Happy publication day and many congratulations to the lovely and very talented A.A. Chaudhuri and her seventh novel, The School Gates. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from her publisher, Hera Books, and can confirm that thriller and domestic suspense fans will be gripped until the final page.

Blurb

First comes gossip … then comes revenge

When single mum Lola Martinez’s son, Luca, starts school, she feels that she’ll never fit in with the yummy mummies in the playground. Confident, married to wealthy men, with ample free time, they are everything she isn’t.

However, Lola is invited into the inner circle, surrounded by seemingly friendly people, even if Lola’s silence about her child’s father puzzles them. Despite herself, Lola quickly becomes involved in playground politics, making as many enemies as friends.

But then Lola is brutally murdered, her death rocking the close-knit community. As the police investigate the case, they discover that Lola was hiding many secrets – as are the mums in her new social circle. But who had the most reason to kill her? And who else might unwittingly hold the answers to what happened that night?

An addictive psychological thriller with an end twist that will make you gasp, for fans of Lisa Jewell, T.M. Logan and Frieda McFadden. If you loved Big Little Lies, you’ll adore this.

My Review: 5 stars

A sought-after primary school in a prosperous London suburb is the setting for A.A. Chaudhuri’s latest domestic thriller, The School Gates. We meet Lola, an attractive single mother, who is new to the area and desperate to make friends. If only the clique of well-to-do yummy mummies would let her in. The chasm between Lola’s world and that of her married frenemies is plain from the outset and it makes for a juicy read. Then there are the husbands, who only complicate things as far as Lola is concerned.

Pacy and brilliantly observed, the plot soon accelerates into murder. The victim? Lola herself, and everyone is a potential suspect. Meanwhile, DI John Banner – also a family man – is tasked with finding her killer.

In addition to the intriguing plot, I loved the way chapters alternated between the POV of DI Banner, Lola – retrospectively – and later, other suspects. There’s also an online troll element that sets alarm bells ringing; who is the mysterious Tracy and how much does she know?

The final reveal is a giddy rollercoaster, with a satisfying ending I did not see coming. I’ve read several books by this author and knew I was in for a treat: I wasn’t disappointed. For readers who love fast paced thrillers with twists on top of twists, The School Gates is a must this summer.

Intrigued? You can order The School Gates from any good bookshop or on Amazon at : The School Gates: An unputdownable, nail-biting thriller with a twist that will have you on the edge of your seat eBook : Chaudhuri, A. A.: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store