While the characters and writing was convincing and solid (as you'd expect from Queen Joanne Harris) I found the setting of a boys school a bit odd and dated and in the end just plain sexist/misogynistic (

when it was revealed which teacher sexually assaulted boys it was sort of overlooked or ignored or dismissed as no longer being worth punishment which in today's climate felt very backward - and rightly so!

) so I couldn't really fully enjoy the plot that was interesting and dark and engaging, but just not what I personally enjoy in a novel, I guess.