Rebecca Buckfast has a high opinion of herself and is proud of her appointment, believing she has worked harder for it than a man would have to. Aspects mentioned would be better understood if the stories were read in order. References are made to events that damaged the school’s reputation and therefore finances – these were the plotlines of the earlier books in the series. There are introductions to other members of the teaching staff, alongside key pupils, bringing readers who are new to the series up to speed on internal loyalties and enmities. The opening draws the reader in immediately. In an attempt to create a fresh start after two difficult years, St Oswald’s has been rebranded an Academy.

She has taken the reins in the year that the Boys Grammar School merges with its sister school, Mulberry House, thereby admitting girls to the hallowed halls. It is made clear that appointing a woman to this role is quite shocking in such a traditional setting. The protagonist is Rebecca Buckfast, the new headteacher. Roy Straitley, the elderly Classics teacher now with worrying health issues, makes a return although he mostly serves as a listening ear, only occasionally adding a noteworthy opinion. The story is told from two points of view and across two main timelines. Sadly, I struggled to engage this time round. The books are described as psychological thrillers and I was expecting the tense and taut pacing of the earlier works. Whilst not a particular fan of Dark Academia as a genre, I very much enjoyed two of the previous books in this series – Gentlemen and Players and Different Class.

I follow Joanne Harris on Twitter and had been looking forward to reading A Narrow Door since she mentioned some time ago that her work in progress was a return to St Oswald’s school in Malbry.

A narrow door joanne harris