This impressive debut novel by Rachel Donohue is reminiscent of modern classics The Secret History and Picnic at Hanging Rock. The eponymous Temple House, the elite Catholic Boarding school just outside Dublin, holds a secret: what happened on the night of the mysterious disappearance of 16-year-old student Louisa and the enigmatic art teacher, Mr Lavelle. On the 25th anniversary of the disappearance a young journalist, who knew Louisa as a child, determines to solve the mystery. Little does she suspect the shocking truth she uncovers will have devastating consequences.
Tension builds as the plot unfurls through the eyes of two key characters. In alternating chapters Louisa tells her story, while the journalist interviews other people who may be able to shed light on the disappearance. This structure allows the reader to try to unravel the truth along with the journalist. However, there are so many secrets and lies that you won’t know who to believe.
From the dark brooding cover to the old, decaying school, this book has a gothic feel, although it is set in the modern day. Some readers will be able to identify with Louisa’s feeling of being an outsider when she starts her scholarship attendance at the elite Temple House School. She feels out of place amongst the girls from more wealthy families, and they go out of their way to make her feel unwelcome and undeserving of her place there. When she finds a friend in Victoria, the beautiful free spirit, Louisa feels as though she will be happy, but the underlying dark tension running through the book alerts the reader to the fact that this may not be the case.
The characters are well written; they are all quite flawed and none of them are particularly likable, but this complements the tone of the book. Again, some readers may recognise people with whom they were at school!
Overall, this is a well written, cleverly crafted book. It has a dark undercurrent, especially the brooding descriptions of the school. The truth is revealed at a tantalisingly slow pace, but this adds to the impact of the final chapters which are quite shocking and tragic. The epilogue is a standout chapter and quite beautifully written.
I will certainly be looking out for Rachel Donohue’s next book.
Tension builds as the plot unfurls through the eyes of two key characters. In alternating chapters Louisa tells her story, while the journalist interviews other people who may be able to shed light on the disappearance. This structure allows the reader to try to unravel the truth along with the journalist. However, there are so many secrets and lies that you won’t know who to believe.
From the dark brooding cover to the old, decaying school, this book has a gothic feel, although it is set in the modern day. Some readers will be able to identify with Louisa’s feeling of being an outsider when she starts her scholarship attendance at the elite Temple House School. She feels out of place amongst the girls from more wealthy families, and they go out of their way to make her feel unwelcome and undeserving of her place there. When she finds a friend in Victoria, the beautiful free spirit, Louisa feels as though she will be happy, but the underlying dark tension running through the book alerts the reader to the fact that this may not be the case.
The characters are well written; they are all quite flawed and none of them are particularly likable, but this complements the tone of the book. Again, some readers may recognise people with whom they were at school!
Overall, this is a well written, cleverly crafted book. It has a dark undercurrent, especially the brooding descriptions of the school. The truth is revealed at a tantalisingly slow pace, but this adds to the impact of the final chapters which are quite shocking and tragic. The epilogue is a standout chapter and quite beautifully written.
I will certainly be looking out for Rachel Donohue’s next book.