's dark, and the only way she can get out is with permission of the Headmaster, and booking the use of the school cars.

She finds little support amongst her colleagues, who mostly view her as some social experiment. And as this was before the internet and even mobiles, communication to the outside world is nearly non-existent.

All Rose has is her lessons, trying to teach girls who treat her with condescension, as they know so much more about the school than the new Madam.

The characters are all a blur of names and faces, all treating Rose the same. It was hard to keep track sometimes.

The only one who stood out in the first half was Bethany. I thought the author did a good job at making the character very unlikeable, but you could still feel pity for her.

In the second half of the book, I felt things really picked up.

The truth behind the school is slowly revealed, and Rose starts to connect with those around her. She becomes personally invested in the lives of the girls and her friends; and she finds Caldonbrae tightening it's clutches, so she wonders if she will ever be free.

I thought that the story became creepy and disturbing on many levels, and I was hooked, waiting to see how it all played out.

I really liked the classic stories. I got definite "Mona Lisa Smiles" vibes, as Rose gets her students to engage in their work, and think for themselves.

One group of students are quick to see that Rose is showing them the stories from the ancient women's point of view, and the sacrifices they made to make a difference on the world.

The ending was shocking. At the time of reading, I loved it. I thought it was powerful, decisive and believable.

Having had a few hours to think about it, the ending does make me feel somewhat queasy.

I thought the second half really showed the author's strengths, and I would be interested in reading more of her work.

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