The first thing that grabs your attention, about this book, is the wonderful cover you can just imagine the ivy creeping up the walls of the old catholic boarding school featured in this novel. The story is very atmospheric, beautifully told and almost gothic. Written in two different times the book tells the story of a teacher and student who both disappeared at the same time, and how nobody knew what happened to them until years later when a journalist endeavours to uncover the truth.
Mr Lavelle is a charismatic and charming art teacher working in a catholic boarding school for girls, it is very clear that his lessons are somewhat different in style than those given by the the other members of staff; the nuns. The girls are, I suppose, enchanted by him, two of them especially so, and the reader is led to believe that they are both in love with him. One day one of the girls disappears along with Mr Lavelle and there is no trace of them left. The mystery of what happened to them is left unsolved until one day twenty five years later a journalist decides to try to uncover the truth. The reader is then taken deeper into what happened until the truth comes out.
I found this book a little bit slow going, but in some ways I think that is a part of the beauty of the book. I enjoyed it! A lovely read.
Mr Lavelle is a charismatic and charming art teacher working in a catholic boarding school for girls, it is very clear that his lessons are somewhat different in style than those given by the the other members of staff; the nuns. The girls are, I suppose, enchanted by him, two of them especially so, and the reader is led to believe that they are both in love with him. One day one of the girls disappears along with Mr Lavelle and there is no trace of them left. The mystery of what happened to them is left unsolved until one day twenty five years later a journalist decides to try to uncover the truth. The reader is then taken deeper into what happened until the truth comes out.
I found this book a little bit slow going, but in some ways I think that is a part of the beauty of the book. I enjoyed it! A lovely read.